DOB2013_Poster_Oct_WEBBay Street Film Festival’s annual documentary screening program, Docs on Bay kicks off on Thursday, October 24 at 314 Bay Street, above the Hoito Restaurant. The event features Canadian writer, Charles Wilkins’ book launch and two films about his sea-faring adventure. Plus, enjoy live music with Danny Johnson and Dylan White.

Wilkins’ 5,000 kilometre, 53-day row across the Atlantic Ocean in 2011 was on a 40-foot technologically advanced catamaran (Big Blue) with no support vessel, no stored water, no sails or motor. The boat’s crew of 16 included several veterans of U.S. college rowing, a pair of triathletes, and a woman who had rowed both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Wilkins will read from his book, Little Ship of Fools—he is travelling throughout Canada and the U.S. recounting the expedition.

The first film, Life is But a Dream, is a short documentary that was Thunder Bay’s Flash Frame Film and Video Network submission for International Doc Challenge 2011. In the film, Wilkins discusses his impending 3,000-mile row across the Atlantic. The film won Runner-up for Best Music/Short Documentary at the 2011 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.

The second film, The Big Blue, is a feature documentary (65 min) directed by Thunder Bay’s Kelly Saxberg that documents how the boat crewed by 16 dreamers, stargazers and minstrels tried to break a Guinness World Record. Saxberg and Damien Gilbert documented the launch and arrival of Big Blue while Canadian, Dylan White, filmed the ocean footage. The film premiered last September at Prince Arthur’s Landing as part of Movie Nights in the Park.

Doors open at 6:30 pm with a book signing. Books and DVDs will be available for purchase. The program begins at 7 pm and at 9 pm there’s a Q&A with project participants. Free for all ages.