If you are looking for an interesting alternative to your average Michael Bay blockbuster, you can find it in Cochrane. The Chinook Film Group is returning for its 11th season, kicking things off Sept. 17.
“It provides local access to content that other wise you would have to go to Eau Claire or the Globe in Calgary to see this quality of film,” said Murray Mitchell, the programmer of the film group.
Mitchell pointed out that the popularity of the group has expanded past Cochrane over the years, with people coming all the way from Bragg Creek and Canmore. The first film for this year will be The Trip to Italy staring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon. It will start at 7 p.m. at the Cochrane Movie House.
Mitchell said each year they try to choose films from different categories including Canadian, foreign language, documentaries and food films. Mitchell said the group started in 2004 when he and three other people had approached Hal Wolf of the Cochrane Movie House about starting a film club. Around that same time, the group Film Circuit, started by the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 1989, had approached Wolf as well. Mitchell said the two were brought together and the Chinook Film Group started from there.
According to the TIFF website, through an alternate model of distribution, Film Circuit encompasses over 180 groups in over 160 communities across Canada. They distribute films that may otherwise not be shown in smaller communities.
Tickets are available at Java Jamboree and are $10.
