Manitoba Film & Music Celebrates Second Annual Showcase Event

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Manitoba Film & Music is hosting its second annual Manitoba Film & Music Showcase on January 31 at the Centennial Concert Hall. The free public event boasts 13 Manitoba recording acts spanning just about every genre, as well as film and television entertainment. Last year’s inaugural event filled the Concert Hall with audiences eager to witness great local talent. This year’s showcase is sure to do the same.

Sunday’s show features performances by a variety of acclaimed and award-winning artists, including rock poets The Weakerthans, roots quartet Nathan, singer/songwriter J.P. Hoe, bluesman Billy Joe Green, roots darling Romi Mayes, pop rock band Quinzy, rock legend Harlequin, Francophone singer/songwriter Daniel ROA, rock outfit Domenica, indie popsters Paper Moon, children’s performer Fred Penner, hip-hop act Grand Analog, and music project Record of the Week Club with Mike Petkau. CBC host and rapper Wab Kinew will once again share hosting duting with Manitoba Film & Music staff.

Manitoba Film & Music supports the development, production, and marketing of Manitoba's music and film industries through grants, loans, equity investments, and recoupable advances. Funded by the Province of Manitoba through the Department of Culture, Heritage and Tourism, the statutory corporation has supported many projects through various music recording programs including the Music Recording Production Fund, Music Video Fund, Marketing Support, and Touring Support. It also funds the Market Access Program jointly with Manitoba Music.

"We are really lucky here in Manitoba to have the economy geared towards the arts like we do,” says Mayes, who picked up two Western Canadian Music Awards in September. “People along the way have questioned why I live in Winnipeg... why not Toronto, Vancouver, or even Austin, Texas? The answer has a lot to do with the local and provincial support we have here in Winnipeg and in Manitoba. It’s places like MFM and Manitoba Music that make an independent touring musician like me able to have any level of success at all.”

“The Weakerthans are excited to be playing the upcoming Manitoba Film & Music showcase,” says the band’s guitarist and manager, Stephen Carroll. “Manitoba-based artists are privileged to have the resources of Manitoba Film & Music at their disposal. Over the course of our career we have received funding for music videos, tours, and currently a full length documentary. We would not have achieved international success without their support. We are grateful.”

The event will also feature an interview with director Gary Yates (High Life, Seven Times Lucky), some short film screenings, a look at music show Live at the West End, spotlights on Farpoint Films, Frantic Films, the National Screen Institute, and the National Film Board of Canada, and a live aerial silks performance from filmmaker/aerial artist, Talia Pura, whose short film, Aerial Artistry has been chosen to represent Manitoba in the upcoming 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

After the event, attendees will have a chance to interact with leaders in Manitoba’s film and music support organizations, training facilities, and membership associations including; Manitoba Music, On Screen Manitoba, Film Training Manitoba, Winnipeg Film Group, New Media Manitoba, National Screen Institute - Canada as well as the opportunity to purchase artist merchandise. Manitoba Film & Music will also be collecting donations on behalf of the Canadian Red Cross on site in support of relief efforts in Haiti. The free event starts at 2pm

"With the amount of creative talent we have in our Province, we could put on the event every year for decades," Manitoba Film & Music's CEO, Carole Vivier, said in a release. "We look forward once again to showcasing the creativity that exists in our music and film communities: providing information to Manitobans on how to enter and further develop their music and film skills through various booths on site and facilitating the networking that takes place on all kinds of levels in one central location. This year’s line up is an exciting one which wouldn’t be possible without all of the talent in the show and those who support them, who are just as passionate as we are to continue to grow and flourish Manitoba’s film and music industries.”


Click for your free download of showcasing act The Weakerthans’ “Civil Twilight” off Reunion Tour, available until February 4 in The Loudspeaker.

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