Volunteer Spotlight: Chloë Nguyen-Drury

Chloë Nguyen-Drury

Nadine: How did you get involved with the festival? How long have you been a volunteer?

Chloë: I’ve been a volunteer for two years; I started volunteering during my first year at Dalhousie. Coming from Toronto, I had attended and volunteered at a lot of arts festivals and I was looking for something similar in Atlantic Canada. FIN was a great opportunity for me to meet new people and check out local films. The free movie vouchers for volunteers didn’t hurt either!

N: What is your favourite Atlantic International Film Festival memory?

C: The Halifax film community is small but tight-knit, so you may see a few familiar faces as you're making new friends. I bumped into my Cinema Studies professor, the amazing Shannon Brownlee, while I was volunteering last year. She was hosting the screening for The Double Life of Veronique and gave an insightful, captivating introduction to a gorgeous film.

N: What part of the film festival would you recommend to a first-time festival goer?

C: As fun as it is to brag to your friends that you were the first to see the Hollywood A-list Oscar-favourite of the season (and it’s very fun), I urge you to check out some local or indie films that may not get a theatre or streaming release. Le Bruit des Moteurs and Guidance were movies I went into with absolutely no idea what to expect, and I loved them. You might just find your new favourite film, and being one of a handful of people that logged the film on Letterboxd is just as self-satisfying.

N: What do you most look forward to every year at FIN?

C: I’m a big fan of horror, sci-fi, and other “genre” films that don’t properly get their due as legitimate, thought-provoking art. 2021’s Titane and 2022’s Huesera: The Bone Woman were great selections with a feminist horror slant. I’d love to see some more chilling midnight movies at FIN next year, and hopefully a return of the Extreme program, which previously featured movies like Bacarau, Mandy, and the aforementioned Titane.

N: What is your favourite film?

C: Ahh, the impossible question. The Living End, The Adjuster, Cruel Story of Youth, High Life, The Matrix, and Phantom Thread are all stunning films. I love musicals, time travel movies, weird 90s psychosexual thrillers, and Japanese New Wave. But for a definitive favourite, I'll choose David Fincher's Zodiac. The sallow colour palette, obsessive performances, and clinical camerawork are captivating. I watch it at least a few times a year.

N: What is your favourite movie snack?

C: A huge cup of bubble tea goes great with popcorn. The mastani milkshakes from Beyond Temptation and Korean corndogs from Chung Chun also make great late-night snacks after a movie night downtown. If you’re going to a movie screening that allows outside food, I highly recommend picking up some takeout from a local restaurant!

AIFF s a not-for-profit cultural organization that offers a broad range of cinematic initiatives throughout the year, with a focus on the film industry in the Atlantic region. We thrive because of our strong ties to the arts community and our dedicated body of volunteers. Learn more: www.finfestival.ca/volunteer