The South Western International Film Festival is returning to Sarnia later this year for its third year, bringing films from across the globe and offering a sneak peek into how other parts of the world live.

Executive director Ravi Srinivasan said Wednesday organizers hope to enlighten people on worldwide events through the cinema experience, presenting films to the community that some people may not otherwise be exposed to. He said SWIFF works to enrich the lives of locals, especially young people.

“It’s something different… that often offers debate and discussion afterwards,” he said. “These are unique stories from unique individuals from across the world, and it gives you a window into a country like Iran or South Korea or Sweden.”

Srinivasan said the film festival has seen some great successes since launching the weekend-long event. Last year they added a concert series as well as a virtual reality exhibition, both of which will be returning this November.

“VR is one of the most popular and innovative forms of media happening right now,” he said. “It’s made its way and impact towards film and cinema so we’re really excited to bring that back.”

Srinivasan said this year’s event will also feature Indigenous content. With a dark chapter that includes the abuse of First Nations people in residential schools, as well as an ongoing issue of racism in North America – including Hollywood – some films will aim to promote discussion and recognition of those who suffered in Canada’s past, he said.

“Canada 150 is extremely problematic. It’s hard to really raise your flag and celebrate when you also know what that means to Indigenous people,” Srinivasan said. “We’re trying to bring programming that is celebrating Canadian works, but also opening up the dialogue to what Canada 150 means to everyone.”

New Media Workshops will also be continuing this year at the Judith and Norman Alix Art Gallery, including a Print and Online Writing for Women workshop led by Kiva Reardon, a programmer at the Toronto International Film Festival and Miami film Festival. Reardon is the founding editor of a film feminist journal, called Cléo, and has had her work published in major publications including the Globe and Mail.

“The course is really geared towards what it’s like to be a woman and writing in the modern landscape of social media and print,” Srinivasan said. “We’ve seen a lot of wage inequality and the lack of roles for women… she’s going to lend her insight on how to find your voice.”

Other workshops will include Composing Music for Film, led by Canadian Film Composer and international award winner Erica Procunier, as well as the Documentary Workshop led by Hugh Gibson, who won the Toronto Film Critics Rogers Best Canadian Film Award for his feature debut entitled The Stairs (2016).

Srinivasan said they are also working on organizing some screenings outside of Sarnia at the Victoria Playhouse in Petrolia.

This year’s event will also give guests an opportunity to get the VIP treatment. Srinivasan said after some feedback from patrons, they decided to bring limited availability VIP passes, valued at over $300.

With only 60 available at $129, film lovers will have to act fast. Some perks of the pass include access to all of the films and concerts and reserved prime seating.

Srinivasan said if it wasn’t for the contributions of their sponsors, including the Carpenter’s Union, the Creative County Fund and Nova Chemicals, the festival may not be possible.

“We wouldn’t be able to do this without them,” he said. “There’s a lot of energy that goes into putting this on… We’re bringing out the arts interested folks, but we’re also bringing out the youth of the community.”

IF YOU GO

WHEN: Nov. 2-5

WHERE: The Imperial Theatre and other locations in downtown Sarnia and beyond.

COST: All-Access passes available for $79. Limited VIP passes also available at the Imperial Theatre box office.

Register for workshops at www.swiff.ca/workshops

Free for high school students.