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TIFF Cinematheque continues its long-standing dedication to Japanese cinema with the series Spotlight Japan, consisting of three film series’ that explore more than a half-century remarkable Japanese film history. The first two installments include Tokyo Drifters, which runs from January 19 to April 6, 2013 and Japanese Divas: The Great Actresses of Japanese Cinema’s Golden Age from January 24 to March 31, 2013. Tokyo Drifters: 100 Years of Nikkatsu features films from the late 1950s through early 1970s from Japan’s oldest and perhaps most exciting production houses. In an effort to attract youthful audiences growing increasingly accustomed to American and...
Hey everyone. Last week I wrote something actually related to film. This week, my mind has been a bit divided and as such I shall present you with a simple tale. This tale is brought to by the Pokemon drink “BEST WISHES.” Once upon a time six or seven and a half weeks ago, I wandered into my kitchen to find a bizarrely shape-end bottle containing a liquidish substance. This discovery lead me to think “fuck it” regarding cleaning the house and I decided to further research the contents of what was written on the side of the label. The...
As you anxiously await the Toronto Jewish Film Festival in April, you can attend their Chai Tea and a Movie series, continuing Sunday, January 27, 2013 at 4:00 pm. The screening is held at Cineplex Odeon Sheppard Cinema. This month’s film, Hello I Must Be Going, opened at last year’s Sundance Film Festival, and has been receiving critical acclaim since. Hello I Must Be Going is about a recently divorced and jobless woman who finds herself living with her parents once again, as she begins to fall for her father’s 19-year-old potential business partner. The film stars Melanie Lynsky, Blythe...
Italian filmmakers Luca Ragazzi and Gustav Hofer’s newest documentary, Italy: Love It or Leave It will run at Bloor Hot Docs starting this Friday. The two filmmakers were inspired in different directions by their friends leaving for Berlin, London, and Barcelona for the futures seemingly nonexistent in Italy. Gustav wanted to join the exodus, while Luca was moved by the Italians passionate for their homeland. The film takes place over the course of six months, during which the duo set out to find that passion Luca believes in. Italy: Love It or Leave It trailer...
TIFF Bell Lightbox announces the lineup for the winter season of their popular monthly subscription series Books on Film, Food on Film and Science on Film, where audience members can experience their favorite books and movies in interactive, sensory and educational presentations. Books on Film starts February 11, 2013 and runs Mondays at 7:00 pm after that. As an awesome bonus, the first 100 subscribers will receive as an added bonus a complimentary copy of each book featured. Hosted by Eleanor Wachtel of CBC’s Writers and Company this series welcomes such guests as Lisa Cortés on Precious from the book...
Igor Drljaca will be in attendance for the first two screenings of his debut feature, Krivina at the Royal, and sticking around for Q&A sessions. The film – beginning its run this Friday January 25, 2013 – follows the nomadic Miro of the former Yugoslavia, currently taking up residence in Toronto, as he begins a trek across across Bosnia. His return to his former home comes after news that an old friend, someone he has not seen in two decades, is a wanted war criminal. Drljaca describes the making of Krivina as therapeutic, as much of Miro’s journey and his...
Pleasure Dome is calling for submissions looking for new New Toronto Works to ring in 2013! Revealing the unique wealth of talent emerging in Toronto every year, New Toronto Works is looking for something extra special to celebrate 20 years of creative arts. Films and videos under 15 minutes in length and produced after January 2011 qualify. For submission guidelines and applications, check out the Pleasure Dome website. Deadline for submissions is Friday, February 22, 2013. Pleasure Dome takes pride in standing behind experimental, uncensored new media arts and has been a champion of artistic expression in film and video...
The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (ACCT) continues their Academy Breakfast Club in 2013 announcing a partnership with the Copyright Collective of Canada (CCC), and three preliminary dates in their series of industry workshops. Held at Pinewood Toronto Studios each workshop features an industry professional offering informational insight, activity and networking opportunities to those who attend. The first of three sessions announced features James Milward, Executive Producer and Founder of Secret Location on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 discussing ways to leverage the ecosystem around traditional TV content thru social media. Next up is Rodney Murphy, Education and Outreach...
Oh glorious film! In addition to the usual goodies coming out this week at home, I got to catch a big screen showing of Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo at my local Cineplex last week. What a treat that was, the digital print looked great, and the film gets better with each viewing. Once I got back home that night I was obviously in a film viewing state of mind (am I ever not?) so I popped in the first film on my “˜to watch’ pile, which happened to be End of Watch with Jake Gyllenhaal. From the trailers I was expecting...
Engage on your very own culinary adventure with the Revue Cinema‘s screening of The Trip starring the very talented Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon. To add extra flavor to the event local restaurants will be offering free samples of British fare, Balluchon Raymond will serve their personal take on the classic pub dish chips and eggs. Other examples include: Barque Smokehouse with their presentation of scones and bacon jelly and with the addition of regular The Chocolateria serving a sponge toffee dipped in chocolate. The Trip (2010) directed by Michael Winterbottom, follows Coogan as he travels the English Countryside to...
Happy weekend! Winter has finally arrived, so bundle up until you get inside a theater. Here is what’s happening today on the Scene for Saturday, January 19, 2013. A diverse group of flicks screen today at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. Both hot from TIFF 2012, On the Road opens this weekend, and The Master continues its run in 70 mm. I saw it last weekend, and if any of you can figure out what it’s about, please let me know. Oscar hopeful, Amour, also continues its run with showtimes throughout the day. Last of the run of engagement movies are...
The week the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema is screening two films that were Official Selections of the 2012 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival. The Waiting Room and Beware Of Mr. Baker each run from Friday, January 18 to Wednesday, January 23, 2013. The Waiting Room is a day in the life of an Oakland, California, public hospital’s overtaxed emergency room, weaving together extraordinary access to patients and caregivers. The film paints a vivid picture of the ailing state of America’s health care system through a ballsy nurse, an anxious father, a drugged out serial patient and a small...
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