Madeline Mazak

Lights, camera, WIFF.Hundreds of film fans flooded downtown on Thursday to kick off the 20th installment of the Windsor International Film Festival.The opening night buzz set the tone for 11 days packed with of films, discussion panels and special events that are ahead.This year's fest not only boasts its largest lineup yet, with 213 feature films and 20 local shorts, but also honours the Windsor community that helped shape WIFF's success over the last two decades."The reason that WIFF has been successful, ultimately, is because Windsor built it," said the festival's executive director and chief programmer, Vincent Georgie."It was not a road show from somewhere else. It was not a franchise. It was not a bigger city condescending to Windsor. I fundamentally think, because it was built by our friends and neighbors in this community, it anchored itself with a very significant local buy-in."The festival launched with the premiere of Shepherds by Canadian filmmaker Sophie Deraspe. Around 600 filmgoers stretched down Ferry Street outside the downtown St. Clair Centre of the Arts before the screening. Ontario's minister of tourism, culture and gaming, Stan Cho, also attended.Later that evening, the spotlight was on Windsor filmmakers' Michael Poirier and Marshall Sfalcin's comedic drama, Thundersnake, which follows the highs and lows of four small-town friends launching a 1970s glam rock podcast."It feels amazing," said Poirier. "It took me about three years to write the film, and two years to edit. It's been a very long process, so it's very satisfying to have it playing opening night."[related_links /]Another popular screening Thursday was Maria, featuring Academy Award–winner Angelina Jolie as the iconic opera singer Maria Callas.Also drawing crowds was The Best of Jazz: Jazz from Detroit, exploring the city's most influential musicians.The evening wrapped up with a party at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts.WIFF TixThe festival runs until Nov. 3. For tickets, visit windsorfilmfestival or stop by the WIFF Box Office located next door to the Capitol Theatre, open daily from 8 p.m. until the final film of the night behinds.mmazak@postmedia

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