The National Screen Institute – Canada’s seventh annual FilmExchange wrapped March 5 in Winnipeg, with attendance up despite the fact that this year’s festival featured fewer events and six fewer features than in 2004. Attendance jumped by more than 130, with a total of 5,045 people showing up for four days of screenings and industry events, March 2-5.

Festival organizers altered the 2005 schedule based on feedback from attendees in 2004, which led them to cut back on the number of features screened and industry events scheduled.

Although the festival is noncompetitive, audience choice awards are selected for National Exposure, the NSI’s amateur movie contest. This year’s top awards went to filmmakers from the local community. First place went to Jannie Bananie Quits Smoking from Michelle Kuly, James Swirsky and Lisanne Pajot. Taking second place was Catching Chorney from John Wilson and Ryan Broesky.

-www.nsi-canada.ca