Full list of 2008 films and events...
2007 52 min. Color
Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S. Gulf coast in late August 2005, devastating the city of New Orleans and particularly the Lower Ninth Ward, home to some of the city's poorest residents. In response, Austrian-Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach, chairman of auto-parts giant Magna International, offered to spend $10 million to relocate over 200 Katrina evacuees to another part of Louisiana and build them homes where they could live rent free for five years. The new 800-acre community near Simmesport that arose as a result of Stronach's efforts has been dubbed "Canadaville" and was intended to be a kind of self-sustaining model community. This documentary, shot over a period of two years, tells the story of this grand experiment by following the lives of several of the families who made their way to Canadaville after the storm, as well as by documenting the response of the local townspeople to the development and its people. Filmmaker Susan Shore of Marksville began the film as an indepedent documentary three weeks after Katrina hit in 2005, and was later joined by two Canadian documentary teams to complete the project. The film debuted on Canada's CBC television. Due to mature subject matter, the film is not recommended for young children.
Canadaville, USA
Abbey Jack Neidik, Susan Shore, Producer/Director2007 52 min. Color
Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S. Gulf coast in late August 2005, devastating the city of New Orleans and particularly the Lower Ninth Ward, home to some of the city's poorest residents. In response, Austrian-Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach, chairman of auto-parts giant Magna International, offered to spend $10 million to relocate over 200 Katrina evacuees to another part of Louisiana and build them homes where they could live rent free for five years. The new 800-acre community near Simmesport that arose as a result of Stronach's efforts has been dubbed "Canadaville" and was intended to be a kind of self-sustaining model community. This documentary, shot over a period of two years, tells the story of this grand experiment by following the lives of several of the families who made their way to Canadaville after the storm, as well as by documenting the response of the local townspeople to the development and its people. Filmmaker Susan Shore of Marksville began the film as an indepedent documentary three weeks after Katrina hit in 2005, and was later joined by two Canadian documentary teams to complete the project. The film debuted on Canada's CBC television. Due to mature subject matter, the film is not recommended for young children.
