Two days of docs and discussion this weekend

Wed, Feb 17, 2016

Metro Vancouver, B.C. – Six films and a roster of fantastic speakers will take to the screen and stage at the KDocs film festival this Friday and Saturday.

Back for the second year in a row, the Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) event will showcase a reel of provocative, timely and critically acclaimed documentaries.

From the CIA drone war to fracking in northeastern B.C., audiences will have access to a wide variety of stirring films plus exclusive director Q&As, keynote speeches and panel discussions during the two-day event, which is hosted in partnership with the Vancouver International Film Centre.

“Our 2016 festival is twice as big as last year, and twice as compelling,” said KDocs festival director Janice Morris, also an English instructor at KPU.

“The six films we’ll be showcasing highlight six incredibly timely topics. Our hope is that each will springboard into discussions and action around these issues – whether environmental, economic or social. We really are a global society, and this year’s festival will not only showcase that, but will hopefully show how issues that directly affect others truly affect all of us as global citizens.”

Drone, The Mask You Live In, Peace Officer, Food Chain$, Ivory Tower and Fractured Land will each run once on either Feb. 19 or Feb. 20. Special guests include: former drone operator Brandon Bryant; vice-president of the Ontario Federation of Labour, Pablo Godoy; and William "Dub" Lawrence, the youngest sheriff Utah's Davis County had ever elected, and founder of the state's first SWAT program.

“We are very pleased to build on the success of last year's VIFF and KDocs partnership, and trust that audiences from both the academic sphere and the general public will appreciate this chance to engage, connect and, perhaps, reflect on how the cinematic space can deepen and enrich the experience of watching a film. Especially so when we are talking about documentary, which by definition grapples with the world at large,” added Tom Charity, Vancouver International Film Centre programmer. “As always, we’re excited about the possibilities inherent in our partnership with KPU and KDocs.”

The festival with run at the Vancouver International Film Centre and Vancity Theatre, and is open to the general public. For a nominal fee, guests will have access to the six films and all festival activities, which include meals and snacks. For trailers, details and registration information, visit kdocsff.com, or follow KDocs on Facebook and Twitter. A full festival guide is available here.

Kwantlen Polytechnic University has served the Metro Vancouver region since 1981, and has opened doors to success for more than 200,000 learners. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs in business, liberal arts, design, health, science and horticulture, trades and technology, and academic and career advancement. Over 19,000 students annually have a choice from over 120 programs, including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates, citations and apprenticeships. Learn more at kpu.ca.    

Media contact:
Hayley Woodin
Media Specialist
t: 604.599.2883
c: 604.364.1288
hayley.woodin@kpu.ca

For more KPU news:
@KPUmedia
kpu.ca/newsroom
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