cineSarnia winter film series opens Jan. 12, 13 with Ghostlight

The cineSarnia winter film series returns the Sarnia Public Library theater this month.

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The volunteer-run series has been active in Sarnia for three decades, organizing screenings of films that don’t typically make their way to the screens of the city’s commercial movie theater.

So far, cineSarnia has confirmed the first four of six films to be screened this winter, beginning Jan. 12 and 13 with Ghostlight.

That will be followed Jan. 26 and 27 by Porcelain War, Feb. 9 and 10 by The Midwife and March 2 and 3 by Flow.

The final two films in the series, screening in March and April, are to be confirmed, said David Druiett, a cineSarnia committee member.

Winter season passes, $66, and individual screening tickets, $12, can be purchased online at cinesarnia.com. Single tickets can be purchased at the screenings, for cash only.

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The screenings include Sunday 2 pm matinees and Monday 7:30 pm showings.

The group typically plans both a five-film fall series and six-film winter series each year.

“We go to different film festivals and seek out films,” said Druiett. “We like to try to push the envelope a little bit with films, other than what Hollywood wants to deliver to us.”

Committee volunteers typically attend festivals in Toronto, Windsor and elsewhere to identify potential films, he said.

Ghostlight is about a construction worker who unexpectedly joins a local theater production of Romeo and Juliet, “and the drama on stage starts to mirror his own life,” Druiett said.

Porcelain War, a 2024 documentary by Brendan Bellomo and Slava Leontyev, tells the story of three Ukrainian artists navigating the chaos and destruction of the Russian invasion.

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“It’s really touching and really had an impact,” Druiett said.

The Midwife is the story of a young man who fails his medical school entrance exams and ends up in a midwifery program by default.

“He hides this unconventional career choice from his family while discovering the unique challenges and joys of the field,” Druiett said.

Flow is an animated film, set in a post-apocalyptic world, following a cat navigating a flooded environment on a small boat, accompanied by various animals.

“It’s very unique,” ​​Druiett said of the film, which has no dialogue. “The film really relies on breath-taking visual and sound design” to portray themes of “survival, connection and resilience of nature,” he said.

“It has earned several critically acclaimed awards for its artistry and innovative storytelling” and can be enjoyed by all ages, Druiett said.

The group’s screenings each typically attract 250 to 300 audience members, he said.

The non-profit cineSarnia organization also supports other local charities with donations during the year.

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@ObserverPaulM

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