On the 38th storey of Old Oak’s new Centro building overlooking London’s downtown, Forest City Film Festival’s Executive Director, Dorothy Downs, sat down with Old Oak Properties CEO, Robert Bierbaum, for a chat about their nearly ten-year partnership and the importance of art in the development of a great city.
Old Oak has been among London’s most important and community-minded developers since 1955. As a third-generation family-owned and operated business, they have a deep understanding of and connection to this city. In 2016, the second year of the festival, Dorothy shared the vision of the festival with Old Oak. They recognized the need for this city to have a great film festival and enthusiastically jumped on board. From that moment on, they have generously championed our work—sponsoring the Old Oak Audience Choice Award from the very start and standing as a steadfast supporter of the arts in London. Their commitment extends far beyond our festival, enriching the cultural life of our city through their support of organizations like the Grand Theatre and many others.
Robert describes arts and culture as pillars of the community—essential to creating a better city and a thriving downtown. “We just need a little more energy and support from both the private and public sector,” he noted, emphasizing that partnerships between arts organizations and private businesses benefit everyone and help guide a community’s focus. “We are fortunate to have a lot of great developers in this city who are community-minded and who understand the value of vibrant events downtown.”
Dorothy acknowledged that while public arts program funding is appreciated and essential, it is never enough for arts organizations to truly shine. “The Arts absolutely cannot thrive without corporate partners like you,” she told Robert.
Robert, who often hears similar sentiments in his travels across Ontario, takes pride in being a Londoner and a member of its thriving business community. As London grows, Old Oak is committed to supporting and sustaining that growth through partnerships with arts organizations like FCFF.
Robert believes that to take London from “great to awesome,” the city must embrace the power of arts organizations like the FCFF. The partnership between Old Oak and the festival is, in his words, “a natural fit.” Both are committed to excellence, and both see downtown as the heart of London.
One of Robert’s favourite festival memories is of a screening of Sea of Life by young filmmaker Julia Barnes in the first few years of the festival. He will never forget, with the filmmaker in attendance, how the screening became a powerful moment of connection between the audience and the artist. “That’s something you only get with filmmaker-focused festivals,” Dorothy said. “The Filmmakers see audience reactions firsthand, and that experience inspires their next work, and the audience becomes a witness to that creation process.”
Robert concluded that Old Oak is deeply invested in what downtown has to offer for people living downtown and what Forest City Film Festival, the arts community, and the various entertainment hubs in the core create, is a safe space for everyone to thrive. Through artistic expression of the diversity of thought and opinion, we all do better. It allows everyone to find their space, their voice, and to feel part of the beautiful mosaic of living in the beating heart of a city. Downtown is cool!
A Partnership That Inspires
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