The Great Digital Film Festival 2014 showcases your favourite films at any participating Cineplex location through to February 6th, 2014. Arts Reporter Dannielle Piper attended the festival on its opening night at Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver. Listen to Dannielle on The Arts Report between 5-6pm February 5th, 2014.

The Great Digital Film Festival is a one week only event that began on January 31st, 2014 and runs until February 6th, 2014. The festival allows fans the opportunity to view their favourite science-fiction, fantasy and anime films in digital and on the big screen. A total of twenty-one films will be shown throughout the duration of the festival.

Some of the films being showcased include popular superhero movies such as The Avengers (2012) and Superman (1978) as well as cult classics such as Akira (1988) and Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975). Three of the films featured in this year’s lineup even have ties to British Columbia. Battlestar Galactica helped spawn the 2004 television series of the same name whose filming took place in Vancouver. Similarly, Flash Gordon also obtained a series which was produced in Vancouver from 2007-2008, while the sequel to Tron, Tron: Legacy, was shot here in April 2009.

During the festival, I got the opportunity to see Ghost in the Shell (1995) and the original Planet of the Apes (1968). The animation in Ghost in the Shell was absolutely captivating and the dialogue between the characters with regards to the themes of self-identity were equally impressive. Planet of the Apes did not disappoint either. Having only ever watched the reboot, I was excited to see the original in all its cinematic glory. It was funny, creative and ingenious.

I would recommend the festival to anyone wanting to watch their favourite films on the big screen again or to anyone who has never seen any of the twenty one films playing throughout the week. For more information with regards to show times and locations go to https://www.cineplex.com/Events/DigitalFilmFest