Getting any film made is extremely difficult. Films made in the independent space are a product of passion, determination, and often a lot of self-funding. This is particularly true for short films that, outside of a few grants or robust crowd funding efforts, tend to be funded fully by their filmmakers. The benefit is that […]
In recent years, as we are faced with tremendously controversial electoral politics and shocking global conflicts, political discourse has become increasingly polarized and emotionally charged, rendering it extraordinarily difficult for many to engage in the productive discussion and debate necessary to move society forward. Looking forward and recognizing the looming crisis ahead, the Sphere Education […]
The Christians: Earth’s Cry ~ Heaven’s Smile, winner of the Athens Indie Film Festival, is an ambitious and emotionally charged screenplay by Tony Gioutsos and Linda M. Wright. It unfolds as both a deeply personal coming-of-age narrative and an epic spiritual meditation, blending intimate biography with historical martyrdom in a structure that’s daring, if occasionally […]
Festival programmers work hard to build lineups that fit their sections. It’s part of the trust they build with audiences who come with expectations of what to expect from a particular festival or section. Attending a new festival, part of the experience is figuring out what to expect and the promise of the sections. Perspectives […]
In her debut feature, experimental film director Seayoon Jeong takes a deep dive into the mind of one woman suffering the debilitating effects of nyctophobia – fear of the dark. Deftly making creative use of animation and visual effects to enhance the fantastical and at times harrowing dreamscape of her central character’s mind, Jeong proves […]
Film development, production, and release can vary widely in length due to various factors. Smaller productions, because of less lengthy post-production needs and prohibitive budgets necessitating a more protracted marketing campaign to recoup costs, often have shorter turnarounds. That’s assuming they already have distribution deals when made. While it is not unusual to have a […]
I entered Black Doves really wanting to like it. I’d first been introduced to series creator Joe Barton’s work with his screenplay for the TIFF premiering film My Days of Mercy, which told a love story with complication because of personal connections to the death penalty. Black Doves stars actors I find charming in Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw and is set during Christmas, which […]
From this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, comes The Party’s Over (Spanish: Se acabó la fiesta).This movie has many variations on its title. I’ve also seen The Party Is Over, Party’s Over and Fin de Fiesta, but I’m going with what appeared in the opening credits. A young Senegalese migrant makes the dangerous crossing by boat from Morocco to Spain. Fleeing the […]
Toronto audiences will have the opportunity to watch a gripping new political thriller on August 18 at York Cinema, featuring the harrowing journey of an exiled dictator’s daughter as she confronts dark secrets from her past. Co-directed by Nasim Naghavi and Amir Ganjavie, About Maya delves into the emotional and political turmoil of a woman […]
A lot of parallels can be drawn between the stories and themes The Bear explores in the series in the world of restaurants and how that reflects on the act of creating the series itself. One aspect of the first season was finding new footing, creating a language among the “chefs” at The Beef, and breaking down […]
