The New West Film Festival heads into its 12th year

You don't need to leave the city to be able to enjoy a fantastic film.

The New West Film Festival is celebrating its 12th year with a variety of shorts, documentaries, and experimental pieces—just to name a few.

Cathy Sostad, who is programming the film festival this year, says all of the films will show at Landmark Cinemas from Friday, Oct. 21 to Sunday, Oct. 23.

"[The society] started as a group of environmental activists concerned about all things environmental, so they just started showing documentary films that they were passionate about ... from that they developed into registering as a film society," Sostad tells New West Anchor.

What are some of the films you can you watch at the New West Film Festival?

• My Mom's Co-op. This Canadian documentary was filmed over a two-year period and tells the story of 40 families resisting the pull of the individual. French with English subtitles.

• Fragile Seeds. This BC film is about a therapist treating sex offenders, while uncovering haunting secrets and answers to her family's past.

• Guess What's Coming to Dinner. Another BC film, this features a story about a man who must come to terms with the fact his daughter is dating an android.

• Macaroni Soup. An animated BC film following a young woman who falls in love with a waitress in a greasy-yet-nostalgic Hong Kong-style cafe. However, there's a language barrier involved.

Today, the festival screens films from all over the world, covering a variety of subjects. Love in the Time of Fentanyl, which will show on Saturday at 2:15pm, will delve into supervised consumption site Insite.

"It's a really powerful documentary that honours the community of people who are going through difficult times," says Sostad, who adds that some of those involved in the documentary—the filmmakers and subjects—will be available afterwards for a community discussion.

There's also plenty of local talent: most of the short films showing at the festival are by people from New Westminster and others throughout the Lower Mainland.

"With those showings of short films, we have a social gathering so that filmmakers can network, enjoy their work, and enjoy one another," says Sostad.

As has been the case since its inception, the society's goal is to share its love of film with the broader community.

"It's a combination: we do charge reasonable ticket prices ... because art is worth spending money on, but also we want to make it accessible for those who can't experience art as they should be able to."

If you'd like to purchase tickets to the film festival, be sure to check out the group's Eventbrite page.