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The event opens on Wednesday, February 5 with a presentation from author and long time "Batman" executive producer Michael Uslan, who will share his experience acquiring the film rights for the caped crusader and the long road to production on the classic "Batman" through 20+ years into Christopher Nolan's successful "The Dark Knight Trilogy." As an expert in the field of comic books, Mr. Uslan created and taught the first accredited college course on comics, and as a lifelong fan of "Batman" Mr. Uslan will bring his passion and love of comics and film to Vancouver. A special 25th anniversary screening of Tim Burton's 1989 critical and box office hit "Batman" will follow his presentation.

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We are busy finalizing the schedule. More information will be available very soon.

Festival: February 5 - 9, 2014
Conference: February 6 - 8, 2014
Job Fair: February 7 & 8, 2014

SCHEDULE

Wednesday - February 5, 6:00 PM
EVENT
Opening Mixer
Free with "Batman" presentation. Also included for Conference Pass holders.
Sorry, no minors.

VENUE: Citytv Atrium Lounge, 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver, Canada

There's no better way to kick off an event than with a party! We invite you to join us for opening night of Spark [FWD]. It's a fantastic way to meet and network with guests, other attendees and industry leaders in a casual, friendly atmosphere.

Wednesday - February 5, 7:00 PM
FILM
From Fan to Filmmaker: The Journey to Bring Batman to the Silver Screen
With Michael E. Uslan
Includes Opening Mixer and Screening of "Batman" (1989)

VENUE: Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver, Canada

Credited with creating and teaching the first accredited course on comics, Michael Uslan has been a comic book, and specifically Batman, fan since childhood. As the constant force behind the Batman films, from executive producing Tim Burton's "Batman" to Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight Trilogy," and with the release of his book "The Boy Who Loved Batman: A Memoir," Mr. Uslan is the leading expert on Batman and in the course of his presentation, he recalls the long journey in acquiring the rights to the caped crusader and the decades long struggle toiling in Hollywood in an effort to bring "Batman" to the silver screen as the dark and serious character he has always been.

Mr. Uslan's presentation will be followed by a book signing and a 25th anniversary screening of Tim Burton's "Batman" starring Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson and Kim Basinger.

BIOGRAPHY

Michael E. Uslan
A teacher, writer and executive producer, Michael Uslan has been passionate about comic books and Batman in particular, since childhood. He began sharing his passion while at Indiana University where he created and taught the first ever accredited college course in comics.

His career as a producer began in 1979 when Mr. Uslan acquired the rights to "Batman" from DC comics but it would be nearly twenty years before his dream of bringing the caped crusader to the big screen would be fulfilled but that dream became a reality in 1989 with the release of Tim Burton's "Batman."

In the years since his initial success, Mr. Uslan has continued to be involved with the production of all of the "Batman" movies, most recently with the hugely successful "The Dark Knight Trilogy," and also written a book "The Boy Who Loved Batman" which chronicles his youthful passion for his favourite comic book character from the early years to today.

Wednesday - February 5, 9:00 PM
FILM
Batman
1989 // USA // Dir.: Tim Burton // 127 min // PG
(free with Michael Uslan's presentation)

VENUE: Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver, Canada

Gotham City has fallen into harsh times. The once safe streets are becoming increasingly unsafe and though D.A. Harvey Dent and commissioner Jim Gordon are doing their best to quell the violence but the emergence of a villainous character simply known as Joker, is proving to be more than they can handle — that is, until a brooding and mysterious vigilante known as "the Batman" appears to clean up the streets and rid Gotham City of the Joker.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Tim Burton's adaptation propelled Batman into a new, darker and more serious period. With great performances from Michael Keaton as the caped crusader and Jack Nicholson as the Joker, Burton's "Batman" cemented comic book adaptations not only as viable, commercial projects but also delved deep into the psyche of heroes and villains.

© 1989 · Warner Bros. All Rights Reserved.

Thursday - February 6, 7:15 PM
FILM
Depth Perception: Short Stories in 3D
120min // S3D // select films in 4K
Curated by Denise Quesnel

VENUE: Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street

"Depth Perception: Short Stories in 3D" features award-winning international films from Singapore, Poland, Germany, France, USA and Canada. From a film made for a motion cinema ride, to films created for viewing in museums, another crafted for multi-projection installation, and yet more created for traditional cinema, this selection of films represents a variety of creative stereoscopy and storytelling. This program contains a selection of live action, computer generated and animated shorts curated to generate inspiration and creativity in those that view them.

FILM LIST

"A Lapse of Time"
2013 // France // Dir.: Céline Tricart // 15 min // S3D

A child finds himself seeking shelter in the most unlikely of places during a wintery hide-and-seek game: the astronomically-tuned clocks of the city's cathedral. After making a small error inside the clock, years pass and the child now grown into an adult (and a established clockworker). He discovers time is slowing down...

"Elysian Fields"
2013 // Singapore // Dir.: Ina Conradi Chavez // 11 min // S3D

Imagined as an infinite loop, the story weaves in and out from an inevitably doomed air chase, into death, afterlife and resurrection, only to arrive at a surreal space of a parallel dimension. Inspired by the sacrifices made by generations preceding us and expanding upon an exploration of World War II, "Elysian Fields" fuses fantastical and historical into a surreal reconfiguration of the present.

"City of Ruins"
2010 // Poland // Dir.: Platige Image, The Warsaw Rising Museum // 5 min // S3D

Spring, 1945. The Liberator plane lowers its flight altitude, goes below the cloud line. It flies north, along the Vistula river and finds itself above the recent uprising fighting grounds, above the destroyed Warsaw. This is the beginning of City of Ruins, Poland's first digital 3D (stereoscopic) re-creation of a city destroyed during the Second World War.

"Daily Battles"
2012 // Canada // Dir.: James Stewart // 7 min // S3D

"Daily Battles" features the unique storytelling style of artist Béatrice Coron in a collaboration with 3D director James Stewart. In a fantastical stereo 3D environment, "Daily Battles" conjures up the annoyances of everyday life while also delivering a visual feast. "I didn't want to simply do an animated film based on [Coron's] characters. I wanted the viewer to get a feeling of being able to lean into her work and get a sense of magnificent depth while still seeing the cut-strokes of her craft." — James Stewart

"The End of Pinky"
2013 // Canada // Dir.: Claire Blanchet // 8 min // S3D

The End of Pinky revolves around three fallen angels seeking companionship and humanity in the shadows of Montreal's red-light district. The film's hand-drawn pencil and pastel animation, rendered in stereoscopic 3D, conjures a seedy world whose sepia-toned palette evokes cheap whiskey and nicotine stains. The End of Pinky is adapted from an original short story of the same name by award-winning writer Heather O'Neill, who also narrates.

"Subconscious Password"
2013 // Canada // Dir.: Chris Landreth // 11 min // S3D

In the middle of a crowded bar, Charles finds himself feeling increasingly desperate. The cause of his misery is an old friend he's just run into; his old friend... you know... what's-his-name... Subconscious Password uses a common social gaffe—forgetting somebody's name — as the starting point for a mind-bending romp through the unconscious.

"Globosome"
2013 // Germany // Dir.: Sascha Geddert, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg // 5:30 min // S3D

In the vastness of space, there's a a small speck of rock inhabited by the most peculiar lifeforms: Dark little dots that start to replicate fast and begin to show signs of intelligence. "Globosome" tells the story of the rise and fall of these little creatures.

"Foxed!"
2013 // Canada // Dir.: James Stewart // 4 min // S3D

Beware of what hides behind the mirror. The menacing stereoscopic 3D, stop-motion world of "Foxed!" reveals young Emily toiling in the mines beneath her house, imprisoned by foxes who have tricked the adults. The stereo 3D techniques in "Foxed!" perfectly convey the unsettling emotional journey of Emily and the foxes that are out to do more than just raid houses.

"Luigi's Pizzaride"
2011 // Germany // Dir.: Florian Werzinski // 2:30 min // S3D

Luigi's Pizzaride 3D was inspired by Florian Werzinski's experience working as a projectionist in a theatre that specialized in motion rides. All the elements in the short film were created by Werzinski alone, and the end result is a motion ride movie intended to play in 4D cinemas (but you cans till experience Luigi's journey to full effect in a regular cinema, too). Luigi must deliver his pizzas hot and fresh, no matter what happens to be in his way! Animago 2011 winner for "best stereo-3D production."

"Souviens-moi" / "Forget Me Not"
2013 // France // Dir.: Joséphine Derobe // 15 min // S3D

Director Josephine Derobe explores immersive sound and image with this stereoscopic 3D film about a young man (Thomas) who returns to his childhood home and goes head-to-head with his young, carefree self. The film explores themes of memory and perception, aided by the use of stereoscopy and volume in creating new emotional depths. "Souviens-moi" won two European International 3D & Advanced Imaging Society awards in December 2013.

"Atmosphere 3D"
2013 // Japan, USA // Dir.: Ikuo Nakamura // 5 min // S3D // 4K

Filmed in several locations around the world, "Atmosphere 3D" is described by its director, Ikuo Nakamura as "a visual essay of earth wind and sky". The film has won multiple awards and features unique 3D time-lapse techniques. This will be its Canadian premiere. A special thank-you to Dimitris Athos for arranging this screening.

"The Battle of Grunwald"
2012 // Poland // Dir.: Platige Image // 3:30 min // S3D

The world's first stereoscopic reconstruction of a painting, by Jan Matejko "The Battle of Grunwald" which depicts the greatest battle of the Middle Ages. 67 unique characters, each rendered as three-dimensional models, come together to form a clear spatial composition. Depth and perspective appear "within arm's reach", inviting the viewer into the canvas to experience it from a new perspective.

"Impromptu"
2013 // Canada // Dir.: Bruce Alcock // 10 min // S3D

"Impromptu" reminds us of the redemptive power of food, wine, music and love, as seen through the eyes of a modern man. Like the piano impromptu from which the film takes its name, the animation embodies the fleeting occurrence of those inner eureka moments that carry us forward—and bring order to the chaos of life's rich pageant.

Friday - February 7, 7:15 PM
FILM
Pacific Rim (3D)
2013 // USA // Dir.: Guillermo del Toro // 131 min // PG

VENUE: Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street

In a future where humanity is at war with monstrous sea creatures from another realm known as Kaiju, the scientific minds of the world have created giant robots known as Jaegers to fight off the invasion. Controlled simultaneously by two pilots whose minds are locked in a neural bridge, the last bastion of Jaegers are gearing up for final battle to save the human race from extinction.

With years of passion for monster movies and Japanese meka under his belt, writer/director Guillermo del Toro's "Pacific Rim" is a monumental mix of spectacle and heart. Cheer inducing battle sequences are mixed with a story of friendship making, "Pacific Rim" the kind of great blockbuster that will be continue to wow viewers for years to come.

© 2013 · Warner Bros. All Rights Reserved.

Saturday - February 8, 7:00 PM
FILM
Jurassic Park (3D)
1993 // USA // Dir.: Steven Spielberg // 127 min // 14A

VENUE: Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street

Money can buy dreams and mogul John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) has brought his to life with a theme park located on a remote island but he may have gone too far with Jurassic Park which Hammond has envisioned as an adventure park complete with dinosaur clones. Palaeontologist Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neil) and his assistant, Dr. Ellie Sattler, are invited to the park to ensure that it safe for the public but during their preview tour, the park suffers a power breakdown that leads to the exhibits breaking out of their containment areas.

Winner of three Academy Awards, Steven Spielberg's "Jurassic Park" pushed visual effects into a new era. In time for its 20th anniversary, Universal Pictures remastered the ground breaking epic into state-of-the-art 3D, introducing an entire new generation of moviegoers to a film which is as awe inspiring and terrifying today as it was two decades ago.

© 1993 · Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Saturday - February 8, 9:00 PM
FILM
Closing Conference Party
Included with Conference Pass.
Sorry, no minors.

VENUE: Citytv Atrium Lounge, 1181 Seymour Street

Farewell! Join us as we say goodbye to another successful year of SPARK [FWD]. With the conference nearing its end for 2014, spend some time unwinding from the days of presentations, networking and meetings with drinks in the comfortable Citytv Atrium Lounge of the Vancouver International Film Centre.

Sunday - February 9, 3:00 PM
FILM
The Wizard of Oz (3D)
1939 // USA // Dir.: Victor Fleming // 102 min // G

VENUE: Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street

In the timeless adaptation of L. Frank Baum's series, Dorothy (Judy Garland) and her dog Toto are caught in the path of a tornado that sweeps them into the magical land of Oz. There, Dorothy makes a number of new friends who accompany her on an adventure to the Emerald City where she is to meet The Wizard of Oz who, she hopes, can return her home to Kansas.

For nearly 75 years Victor Fleming's fantastical musical adventure has been delighting children and adults alike. There is magic as the black and white of Kansas gives way to the lush colour or Oz, and Dorothy's adventure, full of excitement and occasional terror (once seen there is no way to forget the flying monkeys), continues to enchant audiences.

© 1939 · Warner Bros. All Rights Reserved.

Sunday - February 9, 5:00 PM
FILM
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
1954 // USA // Dir.: Richard Fleischer // 127 min // G
Introduction by Michael van den Bos

VENUE: Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street

An adaptation of Jules Verne's classic novel, Richard Fleischer's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" stars Kirk Douglas as Ned Land, a professional whaler who joins an expedition to disprove the existence of a vicious narwhal credited with sinking numerous ships. What they find instead is an advance submarine, the Nautilus, commanded by Captain Nemo (James Mason).

Walt Disney's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" features a lot of first for Disney: it was the first science fiction film produced by the company, it was the only science fiction film personally produced by Mr. Disney and it is often credited as an early example of steampunk. The Oscar-winning film also features breathtaking underwater scenes and spectacular monster effects that still impress in the wake of modern technology.

© 1954 · Disney Enterprises. All Rights Reserved.

Sunday - February 9, 7:30 PM
FILM
Creature from the Black Lagoon (3D)
1954 // USA // Dir.: Jack Arnold // 79 min // PG
Introduction by Stan Hyde

VENUE: Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street

While on a geology expedition to the Amazon, a research team encounters a living prehistoric creature. Part reptile and part human, Gill-Man doesn't take well to the researcher's attempts to capture him. Dr. Maia's team eventually succeeds but Gill-Man breaks free, later returning to the science ship to claim his prize: Kay Lawrence, a beautiful young woman who is accompanying the expedition.

One of Universal's Classic Monsters, "Creature from the Black Lagoon" has become a pop culture mainstay, influencing everything from music to comics. The film has not always seen as intended; originally filmed in 3D, it was largely screened in 2D and later, in re-release and on home video, in inferior anaglyph 3D. Don't miss the opportunity to see it in newly remastered 3D!

© 1954 · Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Sunday - February 9, 9:15 PM
FILM
House of Wax (3D)
1953 // USA // Dir.: André De Toth // 88 min // 18A
Introduction by Stan Hyde

VENUE: Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street

Professor Henry Jarrod (Vincent Price) and his partner Matthew Burke (Roy Roberts), run a moderately successful wax museum but when Burke asks Jarrod to produce larger, more sensational exhibits in an effort to raise profits, Jarrod refuses. Angry and looking to collect the insurance money, Burke sets fire to the museum, killing Jarrod in the process. Or so he thinks.

A classic 1950's horror, "House of Wax" is proof that not all remakes are created equal. Removing the comic relief from "Mystery of the Wax Museum," director André de Toth created not only a masterpiece of the 3D era but a horror film that still holds up today. Warner Brothers completed a 4K scan of all three strips of the Technicolor elements for the movie's 60th anniversary, making this the best transfer ever seen on the big screen!

© 1953 · Warner Bros. All Rights Reserved.

BIOGRAPHIES

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