Chapleau film festival features northern culture

Looking to take in some films featuring Northern Ontario culture?

You might want to consider making the trip to Chapleau Dec. 27-28 for the True North Film Festival.

The True North Film Festival is geared to honour and reflect the dominant cultures present in Northern Ontario — French, English and First Nations.

Festival organizers Steve Schmidt, Axel Green and Janine Oloman have made it their personal mandate to encourage film culture in Chapleau.

The festival features “The Road to Tophet,” set and shot in Chapleau, and featuring narration by “Arctic Air” actor Adam Beach.

Other films include “Empire of Dirt,” which won Best Canadian Feature Film this year at TIFF and Genies for Best Original Screenplay and Best Actress. Also on the bill is the French-language romantic comedy, “La fille du Martin” - lighter fare which will appeal to the whole family, and “Back Country,” a thrilling study in fear shot here in Northern Ontario. It tells the story of an urban couple who encounter a predatory black bear while camping.

Award-winning filmmaker Shirley Cheechoo's “Moose River Crossing” tells the dramatic story of six friends and residential school students travelling to their school reunion when a train derailment delays their journey.

There's even something for the horror fan: “The Scarehouse” tells the story of a devil's night fun house and six sorority sisters confronted by their past as the night spins out of control. This one is not for the faint of heart.