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Silver Atlantic Fest opens with new Fitzgerald
by Dustin Dinoff
page 11

Thom Fitzgerald's latest, 3 Needles, will kick-start the 25th Atlantic
Film Festival in Halifax next month.

The AIDS drama stars Lucy Liu, Stockard Channing and Sandra Oh.

The Halifax-based filmmaker is no stranger to AFF audiences. His films
The Hanging Garden and The Event opened the festival in previous
years. Although Needles is the only film confirmed thus far, many AFF
industry-focused events have been announced.

The AFF has renamed its Industry Series as the NSFDC (Nova Scotia Film
Development Corporation) Inspired Series in hopes of drawing
non-industry folk who may be interested in a behind-the-scenes look at
filmmaking and media issues. The series will feature panels about
directing and film criticism, as well as master classes in casting
with Dead Like Me and Hollywood North casting director Paul Weber, a
production design master class with Stand By Me and Life as a House
designer Dennis Washington, a debate about new media in a game show
setting, and other subjects. Inspired will also offer an intensive
Super 8 workshop presented by director Norwood Cheek, titled "Attack
of the 50-Foot Reels." The focus of this year's Strategic Partners
coproduction market will be Germany.

Other changes for AFF 25 include a new festival hub in the Delta
Barrington/Delta Halifax, relieving AFF's long-serving official hotel,
the Lord Nelson. EastLink has also come aboard this year as AFF's
official communications provider.

"This is a big year for us," says AFF exec director Gregor Ash. "These
and other partnerships will help enhance this year's festival and make
it the best yet."

The bulk of the AFF film sked will be announced on Aug. 30. The
festival will take place Sept. 15 to 24.