Check Out Projecting Change Film Festival April 2-5
So yesterday I was fortunate enough to watch Tina Hahn’s film Tale of a Yellow Bike, which was being shown as part of the Projecting Change Film Festival going on at 5th Ave Cinemas. Telling the story of the closure of Toronto’s Bike Share program, this film shares the many success stories of bike share programs throughout the world from Bogota, Columbia to La Rochelle, France. Tale explores the positive impact bikes can have in our city communities. Hahn shows how bike riding can be a powerful force of environmental and social change.
One of the most moving parts of the film was when the Mayor of La Rochelle pointed to the traffic calmed, bike friendly street behind him, which carried an aura of calmness and compared it to the chaotic frenzy of the car-friendly street across the intersection. When I saw this scene, all I wanted to do was go and hug my beautiful cruiser bike. I never thought the sound of a bike bell could sound so beautiful.
Doubly lucky for me, I had the chance to speak with Hahn about why Tale was important to make. As cities get more clogged with cars, she reminded me how liberating it is to hop on a bike and just ride. So, when I left the theatre I went and did just that. Looking to the 2010 Games, with so many venues being car-free zones, bikes provide an easy and relaxing alternative to taking transit.
On a different note, I’m going to take this opportunity to give a shout out to Lindsay Nahmiache, Program Director of Projecting Change, for all her awsome work putting festival together.
If you get a chance this weekend, check out Projecting Change Film Festival- www.projectingchange.ca. It runs through til tomorrow evening at Fifth Ave Cinemas. Tickets are only $8 if you ride your bike and bring your helmet or take transit. you’ll be a better person for it.
