On the Scene
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...
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...
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...
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...
The Toronto Youth Shorts Film Festival has announced it will run its 24 hour hour filmmaking contest, the T24 Project, from Friday February 15 to Saturday, February 16, 2013. For those unfamiliar with the project, young filmmakers are given an essay style question to answer with a short film in 24 hours. All they are given is the question and free reign of the city (unlike many other contests, requiring contestants incorporate specific themes or bizarrely specific scripts – T24 understands the concept of forced dialogue). Registration fees run $30 for teams of four and can be completed here. Earlybird...
Opening this Friday, January 18, 2013 is documentary The Bastard Sings the Sweetest Song. If you missed it at last year’s Hot Docs film festival, now is your chance to see an important film about family and class struggle. At the heart of the movie is the relationship between mother and son, Mary and Muscle, as Muscle tries to care for his elderly mother as best as he knows how. With director Christy Garland in attendance for a Q&A after each screening, this is an event not to be missed. The Bastard Sings the Sweetest Song opens Friday, January 18,...
Canadian director/producer Craig Goodwill (Artist: Unknown, The Spirit Game) and producer David Sparkes (The Samaritan) are kicking off 2013 with pre-production of their dark comedy-adventure indie feature Patch Town, inspired by their award-winning short film of the same name. The film, a story about an abandoned toy who works on the assembly line in an oppressive toy factory, stars Zoie Palmer (Cold Blooded, Devil) and Julian Richings (Hard Core Logo, Cube), alongside Rob Ramsay (Blue Mountain State) and newcomer Stephanie Pitsiladis (Hairspray). The screenplay was written by Christopher Bond and Trevor Martin, the duo behind A Little Bit Zombie. Production...
