Featuring films from a comedic tale about vampires begging at the door of a blood bank to a moving animated story about the loss of a child to an emotionally charged local documentary, the Bleeding Tree International Dark Drama Film Festival is excited to welcome Cranbrook to its inaugural program August 9 at the Studio Stage Door Theatre.

Films slated for the one-day festival include:

Don’t Tell Your Mom (Canada): When Kyle goes to work for his dodgy older cousin Jax, he’s shocked to discover Jax’s clientele don’t necessarily thirst for drugs.

As Easy As Closing Your Eyes (US): A grieving mother battles her addiction to a black-market drug that gives her life-like dreams about the son she lost.

Use Me (UAE): Two people with mysterious pasts go on a revealing journey in the countryside.

We Have A Cat (Australia): A struggling alcoholic loses his finger and questions his ability to discern reality from fiction.

01 (Germany): Immersed in a butterfly-effect world of life choices, a woman attempts to predict her own future.

Stop The Stigma (Canada): The people involved in one of Cranbrook’s most pressing social issues tell their compelling stories.

A collaboration between the Bleeding Tree Film Society based in Creston and the Cranbrook Community Theatre (CCT), the festival comprises a range of international short- and feature-length films focused on dramatic and socially significant issues.

CCT President Peter Schalk noted the film festival is “a great way to welcome new audiences into our city’s beautiful, air-conditioned heritage theatre — and to continue our celebration of 50 years as its stewards with a fresh, relevant perspective on film.”

Bleeding Tree co-creators Kerry McArthur and Mark Wolfe say festival adjudicators have been “amazed” at the quality of films submitted to this first-ever celebration of dark drama. “We knew we were tapping into a significant wellspring of moviemaking when we chose the festival’s theme of dark drama, but we really had no idea we would receive anything close to this quality and diversity,” noted Wolfe.

“Filmmakers from the UK, Spain and Germany to the US and Canada have submitted works that are heartbreaking, heartwarming and thoroughly relevant to our times,” added McArthur. “We are beyond delighted to introduce these works to Cranbrook.”

The Stage Door concession will be open to serve snacks and beverages that may be consumed in the theatre during the affair.

Passes starting at $5 will provide entry into either or both afternoon and evening sessions; attendees will receive a bonus link to stream all entries, including those not shown in the theatre.

Passes and more information about the Bleeding Tree International Dark Drama Film Festival are available online at www.cranbrookcommunitytheatre.com or at the door at 11-11th Avenue South, Cranbrook on August 9, starting at 1 p.m.

Cranbrook Community Theatre

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