The sound of gunshots, planes and bombs echo off the walls of the theatre and pierce the ears of a captivated audience watching in silence.
This has been the case for the past 10 years at the Empress Theatre in Fort MacLeod. Every year the theatre hosts its Canadian Forces Memorial Film Festival on Remembrance Day weekend.
The festival was designed to give tribute to all the lives lost in the war and pay respect to the true heroes who risked their lives for our country.
Every year, the festival highlights one specific war and talks about the planning and strategy that was seen in that period.
“It’s a part university class and part art and the art of filmmaking. So, I think this is unique to Alberta,” said John Wort Hannam, programming director for Empress Theatre. “[The festival] compliments everything that is supposed to happen on Remembrance Day. We are thinking about sacrifices made by people in armed forces.”
The festival featured a total of six movies and began with an hour-long lecture by the host Dr. Stephan Guevremont.
The lecture aspect of the festival talked about the war and provided background information for the upcoming movie.
Dr. Guevremont is a former aircraft mechanic and has received his Ph.D. in Calgary back in 2010. He now teaches adult classes on European and military history and has been hosting the film festival for the full 10 years.
“For three days, people are immersed in the history of World War One, World War Two and modern conflicts and I show a highlight of everything important and what we achieved as a nation. We also talk about the soldiers, sailors, airmen, women and first nations that played a role in the war,” said Guevremont regarding what the festival is about.
This year’s theme was the 75th anniversary of D-Day and Operation Market Garden.
Dr. Guevremont said the lecture helps put the audience into the context of the film so they can understand the movie better.
Following the movie, the historian provides the audience with a question and answer period to help reply to the questions brought up in the film.
Along with the lecture and film, the festival also included live question and answer periods with veterans that had fought in the war.
Unfortunately, the last Canadian veteran from D-Day had passed away in the months previous so this year’s festival which featured veterans from the Korean War.
The Empress Theatre said the event is well-populated every year and they are looking to continue the festival for years to come.
Planning for next year’s Remembrance Day weekend has already begun with the theme for the festival being the 75th anniversary of the Korean War.