Wakefield International Film Festival (WIFF)

Wakefield International Film Festival’s 2016 lineup was curated by Robert Rooney. This was his last artistic endeavour before he passed away January 5, 2016.

Robert believed in the power of documentary film both as an agent of change, and as a means to share the experience of life, art, music and history in all manifestations. WIFF was established by Robert and Brenda Rooney in 2010 as an expression of this belief, to bring an annual series of some of the best current international documentary films to Wakefield, and to provide a forum for discussion of issues raised by these screenings. This is its 7th iteration.

Robert was justifiably proud of the depth of this lineup, its attention to difficulties current in the world – peace making, gender inequality, the threatened environment, finding alternative ways of living – and the ability of these particular films to ‘find a way through,’ instead of merely being depressing. There is, as well, a rich component of straightahead beauty here, and intriguing historical sleuthing. Also important to Robert for his last festival was acknowledging the significant history of documentary film in Canada, by having a 40th anniversary presentaton of the Oscar™- winning documentary, The Man Who Skied Down Everest, a tip of the hat to local filmmaker Budge Crawley, a pioneer of the form.