If you can stand the subzero temperatures, the sixth National Screen Institute FilmExchange opens on March 2 in Winnipeg with SnowScreen, a festival favorite that invites brave viewers to settle into icy seats to watch animated shorts from the National Film Board projected on a screen made entirely of snow.

On March 4, the five-day, all-Canadian film festival will present the domestic premiere of Seven Times Lucky, directed by Gary Yates, which had its world premiere last month at the Sundance Film Festival. Also straight from Sundance is the latest film from Winnipeg’s Guy Maddin, The Saddest Music in the World, which will close out the festival on March 6, and East of Euclid, the first feature from Winnipeg director Jeff Solylo, makes its world premiere.

Festival director Bill Evans says the FilmExchange is very popular with emerging filmmakers, because it offers them an opportunity to learn from the best in the business in a relaxed atmosphere. Daily viewings of short films, most from emerging talent, are complemented by evening screenings of work from Canada’s most established filmmakers.

‘I think there’s more value to the festival overall this year,’ says Evans. ‘Younger, usually short-film makers, have the chance to genuinely interact with someone like Guy Maddin or [Galafilm president] Arnie Gelbart,’

Three of the features to be screened were developed through the NSI’s Features First Program, intended to help directors make the leap from shorts to feature films, including Seven Times Lucky, Nathaniel Geary’s On the Corner and Paula Tiberius’ Goldirocks.

This year, FilmExchange has expanded its industry sessions, adding three new master classes for a total of six, and a pitching workshop led by NSI founder Jan Miller, who has taught the art of pitching to countless emerging filmmakers all over the world. In addition, filmmakers interested in giving it a go south of the border can attend a luncheon talk by Colin Robertson, Canadian consul general in Los Angeles, for tips on how to capitalize on partnerships with Americans.

This year’s ‘A Conversation With’ program features writer/actor Mark McKinney, who stars in Saddest Music. Local comedian Al Rae, artistic director at the CBC Winnipeg Comedy Festival, will moderate. Evans says the event is always a favorite with attendees and has featured conversations with some of the biggest names in Canadian film including Atom Egoyan and Gordon Pinsent. The event takes place on March 6 at noon.

And for the first time, NSI has opened up its National Exposure Amateur Movie Contest to aspiring filmmakers across Canada. Previously, the competition was restricted to residents of Manitoba, and Evans hopes the number of entries will be double last year’s.

-www.nsi-canada/filmexchange.