18:00

Opening

18:05

The Importance of being Icelandic

directed by Jón E. Gústafsson, original English version, 1998, 39 min., introduced by Tinna Gretarsdóttir.

Icelandic Canadian Cinema Program

In this film, the filmmaker Jón Gústafsson, (born in Iceland and living in Canada), traces the steps of three Icelandic Canadians on a different quest of discovering their Icelandic heritage by going to Iceland. In addition to their time in Iceland, he returns with them to Canada and captures their reactions of the Islendingadagurinn celebrated each year at Gimli. The contrasts in perspective between his viewpoint on Canadian culture and that of three Icelandic-Canadians on a quest for their anchestral heritage is at the centre of the documentary.

Thanks to Jón E. Gústafsson and Marble Island Pictures for this film.

19:00

The Snow Walker

directed by Charles Martin Smith, original English version, 2003, 103 min., introduced by Sherrill E. Grace.

English Canadian Cinema Program

Stranded by a plane crash a thousand miles from civilization, pilot Charlie Lavery sets out across the endless tundra for the nearest outpost. He leaves behind a young Eskimo woman--beautiful and frail. After a harrowing struggle for survival, Lavery finally collapses on the brink of death. Mysteriously, the young woman reappears to save him and he slowly comes to recognize her wondrous, mystical connection to the land. Based on the book by Farley Mowatt.

Thanks to Infinity Media (Vancouver, B.C.) and First Look (Los Angeles, USA) for this film.

21:00

Cocktail

offered by the Ambassador of Canada in Iceland, Monsieur Richard Têtu