Week in Widescreen: Star Wars FX awoken in Gastown and picks of some great art films

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      VanJakku

      Key members of Industrial Light & Magic’s Vancouver team reveal which bits of a galaxy far, far away were actually created in Gastown at this year’s Spark FX symposium and career fair, at the Vancity Theatre on Saturday (February 6).

      Two other presentations indicate what kind of year it’s been in the FX industry: Oscar nominee Paul Norris explains how his team made the world’s sexiest robot for Ex Machina, while compositing supervisor Lindsay Adams walks attendees through the toxic-storm sequence from Mad Max: Fury Road. More info is at www.sparkfx.ca/.

      The projector: What to see and where to see it 

      Out 1: Noli me tangere
      The Cinematheque screens Jacques Rivette’s newly restored, slightly demented 13-hour opus over seven nights starting Friday (February 5), just a week after the new wave master’s death in late January.

      She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry
      Director Mary Dore’s rousing overview of the late-’60s women’s movement in the U.S. receives a Rated for Youth screening for you and your riot-daughter at the Vancity Theatre on Sunday (February 7).

      Heleno 
      Celebrating the announcement of Brazil as this year’s guest country, the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival brings 2011’s acclaimed Heleno de Freitas biopic back to the Cinematheque on Tuesday (February 9).

      Paul à Québec

      Praise has been heaped on actor Gilbert Sicotte for his performance as a family patriarch succumbing to pancreatic cancer in director François Bouvier’s warm audience favourite, which opens the 22nd Rendez-vous French Film Festival at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) on Thursday (February 4). It screens again at Auditorium Jules-Verne (5445 Baillie Street) on Sunday (February 7). For the full 11-day schedule, which includes Le coeur de Madame Sabali (“A quirky treat on many levels”—Ken Eisner), visit www.rendez-vousvancouver.com/

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