Students looking to cure their Monday night boredom can now take in a new cinematic experience weekly.
From Sept. 9 to Dec. 9, the N.B. Film Co-op is hosting a film series every Monday at 7:30 p.m. in Tilley Hall on the UNB campus.
In partnership with UNB’s Faculty of Arts and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) circuit, this series screens limited-release independent films that are not otherwise available in regular cinemas.
All stories centre on people and their personal journeys.
Tony Merzetti, executive director of the N.B. Film Co-op, said it’s essential people are aware of the films being made in Canada and around the world.
The series will include three Canadian films and the rest international. The genres of each film range from drama to comedy to historical fiction and non-fiction.
“There’s a lot of great filmmakers out there who are telling important stories,” said Merzetti.
Besides acting as co-organizer of this event, he’s also an award-winning cinematographer and film professor at UNB.
The Monday Night Film series, originally established in the 1980s, underwent several changes in organizers before landing in the hands of the N.B. Film Co-op in 2005. It has been running ever since, except for the COVID-19 lockdown period.
“I think there’s something special still about going to a cinema with a whole bunch of people and sitting in the dark and having that shared experience,” Merzetti said.
The first screening of the 2024 season was the drama Riceboy Sleeps, starring Ethan Hwang, who plays Ben Hargreeves in The Umbrella Academy. Hwang attended the screening and took questions afterwards.
Merzetti also praised the film for its ability to connect and resonate with its audience.
“I like films where you just sort of reach a point where you almost get tearful or emotional because the film has just pulled you into that world,” said Merzetti.
When he was a student at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Merzetti attended the Atlantic Film Festival for the first time cultivating an appreciation of cinema he has held ever since.
He encourages students to take a break from their studies and attend the film series for an experience unlike any other.
Next year, the N.B. Film Co-op will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the series.
