Toronto Film Scene

Julia Gutowski

About Julia Gutowski

Julia is a recent film studies graduate, a proud Toronto native, a dedicated Maple Leafs and Blue Jays fan, an avid traveler, and a chicken wing connoisseur. An unhealthy addiction to Television led her and her friend to start-up and co-write, Gaslight Edition, a blog regarding all things TV (www.gaslightedition.wordpress.com). When sheâ€™s not watching movies, Julia enjoys putting her film knowledge to use by playing the always riveting, Six Degrees of Separation.

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Last entries by Julia Gutowski

09 Nov 2010

Review: Home – RAFF 2010

Malaysian born director, writer, producer and editor, Desiree Lim, has used her journalism background to create a powerful two-part film, which aims to raise awareness about the troubles faced by many Burmese refugees. Home is an informative and heartbreaking docu-drama which explores the lives and experiences of Burmese refugees who...

Archived in Festivals Reel Asian
09 Nov 2010

Review: One Big Hapa Family – RAFF 2010

Animation artist and documentary filmmaker, Jeff Chiba Stearns, combines his talents while trying to come to an understanding regarding his own ancestry in his latest film, One Big Hapa Family. After realizing that every member of his Japanese-Canadian family has married inter-racially since his grandparents’ generation, he sets out on...

Archived in Festivals Reel Asian
09 Nov 2010

Review: Marker – RAFF 2010

Marker is a 30 minute documentary which follows Director Louise Noguchi’s journey as she travels to the shrines of supposed martyred heroes in both North America, where she was born and raised, and also in Japan, where her ancestors come from. She learns much about her culture and identity when...

Archived in Festivals Reel Asian
01 Nov 2010

Remix To Rio: A Documentary

Remix to Rio is a powerful and uplifting hour-long documentary which proves the effectiveness of young people coming together to make a difference. The film features Toronto based organization, The Remix Project, which “acts as an arts and cultural incubator in Toronto” for at-risk youth. The documentary follows The Remix...

Archived in On the Scene
30 Oct 2010

10 Days of Halloween: Julia’s Top 5 Halloween Films for Children

I was that child who wasn’t allowed to watch Are You Afraid of the Dark? because the violent nightmares that occurred as a direct result of me seeing an episode of the show would keep me, and my entire family, up at night. So how can Halloween still be my...

Archived in On the Scene
26 Sep 2010

Refocus Film Series

Are your plans to see a film ever thwarted because admission prices are so high? Do you yearn to see art house or foreign films without having to travel to film festivals around the world? You are not alone. Creator of the new Refocus Film Series, Jeffrey Wright, hopes to...

Archived in On the Scene
19 Sep 2010

Review: 10 to 11 – TIFF 2010

Watching Pelin Esmer’s, 10 to 11, was the perfect way to end this year’s TIFF experience. Although the film tells a simple story and lacks the kind of action we are accustomed to seeing in Hollywood blockbusters, its character driven nature is what makes the film succeed. The film’s slow...

Archived in TIFF 2010
18 Sep 2010

Review: Short Cuts Canada – TIFF 2010

With over 600 short film submissions, only 40 were selected to represent Canadian talent at TIFF’s annual Short Cuts Canada Programs. Divided into six separate screenings, this year’s selection of shorts featured a great assortment of films to suit anyone’s viewing desires. Short programs are effective because they satisfy the...

Archived in TIFF 2010
17 Sep 2010

Review: Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives – TIFF 2010

Before the screening of Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, the film’s writer/director, Apitchatpong Weersethakul, came on stage at the Isabel Bader theatre to introduce his film. He warned the audience that we may come away from the film feeling somewhat disoriented. “Somewhat” turned out to be an...

Archived in TIFF 2010
14 Sep 2010

Review: Blue Valentine – TIFF 2010

Not a single Blackberry light could be seen during the Press and Industry screening of writer/director, Derek Cianfrance’s, Blue Valentine. The audience of critics was enthralled for the entirety of the film . Although it’s not going to win the feel-good-movie-of-the-year award, the rawness and the honesty of the performances...

Archived in TIFF 2010
12 Sep 2010

Review: Africa United

The Cadillac commercial right before the screening of Debs Gardner-Paterson’s, Africa United, said, “some things you see once and remember forever.” Despite it being a car commercial, it was right about one thing: watching this uplifting film was such a joyous and hopeful experience. Part adventure, part fairytale, and all...

Archived in TIFF 2010
07 Sep 2010

All in the Family: Spotlight on Toronto Based Filmmakers

Allow me to introduce you to three experimental filmmakers who aren’t pretentious: Aaron Manczyk, Efehan Elbi, and Zak Tatham are the modest founding and current members of Family Contact, a film collective based in Toronto. All graduates of OCAD’s Integrated Media program, they possess a perfect combination of creativity, and...

Archived in Articles Interviews
14 Aug 2010

Canadian Films: My Top Five List

We may not have the budgets that our neighbours to the south do, and it is often tricky for filmmakers and audiences alike to determine what qualifies as a Canadian film. Although we often struggle to identify ourselves and to find our place in the world of film, Canada has...

Archived in On the Scene

Last Comments by Julia Gutowski

This week from Grolsch Film Works

5 Reasons Why Christopher Nolan Is Hollywood’s Greatest Director

The Dark Knight Rises is without a doubt the most anticipated major release of 2012. In a little over ten years, Christopher Nolan has gone from exciting indie filmmaker (Following…

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