Chilliwack Independent Film Festival

I am super excited to help the Chilliwack Independent Film Festival (CIFF) in the coolest way possible...Volunteer Coordinator!

It's a leap from last year! I only volunteered on the Sunday, however I stumbled upon the coolest experience on Saturday that year.

As you may know, I do Improv. Our shows are at Cowork Chilliwack in the coolest StudioC. Behind the stage's curtain is the coolest Control Room I have ever seen. I asked the Owner of Cowork aka Control Room Master, Tim McAlpine if I could sit in the Control Room and experience the magic? He said yes and allowed me to sit in during the CIFF Industry Talks. 

To be honest, I know nothing about the film industry. The talks were extremely fascinating even to a laywoman like me. However to me, better than the awesome talks, were the people! I was honored to meet the coolest Film Industry Big Wigs who are the nicest, most grounded fascinating humans. They are the epitome of, you can be the nicest person ever and still conquer the top, only to look down on someone to help them up. Then there were the filmmakers in the audience! What a vibe! Creative, fun, humble humans.

To be creative is to be vulnerable is something I like to say a lot. At the film festival you have so many people being vulnerable. The best part, they can. The atmosphere at the festival is so welcoming and encouraging.

Going back to my volunteer experience with the festival. I only helped on the Sunday for the film festival backstage with the Awards. This time fate gave me another cool task.

Gigi Saul Guerrero hosted the awards. I remember her walking up and she shone! Her smile so radiant that I instantly became shy however she quickly abated any anxiety. She was so so so nice and instantly put me at ease. It was awesome being off stage handing her the awards as she presented. She even thanked me on stage! 

While volunteering Sunday, I found out the coolest thing! I knew the Festival Director, Taras Groves! Turns out he worked at the Starbucks I frequented near my work years ago. Remembering the soft spoken nice guy that he is, it was awesome to see him in his element. Here in the festival, he thrived and you can tell he cares deeply about the filmmakers and everyone else who orbit the festival. 

Whether you are filmmaker or film lover, or like me you just love awesome people, the festival is for you! For a great price you can experience so many films and industry talks.

#ciff #filmmakers #films #chilliwack #cowork #voicefreq #voiceover