The Lethbridge Public Library’s twenty-sixth annual International film festival will bring to life and the screen, some of the more pressing issues of the day.
It will be taking place at the downtown branch of the Lethbridge Public Library, March 21-26.

The festival, which started as a program of the World Citizen Centre whose mandate included public education about the developing world, features six days of films from around the world which explore important issues.

 Each film is followed by a question and answer session with an expert in the topic the film explored.

“The movies explore social issues and  world issues, but we try to look at issues like fracking which affect local people,” said committee member Sheila Braund, adding the seven member committee pre-screen numerous films throughout the year from all over the world and choose the ones they think are most thought and discussion provoking. The films run from 7-9 p.m. each night, plus a matinee on Saturday afternoon.

“This year we’re looking at films about discrimination and globalization,” she said adding the committee is looking at films  from South Africa, Brazil, the United States and Great Britain.

“The purpose of this festival is to make people aware of these issues that are taking place in the world and affect us,” she continued adding most of the films being screened are documentaries and all of them are in English.

The brand spanking new French Canadian Cultural Centre is tres magnifique according to organizers who  have been working on the project for years and look forward to giving a permanent home to all of the French language and cultural organizations in the city.
“It’s a service that we offer to the Albertan community,” said Kate Gilbert, ACFA Régionale de Lethbridge/ Medicine Hat  Directrice générale.
 The new two floor facility, located at 2104 6 Avenue South, next to École La Verendrye, which officially opens March 11, offers a huge new theatre with hardwood floors, a full service bar, a library, massive kitchen, computer room a darkroom for film developing, a cafeteria and a lot more.

“We’re here to preserve our language. But you don’t need to speak French here,” Gilbert continued adding  movie features will be subtitled. They will also be offering a variety of classes in  the French language, photography, pottery and a lot more.

They will also celebrate holidays and events like Valentines Day and more French holidays like Saint- Jean-Baptiste Day. And a connection with Chinook Libraries will help fill their shelves with French books.

 While the organization has been in Lethbridge since 1979  on Sixth Street. downtown across from the Lethbridge Herald, they have never had a space like this for their 200 members.

“Not a lot of people knew we were over there. But this location  gives us more visibility, right on the corner,” Gilbert enthused.

Theatre XTra is breaking new ground for their last production of the season as  [title of show], which runs March 3-5 at the David Spinks Theatre, will be  their first ever musical.
The show also is a fine example of life imitating art as it is about  a group of friends who decide to write and produce their own musical  and get it on Broadway.

“It really is exciting. because I feel musical theatre is a big part of  the business that we’re all getting  into, because it is more common,” said director Kyle Schulte adding it has been challenging to put on a musical with a budget of $50.
“And I’ve always been a big fan of musical theatre,” he said adding  he first discovered the music  (written  by Jeff Bowen) and was impressed enough to search further for the  Hunter Bell book so he pitched the idea to Theatre Xtra’s board, Derek Stevenson and Lindie Last.

“It’s about two guys who write a musical about two guys writing about a musical and want to produce it on Broadway. I know it’s the type of thing I’ll be facing when I graduate,” he continued adding  learning  not only lines, but the music, lyrics and dance choreography has made it a lot more work.