Communities which are formed for a common cause, similarity or by geography are becoming more organized and modernized. Information and education for the masses is communicated through mass media such as television, radio, newspapers, and more commonly video on internet, and with funding -- films. Commffest, a film festival for communities, was founded by Sandie DeFreitas who worked in the film industry for years. She said that she had noticed how so many films that were well done with meaningful contents, often sat on the shelves without being screened. There was no market for this type of documentary. Commercialism in the movie/film/video/television industries often gauges the marketability of the subject matter and the performers before giving it broadcasting and screening time. Thus, often entertainment value won over educational value since viewers would rather pay to laugh than learn. This year, Commffest tried partnering with other venues which value education, such as the Malvern Library and St. Stephen's Community House, and Brampton Neighbourhood. Through the years, the educational film or artistic film will probably gain an audience from being given an opportunity to be seen by the public, instead of gathering dust on a shelf for a researcher. It takes years of effort, a network of venues, dedicated directors, and persistent organizers to make a festival take root, then hopefully mainstream and ethnic media and funding from government and corporation, and community and business support will establish these educational films. It does not happen overnight. Every person who sees these films will change their mind and probably learn something truthful about life. It would be nice to combine entertainment with education and have edutainment, but sometimes there are parts of living that are horrible and a lot of people avoid the awful truth happening to others, and maybe even in their own lives. Yet change can happen with awareness and by viewing others problems and how they resolved theirs can help with our own problem-solving skills. Educational films can change our lives instead of escape. The public will have to be able to view reality on a big screen and so film festivals such as Commffest should remain for the realists who can deal with life, including its problems.
started in 2005, and now at Rainbow Market Square Cinema, branching out through partners St. Stephen's Community House in Kensington Market, Cyril Theater with Brampton Neighbourhood, Malvern Library in Scarborough
