It has been more than a year since Ted Phillip’s wife, Eleanor, first suggested that they try to have FILM CIRCUIT films showing in Bracebridge. They had been viewing them in Huntsville for some time, but wanted to have it available closer to home. After first talking to someone involved with the showing in Huntsville, they were put in contact with the FILM CIRCUIT, which is a branch of the Toronto International Film Festival. Then they talked with the Mitchells at the Norwood Theatre in Bracebridge to arrange to rent the theatre for the showings.

  “The Mitchells have been great,” explains Ted.

  Spinning Reels was then formed as a local, non-profit film organization to promote these films. The first FILM CIRCUIT film was shown by September of 2003, and was the English title ‘ Enigma’, a story about code breaking during WWII.

  The films have met with great success, with titles such as ‘Winged Migration’, ‘Monsoon Wedding’, ‘Satin Rouge’ and ‘I Capture the Castle’. The most successful showing to date was probably ‘Whale Rider’, says Ted, stating, “We had two showings and they were both sold out, with over 200 at each showing.”

  The next film is La Grande Seduction (Seducing Dr. Lewis), a Quebec film that has just been nominated for 11 Genie awards. It tells the story of the attempts of a small fishing village in the Gulf of St Lawrence to entice a doctor to move there. (Can Bracebridge learn anything by watching this?!) The film will be shown on Monday, April 12 at Norwood Cinema 3 at 7 p.m.

  Another of this season’s upcoming shows is ‘The Girl with the Pearl Earring’. “I’ve looked at the trailer and it is a great film,” Ted says.

  One of the committee that decides on which films to bring to Bracebridge, Ted explains that Spinning Reels has 9 showings per year. “These are chosen from a list of over 60 films we receive from the FILM CIRCUIT twice a year,” Ted says. After giving a first and second choice, because some may not be available on the dates they specify, the selections are sent back to the FILM CIRCUIT. “When we get our confirmations back we start making the tickets and promoting the films,” Ted says.

  Promotion is done in a variety of ways. Posters are put up around town, and the Norwood theatre mentions them on their website at www.norwoodtheatre.com. Spinning Reels also has sponsorships from interested local parties. “Our sponsors, which include the Dispensary, the South Muskoka Medical Centre, accountant Ruth Bell-Towns, the Investment planning Council and others, have been great,” says Ted.

  “It’s been very worthwhile,” says Ted. Their season runs from September to June, with no shows in December. They pay the distributors of the films, and rent the theatre, but any profit shown at the end of the year is given away locally. “The money stays here,” Ted points out, adding that last year they made a contribution to the Bracebridge Public Library for them to purchase film-related materials.

  Advance tickets ($6) are on sale at Readers' World in Bracebridge and Treasures & Trophies in Huntsville, or can be reserved by calling 646-2746.

 See you at the movies!