ONE TO WATCH: The six-day Vancouver Women in Film Festival opened at VIFF Vancity Theatre with several of the program’s moviemakers present. Among them, 11-year Vancouver resident Gigi Saul Guerrero had her 2016-shot horror flick, La Quinceañera, screened on March 9. For opening-night celebrations, the Capilano U grad and Vancouver Film School teacher hurried back from L.A., where she’s directing another screamer, Into The Dark, to premiere July 4 on Hulu.
ON THE WING: With Iranian New Year’s Day, Nowruz, coming March 21, Persian Canadians reportedly raised $125,000 at the Neekoo Philanthropic Society’s eighth annual soirée. The committee head and LaStella winery co-principal, Saeedeh Salem, said it will fund grants for some 30 low-income students The event’s “angel” supporters were Hamid and Arya Eshgi. Her father, Daved Mowfaghian, has donated many millions to B.C. cultural, educational and medical facilities. L.A.
ONE MORE TIME: Our Italian-restaurant honeymoon will continue in May when city-raised Michael Parker and a partner open the 120-seat-range Sprezza Tura at Kingsway and 11th Avenue. Lower Mainland franchises are planned. The name means “perfection without apparent effort,” said Parker, who reportedly spent 42 months checking 200 potential locales. His previous enterprise, the Hill Bar and Brasserie in London’s tony Belsize Park district, attracted showbiz celebs.