Click here for a pdf of our 56-page 2016 Reel Shorts Film Festival program. To browse a listing of all of the films, click here. Fest passes include access to everything at no extra charge and are available to purchase for $65. Contact Grande Prairie Live Theatre to purchase by phone (780.538.1616) or at the Box Office (10130 – 98 Avenue).

To read comments from audience members, teachers, and filmmakers about the 2015 festival, click here.

Mon, May 9

Douglas J. Cardinal Theatre, GPRC

• 9:30 am: Friend/Enemy (Gr 9-12 Social Studies); 14+ (Coarse Language, Violence); $6
• 12:30 pm: Reality Check (Gr 9-12 English/Languages); 14+ (Coarse Language); $6

Grande Prairie Live Theatre

• 9:30 am: Let’s Play (Gr 1-3); 5+; $6
• 12:30 pm: Big Dreams (Gr 6-9); 10+ (Violence, Nudity, Frightening Scenes); $6 – includes a Q&A with The OceanMaker Writer/Producer/Director Lucas Martell and Producer Christina Martell

Tues, May 10

Grande Prairie Live Theatre

• 7:30 pm: Could Be Love – presented by Q99 and the Holiday Inn; 14+ (Coarse Language, Nudity, Sexual Content); $12 ($8 students) – includes a Q&A with Smooth Moves Writer/Producer/Directors Chris Beauchamp and Cris Seppola-Podsada (with afterparty)
• 10:00 pm: Afterparty @ Ricky’s All Day Grill, 12335 – 99 St

Wed, May 11

Grande Prairie Live Theatre

• 9:45 am: Big Dreams (Gr 6-9); 10+ (Violence, Nudity, Frightening Scenes); $6 – includes a Q&A with The OceanMaker Writer/Producer/Director Lucas Martell and Producer Christina Martell
• 12:30 pm: A Small World (Gr 4-6); 10+; $6
• 6:00 pm: Here Now & Hereafter – presented by Bear Creek Funeral Home; 14+ (Coarse Language); $12 ($8 students)
• 8:45 pm: Big Dreams – presented by Q99 and the Crown & Anchor Pub; 10+ (Violence, Nudity, Frightening Scenes); $12 ($8 students) – includes a Q&A with The OceanMaker Writer/Producer/Director Lucas Martell and Producer Christina Martell (with afterparty)
• 11:00 pm: Afterparty @ Crown & Anchor Pub, 8022 – 100 St

Thur, May 12

Grande Prairie Live Theatre

• 1:30 pm: Let’s Play (Gr 1-3); 5+; $6
• 6:00 pm: You’ve Got Male; 14+ (Crude Content, Sexual Content, Nudity, Substance Abuse); $12 ($8 students)
• 8:45 pm: No Men Beyond This Point – presented by 2day FM and Mr. Mikes Steakhouse Casual; PG; $12 ($8 students) – a feature film (comedy) with Writer/Director Mark Sawers in attendance for a Q&A – watch the trailer here or see below (with afterparty)
• 10:50 pm: Afterparty @ Mr. Mikes Steakhouse Casual, 10214 – 116 Ave

Fri, May 13

Grande Prairie Live Theatre

• 9:30 am: A Small World (Gr 4-6); 10+; $6
• 12:30 pm: Let’s Play (Gr 1-3); 5+; $6
• 4:00 pm: Could Be Love – presented by Q99 and the Holiday Inn; 14+ (Coarse Language, Nudity, Sexual Content); $12 ($8 students) – includes a Q&A with Smooth Moves Writer/Producer/Directors Chris Beauchamp and Cris Seppola-Podsada
• 6:30 pm: Turning Point; 14+ (Coarse Language, Violence); $12 ($8 students) – includes a Q&A with Leaving Sid Writer/Producer/Director Monty Simo
• 9:15 pm: Psycho Shorts & Pizza Party – presented by Rock 97.7 and Pizza Hut; 14+ (Coarse Language, Nudity, Violence); $25 (includes pizza and pop at 11:15 pm) – includes a Q&A with Lazarus Producer Eric Durnford and The Souvenir Writer/Producer/Directors Chris Beauchamp and Gordie Haakstad
• 11:15 pm: Pizza Party & Psycho Shorts – presented by Rock 97.7 and Pizza Hut; 14+ (Coarse Language, Nudity, Violence); $25 (includes pizza and pop at 11:15 pm followed by Psycho Shorts at midnight) – includes an intro with Lazarus Producer Eric Durnford and The Souvenir Writer/Producer/Directors Gordie Haakstad and Chris Beauchamp

Sat, May 14

Muskoseepi Pavilion

Filmmaker Insights Day – a collaboration with PRIMAA (Peace Region Independent Media Arts Association)

• 10:30 am – 2:00 pm: Making Oceans – Behind the Scenes of “The OceanMaker” workshop; $40 ($30 students); Presenters Writer/Producer/Director Lucas Martell and Producer Christina Martell
• 2:15 pm – 3:00 pm: Panel 1: Looking for Laurels – Crafting a Festival Strategy; $12 ($8 students); Panelist Christina Martell
• 3:30 pm – 4:15 pm: Panel 2: Writing a Great Screenplay – The Long and Short of It; $12 ($8 students); Panelists Scott Belyea, Lucas Martell, and Mark Sawers
• 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: Panel 3: Moving on Up – Turning Short Film Success into Career Longevity – presented by Community Futures Grande Prairie; $12 ($8 students); Panelists Scott Belyea, Lucas Martell, Mark Sawers, and Andrew Scholotiuk

Grande Prairie Live Theatre

• 11:00 am: Friend/Enemy; 14+ (Coarse Language, Violence); $12 ($8 students)
• 1:30 pm: Reality Check; 14+ (Coarse Language); $12 ($8 students)
• 4:00 pm: Let’s Play (Family Package); 5+; $6
• 6:30 pm: Peace Region & Guest Encore – presented by Decca Industries; 14+ (Coarse Language); $12 ($8 students)
• 8:30 pm: Criminal Minds – presented by 2day FM; 14+ (Coarse Language, Violence, Substance Abuse); $12 ($8 students); (with afterparty)
• 10:00 pm: Afterparty @ GPLT Encore Lounge, 10130 – 98 Ave

Sun, May 15

Grande Prairie Live Theatre

• 11:15 am: Animation Roundtable with Lucas Martell/ $15 (Fest Pass holders must register in advance)
• 12:30 pm: Best of the Fest – presented by Big Country and Hansen Ford Lincoln; 14+; $15 ($10 students)
• 3:30 pm: Frantic48; 14+; $12 ($8 students) – presented by PRIMAA (Peace Region Independent Media Arts Association)
• 6:00 pm: Frantic48; 14+; $12 ($8 students – presented by PRIMAA (Peace Region Independent Media Arts Association))
• 9:00 pm: Best of the Fest – presented by Big Country and Hansen Ford Lincoln; 14+; $15 ($10 students)

Mon, May 16

Douglas J. Cardinal Theatre, GPRC

• 1:15 pm: Let’s Play (Gr 1-3); 5+; $6

Grande Prairie Live Theatre

• 7:30 pm: Best of the Fest – presented by Big Country and Hansen Ford Lincoln; 14+; $15 ($10 students)

Tues, May 17

Grande Prairie Live Theatre

• 10:15 am: Friend/Enemy (Gr 9-12 Social Studies); 14+ (Coarse Language, Violence); $6
• 12:30 pm: Reality Check (Gr 9-12 English/Languages); 14+ (Coarse Language); $6

A Note on Ratings

The age ratings and advisories given above are provided by the festival’s programming team as a guideline only. Advisories relate to the age rating, therefore an advisory of 10+ (Nudity) could refer to an animated film that takes place in an art museum that has nude works of art. Many parents would be fine with their 10-year-old seeing such a film, whereas a film rated 14+ (Nudity, Sexual Content) could be considered by many parents to be inappropriate viewing even if the child is 14 years old although acceptable at age 16 or 17 (i.e. not so explicit as to be rated 18+). An advisory of 10+ (Mature Subject Matter) could refer to a child dealing with the death of a parent whereas an advisory of 14+ (Mature Subject Matter) could refer to a character who is contemplating suicide. The festival’s age rating system is similar but not identical to the following ratings used by Alberta Film Classification:

• 5+ – roughly equivalent to a G rating
• 10+ – roughly equivalent to a PG rating
• 14+ – roughly equivalent to a 14A rating
• 18+ – roughly equivalent to an 18A or R rating

Additional Info

Looking for accommodation and other attractions? Check out the Visitor Info page. Venue locations can be found by clicking on Locations.

No Men Beyond This Point trailer – Thur, May 12 @ 8:45 pm or by request for a school screening Thur morning, May 12