Thom Fitzgerald’s latest, 3 Needles, will kick-start the 25th Atlantic Film Festival in Halifax next month.

The AIDS drama stars Lucy Liu, Stockard Channing and Sandra Oh.

The Halifax-based filmmaker is no stranger to AFF audiences. His films The Hanging Garden and The Event opened the festival in previous years. Although Needles is the only film confirmed thus far, many AFF industry-focused events have been announced.

The AFF has renamed its Industry Series as the NSFDC (Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation) Inspired Series in hopes of drawing non-industry folk who may be interested in a behind-the-scenes look at filmmaking and media issues. The series will feature panels about directing and film criticism, as well as master classes in casting with Dead Like Me and Hollywood North casting director Paul Weber, a production design master class with Stand By Me and Life as a House designer Dennis Washington, a debate about new media in a game show setting, and other subjects. Inspired will also offer an intensive Super 8 workshop presented by director Norwood Cheek, titled ‘Attack of the 50-Foot Reels.’ The focus of this year’s Strategic Partners coproduction market will be Germany.

Other changes for AFF 25 include a new festival hub in the Delta Barrington/Delta Halifax, relieving AFF’s long-serving official hotel, the Lord Nelson. EastLink has also come aboard this year as AFF’s official communications provider.

‘This is a big year for us,’ says AFF exec director Gregor Ash. ‘These and other partnerships will help enhance this year’s festival and make it the best yet.’

The bulk of the AFF film sked will be announced on Aug. 30. The festival will take place Sept. 15 to 24.

WFF ices Karla premiere

The Montreal World Film Festival has bowed to pressure from its sponsors and the public, pulling the controversial U.S. feature Karla from its 2005 program. The story of Karla Homolka and the crimes she committed with husband Paul Bernardo in the early 1990s, it was scheduled to make its world premiere at WFF.

According to a festival press release, Karla was removed due to the ‘discomfort expressed by clients of its sponsors.’ At least one sponsor – Air Canada – threatened to pull its support over Karla.

The Montreal World Film Festival will run Aug. 26 to Sept. 5.

Whistler stories

The Whistler Film Festival has launched a new competition offering grants to short film proposals based on a real-life stories set in the ritzy B.C. resort town.

In each of the next five years leading up to the 2010 Winter Olympics, the competition will give out four $5,000 commissions to B.C. filmmakers whose ideas promote the history of the host city.

One of the four winners must be a filmmaker of Aboriginal heritage or another visible minority.

The finished projects will then be screened at the Whistler Film Festival, which takes place this year from Dec. 1 to 4. The submission deadline is Aug. 26, and rules and application forms can be found at www.whistlerfilmfestival.com.

The winning selections will be announced Sept. 6. *

With files from Kerrin McNamara