Winnipeg Real to Reel Film Festival - Boge

Have you ever been to a film festival?

Last year I had the privilege of attending Sundance where God put in on my heart:

“What if we had a festival in Winnipeg?”

And so a year ago our church started planning a film festival. We called it (not that the title of the article gives it away) the Winnipeg Real to Reel Film Festival and I was super curious what would happen. We had way more entries than I expected.

But were in for plenty more surprises.

A week before the festival began I got an email from one of the producers of one of the films saying that the actress who is the lead in the film in the festival just happens to be in Winnipeg shooting a movie the same weekend as the festival and could she come to the festival?

I was truly speechless. Not that you normally speak in response to an email, still all the same I was blown away.

My nieces just happened to be paying their dad a visit at the office and so they were the first to hear the news:

“Hey Guys! You know Kim Rhodes who plays the mom on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody?”

They nod.

“Well, she’s going to be at the festival next week!”

Insert image of two pre-teen girls with their mouths completely open and their eyes wide.

It’s not every day that Winnipeg gets a Disney star to come to a festival.

Kim Rhodes is simply incredible. Talented, fun, down to earth. So down to earth that she asked if she could bring her director, producer and fellow actors to the festival.

Still speechless. Yes, she asked in email form, but I was still speechless.

And so they came. All of them. Including Robert Picardo - the Doctor from Star Trek. To our festival. Which I had hoped would draw a crowd of 500. In the end we had a gate attendance of approximately 1,500.

Five loaves and two small fish.

Kids were lined up down the entire foyer to greet Kim. She signed autographs for every single kid.

But for me, one of the best moments, was after all the excitement was done and every, yes every, single kid got a picture and an autograph, a physically handicapped girl from our congregation approached Kim with her mother.

And when Kim turned around to see her I saw what I think was one of the most compassionate examples of love I have ever seen.

Kim greeted her. Smiled. Talked with her. Signed her autograph. Took a picture with her and then spoke some more with her.

This of course on Kim’s day off from shooting a Universal feature film.

I could go on for hours about the festival. Like about the movie “Billy” which is beyond brilliant as were the other films at the festival. But suffice it to say that we were beyond honored that Hollywood came to our festival.

Thanks Kim. You’re excellent.

And as a brief reminder for us all, when you hear God calling – just go for it.

You never know the great things he has in store for those who trust him.

Paul H. Boge

P.S. If you haven’t guessed, that’s Kim in the picture above.