(Castlegar, BC) The local Kootenays film The Change Agents is back by popular demand to screen on Saturday February 16 at the Amnesty International Film Festival in Castlegar. The movie has made Canadian film history as the first feature length film produced by a high school. Since its premiere in November, there have been numerous requests for screenings around the Kootenays, B.C., Alberta, in Eastern & Northern Canada, Europe, China, Indonesia and in the U.S.
Shot in Krestova and Nelson, the film is the coming of age story of 17-year old Doukhobor, Carly Dutoff, who is vocal about the impacts of climate change, especially the impact of the tar sands development on Canada’s fresh water supply. Amidst family difficulties, she and her peers set out to speak up for a planet in distress, eventually inspiring their community to change. A Doukhobor theme of making positive change through hard work and action is woven through the inspirational film.
And movie-goers have been blown away. Guided by film professionals, 70 per cent of the production crew was youth, some of whom are now planning careers in film-making. Associate Producer, 18-year old Alecia Maslechko, says “It opened doors to help me discover what I want to do. I want to become a film producer to be able to get out messages like this that inspire.”
The Change Agents was two years in the making under the working title ‘Project Turquoise Snowflake.’ The impulse to write The Change Agents came to Writer/Director Robyn Sheppard after a tearful exchange with a student who said “if everything being said about the environmental crisis is true, then why aren’t we doing more to change things. It’s an emergency. We need to do more.” The result that came is what one small mountain community can creatively do to affect positive change.
“We’ve been recording people’s responses to the film and we’re hearing an authentic voice of youth speaking up for the earth. We’re discovering that just about everyone considers themselves a Change Agent and some have told us about the changes they’re making in their lives. This is good news,” says executive producer Jo Ann Lowell.
Come on out and support this community project and hear what one generation is voicing about a planet in peril...inspiring us to change.
One show only, the screening begins 7 p.m. on Saturday February 16 at the Brilliant Cultural Centre in Castlegar, followed by a brief discussion with the filmmakers who will be present. Tickets available at the door, which open at 6 p.m., $8 students/seniors and $10 for adults. The trailer can be viewed at www.thechangeagents.net
Contacts:
Jo Ann Lowell, Executive Producer 250-354-4481 , joannlowell@gmail.com
Robyn Sheppard, Writer/Director 250-352-2331, rpsheppard2001@yahoo.ca
Alecia Maslechko, Assoc. Producer 250-551-5313 corazongirl101@hotmail.com