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NXNE (North by Northeast) is approaching and the excitement is building. The annual music festival not only showcases over 450 bands playing live across Toronto from June 14 – 20, but they also have a killer line-up of music-related films, from documentaries to shorts to narrative features. They’ve already released some preliminary info on their programming, but this latest round of news is the cherry on top. NXNE is presenting the Canadian premiere of Search and Destroy: Iggy Pop and the Stooges’ Raw Power (Morgan Neville, 2010), a documentary which explores the making of the band’s seminal 1973 album “Raw Power”.  Iggy and the Stooges are also playing a free show in Dundas Square as part of the fest.

Other films that will play include the Canadian premiere of Bruce McDonald’s This Movie Is Broken, a love story set against the backdrop of a breathtaking live concert at Harbourfront Centre by Broken Social Scene. Also being shown is Caelum Vatnsdal’s We’re The Weakerthans, We’re From Winnipeg, a feature-length tour documentary about le Canadian band par excellence (they are truly everything that is excellent about the Canadian musical spirit — click here to watch the trailer).

Finally, I don’t know if you’ve noticed the, um… vampire trend in popular culture lately? (I know, its so subtle as to be almost imperceptible). But how about this: Iggy Pop himself, along with Alice Cooper, Henry Rollins (loved him in Johnny Mnemonic), and Dave Foley star in Suck (Rob Stefaniuk, 2009), a wild road-movie ride of a blood-sucking spoof. Click here to watch the trailer. (Personal note: when I was in grade nine, I painted my nails black for about six months; I will happily be revisiting my early ‘teen aesthetic just for this screening).

Check out the NXNE website for a complete list of film, bands, and other awesome stuff, and clear your schedule from the 14th to the 20th of June.