A local filmmaker will be showcasing his documentary at the Real to Reel Film Festival in Winnipeg this weekend.
Alex Reimer and his wife, Miriam, set out on a journey across Europe to film and produce this compelling piece.
“We loaded up ourselves into a tiny little camper van and we drove across the continent. It was kind of a once in a lifetime opportunity for us.”
Titled Things Unseen, the documentary delves into the hidden stories of faith.
“We filmed in Europe visiting a number of different missionary couples across Europe in different countries and just really embedding ourselves in their lives and in their everyday story and just trying to see how God works through the everyday parts of their lives,” Reimer explains.
The couple had spent several years working as missionaries abroad, and this project provided a meaningful way to conclude their mission work.
“A little bit of a going away present perhaps to the missionary community that we've been a part of out there. And also, just really a good way to end our time out there as well, as we transitioned back to Canada and Steinbach.”
Although Reimer has worked as a filmmaker for many years, this marks his first documentary created for his own project. The film premiered in Steinbach last June and is now set to make its return to the big screen.
“We've been honoured to be part of the Real to Reel Film Festival. It’s a festival that happens here in Winnipeg every year around this time in February and Things Unseen is showing there along with a number of other great films,” he shares.
The festival began on Tuesday, February 18, and will run until Sunday, February 23.
“Ours is showing on Saturday the 22 at 1:00. It's part of the short docs, one block and it'll be right there alongside two other half-hour long documentaries as well.”
Being part of the festival is significant to Reimer, as it provides recognition for his work and the opportunity to be involved in something larger.
“To be able to showcase your work alongside other people's work. When you come to a Film Festival, you don't just come for necessarily one film, you come for the whole experience. And so you get to see all different types of things and you get to experience things that you normally don't get experience at home or streaming on Netflix or anything like that,” Reimer explains.
The experience also allows him to connect with fellow filmmakers.
“It's also a great time to connect as a filmmaking community and oftentimes at a Film Festival, the people who made this stuff are right there. And so you can chat with them, thank them, or tell them what they did wrong, perhaps if that's your opinion. It's just a good time.”
While it can be nerve-wracking to have other creators and spectators view his work, Reimer sees it as a valuable opportunity.
“When you're making films, you don't often get that feedback. And so being able to watch it in front of a live audience is actually very refreshing. And so you get to see what parts work for people, what parts don't, and it’s just a good feedback loop between you and your audience,” he says.
Cullen Klassen, a cinematographer from Steinbach also has a documentary featured at the festival and it can be seen on Saturday, February 22 at 1:30 PM.
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To watch Things Unseen, Missionary: Obeying the Great Commission, and other projects featured at the festival, tickets are available at winnipegfilmfestival.com.
With files from Kenton Dyck