Doc Soup is a monthly screening series that treats audiences to the best in documentary features. We had an email conversation with Stephen Schroeder, Executive Director of the Calgary International Film Festival, one of the co-producers of the Calgary Doc Soup, about the series, and the last film they are showing for this season:
Q: How did Doc Soup start?
A: Doc Soup Calgary started in Fall 2008, and has run every year since then. Doc Soup is actually a national series, originated by Toronto’s Hot Docs International Documentary Festival. Doc Soup Calgary is co-produced by Hot Docs and CIFF, and the other Doc Soups in other cities are co-produced by Hot Docs and local partners in each location.
Q: What kinds of films do you show? What niche does it fill in the Calgary film scene?
A: They are all new, notable (and, in many cases, award-winning) documentary films. Calgary has a great audience for docs. In fact, Doc Soup Calgary is by far the best attended of all the various Doc Soups in Canada.
Q: How are the films selected?
A: CIFF and Hot Docs jointly select each month’s film. CIFF Senior Features Programmer Brenda Lieberman represents CIFF in the selection process, and has been doing an amazing job. She really has a great sense of what Calgary audiences want to see.
Q: How was the attendance of this year’s series?
A: Last year’s series set a new attendance record, but this year’s (2013-14) is already on track to beat that. The audience has grown to the point where most of the screenings sell out, so folks should get their tickets early, or, better yet, buy a series subscription next year. Total Doc Soup attendance for the 2013-14 series is expected to hit about 2,000. There are six films in the series, one per month, from November 2013 through April 2014.
Q: Why should people attend the last film?
A: Tim’s Vermeer is the last film. It was hugely successful at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival, and is the story of one of the art world’s greatest mysteries.
Q: What is being planned for next year?
A: Doc Soup Calgary will be back for another great series from November 2014 through April 2015! Subscriptions are the best deal, and also guarantee entry in the event of a sold out film. Subscriptions will go on sale later this Spring, and the first film of the series (November’s film) will be announced in September 2014 during the 15th annual Calgary International Film Festival.
TIM’S VERMEER
Wednesday, April 2, 2014, 7:00 PM
Cineplex Odeon Eau Claire Market Cinemas, 200 Barclay Parade Southwest
$13.00
Buy tickets here.
