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White Rock seniors’ Alzheimer’s love story nominated for Leos

Before She’s Gone… in running for direction, editing and music awards
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White Rock’s Stan and Shirley Fryer grace a poster for the documentary.

A trio of those behind Before She’s Gone…, a documentary sharing the love story of a pair of White Rock seniors, are in the running for accolades at the upcoming Leo Awards.

The 19-minute film is a project of Arun Fryer, the grandson of the film’s stars, Stan and Shirley Fryer.

It made its world premiere in Vancouver in January, detailing the couple’s 67-year marriage, and Stan’s role as both husband and caretaker since Shirley’s 2002 diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease.

The couple’s journey has been featured in Peace Arch News a number of times. Each time, he credited Shirley’s physical and mental health to one unwavering factor: love.

“You have to have a lot of love,” he told PAN in January. “When you have that, the other person feels it. Probably the most important thing is to let them know they’re loved.”

A couple’s journey with Alzheimer’s is “really a test of their love,” he added.

Arun Fryer told PAN he and co-producer, wife Ana Carrizales, “wanted to show another side” to the disease.

“We’re trying to tell the love story behind the Alzheimer’s.”

At the Leo Awards – to be held at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver over three nights: May 27 and June 3 and 4 – Fryer is in the running for Best Direction in a Short Documentary Program; Nadim Hejeili for Best Picture Editing in a Short Documentary Program; and, Jason Mitchell, a Semiahmoo Peninsula native, for Best Musical Score in a Short Documentary Program.

According to the awards website, the nominations help highlight “the strength, diversity and talent of British Columbia’s film and television industry and allows us to celebrate artistic excellence within our community.”

Another film produced by Fryer, Cadence, is nominated in 10 categories, including Best Motion Picture.

For scheduling and ticket information, visit www.leoawards.com

Before She’s Gone… is currently playing in the National Screen Institute’s online file festival, at www.nsi-canada.ca/2017/05/before-shes-gone/



Tracy Holmes

About the Author: Tracy Holmes

Tracy Holmes has been a reporter with Peace Arch News since 1997.
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