By Daryl Major

Unique VIU film festival designed to encourage dialogue

Oct 31, 2016 | 9:20 AM

NANAIMO – It’s not your usual film festival.

There’s no red carpet or paparazzi at this Friday’s Urban Issues Film Festival at Vancouver Island University.

Spokesman Don Alexander says the idea started back in 2005 as a way to enhance a urban issues conference hosted by the City of Nanaimo. This year’s theme is “Community Economic Development and the Public Good”.

“So that refers to this notion of having local business and cooperatives and various economic activities that are serving the community interest including nature, building up community infrastructure and promoting social justice,” said Alexander.

The goal of the festival, according to Alexander, is to encourage people to get a dialogue going on contemporary issues of the city.

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“We choose films that are well done,” said Alexander. “But it’s also the content that’s important. We really want people to think and to discuss and try to relate to our circumstances in Nanaimo.”

It runs 3 p.m. to 9 p.m on Friday afternoon in building 250, room 125.

Admission is free, but you’re encouraged to register early at www.eventbrite.ca