Binge-watching at WIFF

By Kenneth Pastushyn

Binge-watching at the Windsor International Film Festival is quite popular with film buffs, some of whom

watch over 40 movies in a week. Many of them are older adults with more flexible work schedules.

“The fact is that baby boomers are really important to us,” said Andrew Kidd, a volunteer at WIFF. “They were the first generation that grew up with foreign and independent films.”

Films like Easy Rider and The Graduate were originally shown at art houses near college campuses. These

types of films would only be shown for a day or two and would be gone. Now, WIFF shows the same kind of films.

“They love this festival because it helps them relive their youth in a way,” said Kidd. “Back then movies were a lot less expensive and they were able to binge watch.”

For those who did binge-watch at WIFF, a $195 adult pass ($70 for students) was recommended.

“I enjoy film and I do it because it’s an affordable price compared to Toronto,” said Mike Rogers, 55, referring to the Toronto International Film Festival. “I don’t go to Toronto because this festival is big enough to satisfy my craving for artistic films.”

This year Rogers saw 38 films.

His personal best is 49 films in one year and he said he hopes to eclipse that record next year when WIFF is extended to 10 days.

“I’m hoping to see at least 65 in a 10 day film fest,” said Rogers.

One person who tied Rogers – and later eclipsed his record on closing night to 51 films — is his friend Katie Stokes. This is 30-year-old Stokes’ sixth year attending WIFF.

Stokes prefers to watch foreign and independent films and said she rarely sees movies at the local cinemas.

“I don’t like movies to escape, I like movies that hit me in the gut,” said Stokes. “My favourites are the ones that make me emotionally distraught.”

One film is Capernaum, the jury prize winner at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. For Stokes, this film was as upsetting as it was powerful.

Another powerful film was Bel Canto starring Julianne Moore which Stokes said is one of the most interesting portrayals of political violence she has seen.

“It’s a film that I will truly remember,” said Stokes.

Giant Little One, a Canadian coming of age story was less heart-breaking for Stokes and a good one for Rogers.

Another Rogers favourite is the Canadian documentary Anthropocene: The Human Epoch.

“It is a very powerful movie because it shows us how mankind is desecrating our natural resources,” said Rogers.

Another favourite documentary of Rogers is Generation Wealth which according to him talks about “the excesses of the rich and how they are detached from humanity.”

Rogers was at WIFF every weekday this year from 9 a.m. to midnight. This is Rogers 14th year attending WIFF.

At WIFF this year 140 films were shown in 51 times slots – and 51 films is the maximum for Stokes.

“Katie is really a die-hard and we both have the same passion for art films,” said Rogers. “There’s a lot of people that may not see a many as we do but they still have a love for great films.”

The opportunity to see foreign and independent films continues all year long with the WIFF 365 monthly series at the Capitol Theatre.