The TFS List
Hey, it’s short film month here at Toronto Film Scene! We all love short films, those bite-sized bits of cinema that tell a complete story in 20 minutes or less. But too often, short films get short shrift because there aren’t too many venues for them. Sure there are short film festivals and shorts programs at film festivals, but where do get a steady supply? Not very many places, that’s where. I like to think that it’s this state of affairs that gave birth to the anthology film. Also known as an omnibus film or a portmanteau film, an anthology film is a...
Experimental film has been with us since the dawn of cinema, its ideas and techniques frequently appropriated by the mainstream. A product of the early European avant-garde art movement, these films were meant to challenge the existing status quo of artistic norms and practices, ignoring traditional story structure. Whether or not you like this kind of film, they made (and continue to make) people think about how film is constructed and how we understand its meaning....
We're focusing quite a bit on animation here at Toronto Film Scene throughout the month of March, and what better way to contribute than to have a list of some exceptional animated films? Whether it's a short film or feature length, animation has often been kicked to the curb by many film fans as somehow inferior. Some people just can’t shake the Saturday morning cartoon stigma; they assume animation isn’t a valid form of cinema. But I (and many other animation fans) strongly disagree. Here are my five animated personal favourites....
Sharp-eyed Oscar nomination watchers might have noticed that The Help’s Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer both snagged a nod in the Best Supporting Actress category. While the possibility of a red carpet catfight might spice up an otherwise dull awards telecast, Chastain and Spencer will no doubt comport themselves with the same gracious dignity that 28 other supporting actress dual nominees have shown throughout history. Yes, in the 76-year history of The Academy Awards, 28 movies have scored dual Best Supporting Actress nominations for the same movie. Here are five favorites....
