"We've earned the 'Hamilton' in our name," says festival director/CEO Nathan Fleet

11th Annual Hamilton Film Festival 2016 To Showcase Juried Films From over 20 Countries, including 47 Works Shot in Hamilton

HAMILTON, ON, Oct. 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - The 11th Annual Hamilton Film Festival 2016 (HFF), a festival for feature-length movies, documentaries, and short films plus industry and public events … the brand-new Canadian Film Market, the first-ever Special Effects 72-Hour Film Challenge (HFX) plus the Hamilton Film Expo 2: Expo Harder … runs from Saturday, November 5 – Sunday, November 13.

HFF is held annually beginning the first Saturday in November, showcasing from a juried selection of submissions from all over the world.  "We've done extremely well in 2016 with 700 submissions from a total of 53 countries.  The Hamilton Film Festival will screen a total of 150 official movies, docs, and shorts over the nine days of the festival.  Forty-seven of those works have been shot in Hamilton.

"This year, of these selections, forty-five have been directed by women, a new record for HFF and one of which we're very proud.

"I feel this year is one of the best examples ever of story-telling we've had the pleasure of presenting to our audiences.  The submissions range in tone from dark to delirious, from romantic to rugged," says HFF director and CEO, Nathan Fleet.

Fleet continues, "The diversity is wonderful and we know our audiences will really enjoy the entire spectrum.  Of the 53 countries submitting, the top four countries are Canada (263 submissions), U.S.A. (147), U.K. (52), and Germany (25).

"For your interest, the longest film we have is a 282 minute drama…that's almost 5 hours! It's called The Family and it is from China (with English subtitles), directed by Shumin Liu.  The shortest is only 2:08 minutes long and is called A Bumpy Ride, an animated selection from the U.S.A., directed by Chang Shu.

"We've earned the "Hamilton' in our name because everything we do has been to enhance the local film scene and we are solely supported by Hamilton businesses, organizations and individuals.  Hamilton has a huge arts culture and we are honoured to be a big part of it.  We want the rest of Canada – the planet itself – to discover what we already know about this city," Fleet concludes.

Special Programs
The Hamilton Film Festival is concentrating on a mix of industry and public events this year:

• The first-ever Canadian Film Market, an industry-only event for the marketing and sale of content, begins Thursday, November 10 at 10am at the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel, 116 King St. E and concludes on Sunday, November 13;
• Fireside Chat: Visual FX with Academy Award® winner Colin Chilvers and Academy Award® Winner Colin Doncaster on Saturday November 12th, 2:30pm at the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel;
• The Special Effects 72-Hour Film Challenge (HFX), is launching its first year, from Digital Canaries Film Studio. Film teams make their short films from Saturday, November 5 until they are required to submit on Tuesday, November 8. Each team will be given a set by Digital Canaries Film Studio, a special effect by MaxFX, and special effects make-up will come from Carlos Henriques of The Butcher Shop;
• The Hamilton Film Expo 2: Expo Harder is an exciting opportunity for both the public, to participate in a variety of workshops, film set tours, tradeshow stalls, cosplay, and includes an evening screening, at The Zoetic, of Raiders! The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made The Expo takes place Saturday November 5th, 10am-5pm, at Digital Canaries Film Studio, 520 Burlington St. East (recently re-named Nikola Tesla Blvd.) and the corner of Wentworth. This is a ticketed event ($10/adult and $5/child).

Hamilton Film Festival tickets and passes are available online at www.hamiltonfilmfestival.com.  Tickets can be purchased in person, the day-of, at the Staircase Theatre 27 Dundurn St. N., and the Zoetic Theatre, 526 Concession St,

Passes range from $45 - $100.00.  Single tickets to screenings range from $6-$ 12.  Please check schedule for pricing.  Opening Night Screening and Gala tickets are $12.  Closing Night Screening tickets are $10.

Hamilton Film Festival (www.hamiltonfilmfestival.com) is possibly the largest film festival that runs solely on loyalty, private sponsorship, and ticket revenue.  Hamilton Film Festival (HFF) is presenting its 11^th annual celebration of the art of big-screen storytelling this year, from Saturday November 5 – Sunday November 13, 2016. There is an outstanding showcase of 150 jury-selected movies, documentaries, and shorts including 47 shot here in Hamilton, Ontario.  As well, the 11^th annual Hamilton Film Festival is launching its first-ever Canadian Film Market, its first-ever Special Effects 72-Hour Film Challenge (HFX) as well as the Hamilton Film Expo. As we do each year, we'll have new Special Guests, presenters, and panellists. Hamilton Film Festival began at the Staircase Theatre: Hamilton's Arts Incubator on Dundurn St. and was created and nurtured by theatre owners Kathy Garneau and Hugh MacLeod and their manager, Collette Kendall. In 2008, Nathan Fleet was appointed Director of the Hamilton Film Festival and in 2015, the festival's CEO. This year, Nathan and the rest of the indefatigable individuals of HFF want to recognize: Staircase Theatre; Digital Canaries Film Studio; The Zoetic Theatre; CHCH; Hamilton Video and Sound; Peregrine Labs; Picture Perfect Package; Sheraton Hotel Hamilton; Admiral Inn Hamilton; and Front Row Insurance Brokers. Private sponsorship has indeed been one of the critical tent poles of the Hamilton Film Festival, and has been since its inception. Thank you sincerely to each and everyone.

Hamilton Film Festival founded and is a member of the Southern Ontario Film Festival Group: Promoting Submission-based Film Festivals In Southern Ontario (www.soffg.info). Another major initiative created and founded by HFF is Lights Camera Hamilton in order to promote and encourage the hiring of local cast, crew and services.

SOURCE Hamilton Film Festival