THANK YOU to everyone for a sold-out screening and well-attended afterparty at the Crazy8s 2024 Gala celebration of 25 crazy years!
The evening began with a pre-show reception for Crazy8s 2024 sponsors, this year’s Top 6 filmmaking teams, and special guests catered by Emelle’s [link to: https://emelles.com/] with specialty drinks from Lavish Liquid.
Doors opened to the public at 6:00PM at The Centre. People caught up and networked in the lobbies and in the auditorium, where they could view the ads and logos of our almost 100 generous sponsors and supporters that help make Crazy8s possible, on-screen and in the print and online program guides. The posters of this season’s Top 6 films were on display in the first- and second-floor lobbies, keeping cameras clicking alongside a photo-opp with the 2024 Gala and commemorative 25th-year Crazy8s banners.
The show started shortly after 7:00PM to a high-energy entrance from Gala Host, Cardi Wong (Winner, UBCP/ACTRA Awards 2023 for Best Lead Performance – Motion Picture, Golden Delicious), to the beat of Cardi B’s “I Like It” – tempered with plenty of wit and humour.
After a heartfelt acknowledgment of our sponsors, supporters, and community partners, Cardi invited up to the stage our esteemed guest speakers which included Bob D’Eith, British Columbia Parliamentary Secretary for Arts and Film; Pete Fry, City of Vancouver Councillor and Deputy Mayor; Nimisha Mukerji, Directors Guild of Canada, BC District Council – Director’s Caucus Representative; Barbara Chirinos, Telefilm Canada Regional Lead, National Promotion and Communications, Pacific, Prairies, NWT, Nunavut and the Yukon; and Prem Gill, Creative BC CEO.
The Crazy8s Executive Director, Grace Chin followed up with a few words of welcome. She touched on the Gala theme “Reach For The Stars” while humorously referencing both the Star Wars and Star Trek franchises—acknowledging the impact and work of founders, past leadership, alumni, and current board, staff, and 2024 Top 6 cohort of Crazy8s to the organization’s continuing relevance and contribution to the BC independent filmmaking community and creative industry.
And then, the awaited moment: Time for the Crazy8s 2024 Top 6 films to screen, preceded by a 25th year-edition of the Crazy8s flagship trailer and an exciting, insightful Crazy8s Behind the Scenes video directed by Brian Cheung featuring behind the scenes footage and interviews with the 6 directors.
Opening the evening’s program was What Are You Supposed To Do With Your Hands? by Larissa Thompson, featuring a meticulously crafted, fully-realized puppet Harpy character. Our Long Goodbye by Dave Beamish followed, featuring extended driving sequences filmed in-studio with a volume wall. DTF? from Jess McLeod and co-writer Sam Krochmal closed out the first portion of the evening program.
After a 20-minute intermission featuring concession drinks and snacks from Lavish Liquid and an on-screen slideshow in the auditorium of more behind-the-scenes images from production, the program resumed with a surprise “Crazy8s @ 25” video montage of greetings from program alumni throughout the years. The second portion of the evening featured Toe Pick from Teresa Alfeld, a skating film with music from The Tea Party’s 1999 hit song “Heaven Coming Down”; Gone Abroad by Kevin Ang; and concluded with the launch of Astronaut by Kevin Cheng and writer Stephanie Joan, to music from David Bowie’s 1969 song “Space Oddity.”
The directors, writers, producers, key crew and lead actors of Crazy8s 2024 then took the stage to be feted, photographed, and acknowledged with claps and cheers by the audience! Special thanks to Gala Screening and Reception photographers Alicia Weng and Corey Malone.
With the show ending shortly after 9:30PM at The Centre, close to 1,500 people made their way to the Afterparty at Science World, many via the On Set Headsets Party Bus.
Guests entering the “Reach For The Stars”-themed event featuring lighting and light effects by Clarks AV, were ushered along a starlit hallway past the giant lightbox letters “C8S” to the main mult-level party area, featuring a 360 photo booth from Philip Chin; a green screen photo booth from 5 Star Photo Booth where guests could pose against a backdrop of the event theme and posters of the Top 6 films; and take to the dance floors with DJ What’s Up Tiger and DJ Nader.
The glamorous Blue Carpet went all night long, with photos by Quinn Tang and afterparty event photo support from Alisha Weng and Corey Malone.
Guests quaffed specialty beverages (including the commemorative 25th-year Stardust cocktail) and classic drinks from Lavish Liquid, and delighted in delectable dessert from Catch 122 with Chef William Lew and Chef Ana Laura Salinas.
White Spot Triple O’s on location stayed open until 1:00AM to satisfy those late-night munchies.
Wrapping up by 1:30AM, it was indeed a fun, festive, and memorable 25th-year Gala evening!
THANK YOU to our Crazys 2024 Gala Volunteers, Film and Gala Production and Operations Teams, and Board; and to the staff and A/V team Xcite Plus at The Centre, and all the staff at Science World!
- CRAZY8S 2024 GALA EVENT PHOTOS will be in our Crazy8s Facebook Page Albums, tag yourself and your friends!
- CRAZY8S 2024 GALA PROGRAM GUIDE is also online
THE CRAZY8S 2024 FILMS:
- ASTRONAUT – Directed by Kevin Cheng
- DTF? – Directed by Jess McLeod
- GONE ABROAD – Directed by Kevin Ang
- OUR LONG GOODBYE – Directed by Dave Beamish
- TOE PICK – Directed by Teresa Alfeld
- WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO DO WITH YOUR HANDS? – Directed by Larissa Thompson
THANK YOU to all our Crazy8s sponsors.