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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday October 17, 2008 - 35 Artscene Oakville Beaver · FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2008 Film series success pops funds into local groups By Tina Depko Oakville Arts Council started running movie nights about 10 years ago. The event moved to various area theatres over the years until it Monday Night @ the Movies was created to disbanded in the early 2000s. broaden the artistic sphere of Oakville by A group of dedicated volunteers, rounded offering foreign and Canadian films that up by former Oakville resident Richard rarely, if ever, come to theatres. Tamkin, revived the film night in 2006, creatHowever, it accomplished much more ing an independent, non-profit group called than that last season, with organizers also Monday Night @ the Movies. donating $7,000 in excess profits to local charFilms are currently screened every second ities. Monday night from September through April, Each of the 10 volunteers with Monday with no shows in December. Its home is the Night @ the Movies chose an organization AMC Winston Churchill 24 in Oakville. close to their hearts, with many electing to Monday Night @ the Movies works in partgive back to arts groups. nership with Film Circuit, This is the first time the "We wanted to which is a division of The group has donated to local Toronto International Film break even, so we organizations. Festival Group. This partneragreed with the "We kept enough that we set ship gives the group access to a ourselves up for the next season extra money, we wide variety of foreign and and for different costs, but we would donate it." Canadian films. had a lot extra last season," said Barbara Belford "Foreign film and Canadian Barbara Belford, assistant profilm tends to be better than Monday Night @ the grammer and assistant treasurer. Movies volunteer your typical American film at "We wanted to break even, so we exploring harder hitting topics agreed with the extra money, we would donate that are important to our audience here," said it. It felt good to do it." Fiona Toms, who is responsible for programRecipients were The Oakville Players' Oneming and patron communications. Act Night, Halton Youth Symphony, Oakville "We have an educated audience, they are Children's Choir, Oak Park Moms and Tots, interested in what is going on in the world Kerr Street Ministries Food Bank, Halton and a lot of our films will have inspired debate Multicultural Council, Transitional Housing in those countries." for Newcomers, Fareshare Foodbank and Before each season, volunteers review a list oomama, a grandmothers to grandmothers of approximately 100 films, reading the project supporting the Stephen Lewis descriptions and selecting their choices. Foundation. Donations were also made to Voting is then held to determine what films Oakville Arts Council and the Mississauga Arts will run that season. Council, as Monday Night @ the Movies is a "We find our audience is receptive to films member of both organizations. from all around the world, so we try to pick a Organizers say they hope to be able to diverse mix of films and keep in mind what make donations to community groups again has worked in the past," said Toms. at the end of the 2008-09 season. The 2007-08 season was highly successful The idea of presenting foreign and for the group. It sold 3,261 tickets to its films, Canadian films in Halton is not new. The with an average of 217 per film. OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER GOOD FOOD, GOOD FILMS: Monday Night @ the Movies volunteers Fiona Toms, left, and Barbara Belford say they are excited about the 2008-09 lineup of foreign and Canadian movies that will be screened at AMC Winston Churchill 24 in Oakville.The success of last season resulted in $7,000 in excess profits going to local charities and organizations. "Word of mouth has been great," Toms said. "We've been advertising, we have a new website, and people are telling others and they are bringing their friends. We see repeat patrons, but new people are coming too." As for the future, Belford said it is "bigger and better." The group is hoping to bring more people through the doors, as the theatre has a capacity of about 400. The current audience is usually people aged 50 and older, so organizers are also working to draw younger moviegoers. The next movie night runs Oct. 20. The film, The Band's Visit, has its roots in Israel and France. All shows run at AMC Winston Churchill 24 in Oakville, 2081 Winston Park Dr. and start at 7:30 p.m., with tickets on sale at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $8.00 at the door. There will be no advance sale of tickets. There are no memberships. For information, e-mail mondaynightatthemovies@gmail.com or go online to www.mondaynightatthemovies.blogspot.com.