About
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North of Superior Film Association: Brief History
Founded in 1992, the North of Superior Film Association (NOSFA) is one of the longest operating film societies within the Film Circuit, a branch of the Toronto International Film Festival. NOSFA was co-founded by Michael Gravelle and Siobhan Farrell. NOSFA’s mandate was to showcase domestic and international features and to promote and support local film initiatives. The society opened with the French film, “Delicatessen” at the Cumberland Cinema Centre, which was leased by Cineplex Odeon. Screenings occurred bi-weekly on Thursday nights. The Northwest Film Fest debuted in Season #2. Several films were featured at the Paramount Theatre, which had become a second-run venue, once a Famous Players theatre. The film fest also spent two successive years at the Odeon Victoria before returning the Cumberland Cinema Centre, which also evolved into a second-run theatre under local owners Mike and Colin May. The film fest grew in format featuring as many as 28 films in total, including double-headers featured in NOSFA’s bi-weekly screenings, scheduled around festival time. NOSFA has supported local filmmakers, including the David Brown awards, issued to the top three films of the graduating class of Con College’s Film Production Department. Film shorts by local filmmakers were also featured during the film fest. Most recently, NOSFA’s last two season finales featured films by local filmmakers, ‘A Sobering Story,’ directed by NOSFA board member Ryan LaVia and “Kam Theatre Lab: the Old Same Story,” directed by ex-NOSFA board member Paul Thiessen. NOSFA has also hosted visits by Canadian filmmakers Bruce McDonald and Guy Maddin. Post-pandemic finds both the Film Circuit and NOSFA re-grouping. The Circuit is currently comprised of over 120 groups across Canada. Membership has been growing steadily since re-commencement in 2022. NOSFA hopes to resurrect the film fest in a far more modest iteration sometime in the near future. NOSFA continues to bring the best of international and domestic cinema to the big screens in Thunder Bay. Sincerely, Marty Mascarin President |
Northwest Film Fest Year 1 Poster
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Board of Directors
President/Media: Marty Mascarin
Treasurer: Leanne Lavoie
Volunteer Coordinator: Julie Whalen
Secretary: Chris Arnone
Director: Philippe Hamel
Director: Helen Williamson-Alexander
Director: Ed Lavoie
Director: Andrew Paulsen
Director: Ryan La Via
Director: Laurie Lorenowich
Director: Ally Drombolis
Treasurer: Leanne Lavoie
Volunteer Coordinator: Julie Whalen
Secretary: Chris Arnone
Director: Philippe Hamel
Director: Helen Williamson-Alexander
Director: Ed Lavoie
Director: Andrew Paulsen
Director: Ryan La Via
Director: Laurie Lorenowich
Director: Ally Drombolis
