TIFF’s annual Wavelengths programme is one of few opportunities for Torontonians (and Canadians) to see work on the bleeding edge of film aesthetics in such a concentrated burst. It’s also, I would argue, one of the city’s few truly world-class cultural events, and that’s thanks to Andréa Picard, the section’s programmer for the past 13
Canada's Documentary Magazine
Robert Greene’s new film Bisbee ’17 is about the performance of history in the present.
Shasha Nakhai’s feature documentary debut Take Light is an absorbing character-driven study of the country’s fight for sustainability amidst post-colonial corruption. Nakhai’s film highlights ordinary citizens caught within a power struggle both literal and figurative.
In Canada, it’s called fair dealing. In the States, fair use. But as for hard guidelines, there aren’t any.
Wall (Canada, 78 min.) Dir. Cam Christiansen In 2018, “wall” is a volatile word. Donald Trump’s oft-threatened wall on the USA/Mexico border epitomizes the current White House administration’s deranged, sensationalist, and polarizing attitude towards international relations. There are many good ways to be a good neighbor, but erecting a huge barrier isn’t one of them. Acclaimed
Spotlight on Caroline Monnet, whose work History Shall Speak for Itself puts a mosaic of Indigenous artists, including Alanis Obomsawin, on the walls of TIFF Lightbox during the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival.
I’m generally opposed to the idea of working vacations, but transcribing an interview with Cielo director Alison McAlpine while at my cottage gave her words extra gravity. There is something about the stars that too many of us take for granted. Back home in Toronto, the only blinking lights in the sky are airplanes. I used to
Two weeks ago, TIFF unveiled its Galas and Special Presentations line-up, which has triggered some serious attention from international audiences. Here in Canada, the excitement has also mounted. The lineup features four Canadian titles, including films from such trailblazers as Patricia Rozema (Mouthpiece) and Kim Nguyen (The Hummingbird Project). The recently announced Canadian line-up, which includes several documentaries,
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda (Japan/USA, 100 min.) Dir. Stephen Schible Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda sings with a whisper. This quiet and contemplative film offers a portrait in pianissimo of Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. The 66-year-old artist delves into his passion for music after surviving cancer and seeing his nation devastated in 2011 by an earthquake and the ensuing
Victory Day, Sergei Loznitsa’s new film, takes place in the present and serves as a sort of companion piece to Austerlitz.