Hye’s Musings Blog

HyesMusings June 25, 2009

Affordable Canadian Fashion

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In my many walks home, I take varying routes and to my surprise, I came across the Independent Designers Outlet (IDO)on Dundas St. West, a block East of Dufferin at Gladstone.

Well, of course I had to stop by and take a peek. Once there, I realised the great line up of designer clothing available at some very reasonable prices. On my first visit, I left with some great summer tops by House of Spy and a great Roots Jacket by Revolve Clothing.

I figured it was a must that I share this new favourite with the rest of you, who want to look fashionable without having to break the bank as well as being eco-friendly. I dropped by the store last week and had a great chat with Lara Stephenson (pictured right) creator of Revolve Clothing and the person who came up with the concept for this shop.

Stephenson decided she wanted to sell some of her over-stock from previous collections since usually there are more than a few pieces left. As with most things, the universe just aligned in time when she needed to find a new design studio and a place to sell some of her extra items. This was the beginning IDO. Eventually, other designers began approaching her to sell their over-stock items… the rest worked itself out.

The store opened about a month ago (May 19th) and they had their official opening party two weeks ago. The clientele seems to be growing everyday. When I was chatting with Lara, a few people came in and all seemed pleasantly surprised at the many lines in the store and the prices.

As of this month, IDO is selling clothing from five Canadian labels. These are: Revolve Clothing, Snoflake, Dagg & Stacey, Greenbaum Clothing, House of Spy, Lux and Luster, and Juma (which have some really cute summer dresses btw).

Drop by the store during the week (Wed-Fri from 12-7pm) and on weekends (Sat-Sun from 12-6pm). It’s guaranteed that you’ll find a thing or two.

Photos: Hye! and Lara Stephenson

HyesMusings June 24, 2009

Sir Jerry Time Machine

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For those of you who have little ones in your life, I recommend an afternoon filled with music, laughter, dance and mystery with Sir Jerry!

Sir Jerry is Jerry Levitan, a former litigation lawyer who now dedicates his time to entertaining children, young and young at heart. His shows have been described as “Pink Floyd for Kids.” This will give you an idea of the kind of entertainment Sir Jerry will provide.

Levitan is also the young man, who at fourteen, got to meet John Lennon. From this experience he decided to produce the Academy and Emmy nominated short animated film I Met the Walrus. He now has a children’s book of the same title, which is also receiving great reviews.

I had a chance to speak with Sir Jerry a few days ago. I was curious to know what motivates Sir Jerry. “Anything that’s creative motivates me,” he said. He loves to see the kids’ reactions as well as the parents’. He likes seeing how everyone has a good time at his shows.

The idea of Sir Jerry came about after Levitan wrote some songs based on ideas given to him by his then 3-year-old daughter, Jaime. She’s now 7-years-old and is joining her dad on this new album; Sir Jerry Time Machine, his third release. The CD release show and party take place at the Great Hall, this Sunday, June 28th at 1pm.

So what to expect at this show/party? Sir Jerry will perform his new songs with his band and his daughter, Jaime, will make an appearance on-stage to sing “Best things we have;” a song they worked on together. He’s very excited about this. Anisa Tejpar is the choreographer, who creates fun dances that include ballerinas and other fun characters; all at a very artistic level. The show will cater to the children but also to the parents as well. Expect to be surprised! “They have never seen anything like it,” Sir Jerry promises.

I highly recommend visiting Sir Jerry’s interactive website. There, you can see some of his videos and hear the new songs, send him a personal message and just explore Sir Jerry’s world. A big shout out to Sir Jerry for taking the time to chat with me… Hope some of you make it to the show this weekend!

Vitals: The Great Hall – 1087 Queen Street West

$5 each or $15 for a family of four

Tickets available at the door only

Photo courtesy of GAT

HyesMusings June 22, 2009

Congratulations to all Award Winners at this year’s World Wide Short Film Festival

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OVER $60,000 IN CASH AND PRIZES AWARDED TO FILMMAKERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

TORONTO, June 21, 2009 – Presented by TELUS, CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival (WSFF) proudly presented 10 awards and over $60,000 in cash and prizes to this year’s top filmmakers at the 2009 CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival Awards Picnic. Offering one of the largest prize packages for short film in the world, the WSFF honoured this year’s exceptional filmmakers in the presence of over 400 industry delegates and filmmakers from around the globe.

One of only three Canadian festivals accredited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences®, WSFF Canadian award winners are eligible for Genie Awards, while winners of the awards for Best Live-Action Short and Best Animated Short become eligible for the Academy Awards®.

“The CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival is delighted to honour these talented visual artists,” said Eileen Arandiga, Festival Director. “Ranging from live action, animation, documentary and experimental films from Canada and across the globe, this year’s selection of award-winning shorts prove that the short film form continues to be a powerful cinematic art form.”

The C.O.R.E Digital Pictures Award For Best Live Action Short was awarded to Nicolas Silhol (France) for his psychological drama,MY NAME IS DOMINIC (TOUS LES ENFANTS S’APPELLENT DOMINIQUE) garnering him $5000 in cash and eligibility for the 2009Academy Awards®. An Honourable Mention was handed out to Joost Van Ginkel (Netherlands) for SAND (ZAND), a heart-wrenching story of a father and daughter separated through divorce.

Aparna Kapur received The Jackson-Triggs Award For Best Emerging Canadian Filmmaker and a cash prize of $5,000 for AMMA, the richly animated story of a girl’s bond with her grandmother. Honourable Mention went to Joseph Johnson Cami & Ayelen Liberonafor BECOMING, an experimental dance/action hybrid.

The Kodak Award for Best Cinematography in a Canadian Short was presented to Cinematographer Miroslaw Baszak for the visually stunning THE WATER along with a digital camera package valued at $800. An Honourable Mention went to Director/Cinematographer Pedro Pires for his dance of death experimental DANSE MACABRE.

Best Animated Short honour and a Sony digital camcorder went to Hanna Heilborn and David Aronowitsch (Sweden/Denmark)for the powerful and haunting documentary SLAVES.

Best Canadian Short and a Sony digital camcorder was captured by director Ky Nam Le Duc for the compelling drama LAND OF MEN(TERRE DES HOMMES).

The Best Experimental Short honour along with a Sony digital video camcorder, went to Pedro Pires for DANSE MACABRE (Canada). An Honourable Mention went to director Servane Phillips and Nathalie Robison (Canada) for INSCAPE.

Best Documentary Short honour and a Sony digital video camcorder went to Rhys Graham for his fascinating documentary SKIN(Australia).

For the second year, CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival is pleased to present awards for Best Performance in a Live-Action Short. The Best Performance prize (Female) goes to Leora Rivlin for WIND CHIMES (Israel), Best Performance Prize (Male) to Jack Woutersefor SAND (ZAND) (Netherlands) and Best Performance Prize (Ensemble) to Kil-ho Kim & Tae-hoon Lee for AULD LANG SYNE (South Korea).

And finally, the Screenplay Giveaway Prize, a package of goods and services worth over $50,000 was awarded to Kate Hewlett for her script “SHE SAID LENNY”. The prize includes post-production services at Deluxe Laboratories and studio rental from Centennial College @Wallace Studios, along with film stock from Kodak, two programming passes to WIFT-T, legal advice from Heenan Blaikie Barristers and Solicitors and story editing courtesy of Super Channel.

The TELUS Audience Choice Award which comes with a $5,000 cash prize went to Paul Rondin Is… Paul Rondin (Paul Rondin Es… Paul Rondin) from France, directed by Frederik Vin. Chosen out of all 295 films in the festival, the TELUS Audience Choice Award is the only prize in which all films, in both competition and non-competition screenings are eligible to win.

Now in its 15^th year, the Canadian Film Centre’s Worldwide Short Film Festival is the leading venue for the exhibition and promotion of short film in North America and is one of the premier short film festivals in the world. Taking place from June 16^th to 21^st, 2009 the WSFF will presented 295 films from 46 countries. Offering one of the largest prize packages for short film in the world, top WSFF winners are eligible for both Academy Award® and Genie Award consideration.

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Hye! Note: Thank you to VKPR (V Kelly & Associates Inc.) for sending this information

Picture Credit: http://www.dansemacabre-film.com/en

HyesMusings June 19, 2009

For the Kids @ World Wide Short Film Festival 2009

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I like the Shorts for Shorties programme because the films are selected with children in mind but they appeal to the silly child in all of us… The programme celebrates animation. And we get to learns some good lessons as well as see some really cute, fun and super silly characters.

I really enjoyed the whole programme but here are some of my faves… maybe you and the kids will be wowed and laugh as silly as I did.

Canadian short Just Another Floor Kid’s Battle. In which, two very skilled breakdancers battle one another to some really cool beats… Regardless of ability, both B-Boyz have excellent battling skills. The animation will also impress you.

From Zimbawe we see two episodes of Jungle Beat. I Believe I Can Fly is about a little ostrich really believes he can fly; perseverance eventually pays off. Of course, he also needs to learn that safety is of utmost importance. And You Don’t Bring Me Flowers is all about love! A gazelle tries high and low to impress a female gazelle with a single flower. Not so sure his strategies are the best though… He’ll definitely make you laugh.

Another Canadian series that made me laugh myself silly is Black and White. There are eight episodes presented and they are all less than a minute long; so don’t blink for long. You’ll meet David and Steven, two square characters, literally. They’re nonsensical and they really think they’re funny… and you know what, I laughed myself silly… “Oh man,… oh man… oh man!!”

And from the UK we get to see Wallace and Gromit again! In A Matter of Loaf and Death, the duo now owned a bakery but of course, Wallace has to fall in love and leave all the work for Gromit to do! Not to mention there is a serial killer after all pastry chefs on the loose. Will Wallace and Gromit stay out danger? You’ll have to watch to find out.

These are just highlights of the programme. It shows tomorrow, Saturday June 20th at 12:12pm at the ROM. Children under 12 get in for FREE, so there is no excuse not to take them to the movies… And if you have time afterwards, Jon Izen the creator of Black and White will be on hand for a short animation workshop sponsored by the CBC.

HyesMusings June 19, 2009

World Wide Short Film Festival 2009: Friday, Day 4

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Friday is here and if you’re still wondering what’s coming up at WWSFF, here is a quick list to help you make your choices.

At Cumberland Theatre: Official Selection 1: The Edge of Reason

Includes The Spine by Chris Landreth and Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death by Nick Park… A little insanity never hurts or does it? It is so popular they even added third screening.

At the ROM Theatre:

Picture is Up! — A tribute to film making from editing to actors. My friend Donna Gee at The More the Merrier Show really enjoyed getting to know John Cazale’s work in I Knew It Was You. I know the characters Cazale played on screen but know little about him as an actor…

Midnight Mania: Creepy

If you like vampires, zombies and ghosts, this is the one for you. With titles like Laura Panic, Boob and Breed (Dos Manos Zurdas y Un Racimo de Ojos Manchados de Gris), I’m not sure what kind of ride we’ll be taking.

There are eight programmes screening today, for screening times go here.

Photo courtesy of World Wide Short Film Festival.

HyesMusings June 17, 2009

World Wide Short Film Festival 2009 – “You Can’t Take It With You”

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WWSFF’s Official Selection 3: You Can’t Take It With You includes short films that make us think about the passage of time, death, the afterlife and the things we hold on to or not…

I had the chance to screen the short Danse Macabre by Pedro Pires. In it, we get to experience the Dance of Death as it’s clearly defined in its title. Pires presents us the lifeless body in a dance sequence that is in a way beautiful and thought provoking.

I had a chance to ask Pires a few questions about his film. Here is what he shared with me…

HYE: Let’s begin with the title. I am aware Danse Macabre is from Medieval times, which refers to the universality of death. How soon did you know this was to be title for this short… or did the title come first?

PEDRO: The title came at the end. I told Anne-Bruce that I would like the title Danse Macabre for the film . Then I met Robert (Lepage) and he suggested the same title without knowing my intention.

HYE: I know, you’ll have to answer this again and again but I am curious as to how long it took for this project to come to fruition from the original idea to post-production. The fact that so much is accomplished in 8.5 min is a testament to some really great editing skills.

PEDRO: Or some real perseverance because it took two years to make that 8 minutes film. That was mainly because we had to wait for authorisation to film in those locations. We were working like documentarists. We were shooting in morgues, embalming labs, with real bodies, real blood. And that’s what is in the movie. One of my main goals was to be able to blend that reality perfectly with the dance performance. To make something unique.

HYE: I liked the sequence of “still” photos to give the viewer the idea of the lives that have past… Was that their purpose?

PEDRO: Initially I thought it could be interesting to see the preparation of the washing in fast forward. Then I realized that the removing of her clothes could be seen as digging deeper in her past and I then insert 2 or 3 photos of her childhood to pop that idea. I then put a sharp “photo-shutter” sound to accentuate the work of the scissors that cut her clothes.

From L-R: Anne Bruce Falconer (Choreographer & Cast),
Pedro Pires (Director), and Catherine Chagnon (Producer).
Photo by HyeM.

HYE: Can you share a bit about the cast and the choreography? Did you make any suggestions as director as to how you wanted things to flow or did you let Anne decide that? The movements are indeed a ballet piece set to opera.

PEDRO: I was very selective about what choreographic elements could be in the film and what couldn’t. Anne-Bruce came out with a lot of great ideas after working with Robert (Lepage) a year before I started on the project, but once I decided that I wanted some sort of realism, we had to cut a lot. And I was obsessed by the idea of a very slow, last movement or last breath of that cadaver and every movements that was too “danced” or intentional was removed. Anne-Bruce cast herself in that role, as she initiated the project, and I must say that I don’t think it could be a better cast. Even the funeral director André Fournier, whose work also includes embalming corpses on daily basis said he was amazed by the “dead” appearance of Anne-Bruce in the film.

HYE: That brings me to the choice of music; the aria, Casta Diva from Norma by Maria Callas… it really made the film complete. Your thoughts…

PEDRO: That piece also came at the end. I first tried with some Gyorgy Ligeti atmospheric work and it turned instantly into a horror movie. It was your worse nightmare of being embalmed alive! Then everything more peaceful turned out to be too sentimental until I tried that piece of Callas. Suddenly, it seems probable that this piece could be heard by the radio in the lab first, then it gives an almost religious side without being too sentimental, I thought. I also liked the fact that it was a female voice. And what a voice!!

HYE: I just wanted to say that I have seen many films on death and yours, albeit short, really resonates. I like its commentary; its visuals; the whole composition… It’s life’s operatic ending, I think.

PEDRO: I’m really happy that you liked the film. Thank you.

This film along with seven other shorts will screen Wednesday, June 17th at 4:30PM at the ROM and again on Saturday, June 20th at 2:30PM, same location. For more details, go to WWSFF’s website.

I hope you make it to one of these screenings. These shorts will create some good conversation afterward.

HyesMusings June 16, 2009

World Wide Short Film Festival 2009 – Opening Gala

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Sometimes I like it short and quick… That’s what World Wide Short Film Festival (WWSFF) specialises in. This year’s festival has something for everyone.

There are over twelve Official Selections plus several other programmes to explore. The festival runs from Tuesday, June 16 to Sunday, June 21.

Tomorrow’s Opening Gala showcases Award Winners from Around the World. The programme includes seven shorts from France, New Zealand, Canada, to list a few. This series explores the extravagant nature of humans and their gluttony; the idea that change often causes us to misperceive ourselves; bullying; the secret behind a man’s beard; maintaining one’s identity in a new country; catching up with old pals and finally, learning the alphabet!

Well if that’s piqued your curiosity, here is the list of films in this programme:

Next Floor by Denis Velleneuve, Canada

I must admit this film is really visually impressive. I will not say much more about it but the cinematography is really vivid. Is this humans’ descent into hell?

Skhizen by Jeremy Clapin, France

What would you do if you were off by 91cm from yourself on top of being struck by a meteorite… twice? I know, sounds interesting. This animated short will give you a different perspective.

Jerrycan by Julius Avery, Australia

I certainly would not want to play this version of “Rock, Paper Scissors”…

The Secret Life of Beards by Melanie Levy, USA

For some, aesthetically pleasant; for others, kind of a mess. A beard can certainly affect our perception of others around us… I like this documentary short for its succinct way of getting the message across and cool music (I must admit, I like the harmonica).

Coffee and Allah by Sima Urale, New Zealand

There is a sacred connection between a well-made cup of coffee and Allah… This film is also about making connections in a foreign land.

Gone Fishing by Chris Jones, UK

This short is a little reminiscent of Big Fish in its account of a great fishing tale… But it’s more than a great tale; it’s friendship in life and beyond.

Teaching the Alphabet by Volker Schreiner, Germany

Really enjoyed this 4-minute short. Schreiner has put together footage of Hollywood films from as far back as 1934 up to 2005. The viewer learns the alphabet through these images; however, the footage we see represents more than each letter. This short film showcases meticulous editing and great choreography in terms of timing and pacing. I know all film fans will enjoy it.

Stay tuned as I will have more coverage in the next few days.

For more information on this year’s WWSFF schedule and ticket information, go here.

HyesMusings May 14, 2009

Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film and Video Festival — Preview

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Inside Out starts Thursday and runs until Sunday, May 24th. This year’s International Spotlight is on France, so make sure you check out the website for more details. I have compiled a short list of some films I plan to see over the next week or so.

Patrick, Age 1.5 –> This film premiered last September at TIFF. If you missed it then, this is your chance to see it as it is this year’s Opening Gala. If you liked it the first time, maybe you’d like to see it again this time around. The film is about Goran and Sven, a married couple living in the suburbs of Stockholm and their dream to adopt a child. What follows is a story that is filled with both drama and humour. I have heard good things about the film…

Trinidad –> This is a documentary about the town of Trinidad, Colorado a.k.a. the “Sex Change Capital of the World” and the story of Dr. Marci Bowers, the first trans surgeon to perform these operations.

Gasolina –> Follows the friendship of Gerardo and Raymundo — two young men who live in Guatemala City — on one of their joyrides over the course of a single night. As described in the program guide, this is about “bromance” and the nature of such relationships.

Fig Trees –> I mentioned this film in my past post for Hot Docs ’09. It’s a film that celebrates the lives of AIDS activists Zachie Achmat and Tim McCaskell. The film is an opera/documentary; the format is quite interesting and it is based on the opera Four Saints In Three Acts(1934) by Gertrude Stein and Virgil Thomson.

The Fish Child –> This is the second feature by Lucía Puenzo, whose film XXY was shown at TIFF in 2007 and Inside Out in 2008. The Fish Child is this year’s Closing Gala. Puenzo showcases the love story between two young girls of very different socioeconomic backgrounds. However, there is a crime from which one of the girls is running away. This is based on Puenzo’s novel by the same name.

These are but a few of the many films you can take in over the next ten days. The films listed here still have tickets available. For more detailed information check out Inside Out’s website; the schedule at a glance is a very helpful tool. So go on and have a gay old time!

Photo provided by GAT.

HyesMusings May 9, 2009

HOT DOCS 2009 ANNOUNCES WINNERS

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THE ONE MAN VILLAGE AND INVISIBLE CITY TAKE TOP HOT DOCS HONOURS

1O AWARDS AND $60,000+ IN CASH PRIZES ANNOUNCED

Toronto. Hosted by the CBC’s Jian Ghomeshi, the 2009 Hot Docs Awards Presentation took place on Friday, May 8, at the Isabel Bader Theatre in Toronto. Ten awards, including those for Festival films in competition and those recognizing emerging and established filmmakers, were presented and over $60,000 in cash prizes was bestowed.

The Best International Feature Award was presented to THE ONE MAN VILLAGE (D: Simon El Habre; P: Simon El Habre, Jad Abi-Khalil, Irit Neidhardt; Lebanon), which looks at the last inhabitant of a Lebanese village that was destroyed and deserted after the civil war and reflects on that country’s problematic past and present. Jury statement:“Exceptional clarity in the filmic storytelling of a simple man in the Lebanese highlands, told with great empathy and even more skill. This film is an enchanting and gripping film and at once a pleasant and powerful experience.” The Best International Feature Award is sponsored by A&E and comes with a $10,000 cash prize, courtesy of Hot Docs.

The Special Jury Prize – International Feature was presented to COOKING HISTORY (D: Peter Kerekes; P: Peter Kerekes, Georg Misch, Ralph Wieser, Pavel Strnad; Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia), in which military cooks share their unique perspectives on the battles and survival strategies of the 20^th century’s major conflicts. Jury statement: “The jury recognizes the format and inventiveness of this highly original history of 20^thcentury European wars, as told through army cooks and their recipes. Wryly hilarious and surprisingly moving, the brilliantly staged sequences make us see our wars and our hungers with new eyes.” The Special Jury Prize – International Feature is sponsored by the OMDC.

The Best Canadian Feature Award was presented to INVISIBLE CITY (D: Hubert Davis; P: Mehernaz Lentin, Gerry Flahive), which follows the lives of two black teenagers over three years as they navigate issues of race, crime and notions of manhood in Toronto’s Regent Park community. Jury statement:“The Award goes to a film that weds form and content with extraordinary grace and intelligence. It is no small feat to maintain a focus on the raw material of real human experience while honouring the documentary as a cinematic art form. Because it does all these things, and because it maintains the dignity of its subjects’ lives while asking difficult questions about the conditions under which those lives are lived, the jury has chosen Hubert Davis’s Invisible City as the best Canadian feature.” The Best Canadian Feature Award is sponsored by the Documentary Organization of Canada and the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation and comes with a $15,000 cash prize courtesy of the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation.

In this photo (from L to R): Kendell Campbell, Ainsworth Morgan and Michael Lewin from Invisible City.

The Special Jury Prize – Canadian Feature was presented to WATERLIFE (D: Kevin McMahon; P: Michael McMahon, Kristina McLaughlin, Gerry Flahive), a sumptuous immersion into the extraordinary beauty and complex toxicity of the Great Lakes that reminds us of our essential connection to the water that we drink every day. Jury statement: “This year the jury awards its Special Jury Prize to a film that speaks to us in a commanding style and with a keen intelligence. It represents the work of a filmmaker who is in full command of his medium, and who has developed a language for speaking in non-fiction film that is distinctive and utterly his own. It is also an impressive example of how a strongly articulated sense of technique can provide an illuminating and organic understanding of its subject. For these reasons, the Canadian Features Jury has decided to grant its Special Jury Prize to Kevin McMahon’s Waterlife.” The Special Jury Prize – Canadian Feature is sponsored by the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation and comes with a $10,000 cash prize courtesy of the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation.

The Best Mid-Length Documentary Award was presented to RABBIT À LA BERLIN (D: Bartek Konopka; P: Anna Wydra; Germany, Poland), which wryly tells the story of the wild rabbits that lived comfortably between the Berlin Walls and how they, like Eastern Europeans, are still adjusting to the free world. Jury statement:“Audaciously weaving a wealth of archival footage, this film aptly plies the perfect metaphor to narrate the grand history of the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall, from the point of view of the humans and rabbits trapped by its walls.” The Best Mid-Length Documentary Award is sponsored by the Canada Council for the Arts.

The Best Short Documentary Award was presented to THE DELIAN MODE (D: Kara Blake; P: Kara Blake, Marie-Josée Saint-Pierre; Canada), an illuminating look at the life of Delia Derbyshire, one of the world’s most influential electronic music pioneers. Jury statement: “This film is an elegantly structured visual and sonic excavation of the birth of electronic music told through the history of its brilliant, idiosyncratic female founder Delia Derbyshire who ‘could make music out of anything.’” The Best Short Documentary Award is sponsored by Playback.

The HBO Emerging Artist Award was presented to Chung-ryoul Lee, director of OLD PARTNER (South Korea), a funny and tender tale of an elderly Korean farmer, his wife, and the ox that has been with them – and between them – for thirty years. Jury statement:“This film has the charm of the classic fairy tale. Conveying the universal rhythms of life, death and rebirth with simplicity and dignity. In the story of a farmer, his wife, and the ox they depend on, the filmmaker has found a universal tale told in the most intimate fashion.” The HBO Emerging Artist Award is sponsored by HBO Documentary Films.

Hot Docs Board of Directors presented this year’s Outstanding Achievement Award to Alanis Obomsawin. Obomsawin’s latest film, PROFESSOR NORMAN CORNETT – “SINCE WHEN DO WE DIVORCE THE RIGHT ANSWER FROM AN HONEST ANSWER?” had its world premiere later that evening.

documentary’s Don Haig Award, presented annually to an emerging Canadian documentary filmmaker, was awarded to Montreal’s Brett Gaylor (RiP!: A REMIX MANIFESTO). The Don Haig Jury also named Montreal’s Tracey Deer(CLUB NATIVE) a runner up for the Award. Each filmmaker received a $10,000 cash prize.

The Lindalee Tracey Award, which honours an emerging Canadian filmmaker with a passionate point of view, a strong sense of social justice and a sense of humour, was presented to two filmmakers who were determined to be equally deserving of the Award:Montreal’s Laura Bari and Ottawa’s Will Inrig. Each filmmaker received a cash prize of $3000 from the Lindalee Tracey Long-Term Fund and $1500 in film stock, courtesy of Kodak Canada.

The Hot Docs Festival Jury, which decided on films in competition, were:

Canadian Features: Nahid Persson Sarvestani, filmmaker; Sky Sitney, director of programming, SILVERDOCS; Geoff Pevere, columnist, The Toronto Star.

International Features: John Greyson, filmmaker; Cara Mertes, director of the Documentary Film Program, Sundance Institute; Esther van Messel, CEO, First Hand Films.

Short and Mid-Length Films: Sara Diamond, president, Ontario College of Art and Design; Marie-Anne Raulet, director, Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal; Jean Marie Téno, filmmaker.

An additional award, the Hot Docs Audience Award, along with Hot Docs top ten audience favourites, will be announced on Monday, May 11.

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Hye! Note:

As you can see, the selections at Hot Docs this year showcase great stories and great talent from all over. My shout outs to Invisible City by Hubert Davis for being the recipient of the Best Canadian Feature Award… It was one of my top five this year… You can read my review of this film at alternavox.net in the Box Office section.

I am glad the jury liked it as well. There are two repeat screenings this weekend: Saturday, May 9th at 3:30pm at the Cumberland and Sunday, May 10th at 9:45pm at the Isabel Bader Theatre. They are both RUSH but if you have time, you may want to take a chance at the Bader screening… it’s the larger venue and you may have a better chance at getting in last minute. For more info go to www.hotdocs.ca

A BIG THANK YOU to VKPR for sending me the update on the award winners and to GAT for providing the photo for this post.

HyesMusings May 8, 2009

Hot Docs 09 — Seen lots and still lots to see!

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Hot Docs is now on its Eighth day and many, many films have been screened; some have no screenings left. However, there are still three days left to get your Doc Fix and some of the popular films have repeat screenings on Sunday night.

I had a chance to screen several of the documentaries prior to the festival, hence my selections in my first Hot Docs write up this month. But I enjoy sitting in the theatre with the audience, so of course, I am still attending and have attended other screenings this week.

Monday, May 4th — Action Boys by first-time director Byung-Gil Jung

This was a last minute decision… I’m a fan of Asian action films and a documentary about several former students from the Seoul Action School was just something I had to see. Jung was a member of one of the cohorts from 2004 but never followed through on a career as a stunt-double. Thus, he decided to make this film which follows some of his friends from that class all the way from their auditions in 2004 to 2008. Some have become successful in their careers; others not so much… The film isn’t so much about displaying all the great stunts they have learned over the years but about the people who do this type of work.

We get to know at least four of Jung’s classmates quite well; Jin-Seock, Sung-Il, Gui-Deok and Sye-Jin. I must admit that at times it was hard to distinguish who was who since the subtitles were not always the best in terms of flow… I liked that there was humour but also some personal moments. As well, Jung decided to have a female voice-over, which worked well and gave the audience a different perspective not just the director’s. I liked the film because it wasn’t a collage of these guys doing all kinds of stunts… we got to know them individually and as a group. There are no more screenings for this film but it was co-presented by Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, so perhaps there will be another chance to see it then.

Tuesday, May 5th — Tyson by director James Toback

A truly interesting film about a man that is so famous yet very few understand as a human being. This was a very candid, entertaining and serious interview with former Heavyweight champ Mike Tyson.

It was interesting to hear Tyson’s philosophy on life, money, family and boxing. He was at his most honest when he talked about his boxing mentor Cus D’Amato; at times becoming teary-eyed yet unable to let his full emotions show. I think I found this film interesting because the subject himself is a man that needs to be explored as a person. Tyson has been labelled a rapist, an “ear-biter”… Toback and team did a great job in the editing of the film since it conveyed the flow of Tyson’s thoughts and feelings; sometimes organised and very honest and at other times sort of chaotic. It was refreshing to see him in such light; other than the boxer I knew from growing up. The footage interspersed throughout the film also provided great background information and reminded us of how society came to know Tyson as this “bigger than life”, at times violent and angry, character… mixed with Tyson’s own words we were then reminded he’s just human like the rest of us whose life has had many ups but also many, many downs.

This was the only screening at Hot Docs but the film opens this Friday (May 8th) in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal. I think you’ll also find it interesting.

Thursday, May 7th — El Olvido (Oblivion) by director Heddy Honigmann

I had listed this film in my first post as one to go see. I have heard of Honigmann’s other films and was curious about El Olvido because I wanted to see what it would be like for Honigmann to go “back home” to Lima, Peru her birthplace. I must admit it’s more of a personal sense of curiosity since I’m also from Latin America and have gone “back home” after living abroad for many years. The people in the city look so different yet the same and I think one has a different perspective on what their lives must be like.

In this film, Honigmann introduces us to many individuals young and old who are part of the working class in Lima. Some of them work on the streets doing acrobatics, juggling and other physical feats to earn a living; yet others work in very “poshy” hotels and restaurants where many Presidents have passed through. Many of the people interviewed allow Honigmann (or “Miss Heddy” as she’s called by some) to visit their homes or place of employment and have more candid conversations. One of the major topics of conversation is the corruption of the political system in Peru; not too different from other Latin American countries. The common thread is that the working majority is always the one that has to endure the economic hardships and often left in the dark because those in power hardly ever convey the truth of the state of the country. Their issues, struggles and concerns are all the same as those of other Latin American countries… same mess across the continent.

Like my friend Donna G, who also screened this film, I found myself the most moved by Henry “the shoe shiner without dreams” (pictured above) because at fourteen years-old he stated he doesn’t remember anything good or bad. Thus, he has no dreams or aspirations. The tone of his voice and the look in his eyes just made you feel like telling him that things can improve. Yet we also met other characters who have survived broken marriages, terrorism, the death of a young daughter and economic hardships who feel their experiences have made them value life so much more and are thankful.

There is one more screening of this film, if you’re interested. It will be shown again at the Isabel Bader theatre on Saturday, May 9th at 11am.

Suggestions for this weekend are:

Rise Up by director Luciano Blotta

The director takes us to Jamaica and introduces us to three very different underground Reggae artists… I had this film listed on my initial Hot Docs post and have to recommend it again. I like the characters, the music and the way their stories unfold.

The films has gone RUSH for both the Friday (May 8th) and Sunday (May 10th) screenings. However, the Saturday (May 9th) screening at the Bloor Cinema at 11:59pm still has tickets available.

Audition by director Nelofer Pazira

The director goes back to Bamiyan, Afghanistan and decides to hold auditions for an upcoming film. The result is an interesting look at how men and women’s notions of power and control within their society.

The film will show Saturday (May 9th) at the Isabel Bader Theatre at 7:15pm. Tickets are still available.

Photo courtesy of Hot Docs.

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Congratulations to all Award Winners at this year’s World Wide Short Film Festival

OVER $60,000 IN CASH AND PRIZES AWARDED TO FILMMAKERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

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Hot Docs 09 — Seen lots and still lots to see!

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