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Artscene 37 | Thursday, July 16, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" At far left, director and former resident Michael Hanley holds the script to his screenplay, Learning to Ride, in the backyard of his parents' Oakville home. His first feature film had its Toronto premiere last Friday (July 10) at the 11th annual ReelHeART International Film and Screenplay Festival and won the award for Best Canadian Film. In middle, Hanley accepts the award at the festival. Above is a screenshot from the film about love and a couple's early relationship. | photo at far left by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver; middle photo courtesy ReelHeART International Film and Screenplay Festival; and photo above courtesy Yet Another Untitled Productions Learning to Ride wins Best Canadian Film at ReelHeART Film by Oakville's Michael Hanley has only sold-out screening at Toronto festival by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff The results are in and Michael Hanley's Learning to Ride was voted Best Canadian Film at the 11th annual ReelHeART International Film and Screenplay Festival. "I was thrilled," said the 30-year-old Oakville native and filmmaker. "There were a ton of great films at this year's festival and, specifically, the films being produced by Canadian artists seem to be getting better and better each year, so it's a great feeling to be recognized amongst them." Held last week, the Toronto festival screened Hanley's first feature film Friday (July 10). Inspired by Hanley's own relationship, Learning to Ride tells the story of two people who bump into each other a year after they have broken up and begin to re-evaluate getting back together. Hanley wrote and directed the film. "It definitely means a lot to me," he said of the festival award. "This is the fourth award we've collected for the film, and with this being my first feature, it's encouraging to know that my career is heading in the right direction and that there is an audience out there for the types of stories I want to tell." While in high school, the Iroquois Ridge graduate said he was contemplating between careers in accounting and filmmaking, but after taking the advice of his teacher Don Marshall, Hanley took a few years off after graduation to find out what he really was passionate about. During that time, Hanley shot short films and a music video with his older brother and fellow filmmaker Jeff, and then he went on to study directing at the New York Film Academy. "Don Marshall was really integral... in encouraging me to follow what I wanted to do. He knew me well enough to know I wouldn't be happy doing accounting," Hanley told the Oakville Beaver in a previous interview. Hanley's brother is also the director of photography for Learning to Ride, which was the only film at ReelHeART to have a soldout screening -- something Hanley said was "probably the most rewarding part of the festival." "Independent Canadian films typically don't receive a ton of support, so I was humbled by how many Oakville and Toronto residents came out to the theatre on Friday," he said. "The film industry can be a constant stream of rejection, so it's a wonderful feeling to know that you can always look to your hometown for support." For more on the film, visit www.learningtoride.ca. BIG MOVIES, SMALL PRICES! 171 Speers Road (at Kerr) Oakville 905-338-6397 www.film.ca facebook.com/filmca @FilmCaCinemas General: $8.50 Children ( 3-13): $6.50 TerminaTor July 1 minions July 10 anT man July 17 VaCaTion July 29 mission impossible mpossible July 31 seniors ( 65+): $6.50 Tuesdays: $5.00