Matthew Downs is curating passion and perspective at the 9th annual Forest City Film Festival
“I have to narrow it down to what will resonate the most with the audience, and will showcase a diverse selection… from around the globe.” ~ Matthew Downs
Screen & Words
Stunning new novel “However Far Away” explores settling and home
“Thematically, I was attempting to write a story that would explore all the different meanings of this word ‘settle’: making a home, shifting ground, acceptance and compromise, paying off a debt, getting even, and settler vs. Indigenous.” ~ Rajinderpal S. Pal
In his new film, HAUI is amplifying Aunt Harriet’s voice
“Her story drew me in, and I felt it was one that needed to be told.” ~ HAUI
Amanda Peters’ new story collection avoids “trauma trap” in favour of light and hope
“I hope the readers enjoy the stories. They were gifted to me, and I was given the responsibility to write them. So I now gift them to you to enjoy.” ~ Interview with Amanda Peters
Interview: Emily A. Weedon crafts a chilling new world in Autokrator
Weedon was inspired by Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, particularly the motif of women dressing as men to “to get things done in a man’s world. I was working with the idea of disguising gender as a story point…” Interview with Emily A. Weedon
Interview: Lily Chu’s new novel “The Takedown” is a rom-com with heart and substance
“I write escapist rom-coms but, like many of us, my characters struggle against the challenges presented by racism, sexism, and mental health issues.” ~ Lily Chu
Author Stephanie Wrobel’s new thriller invites you to “The Hitchcock Hotel”
“This one, as you said, is about the twists and turns.” ~ Stephanie Wrobel
Caroline Woodward’s latest book invites readers on a coastal adventure
“It was a joy to be able to express some of the things I had seen and experienced in a playful way (like the very smelly sea lion herd, for instance) in this book.” Interview with Caroline Woodward
Michelle Wang explores dementia and celebrates family in new book
“Instead of mourning what had been, we chose to live fully in the moment.” Interview with Michelle Wang
Roz Nay’s latest novel The Offing is both a twisty thriller and a cautionary tale
“Women are still preyed upon more than men, and so I wanted to write a book that highlights the gaps and imbalances that still exist…” Interview with Roz Nay