Canada
Sex, Cats and Rock & Roll
The Toronto International Film Festival
November 1st, 2004 | Andrea MeyerIf anyone captured the spirit of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, it was the codger who hoisted a placard that read: “The Toronto Film Festival is Satan’s Idea of Entertainment.” This middle-aged gentleman was part of a 150-person demonstration protesting the premiere screening of Casuistry: The Art of Killing a Cat. This ominous documentary by Montreal filmmaker Zev Asher relates, in sobering detail, the story of Toronto art student Jesse Power, who in 2001 enlisted two friends to help him videotape the murder of an innocent feline.
O Canada!
Vancouver’s Indie Spirit
July 1st, 2002 | James Israel“We’re the only full-time underground screening space in North America,” says Blinding Light founder, Alex MacKenzie. This 110-seat microcinema that screens alternative, underground, and obscure film / video works was founded in 1998.
Distributor FAQ: Canadian Filmmakers’ Distribution Centre
August 1st, 2000 | Lissa GibbsWhat is the Canadian Filmmakers’ Distribution Centre (CFMDC)?
The CFMDC is Canada’s oldest artist-run organization and it helps give underground and independent filmmakers a greater profile through exhibitions. It also helps to generate revenue through distribution for them.
Do you only distribute the work of Canadians?
The Trailer for "Passage"
Filmmaker John Walker looks at the history of the Northwest Passage
April 27th, 2008Filmmaker John Walker looks at the history of the Northwest Passage
The Trailer for "BLAST!"
Paul Devlin's documentary is premiering at the 2008 Hot Docs festival
April 24th, 2008Paul Devlin's documentary is premiering at the 2008 Hot Docs festival
Blogging TIFF: Pontypool Changes Everything
A review of "Pontypool", one of TIFF's "groundbreaking films", which screened at the Toronto International Film Festival this month.
September 30th, 2008 | Gillian Moody
Blogger Gillian Moody takes a look at the zombie-esque "Pontypool", a part of Toronto International Film Festival's Vanguard series, which imagines a world where a virus is spread through the English-language.
On Tuesday, Septemer 9, Canadian-made film Pontypool, a movie by director Bruce McDonald of The Tracey Fragments, (starring 2007 Oscar nominee Ellen Page from the movie Juno) screened at TIFF’s Vanguard, a program dedicated to groundbreaking films.
Blogging TIFF: Someone Who Is Nothing Has Everything to Lose
A review of "Slumdog Millionaire", a film by acclaimed director Danny Boyle of "Trainspotting" fame, that screened at Toronto International Film Festival this month.
September 29th, 2008 | Gillian Moody
Blogger Gillian Moody views "Slumdog Millionaire" (see trailer), a film that flirted with the idea of a straight-to-DVD release, becomes a popular favorite at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and is picked up by Fox Searchlight for a happy ending to a long journey that parallels the film itself.
On Sunday, September 7, English-made film Slumdog Millionaire made its debut at TIFF, where it handily won the Cadillac People’s Choice Award. All of this considering that Slumdog Millionaire nearly went straight to DVD after Warners’ Independent Pictures closed its doors earlier this year.
Blogging IFP: Short Shorts
A snapshot into the upcoming films from Canada.
September 17th, 2008 | Kayla Soyer-Stein
Blogging from Independent Film Week, Writer Kayla Soyer-Stein gets a sneak peak of upcoming Canadian films with excerpts and trailers (see The Baby Formula for example). Plus, she heads over to the Short Film Showcases to view documentaries of upcoming filmmakers from CUNY.
From 9:30 to 10:30 this morning, bits of new works from talent supported by the UK Film Council’s New Cinema Fund were presented at Chelsea Cinemas to members of the industry.
Blogging Hot Docs: A Few Wise Words from Richard Leacock
Filmmaker Paul Devlin wraps up the 2008 Hot Docs festival in Toronto
May 1st, 2008 | Paul Devlin
Wrapping up his blog from Hot Docs in Toronto, filmmaker Paul Devlin writes about some of the memorable conversations he has had this past week with filmmakers from around the world. He also reflects on a charming speech given by Richard Leacock (pictured at left), the 86-year-old documentary legend who was awarded a lifetime achievement award. Plus: A few thoughts on Paul Rowley's Seaview (view the trailer), Astrid Bussink's The Lost Colony (view the trailer), and Tanaz Eshaghian's Be Like Others.
The most memorable moments at film festivals are often encounters with other filmmakers. Making non-fiction movies can be isolating, especially during the post-production phase. To emerge from that to re-discover an international community of like-minded artists can be very re-energizing.
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