The IMAX Victoria Film Festival returns to the largest screen in British Columbia.
Showcasing seven exciting films, including the local film Lost Orca: The Legend of Luna, the festival runs through March 16 at IMAX Victoria, located at the Royal BC Museum in downtown Victoria.
Lost Orca is an adaptation of Michael Parfit and Suzanne Chisholm’s 2001 film Saving Luna, by Mountainside Films. Luna, a baby orca who lost contact with his family off the coast of Vancouver Island, became a beloved figure after seeking companionship from humans in 2001.
Over the past four years, Parfit and Chisholm have adapted the film for the giant screen with spectacular new high-resolution photography shot in Nootka Sound, off the west coast of Vancouver Island.
“The grandeur of Luna’s story has grown,” Parfit says. “Twenty years have told us how unusual he was. Today some things seem to matter less, but others matter much more.”
The film’s story has evolved over time, shifting the narration and the storytelling themes to be less about the controversies that surrounded the young whale – everything from government intervention and the impact of human interference to scientific observations – and more about what humans can learn from Luna.
“Luna’s story is timeless,” Parfit says. “But neither whales nor humans are simple beings, so every time you think about this story, his life offers new insights and ideas. It always will.”
Alongside Lost Orca will be a selection of films that traverse the natural and artistic worlds, including Extreme Weather and Meerkats from National Geographic, MacGillivray Freeman’s Journey to the South Pacific, Ireland and Lasting Impressions 3D, plus Volcanoes: The Fires of Creation from SK Films.
A unique addition to the IMAX Victoria adventure this year is Mesmerica XL a visual journey combining music from Grammy-nominated composer and percussionist James Hood with hypnotic 3D animations curated from artists around the world. The film creates an immersive experience designed to transcend time while stimulating your mind and senses.
Regular pricing applies for all IMAX Victoria Film Festival documentaries, with special pricing for Mesmerica XL with discounts for members. (Note that children under six are not permitted for this film.)
See the full schedule at imaxvictoria.com
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