man holding hamburger and shrugging“The Rise and Fall of the Grumpy Burger” is the second in the Alumni Filmmaker Screening Series.

Screening series to spotlight alumni filmmakers

A series of film screenings will feature works by graduates of the UWindsor Department of Communication, Media, and Film.

Organized by the Windsor Film Society, the series will open Friday, Jan. 24, with The Birder, directed and co-written by Theodore Bezaire and co-written by Mike Stasko. Filmed in such Essex County venues as Ojibway Park, Malden Park, Mackenzie Hall, Optimist Park, and Villanova High School, the comedy stars Tom Cavanagh, Mark Rendall, and Fred Willard.

“It’s really exciting being a part of this series that shines a light on the University of Windsor film program,” Bezaire says. “I’m a proud CMF alumnus, and wouldn’t be where I am in my career today without what I learned there.”

Each feature film will be preceded by a short made by a recent graduate of the program, and followed by a discussion with the filmmakers, who will be travelling in from across the country.

Friday’s short subject is Rough Love by Gemma Eve, who says she is honoured to be part of the series.

“I share my CMF degree with great friends, talented crew members, inspiring professors, my boyfriend, my twin brother, and my mother,” says Eve. “When you graduate from CMF, you not only receive an education in filmmaking, but you gain a family as well.”

The series will continue:

  • Feb. 28, The Rise and Fall of the Grumpy Burger, directed by Matt Gallagher; and Defender, directed by Braunte Petric;
  • March 20, Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer, produced by Patrick White; and Obscura, directed by Armend Bajrami.

The screenings will take place in the Performance Hall, SoCA Armouries, 37 University Ave. East. Admission is free. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the films begin at 7:30 p.m.