As uncomfortable as it is for me to do so, I am writing this review in the hopes it will help bring about some much-needed change as I was genuinely confused and hurt by the way I and my film were treated by this festival. I made multiple attempts to communicate with the organizers about my intention to travel to attend the festival, which went unacknowledged. I, like many of the screening filmmakers I spoke with who had also travelled for the festival, assumed we would have been welcomed and made part of the festival, but instead we went unconsidered and ignored.
Outside of a one hour informal gathering focused on local filmmakers prior to the opening night screening, which was also focused on locals and which traveling filmmakers had not been granted access to attend, there was nothing planned where filmmakers could connect with each other or their audiences. On the subject of audiences, I was deeply saddened by how poorly attended and promoted the festival went. Charlottetown was brimming with activity during my stay, full of nightlife, tourists, and a vibrant arts community, but anyone I spoke with while I was exploring Charlottetown had no idea a film festival was taking place that weekend.
I managed to bring three locals to my screening on closing night, which along with myself and my wife who travelled to be there, made up more than half of the attendees that night. And I'm sorry to have to include this, but the way the organizer sternly told my guests to go to their seats while we were conversing before the screening started was unacceptable, as was the patronizing way she marvelled at my travelling from Hamilton just to see my film during her introduction -- either oblivious or deliberately obtuse about why a filmmaker would travel to a film festival they were screening at. Going on to blame the marathon happening that same weekend for the festival's dismal attendance was baffling, and appeared to be an attempt at deflecting responsibility, which makes me wonder if any of what I'm sharing here now will serve any purpose.
I went to great personal inconvenience and expense to be at this film festival, and it was all for nothing. Had I not attended, I would also have been spared the feelings of indignity and sadness I've been left with. A simple reply to one of my emails stating that the festival is not suited for travelling to this year would have saved me a lot of time, effort, money and anguish.
An accomplished filmmaker from New Brunswick I spoke with after their screening told me past festivals were nothing like this year's and well worth travelling for. Here's hoping this festival can find a way back to that place. Charlottetown deserves a festival it can be proud of, and that is in turn proud of what it can do for Atlantic Canadian film.
