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A film that follows one survivior and his London-based lawyer as they pursue justice through a public trial in the hopes of forcing the dark and hidden story of clergy sexual abuse to light. Opening Night Screening, and Winner of Best Documentary and the Old Oak Audience Choice Award at FCFF 2019!
Watch NowA profile of giraffe researcher Anne Dagg who, in 1956, became one of the first people to ever observe and report on animal behaviour. Screened at FCFF 2019, this beautiful documentary was an audience favourite, accompanied with an awe-inspiring on-stage conversation with Anne Dagg.
Watch NowFCFF Alumnus and SWO filmmaker, Andrew Moir, presents this award-winning short documentary. Revisit the iconic adolescent milestone of Prom through interviews with LGBTQ people ranging in age from 17 to 88.
Watch NowRaised in a refugee camp in the West Bank, while her mother was in prison, Walaa is determined to survive basic training to become one of the few women on the Palestinian Security Forces - not easy for a girl who breaks all the rules.
Watch NowMeet the fascinating felines and the people who pamper them in this whimsical look at the ins and outs of Canada’s competitive cat show circuit, where the claws come out when a Turkish Angora and an adorable fluffy red Persian face off to take home the national award for Best in Show. Screened at FCFF 2018.
Watch NowLondon animator, Sarah Legault/s collaboration with musician iskwe, this animation recaps the callous and racist way the media covered the murders of two indigenous youth in 2016. Winner of Best Animation at FCFF 2019.
Watch NowA movie about a play, adapted from a play about a play inspired by real events - phew! To research a play he’s in, an actor takes a job as a labourer on a farm owned by two lifelong friends. Opening Night film and winner of the Best Feature and Old Oak Audience Choice awards at FCFF 2018!
Watch NowMeet the Mikes in this short about Ontario rock climbers who are passionate about keeping the stoke high while climbing the 200 ft. cliffs on Georgian Bay. See how the Mikes decided to bring the community together and bring up-and-comers to the awe-inspiring cliffs at Lion's Head Provincial Park.
Watch NowWInner of Best Short Documentary at FCFF 2018, this is a visual journey following one of the world’s most expensive foods. From its creation in the remote island caves of the Philippines, to its transformation into the legendary Cantonese dish, Bird’s Nest Soup, at a 3 Michelin Star restaurant. This film examines this delicacy and the different lives that are touched by it.
Watch NowBruce Franks Jr., a Ferguson activist and battle rapper who was elected to the overwhelmingly white and Republican Missouri House of Representatives, must overcome both personal trauma and political obstacles to pass a critical bill for his community. Previously screened at FCFF Film Club in 2020.
Watch NowSynopsis: Open For Submissions is a comedy about a small film festival with big problems. Desmond Baggs, the new film festival Executive Director, must overcome sabotage and betrayal to make sure his film festival isn't destroyed by the festival programmer, the filmmakers, and/or the Canadian Arts Council.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Lead actor Tyler Parr has a strong connection to the Forest City Film Festival, screening his film "Ironied" in its inaugural year.
Points of Interest: Open for Submission's dialogue and actions were entirely improvised by the cast over an 8 day shoot. The film was created from a 30 page scene outline created by director Bryan Skinner and writing partner Stacey Ashworth.
Synopsis: Boys in July. Girls in August. And never the two shall meet. But in 1990, when summer camps around the country were being shut down in record numbers, Camp Kindlewood made the bold yet economically necessary move to turn “co-ed”. Needless to say, the change did not go over well amongst the counsellors, and quickly erupted into a full on battle of the sexes. The camp was soon in ruins, with morale at an all-time low. Can the boys and girls join forces in time to clean up the camp and save it from closing?
Southwestern Ontario connection: Boys vs. Girls is shot in Essex County between Windsor and Kingsville. Most of the crew and some actors are from Windsor.
Points of Interest: The filmmakers are from Windsor. Mike Stasko is also a professor and teaches film at University of Windsor. He formerly taught at Ottawa, Ryerson and Western universities.
Synopsis: Alex, a returning college student, has a strange experience at a psychic and wakes up with no memory of what happened. Over time, uncanny and terrifying things begin to happen to her. As her friends become increasingly worried, things take a turn for the worst and she loses control. What is inside her, and will they survive it?
Southwestern Ontario connection: This film was shot in London, most of the crew is from London and area, and many of the actors came from the region.
Synopsis: When Robin Walker (Jessica Sipos) returns home for her father's funeral, she's forced to confront the damaged family she left behind, as well as her own personal demons; resulting in the reveal of an unsettling secret.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Luke Villemaire was born and raised in Kitchener, ON. Industry veteran, Andrea Roth is from Woodstock, ON. Film composer, Spencer Creaghan, and star Jackson Martin are both from London, Ontario.
Points of Interest: GOLIATH was helmed by a group of students and alumni from schools across the GTA.
Synopsis: Whimsical and absent-minded photographer Polly stirs up trouble at her new gallery job when she falls for boss Gabrielle and tries to show her paintings to the world.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Sheila McCarthy, who stars in the film, is a prominent SWO actress and director Patricia Rozema grew up in Sarnia.
Synopsis: A frustrated teenager frees herself from her mother's influence and her narrow life in a small industrial town to find out who she really is.
Synopsis: A small-town journalist in southern Chile realizes he has run out of good news so he must start making up fake stories in order to keep his job in the local newspaper.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Pageman Productions was founded by Daniel & Christian Turres, who have lived in London, Ontario for 26 years.
Synopsis: Cassandra, who is portrayed by two women, expresses the opposing voices that exist inside the modern woman's head, during a 48-hour period as she tries to organize the affairs for her mother's funeral.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Director, Patricia Rozema grew up in Sarnia.
Synopsis: An aging, isolated woman ordered to perform community service for a DUI discovers that adopting ailing pets to fill the void in her life can be its own obsession.
TIFF Film Screening
Synopsis: The untold true story of a British whistleblower who leaked information to the press about an illegal NSA spy operation designed to push the UN Security Council into sanctioning the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Sound designer Craig Mann went to Fanshawe College. Mann is the winner of an Academy Award for sound design on Whiplash (2014).
Synopsis: Kapuivik, north Baffin Island, 1961. Noah Piugattuk's nomadic Inuit band live and hunt by dogteam, just as his ancestors did when he was born in 1900. When the white man known as Boss arrives in camp, what appears as a chance meeting soon opens up the prospect of momentous change for the community.
TIFF Film Screening
Synopsis: A film director (portrayed by Antonio Banderas) reflects on the choices he's made in life as the past and present come crashing down around him.
TIFF Film Screening
Synopsis: eature film based on the 1973 bank heist and hostage crisis where the term Stockholm Syndrome originated. Starring Ethan Hawke.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Robert Budreau grew up in Ingersoll and spent much of his youth visiting the New Yorker cinema in downtown London.
TICKETS: #12 - Friday, October 25, 9PM AT WOLF
Synopsis: Between high school pressures and family disorganization, Mylia is trying to find her bearings. Meeting Jacinthe and Jimmy will lead her to outline a new life.
TICKETS: #2 - Thursday, October 24, 9:15 AM AT WOLF - FRENCH SCREENING
Synopsis: A feature film about the lingering impacts of Typhoon Haiyan, starring real survivors re-enacting some of their experiences in the aftermath of the strongest storm ever recorded.
Southwestern Ontario connection: The filmmakers are from London and Guelph, Ontario, both having studied at Vancouver Film School. Shane is born and raised in London, Ontario, and he started filmmaking at age 8 with a Fisher Price PXL-2000 camcorder out of his grandparents minivan at the African Lion Safari. Shane really started getting into filmmaking at Central H.S. when they introduced media into Tech class. Also studied at Fanshawe College as a super duper senior from 2011-2013 studying Interactive Media Design and Production. Leading him to where he is now as a PMD (Production, Marketing + Distribution) or Impact Producer.
Synopsis: Having become a campus celebrity after a (fictional) cancer diagnosis, a young woman (Kacey Rohl) struggles to maintain her fabrication in this fearless and emotionally affecting new feature by Calvin Thomas and Yonah Lewis (Amy George, The Oxbow Cure, Spice It Up).
A young woman who has become a literal poster child on her university campus: recently diagnosed with cancer, she's the focal point of an online funding campaign for both herself and other cancer-related causes. The only problem is, it's all built on a lie: Katie isn't sick, and never has been. And as her story slowly begins to unravel, she disastrously decides to double down, unable to give up the real-life fantasy world she's constructed for herself.
While the film has much to say about social media's impact on contemporary culture its chief virtue is its insistence that we look at, and empathize with, a protagonist who does the unthinkable. It's a feat that one rarely sees attempted, let alone succeeded at — but that's only one of the reasons White Lie is one of the most fearless and emotionally affecting films you'll see this year.
Southwestern Ontario connection: The Filmmakers are from the Hamilton region. This film premiered at TIFF this year. The casting was done by a Hamilton company.
Winner of the prestigious 2019 Hot Docs Rogers Audience Choice Award for Best Canadian Feature and the DGC Special Jury Prize, PREY is a riveting and unflinching account of a survivor of clergy sexual abuse and his civil lawyer as they take on the Catholic Church.
Widespread sexual abuse within the Church has traumatized thousands globally. PREY follows one survivor as he pursues justice through a public trial in the hopes of forcing the dark and hidden story of clergy sexual abuse to light.
The plaintiff in the landmark Canadian court case was abused for years as a boy at the hands of a Catholic priest fifty years ago. His civil lawyer has filed 395 suits against the Church, earning him the nickname “The Priest Hunter”.
The defendants at trial are The Basilians, a Catholic religious order. The abuser makes his presence known in court in the form of a haunting video deposition taken before his death — a taped confession sealed from public view until now.
The trial is not about guilt or innocence, but about how much money the church must pay in compensation for the devastating fallout from the abuse. More importantly, for the plaintiff, it is about exposing the truth of how and why the sexual abuse of children can have gone on for so long without the Church stopping it.
PREY documents one survivor’s efforts to seek justice. A story that echoes thousands of other sexual abuse victims’ stories around the world.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Rob Talach, the lawyer is a London Lawyer. Matt Gallagher, the director, grew up in Windsor. Much of this story takes place in Southwestern Ontario.
Synopsis: Witnessing a six-acre forest be clear-cut for houses in London, Canada, from her 12th floor condo, Caroline Nolan explores urban forest issues and family roots.
Southwestern Ontario connection: The inspirational seed for “Forest City” was the clear-cut of a mature forest that Caroline Nolan witnessed from the balcony of her 12th floor condo in the Hyde Park area of London, Ontario. She instinctively began filming what she saw, and eventually a chance connection led her to Wesley Edgar, a London-based photographer/videographer who jumped on board. Many other members of the production are also from the region.
Points of Interest: Caroline thinks it is important to note that many are aware "deforestation" believing that it is something that only happens in the Amazon rainforest and other remote and wild locations such as up north, far away from cities. Yet the reality is that as cities around the world grow, forests are disappearing. Canadians may not realize that more and more valuable forests are being sacrificed for urban growth, right in their own backyards because it is so hard to see the bigger picture, to get that hawk's eye view. That is what is unique about this film, how it originated with being confronted suddenly with Caroline Nolan having to watch a six-acre mature urban forest be clear-cut from start to finish to make way for 66 single-detached family homes from the point of view, if you like, of a Red Tail Hawk. However as more and more people live in urban environments and our cities footprints grow, protecting our urban forests for habitat, human health and climate change resiliency has never been more important. As a silent witness to this urban forest takedown, Caroline Nolan explores the many complex issues related to urban planning and development, and invites viewers to think harder for themselves about what kind of future they believe we should be collectively creating for future generations.
Synopsis: Illusions of Control follows five compelling and surprising stories of the ways people live on in the wake of human-created disasters.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Shannon Walsh grew up in London and went to high school at South and at HB Beal and BealArt.
Points of Interest: The largest toxic clean up project in Canada is documented in the film, as we follow Stacey from the Yellowknives Dene in Yellowknife NWT.
Directed by Daniel Roher (Ghosts of Our Forest) and executive produced by Martin Scorsese, Brian Grazer, and Ron Howard, the feature documentary follows Robertson from his early life in Toronto and on the Six Nations of the Grand River reserve, in Southern Ontario, to the creation of legendary roots-rock group The Band. He made music history several times over. He lived the rock star life at its peak. The depth and soul of his songwriting continues to influence countless artists all over the world. And it all started in a little corner of Southern Ontario. Born in Toronto and inspired to make music on the nearby Six Nations of the Grand River reserve, Robbie Robertson is a homegrown icon with a singular story to tell.
Daniel Roher's film draws you right into Robertson's orbit as he recounts his early formation, the talent, hard work, and happy accidents that led to his fame with The Band, and the conflicts that consumed them. "It was a beautiful thing," he recalls. "It was so beautiful it went up in flames." Rare archival images, Robertson's memory for detail, and contributions from friends such as Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, and Martin Scorsese conjure up a glorious era of creativity and excess that can never quite be repeated.
Through it all, the rhythm of Robertson's art hums — the yearning, the focus, and the ability to dig inside himself for lyrics and music that could speak to stadiums. He wrote his first song for Ronnie Hawkins when he was 15. Not 10 years later, he'd already struck up a productive partnership with Bob Dylan, and The Band were recording Music from Big Pink at a secluded country house in Upstate New York. But as The Band reached their creative peak, the seeds of their destruction were growing: egos, jealousies, and various intoxicants began to tear them apart.
Offering unprecedented access to rock history, Once Were Brothers tells the story of one remarkable Canadian's contribution to the music we now call Americana.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Shannon Walsh grew up in London and went to high school at South and at HB Beal and BealArt.
Synopsis: For many queer people, some of our toughest years were when we were teenagers living at home. Homophobic parents and school environments often made life unbearable. Now meet the next generation of queer youth, forging a path of love, with the support of their families. In the face of one of the harshest political climates, with homophobia and racism on the rise, these fearless teenagers are claiming their identities and taking the world by storm. This is an intimate documentary look into what it means to be an LGBTQ teen today.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Ayden, one of the protagonists in the documentary has become a close personal friend of Co-Producer/Co-director Matt Alber. Matt is a well known musician as well as a filmmaker and he performed at the Aeolian Theatre in London where he met Ayden and learned of her beautiful story as a queer Native American individual.
Synopsis: The 1994 genocide in Rwanda claimed almost a million lives in just 100 days. The world stood by as men, women and children were being hacked to death by machetes. When the international community finally decided it was time to pay attention, it did so through memorable photographs of mutilated bodies and seas of nameless refugees. But many Rwandans remember their loved ones through images of life, not death: a passport or I.D. card photo, an unguarded snap taken in the garden or a group portrait from a wedding or a baptism. The surviving images are precious objects, with so many destroyed and lost forever. A lot of people have only a solitary image of their loved ones. Many have none at all.
The Faces We Lost follows nine Rwandans (survivors, relatives of victims and professional memory-makers), who guide us through their stories and share their experiences, remembrance and images. It is the first documentary to explore the many functions of these priceless photographs, and one of the few films to engage with Rwandans as users of images, rather than simply their subjects.
The Faces We Lost also explores the professional aspect of memory-making in Rwanda: The Genocide Archive (which holds thousands of original images donated by the victims’ relatives) and the Kigali Genocide Memorial (where many of the photographs are on public display). As the private and the public meet and as each person recounts their relationship with the photographs they have or they wish they had, The Faces We Lost moves to paint a complex memorial landscape of contemporary Rwanda.
Dr. Anne Innis Dagg re-traces the steps of her ground-breaking 1956 journey to South Africa to study giraffes in the wild. Now, at 85 years old, Anne sees a startling contrast between the world of giraffes she once knew and the one it has become. Weaving through the past and present, her harrowing journey gives us an intimate look into the factors that destroyed her career and the forces that brought her back.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Dagg has lived and worked in Waterloo for many years.
Synopsis: Featuring interviews from legal, medical and law enforcement experts, Weekender tells the story of Scott Grandy, his addiction, recovery, and time within Canada's justice system.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Director Travis Hayden-Rowe and producer Eric Green are both Hamilton, Ontario natives, and Mr. Green is a graduate of Western University's UMAJ Journalism program, having previously lived and worked in London. With the exception of the films' primary subject, Scott Grandy, the entirety of the cast and interview subjects are from Southwestern Ontario and Weekender was shot on location across the region.
Points of Interest: The film is an in-depth discussion of the struggles of addiction, both in and of themselves and specifically within the framework of those addicts living within the Canadian justice system.
Synopsis: The fully authorized and official story of legendary anonymous prank-caller Longmont Potion Castle.
Southwestern Ontario connection: David Hall wrote the film in London, Ontario, where he lives.
Points of Interest: Rainn Wilson (Dwight from The Office) is executive producer and appears in the film.
How many years has 'Who Let The Dogs Out' been stuck in your head? Ruffly 17 years? Or did it pop back in your head just now looking at the song's name after years of blissful silence? Either way, the hook has got staying power. A power that dates back to as early as 1959 and possibly before.
Answering the age old question of who exactly let the dogs out is more complicated than anyone ever thought. Fortunately, Ben Sisto has dedicated seven years to exploring and exposing a story steeped in show business, legal battles, female empowerment, artistic integrity and one very catchy hook.
Sisto, a marketer and cultural programmer for the Ace Hotel in New York, first fell down the rabbit hole in 2010 when he learned it was "Who Let The Dogs Out"'s 10 year anniversary. At the time, its Wikipedia page gave a simple, uncited explanation that the original song was recorded off a parade float by a hairdresser named Keith.
Unemployed at the time, Sisto made his mission of the day to fix that citation. Now, almost a decade later, Sisto has finally pieced together the song's origin...
Southwestern Ontario connection: John Diemer, the writer and sound mixer, grew up in London.
Synopsis: A disgruntled woman pays an unwanted visit to her lonely neighbour, but both end up finding unexpected joy in each other's company.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Lead actress Sheila McCarthy is from Stratford, Ontario.
Synopsis: Persistently rejected by others, an autistic man has to confront his own prejudices after he seemingly meets the perfect companion.
Southwestern Ontario connection: The director, Josh Litman, is from London, Ontario (born and raised), and studied at Western University for his undergrad where he majored in developmental cognitive neuroscience. The sound editor, Alex Di Carlo, is also from London, Ontario.
Points of Interest: The film tackles LGBTQ+ and disability-related issues. Writer/producer/lead actor Daniel Becker not only plays a character with autism, but is diagnosed as on the spectrum himself. Furthermore, his co-star, Johanna Padilla, not only plays a trans character, but is a trans actress herself.
Synopsis: Mary, an incredibly lifelike android caretaker, must provide a logical answer for the drowning of her ill ward, Liz.
Southwestern Ontario connection: The director, Dylan Broda, was born and raised in Sarnia, Ontario. Production occurred in Sarnia and Dylan's hometown, Brights Grove. They intend on bringing more film production back to Sarnia in the near future.
Points of Interest: 1 - The opening shot is entirely CGI 2 - The entire film is shot in Sarnia, ON.
Synopsis: Sisters Emme and Elle like to hunt, lure, and devour men. Have they bit off more than they can chew?
Southwestern Ontario connection: All crew and most of the cast are based in Southwestern Ontario, including writer/director Robert McGill, who lives in London. The film was primarily filmed in London, Ontario.
Synopsis: A socially-challenged man struggles for control of his voice when an A.I. speech inhibitor threatens to jeopardize his ailing relationships.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Jordan Batchelor, the Director of Photography, was born and raised in Simcoe, Ontario before coming to Sheridan College for the bachelor of film and TV program. He often visits his family back in Simcoe, and currently resides in Etobicoke looking to further his filmmaking career.
Synopsis: A woman tries to grapple with the state of her newly damaged marriage.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Director Nicholas Dragas is proud to call Kitchener, Ontario home. The film was created, written and shot at the unique locations Nicholas and the crew, all of which is from Southwestern Ontario, have come to know and love.
Synopsis: Pressured to keep quiet about a friend’s indiscretion, Harry is forced to deal with his secret head-on when the victim’s sister walks into his shop.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Writer/director Nano Clow grew up in Cambridge, Ontario. The film is inspired by the vast rural scapes, the small towns, the importance of community, and the trouble you can find yourself in within a town where everybody knows everything about you. The film is set in 2006 in Paris, Ontario.
Points of Interest: The film stars Canadian up-and-comer Dylan Schmid of Stephen King's 1922 (Netflix), Snowpiercer (TBS), and Once Upon a Time (ABC) to name a few.
Synopsis: L'Dor V'Dor (Hebrew for From Generation to Generation) is about a father and a son. The father fears his son is losing his religious identity. The son feels his father has lost touch with the modern world and wants him to adapt.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Michael Tobin has a connection to Southwestern Ontario and the film was shot on Port Stanley Beach.
Synopsis: For every Bert and Ernie, somebody's got to suck it up and play Bert's left arm. Our somebody has had enough.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Franci Dimitrovska grew up in London Ontario. In 2018, she pitched her thesis film, Limbs, at the Forest City Film Festival Pitch Competition and received recognition from Shaftesbury for her project. The film’s head of costume is from Cambridge.
Points of Interest: The film is accumulating several awards. Limbs just had its American premiere at the NYC Chain Film Festival and sold non-exclusive rights to CBC.
Synopsis: As a young Canadian-born daughter waits for acceptance to her dream arts program, her excitement turns to despondence as time goes on. Her Caribbean mother must make a heart wrenching decision to make sure her daughter escapes the cycle of poverty the two are caught in.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Director Andrew Simpson lived in London, Ontario and Producer Sedina Fiati graduated from the University of Windsor. Both Andrew and writer Richard Young have had their previous films play at Forest City Film Festival.
Points of Interest: Film Inspiration, as told by Richard Young.
As a South Asian-Canadian artist with Caribbean roots, the premise of Maternal came from my own family discord when I decided to pursue my artistic passion a decade ago, a discord familiar to many diverse artists.
Giving up my previous stable career led to fights and strained relationships. I was hurt and angry with my immigrant parents for attacking my dreams when I needed their support, assuming they were ashamed of me for being true to myself.
Years later, I realized that underneath all their frustrations and anger was LOVE. My parents grew up poor, coming to Canada and sacrificing so their children could have a better life. And it broke their hearts to see their child now struggle in the unstable arts industry because they were powerless to help me. Like many marginalized people, they tried to protect me by dissuading me from my dream because we couldn’t afford the precarious nature of it. For first-generation children whose loving immigrant parents can’t lift them up high enough, aspirations are ironically a privilege.
Maternal is a distillation of my family’s struggle with the arts. Where the absolute love for one’s child and dream that s/he can be anything comes up against the reality of one’s lot in life. I’m honoured that three powerhouse female black artists, actors Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah & Millie Davis as well as producer Sedina Fiati, connected with the story and came on board with director Andrew Simpson to realize this project.
Synopsis: When the whole world is hypnotized by an unexplained celestial event, a young boy must face his fear of the unknown.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Lead actor Keegan Hedley lives in and is based in Grimsby. The whole script was written while taking the train from Vancouver to Toronto over the course of 4 days.
Synopsis: An eccentric one-line actor keen to save his characters from extinction uses costumes from past roles to tell their stories.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Director/Producer Penny Eizenga lived, worked and raised her family in Southwestern Ontario.
Points of Interest: This is the only time Gordon Pinsent and Sheila McCarthy have ever worked together in all their years of acting.
Synopsis: Fey has just inherited Justine's dog, Benny. The night following Justine's funeral, Fey and Benny face the awkward weight of grief in a Honeymoon suite.
Southwestern Ontario connection: That Funeral Glow is directed by Dylan Mitro, who grew up in London, Ontario. He is very excited to return to his hometown to premiere his first short film. This film is set in small town Ontario and uses this setting to critique the lack of visibility for LGBTQ+ people in rural environments.
Points of Interest: This film is a story of women supporting women, aiming to normalize queer characters and relationships on screen.
Synopsis: To pass the time during a blackout, three siblings tell a scary story that proves to be more dangerous than legend.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Connor Kalopsis, a native of London Ontario, plays one of the lead characters in this film.
Synopsis: A nurse discovers that her patient has a dark secret and puts her job on the line to keep the patient safe.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Director, Miranda White was raised in Brantford, Ontario. She went to Niagara College to pursue her dream of directing, but always thought of Brantford as her home. Touch was a student film made at Niagara College.
Points of Interest: It was a student film made at Niagara College. It is the directorial debut of Miranda White.
Synopsis: In the near future, a major drought has taken over North America. A major agro-chemical company releases a line of drought resistant seeds, but young journalist Harper believes the seeds have a darker purpose.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Director Caitee McIntyre grew up in Stratford, Ontario and Unearthed was inspired by farmers from the region. The film was shot in SWO. Through a family friend, Caitee McIntyre was able to shoot half of the film in their “dream location” of an old 1920s farmhouse in Punkydoodles Corners.
Synopsis: Queer Canadians retell a moment from their high school prom.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Director Andrew Moir grew up in Lucan and went to high school in London, Ontario. Andrew Jeffrey, the cinematographer, grew up in Belle River.
Points of Interest: Marc Hall is in the documentary and recently there was a controversy in London around a theatrical production about his story: https://lfpress.com/2018/02/07/marc-hall-promises-to-come-see-london-high-school-students-performance-of-prom-queen-the-musical-about-halls-prom-date-fight/wcm/d6f89918-4a80-d0ed-8467-d0cba8e19d71
Synopsis: In her striking portrait of Chippewa female mixed martial artist Ashley Nichols, Caroline Monnet eloquently demonstrates and celebrates the athlete's inner strength, fortitude, and dedication to her physical and spiritual health.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Ashley Nichols is from Chippewa of the Thames First Nation.
Synopsis: For the Girls is an observational documentary about the 14 and 15-year-old girls who play for the Etobicoke Dolphins Bantam AA hockey team. Even though there is currently no professional women's league in Canada, most of the Dolphins dream of one day playing hockey at a professional level.
Southwestern Ontario connection: The director of photography, Jansen Otten, is from the London area.
Synopsis: Told through personal photos, home videos, and original music, Girl of My Dreams is a true account of "unexplained" infertility and a very unexpected outcome.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Girl of My Dreams was written, produced and directed in London, Ontario. It contains personal/family footage and stills taken in London, Lambeth, and Bayfield between 1992 and 2018. The music for the film was composed and recorded locally in 1996-1998 by Kari Townsend and produced by Juno award winner Dan Brodbeck.
Points of Interest: Girl of my Dreams was originally a private gift to my daughter in hopes that it would help her understand how deeply she is loved and how profoundly she changed my life. However, upon seeing the film, my daughter (12 years old at the time) suggested I share the film with others so that its message of hope, perseverance and love could offer comfort and encouragement to others. The response has been incredible. I have received messages from so many hopeful parents, adoptive parents and adopted adults - all of whom have expressed thanks for the meaningfulness of the film's message. This has been the greatest reward.
Synopsis: This portrait documentary captures Amy Shackleton's brushless technique, which has led her into the Canadian art scene with uniques city scenes that combine urban elements and nature. A process that will squeeze your creativity.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Director Laura Diaz-Martinez is a Student of Advanced Filmmaking from Fanshawe College.
Points of Interest: Amy Shackleston is a Canadian artist that has been developing her own brushless painting technique during the past ten years, and she has got to a very successful point in her career.
Synopsis: A look into the unique local scene of surfers who ride the waves of our Great Lakes, chasing weather patterns and braving the harsh weather conditions to catch some epic swells.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Director Donnie Ivey is from London Ontario and the entire crew were students at Fanshawe College's Advanced Filmmaking Program.
Synopsis: Through the art of musical collaboration, Icons Of Soul investigates the process by which Lamont Dozier, a giant of Motown, created and delivered legendary songs and monster hit records.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Co-stars and writing partners Arun Chaturvedi and Luke McMaster live in Southwestern Ontario, as does the director George Tsioutsioulas . Being close to Detroit, there is a really strong connection to Motown that tugged at the musicians’ heartstrings and led them to Lamont Dozier.
Points of Interest: Before Icons Of Soul, there was no real documentary of note about Lamont Dozier. Along with Smokey Robinson and Barrie Gordie, he was one of the architects of the Motown sound and his story and talent are spellbinding.
Synopsis: Imara tells the story of an ambitious passionate cyclist whose dreams of being a world champion in the sport live on despite his condition of having one leg left to race with.
Synopsis: A profile of renowned London playwright, Jason Rip who has written and produced 81 plays so far and who shows no signs of slowing down.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Jason Rip is a London playwright. Directed by London-raised filmmaker Matthew Downs.
Synopsis: The forest holds many mysteries. We follow some unique foragers as they hunt for the elusive and highly prized Japanese Matsutake mushroom, also known as the Pine Mushroom, in Northern British Columbia. Surprisingly, it is on formerly logged, second growth forests that the rare Matsutake flourish. Because of their high value in Japan, a unique human and non-human ecosystem, and economy, has emerged here in Northern Canada.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Shannon Walsh grew up in London and went to high school at South and at HB Beal and BealArt.
Synopsis: “One of 100” is a short documentary film about a 3-years old girl who was diagnosed with a very rare disease. At the time of diagnosis, she was one of 100 worldwide. Her name is Alice, and she is a BPAN warrior.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Director Yulia Starostina and the crew are students at Fanshawe and One of 100 is the story of a girl who lives in London, Ontario.
Synopsis: A nuanced approach to documenting the changing landscape with the addition of wind turbines and the relationship between the people living and working near them.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Director/Producer Erin MacIndoe Sproule lives in Guelph, Ontario and spent much of their childhood visiting family in London, Ontario. Additionally, one of the main characters, Joseph Dunlop Addley, is a former professor of the Fanshawe filmmaking program in London, Ontario. The film takes place in the Bruce Peninsula and Niagara region.
Synopsis: Danovia Stechishin has helped keep Ukrainian culture alive in Canada by collecting traditional pieces from Ukraine and bringing them to Canada for new generations.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Rediscovered and Shared was made by London based filmmakers and was filmed in Toronto.
Points of Interest: Ukrainian/Ukrainian Canadian culture (mainly oral), hand-stitched embroidery, survival of an oppressed culture under the USSR, original illegal 8mm film from subject in Ukrainian mountains.
Synopsis: Short documentary about amazing photographer Jim Kost, who is one of only a few using old style Wet Collodion Process.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Rediscovered and Shared was made by London based filmmakers and was filmed in Toronto.
Points of Interest: Director Yulia Starostina and the crew are Fanshawe students and the main character lives and photographs in London, ON.
Synopsis: When a condo community learns of a neighbour's death, the dramatic retelling of his disappearance and demise takes on a life of its own. Each version of the story sounds stranger than the last until an Easter Monday revelation takes everyone by complete surprise.
Set in a retirement community for aging artists and entertainers, the 13-min film blends documentary interviews, musical performances, and true crime vignettes to explore the bizarre events surrounding Don’s death.
Southwestern Ontario connection: The film’s main subject, Don Stewart, was born and raised in Amherstburg, Ontario. His family still resides in the area and will be attending the festival.
Synopsis: "The song and video recap the callous and racist way the media covered the murders of two Indigenous youth, 15-year-old Tina Fontaine in 2014 and 22-year-old Colten Boushie in 2016."
Southwestern Ontario connection: Director/animator Sarah Legault is from London Ontario and footage was filmed in London Ontario. The film’s musician is from Hamilton, Ontario.
Synopsis: Set in a world where people live inside giant '90s computers, a group of Cyberspace Pirates seek out to steal 'technological artifacts' of their world.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Andrew Komer is a Canadian Storyboard Artist born and raised in London, Ontario. He currently works in Toronto's animation industry, and is dedicated to creating original series. He first started out by self-publishing his own graphic novel Chicken Man, a superhero-comedy inspired by his childhood in London, and now venturing into animation with his newest project Cyberspace Pirates.
Points of Interest: The film is a 3D and 2D hybrid animation making used of open source software such as Blender, and was created to help push for the creation of more original Canadian animated series.
Synopsis: Home’ is a retro-cartoony and comedic animated short set in 1958 following the misadventures of a fish astronaut.
Southwestern Ontario connection: HOME was created in Oakville, Ontario at Sheridan College as part of a thesis film for the Bachelor of Animation program.
Synopsis: A young shepherd boy frees a panicked, trapped horse, only to find out why it was shackled in the first place.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Dani Bittner made her short film Kelpie during her last year at Sheridan College's Animation program. She initially went to school for Architecture in Toronto, but left after a couple years in order to follow her true passion for animation.
Points of Interest: Dani Bittner single handedly made this Animated film. She did everything from the design and storyboards, to the animation and compositing. The only things that she did not do herself were the music/sound, and the character's colors, which were done by a couple of Dani's friends in order to lighten the load of making a film.
Synopsis: A father and daughter inspire each other to follow their passions.
Southwestern Ontario connection: This is a film about the animator’s grandfather and mother, who grew up in Kingston, Ontario.
Points of Interest: The animator’s grandfather wrote and composed the music.
Synopsis: On a cold winter night, boy was chased by a ghost...
Southwestern Ontario connection: Sheridan College Animation.
Synopsis: Sally is on a mission to fund the perfect dress, as she recalls memories of her mother.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Director Mackenzie Donaldson is from the region, as is star Sheila McCarthy.
Synopsis: Two best friends’ plan to escape their destitute town becomes derailed when the consequences of a night of debauchery begins to dismantle their friendship and threatens their chance at freedom.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Actor Callum Thompson is from London and the film was partially shot here and in the surrounding area.
Synopsis: A visual journey of one of the most expensive foods in the world, and the danger young men in the Philippines go to for birds nest soup, coveted at expensive restaurants.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Director Alan Poon is from London.
Synopsis: Raised in a refugee camp in the West Bank, while her mother was in prison, Walaa is determined to survive basic training to become one of the few women on the Palestinian Security Forces - not easy for a girl who breaks all the rules. An intimate POV, this is the story of a young woman navigating formidable obstacles, learning which rules to break and follow.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Director Christy Garland is from London.
Synopsis: Miles arrives in rural Ontario at the home of two aging bachelor farmers. He stays with them to gather stories about rural life for a play he is writing. Their lives are irrevocably altered when art attempts to imitate life and the line between truth and fiction is blurred.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Filmed in Huron County adapted from a Play that was first produced at Blythe Festival, by a writer who lives in this region.
Synopsis: By Gordon Pinsent. Martin, a middle-aged despondent writer, is burdened with Hagge, his wily personification of anxiety and depression, but after freewheeling Norah encroaches on his workspace, he learns apathy is a choice.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Director Penny Eizenga.
Synopsis: While struggling with the death of her mother and the loss of a privileged life, a frustrated young woman attempts to reclaim her happiness which she believes is attached to a beloved unicorn paddleboat that her father was forced to sell to her nemesis.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Produced by Penny Eizenga, a long time London resident who now lives and works in the film industry in Toronto.
Synopsis: Delroy, a migrant worker, has spent his life working in the Ontario tobacco belt to support his family in Jamaica. Goodbyes are ritual but Delroy has a secret - he has cancer. Though his health declines, He continues to work, shielding his family from the inevitable. Babe, I Hate To Go is an intimate film about a man coming to terms with his mortality.
Southwestern Ontario connection: Director Andrew Moir grew up in SWO.
Synopsis: Sea of Life leads audiences through the stunning world of coral reefs into the heart of the environmental movement, meeting passionate scientists, activists and explorers who reveal an enormous opportunity to rise up and become the heroes the world needs.
Southwestern Ontario connection: The filmmaker is from Burlington.
Synopsis: A Rocketmon card has been stolen and it's up to Colt Magnum, detective extraordinaire, to crack the case! Who could have committed such a heinous crime?
Southwestern Ontario connection: Created at Sheridan College in Oakville.
Synopsis: The true story of 23 Field Squadron, Canadian Combat Engineers in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, 2006-2007
Southwestern Ontario connection: Producer/Director, Paul Culliton lives in London. Author & Principle Character, Col. Mark Gasparotto grew up in London. Film Crew all from London. 90% of the film was shot, edited, post production in London & St. Thomas.
Synopsis: A string of small everyday occurrences, all adding up to a unfortunate reality. A woman recounts the events leading up to a gathering on main - a place where everything changed.
Synopsis: A character falls down a hole on his walk to work and enters another world where he has to fight a dragon to escape.
Synopsis: Julie Migelty, who seems to have married for money, desires one last vacation before giving birth to her first child. During their luxury vacation she goes into labour but tries to hide it from her husband Aidan in order to soak up some last good moments before parenthood.
Synopsis: A short claymation about a factory worker who gets his tie stuck in a meatgrinder.
Synopsis: With such a big part of society encrypted in the eat, sleep, and work lifestyle, one highlighted individual becomes aware of this and lives on becoming more aware of his surroundings.
Synopsis: A short documentary relating the story behind a mysterious Norse runestone which appeared in Gibbons Park in 2019, and the impact non-sanctioned art installations have on their communities.
Synopsis: A guide about how to get the best High School experience.
Synopsis: What does it mean for young lovers now that a pandemic has drastically changed the world? Let’s hear stories from three different perspectives, including insights from a university professor.
Synopsis: A brief look into how the mind can be affected through the use of puzzles.
Synopsis: Filmmaker Macy LeConte provides fans with a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the lives and personalities of the four young men who make up the up-and-coming rock band Fade Awaays.
Synopsis: A dinner date is hard when you have a bad relationship with food.
Synopsis: A harshly accelerating, neon-vomiting, epilepsy inducing experimental film contrasting the indifferent chaos of nature with man’s insatiable desire for order.
Synopsis: Tunnel Vision is meant to induce more questions than the film itself can answer. Through vivid colours and imagery featuring two enigmatic characters, one can only grasp at the idea of understanding.
Synopsis: Quarantine illustrates the moments where the passing time spent isolated inside becomes irrelevant as the days seem to blend together. It illustrates our daily mundane routines and the stress that is coupled with this rare experience.
Synopsis: An examination of the way technology has settled into our lives, and the subconscious impact it is having on our most vital senses like sight, touch, and hearing.
Synopsis: A confused teenager lets his emotions get the better of him. Physically, he is able to escape the boundaries of his house, but can he escape mentally?
Synopsis: Isaac walks into the empty classroom and asks his friend Steven for a little help with continuity. After explaining continuity Isaac still doesn't quite get it.
Synopsis: An eerie psychological short about a teenage boy who experiences a break in consciousness after getting his wisdom teeth pulled and the existential consequences of his fugue-state actions.
Synopsis: A young man who goes by the name Altruist decides to document his life as his neighborhood's vigilante. In the process, he inadvertently reveals how incompetent he is.
Synopsis: Meet Christian, your typical university student. He’s just trying to get to a party, but a strange figure seems to be following him wherever he goes...
Synopsis: A pitch for a feature film which starts as a teen coming of age movie, but due to the abuse of metaphysically altering drugs, devolves into a disturbing psychological thriller.
Synopsis: Altruist, a delusional self-proclaimed vigilante, documents his work as his neighborhoods protector, in an effort to express his many virtues.
Synopsis: Book Hopper is a sci fi action movie about a man named Liam. Liam is a constant book reader and one day he randomly gets a package delivered and is brought into his favorite books. Liam needs to complete each book to get home Book Hopper is an imaginative movie with a cool twist ending, the books he goes in are yours to discover. Liam has to go through books all the way to his childhood to escape.
Synopsis: In this gripping crime drama/comedy, an Average Joe gets entangled in a high-stakes crime syndicate and is forced to face the repercussions of it… or else.
Synopsis: A misbehaving high school student is sent on a dreadful one month canoe trip to rethink the life he is creating for himself.
Description: A story of girls confronting the reality of being pushed aside at times when they should be empowered by their own achievements.
SWO Connection: The director came from New Brunswick to study music at Western University in London, Ontario.
Description: My cousin Gerry was shot by a cop. In his own home. These are memories of Gerry's life juxtaposed against the authority that would be his eventual end.
SWO Connection: Both the artist and director are currently based in London, Ontario. Family film reels were screened and recaptured on Dundas Street.
Description: The struggle of mental health issues within a relationship and trying to cope.
SWO Connection: The whole crew, actors and locations were all filmed in London and Byron Ontario!
Description: “Happy” comments on the vain search for happiness in the world and encourages listeners to search for a true sense of purpose and meaning.
SWO Connection: The artists grew up near, and live in, London, Ontario. Their music has received acknowledgement from the Forest City London Music Awards.
Description: Based on the overwhelming feelings I had, and my racing mind, the goal of this video was to antidote a broken heart in free fall.
SWO Connection: The director grew up in Thamesford, Ontario and pursued film production at Niagara College.
Description: "This I Know" explores the concept of adolescent mental well being in the current modern setting.
SWO Connection: The director was born and raised in Sarnia Ontario, where he grew up with the artist behind the music of this video.
Description: This video is intended as both a portrait of singer-songwriter S.G. Sinnicks and a visual essay on the ideas of place, home, what we keep and what we leave behind.
SWO Connection: This video was entirely produced in Southern Ontario, and Director, Cinematographer & Editor Peter Riddihough lives and works in Hamilton.
Description: There are no quick fixes or escaping scars that run deep into the heart.
SWO Connection: Director was born and raised in London, Ontario
Description: A song about life milestones, timelines, and expectations, and how these predetermined societal expectations can come into conflict with your own sense of self.
SWO Connection: The artist/songwriter, Karen Emeny is a London, Ontario native. The director, Darryl Lahteenmaa, has lived in London since 1997.
Description: We are consumed by our social media personas and our real-world activities are constantly being mitigated, informed, and sometimes corrupted by our digital-world selves.
SWO Connection: The band members met at Fanshawe, many are London-born, and the track was recorded in London.
Description: This video is London’s response to COVID-19. It’s a multi-singer recording performed by all London artists and musicians and with special video appearances by front line workers.
SWO Connection: Anita and her partners, all from London, Ontario, built Forest City Fights Back - a new initiative that London can be proud of.
Description: Reunite' is about confronting your past.
SWO Connection: The Director has worked and lived in Southwestern Ontario for the majority of my life working mostly in London and Hamilton.
Description: A Toast' is the follow up to Nameless Friends' debut EP 'Mezzanine', a record on the grief process. This video declares that surviving is worth celebrating.
SWO Connection: Nameless Friends is a London, Ontario rock band. They perform regularly in London and have toured across Southwestern Ontario several times.
SWO Connection: I was born and raised in Aylmer, Ontario, just outside of London. I attended Fanshawe College and completed the two-year Film Studies program in 2016.
Description: An encouraging tale of a young woman who evaluates her problematic relationship with her significant other. Unfortunately, they can’t undo the past.
SWO Connection: Filmed in Kitchener-Waterloo, Artist (JoJo) is from KW. Director (Edward) is from London, ON. Art director Kristyn Watterworth is from Toronto.
Description: It's easy to fear the unknown, but the miracle of humanity is its ability to come together in times of need. The grim effects of COVID19 hit hard across the entire world and affects each of us individually. While capturing the eerie desolation the power of community and support for Frontline & Essential workers undeniably shined through.
SWO Connection: This film was shot in London, Ontario.
Run Time: 5:56 min
Description: As identical twin sound engineers Angel and Clément celebrate the opening of their new recording studio, one of the brothers makes a startling confession about a past relationship.
SWO Connection: Both the director (Josh Litman) and Sound Editor (Alex Di Carlo) are from London, Ontario. Alex still lives and works in London.
Description: A young Afghan immigrant named Mina (Ana Golja) gets her first job in a nursing home and meets Luis (Louis Gossett Jr.), a resident with dementia. She accidentally discovers music is a trigger for Luis’ memories, and starts using it as a tool to awaken him. Mina finds out Luis was a famous musician back in Cuba, and the two develop and unlikely friendship that re-ignites her own love of music and changes her life forever. Winner of the Whistler Film Festival Best Cinematograpy, Los Angelos Pan African Film Festival Audience Choice award and Davinci Film Festival Best Feature Film.
SWO Connection: The Cuban was shot mostly in Brantford, Ontario.
Run Time: 1:49:00 min
Description: London artist Ron Benner takes us on a tour of his organic installation "As The Crow Flies" and explains its history, significance, and ongoing relevance. Joined by Andrew Kear, Head of Collections for Museum London, we peer into the inner workings of one of the most interesting and significant works in Museum London's collection, and gain a surprisingly intimate and candid understanding of the artist who created and maintains it.
SWO Connection: This short documentary was produced in London, ON by web.isod.es, a London-based digital story studio.
Run Time: 05:50 min
Description: With titles like Trip Dyck, Rod & Reel, and Handful, artist Donna Ibing’s penis paintings explore the use of humour as a method to investigate the male nude and the problem of the penis.
SWO Connection: Donna Ibing is a Hamilton-based artist and this film touches on her experiences with the Art Gallery of Hamilton and Burlington.
Run Time: 17:05 min
Description: There's No Place Like This Place, Anyplace looks at the transformation of a much-loved Toronto landmark, the Honest Ed's block, through the stories of its community members who are forced to relocate when it is sold to a developer. The film chronicles the evolution of their lives as they reconcile their history with the future, all while facing the biggest housing crisis the country has ever seen.
SWO Connection: Director Lulu Wei is from London, Ontario.
Run Time: 01:15:00 min
Description: Tattoo tells the story of Emma, a spunky teenager with a passion for anarchy and Karen, a hard-loving mother whose attempts at affection come across as stern and controlling. After an argument leads Emma to race out, with the help of her boyfriend, in the rebellious pursuit of getting a tattoo, Karen is forced to chase after her daughter for her well-being. What follows is a dramatic and high-stakes chase across town between mother and daughter.
SWO Connection: From New Hamburg, Ontario, Emma Lichti is the leading producer, and the film was shot and produced in Southern Ontario.
Run Time: 9:22 min
Description: Seeking Oblivion follows a young man struggling with depression following a suicide attempt. Is he the broken one, or do those around him need him more?
SWO Connection: Writer/director Brent Baird is a filmmaker born, raised, and still living in London Ontario.
Run Time: 1:26:50 min
Description: "A poetic narrative of a man reliving his most traumatic and cherished memories before death."
SWO Connection: This is a Sheridan College film, directed and produced by students from London and Mitchell, Ontario.
Run Time: 07:37 min
Description: "When a young First Nations client dies after being committed to police custody, social worker Stevie struggles to keep the troubled people she encounters away from the system she no longer trusts. Opening her East End Toronto home as a safe haven for people 'at risk' – George, an ex-con and chronic gambler, Tracy, a down and out musician, and Mina, a battered wife - Stevie tries to mend some broken lives, but she masks her own issues by burying herself in theirs. “I’d say get a life,” says her paramedic boyfriend Ben, “but you already have more than one!”
Stevie struggles as her personal issues intersect with the messy lives of her clients, while Ben, her former police detective colleague Gabe, and her co-worker, family lawyer Inez, all do their best to cope with Stevie's loving but conflicted interactions with the needy strangers in her midst.
Only when she defends Mina against her abusive husband Karl is Stevie confronted with the real dangers of crossing professional boundaries."
SWO Connection: The two actresses are from London, Ontario, and the Cinematographer is from St Catharines, Ontario.
Run Time: 1:40:43 min
Description: When hopeful dancer, Chelsea, lands the gig of her dreams, she rushes home to share the good news with her partner, Nick. When she gets home, Nick, greets her with big news of his own: his testicular cancer is back. His doctor advised that if they want to get pregnant, they have a small window, because, after the radiation, Nick, will be infertile. This means if Chelsea wants to have a child, she must turn down the gig, and get pregnant as soon as possible. Nick, for the first time in his life, is inspired to have a child, while Chelsea is paralyzed with indecision. The couple engage in a comedically heartbreaking conversation, as they wrestle with the impossible decision between letting her career soar or realizing his dreams of fatherhood.
SWO Connection: Our director, screenwriter and star Conor Casey studied in Hamilton for his undergraduate degree.
Run Time: 12:12 min
Description: When an uptight time-travelling obsessed young scientist is visited by his nihilistic future self, he's told that he needs to give up his dream of becoming the world's first time traveler, or else. But when he won't go along with the plan, it becomes a wicked battle of man versus himself - literally.
SWO Connection: Writer and director Jeremy Lalonde grew up in Caguya, Ontario, and graduated from Niagara College.
Run Time: 95:00 min
Description: Business man awaiting subway train is accosted by stranger and is almost thrown onto tracks. A small group of bystanders gather around the fight and thru their watching convey disapproval and the attacker suddenly stops and runs away. As the train pulls in the bystanders enter the train leaving the bereft and stunned man on the platform
SWO Connection: Director Terence McGlade lives in Kitchener.
Run Time: 5:10 min
Description: While young and in her prime, Nadia decides to retire from pro swimming after the Olympic Games to escape a rigid life of sacrifice. After her very last race, Nadia drifts into nights of excess punctuated by episodes of self-doubt. But even this transitional numbness cannot conceal her true inner quest: defining her identity outside the world of elite sports.
SWO Connection: One of our FCFF French Film Day films
Description: After narrowly escaping a raging forest fire, Plume (moth), wakes up to the healing hands of a wandering beetle named Barley. Determined to get better, Plume sets off on his road to recovery with Barley by his side. As his wings start to show promise, he decides to test them out and, with a leap of faith, ends up crash landing. When Plume falls deep into despair, Barley reveals a secret from her past to show Plume that flowers can still grow from ashes.
SWO Connection: This film was created by students at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario.
Run Time: 5:51 min
Description: Two girls grow up as best friends in an Innu community. While Mikuan has a loving family, Shaniss is picking up the pieces of her shattered childhood. As children, they promised each other to stick together no matter what. But as they're about to turn 17, their friendship is shaken when Mikuan falls for a white boy, and starts dreaming of leaving the reserve that's now too small for her dreams. This beautiful film was nominated for 3 Canadian Screen awards in 2020: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor and Actress.
SWO Connection: This is part of our French Day and Indigenous series
Run Time: 1:57:00 min
Description: A bunny witch attempts to get her vegetable themed broomstick to fly.
SWO Connection: This film was created by students at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario.
Run Time: 03:21 min
Description: Embark on an immersive and nostalgic soundscape journey through the immigrant life of Little Red without ever leaving her house. Created in loving memory of Yuning Shi.
SWO Connection: Director Jacqueline Shi is a second-year Film Studies student at the University of Western Ontario.
Run Time: 07:47 min
Description: When his parents announce their divorce, 10-year-old Neil assumes he’s dreaming and recruits his best friend to help him wake up.
SWO Connection: The film is produced by Franci Dimitrovska, who grew up in London, Ontario.
Run Time: 13:19 min
Description: When 17-year-old Maddie attends public school for the first time, she discovers dark secrets about her father and must reconciler herself with the father she thought she knew, and the father he may actually be.
SWO Connection: Lead actor Tyler Parr is from Southwestern Ontario.
Run Time: 12:40 min
Description: "As 14-year-old Hollie sews her first dress with her mother, she faces the decision all Mennonite girls must make as they reach adulthood. Will she put on the dress and become a full member of the Mennonite church and assume her role as a mother, or will she join the wider world? At the Mennonite store, as Hollie sorts through the fabrics to look for colors and patterns that appeal to her sensibilities, her voiceover reveals - with a certain trepidation - the life that she envisions for herself. At home, Hollie spread out the fabric and pattern with her mother, to prepare for cutting of the shapes and panels that will form her first dress. Her mother Deborah recounts how different it was when grandma helped her cut and sew her first dress. Through the story of Hollie's first dress, the mother passes to daughter the family values and community traditions that shape the girls' anticipation of their future roles as wife and mother."
SWO Connection: This project is the story of Hollie, a 14-year-old Markham Mennonite girl from Elmira, Ontario.
Run Time: 24:43 min
Description: Description: Fraser, 17, is a shy and introverted only child, but he speaks volumes on the court through his passion for basketball. Fraser has a chance to prove himself when the coach catches him practicing after school hours.
SWO Connection: One of the actors resides in St. Catherines, Ontario, and several members of our crew reside in Southwestern Ontario.
Run Time: 16:00 min
Description: With the highest per capita risk of life changing injury or death, agricultural accidents make farming the most dangerous profession in the developed world. Every year more than 100 people on average die in agricultural related accidents in Canada, with machinery related injuries being the most common. A much higher rate of life altering injury occurs, but is commonly brushed aside as a natural part of the job. Small town Zurich native TJ Klopp comes from generations of farmers. As long as he can remember, all he's wanted to do is farm. After working on his family farm in his childhood and into his teen years, attending school for agricultural studies, and eventually purchasing a farm of his own, TJ has established a solid business. Just last fall during harvest, TJ was caught in an inadequately shielded PTO shaft, and his leg was broken - but he was extremely lucky, PTO shaft injuries often result in limb amputation and death. Although the road to recovery was long, his community and his family worked hard to help him keep his farm running, and he's made a full recovery. Every day since his accident last fall, TJ has continued to put his life put at risk to perform a job that we take for granted on a daily basis, working as a cash crop, cattle and pig farmer. He has a passion for locally produced products, and partners with many small businesses to put food on the tables of his community. After being seriously injured doing the thing that he loves, how has TJ's perspective changed? What changes has he made to make his farm safer for himself and his family?
SWO Connection: The film’s subject lives an hour north of London, Ontario, and much of the crew is from Southwestern Ontario.
Run Time: 05:52 min
Description: "A true story of friendship between Dan Edwards and Zach Androschuk in the aftermath of a freak accident that left Dan paralyzed from the neck down. Dan Edwards and Zach Androschuk, the stars of this short documentary are both natives of Sarnia, Ontario, where the film is set. Director, Alex ""Cosmo"" Lutz, was also born and raised in Sarnia. He graduated from Fanshawe College's Advanced Filmmaking program in 2020. Producer Renat Absalyamov and director of photography Aniket Sawant, as well as the rest of the film's crew, are also Fanshawe graduates from the AFM, APP and Visual Effects programs. The original score was written by Luke Van Bakel, of Fanshawe’s APP program."
SWO Connection: Director Alex "Cosmo" Lutz was born and raised in Sarnia, Ontario.
Run Time: 12:08 min
Description: "Featuring an intercontinental cast of best-selling authors, climate scientists and master flatualists, Who Farted? suggests that understanding our place in nature is essential to our continued existence as a species. If we can’t deal with our own flatulence, how can we hope to comprehend the looming climate catastrophe? While watching his twelve-year-old daughter’s school science project, Albert Nerenberg has a life-altering experience. The children describe how cow flatulence plays an outsized role in greenhouse gas generation. As the methane contained in bovine farts combines with CO2 pouring out of the world’s factories, automobiles and airplanes, it seems we are farting ourselves to oblivion. A frightened student, voice quavering, asks if farts will kill us all. Albert, shaken by his daughter’s revelations, sets out to discover the truth — a decision reinforced after Albert personally witnesses climate disaster in his own neighbourhood. Are farts malevolent? Disgusting? Beneficial? Hilarious? What exactly is a fart? And how much does animal flatulence truly contribute to runaway climate change? From antiquity’s first fart joke to the ubiquitous whoopee cushion, the act of flatus both amuses and dismays... and now may contribute to civilization’s demise. Who Farted? is a frightening, illuminating, and funny journey through the absurd reality of 21st Century human survival. Albert explores flatulence with best-selling authors Guilia Enders (Gut); Dani Rabaiotti (Does it Fart?); and the notorious Professor of Disgust, David Pizarro. He learns from leading climate scientists, including Europe’s Dr. Mojib Latif (Climate Change: The Point of No Return) and human extinction predictor Guy McPherson (Going Dark). He encounters climate change crusader Al Gore, and consults fart liberationist Mathew Silver. He visits animal scientists on two continents and discovers the truth about cow farts. At last, after a pivotal encounter at the World Farting Championships in Northern Finland with the world’s most flatulent man, Britain’s Mr. Methane, Albert believes he has found a path to staving off climate disaster. A collaboration between acclaimed Canadian documentary filmmakers Nik Sheehan (FLicKeR, No Sad Songs) and Albert Nerenberg (You are What you Act, Laughology), Who Farted? is the world’s first climate change documentary comedy — and hopefully not its last."
SWO Connection: Who Farted? was filmed in Toronto, Kingston, and Hamilton.
Run Time: 78:00 min
Description: After losing someone close to her, Aria, a professional musician, can’t seem to write songs anymore, though she has a lot to say. On the brink of throwing in the towel, she decides to give it one last try by going around the city, looking for inspiration and reigniting her creativity. Throughout the film, Aria is constantly haunted by memories of her past and tries to rewrite the way she thought they ought to have been. It is a story of regret, redemption and revelation through following a passion- music.
SWO Connection: The film was shot in London Ontario Canada. A few local businesses are featured and mentioned in the credits.
Run Time: 16:09 min
Description: Will visits his girlfriend, Emily, over 5 weekends. Emily's currently in school in another city and she lives with her kind of ex Aaron. Problems develop as the three try and figure out their relationship with each other.
SWO Connection: Brendan Hiles (Writer/Director), Ryan Haines (production team), Mauricio Blanco (production team), Andrew Dodd (cast), Adam Galloway (cast) are all Fanshawe College Alumni.
Run Time: 80:00 min
Description: A funeral march transforms into a circ
SWO Connection: This is a graduation film for Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario.
Run Time: 01:30 min
Description: The cities of Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge have public art programs with many installed works to explore, but how often do we really experience them? We see illicit visual art all around our city streets, but what do we know about it? Do we really need art? Should public funds be invested this way? Does street/graffiti art even have a place in our cities? StreetSauce makes a strong case for the importance of public art by shining a light on current works in progress, characters, storylines and artists in Waterloo Region. What does the future hold for our, sometimes controversial, public art scene?
SWO Connection: This film focuses on Waterloo, Ontario.
Run Time: 24:59 min
Description: Female musical artist, lemin., explores the struggles of balancing the ever clashing world of art and capitalism. lemin. shares her experiences with social media, being a female artist and rediscovering herself in a high pressure industry.
SWO Connection: The subject and director are from London, Ontario, and the student film crew attended Fanshawe College.
Run Time: 12:26 min
Description: "When May Cohen entered medical school in Toronto in the 1950s, practising medicine was a male preserve. Very few women thought of becoming doctors; fewer still imagined both having a career and also having children. Now, more than half the medical students in Canada are women. (But this gender change has by no means yet reached all echelons of the medical profession.) May’s parents were Jewish émigrés to Canada from Eastern Europe in the 1920s. Her social consciousness arose in large part from their intense progressive political engagement and activism, and she soon stood out as an extraordinarily accomplished and influential family physician with broad Canadian and international impact. In the 1970’s, May became a passionate campaigner for the pro-choice and women’s rights movements. She and her husband Gerry were pioneers in teaching medical students and family physicians about healthy sexual practices and eliminating sexual taboos and gender stereotyping. She established and led the renowned McMaster University Women’s Health Office and spearheaded broad acceptance of the notion that gender is a key determinant of individual and societal health. May advocated powerfully for the meaningful inclusion of women’s health in medical school curricula, LGBT rights, and for the equitable involvement of women doctors throughout the health sector. Even now in her eighties she is still sought after as a distinguished speaker at medical events. May and Gerry raised three children. They also welcomed literally thousands of medical students and young physicians into their home over the years, as an unusual act of fellowship, inspiration and role-modelling. Dr. May Cohen’s impacts as a physician, women’s health advocate, agent of social change, citizen and mother simply cannot be overstated. Dr. May Cohen has demonstrated that it is possible for women to balance professional, family and personal interests — and change the world."
SWO Connection: The filmmakers are family physicians who live and work in Hamilton at McMaster University, and in London at Western University.
Run Time: 47:23 min
Description: "A solitary gardener seeks to grow the perfect rose to place on his wife’s grave. This film was shot in Florence Ontario, and stars London-based actor John Gerry, was directed by London-born filmmaker Matthew Downs, and shot by Tillsonburg-born cinematographer Emily Debackere"
SWO Connection: The film stars London theatre icon, John Gerry in the leading role. It’s shot in Florence, Ontario and directed by Matthew Downs, born and raised in London.
Run Time: 10:41 min
Description: Following the death of her mother, Abby (Tuppence Middleton), a troubled young woman with a checkered past, returns to her hometown of Niagara Falls and the dilapidated motel her family used to run. While there, she finds herself drawn once again into a mystery that has haunted her since childhood: what happened to the young boy she saw being violently abducted in the woods twenty-five years ago? As Abby sets out to find out the truth, she must confront both a shocking, long-buried conspiracy that runs as deep as the falls themselves as well as her own inner demons. Bristling with an air of surreal menace, this mood-drenched thrilleris a tantalizing psychological puzzle box that unfolds in the hallucinatory realm between reality and perception. With David Cronenberg.
SWO Connection: The writer is from Niagara Falls in Southwestenr Ontario, and the film is set there.
Run Time: 100:00 min
Description: At a loss for communication, a young man accompanies his stoic traditional Chinese father-in-law to visit a loved one’s grave.
SWO Connection: The Director Alice Il Shin and co-writer Ian Hynd are living in London, Ontario.
Run Time: 08:45 min
Description: Phil Demers is a part-time mailman and ex-trainer at MarineLand, the iconic amusement park in Niagara Falls, Ontario. With 27,000 followers on Twitter, he’s been named on the Jimmy Kimmel show, testified before the Canadian Senate, and is being sued for $1.5 million for plotting to steal a walrus.
SWO Connection: The film takes place in Niagara Falls.
Run Time: 88:00 min
Description: "A “documentary film crew” captures history unfolding, as a disgraced, but kind-hearted fertility specialist, Dr. William Han, tries to restart his career, embarking on a breakthrough medical trial in which four women will give birth to kittens!!!
Joan is in it for the money, trying desperately to pay law-school tuition, while her hippie-artist mother begs Joan to surrender to the arts. Sylvia, a working mom, can’t wait to surprise her kids by bringing home a furry pet that her husband isn’t allergic to. Maria and her fiancé, Jennifer, want to start a non-traditional family and put the money towards their wedding. And Rose…. Well, she just loves cats sooo damn much!
The cat-pregnancies must remain under-wraps for the duration of the medical trial, no easy feat considering the four kitty-mammas must hide their symptoms from their families and the world. But when William teams up with a savvy veterinarian from his past, Dr. Theresa Mackenzie, keeping the trial discrete becomes all but impossible. Her jealous ex-husband, Darryl, starts stalking the clinic, hell-bent on exposing the trial and ruining Dr. Han’s life… again.
Now, William must open up about his past, come clean about his feelings for Theresa and enlist the help of the four kitty-mammas if he wants to bring the world’s first truly hypo-allergenic cats into the word."
SWO Connection: Director Dennis Nicholson and Sound Designer Peter Hushca graduated from the Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology here in London.
Run Time: 93:00 min
Description: A Single Mom and her teenage daughter communicate with sticky notes. A Single Mom is a drama short film which features exceptional relationship between a single mother and her teenaged daughter.
SWO Connection: One of the main actors is a Southwestern Ontario resident.
Run Time: 07:30 min
Description: A small family cooks a surprise pancake breakfast for their unsuspecting dad.
SWO Connection: This is a graduation film for Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario.
Run Time: 01:26 min
Description: Breaking Up for the Modern Girl is an anthropological satire of heartbreak in the modern age. Young love/loss from a deadly female vantage point.
SWO Connection: This film was painstakingly edited by the incomparable Matthew Downs, hailing from London, Ontario.
Run Time: 08:15 min
Description: Five Indigenous women filmmakers from across Canada challenge one another to make a film under a set of restrictions tailored to each filmmaker.
Roberta (Film #1): Housewife and grandmother Roberta struggles to fit the conformist society she lives in and turns to amphetamines and booze to cure her boredom.
Skyworld (Film #2): A broken-hearted woman moves home to rebuild her life and give her young son roots through language and family.
BIHTTOŠ (REBEL) (Film #3): Bihttoš is an unconventional documentary that explores the complex relationship between a father and daughter. Through animation, reenactments, and archival photos,
Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers delves into the dissolution of her parents' somewhat mythic love story and how it relates to the dissolution of her relationship with her father.
INTEMPERANCE (Film #4): In 1850, George Copway was the first Indian to publish a history of his nation, the Ojibway. Intemperance is a satire that brings to life a morally complex story of his people living in changing times.
AVILIAQ (ENTWINED) (Film #5): Set in a 1950's Inuit community, Aviliaq tells the story of two Inuit lesbians struggling to stay together in a new world run by outsiders.
Run Time: 73:00 min
Description: After obtaining a magical crayon that will turn the things they draw into reality, two sisters play a game of keep away while travelling through the magical worlds they create.
SWO Connection: This is a graduation film for Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario.
Run Time: 02:57 min
Description: In 1998 Jaan Poldaas was an established minimalist and conceptual artist throughout Canada, with a celebrated career spanning three decades. One year later, Jaan vanished from the art world.
Guided by the charismatic artist himself, Jaan Poldaas: New Work unearths the reasons behind Poldaas’ puzzling departure and follows his triumphant return to painting with his most ambitious and important work yet.
The director of Jaan Poldaas: New Work, Patrick Barfoot's connection to Southwestern Ontario and London run deep. He grew up in Owen Sound, and would visit his mother's family in London often. It was in London where I completed my undergraduate's degree and where I fell in love with filmmaking. Also, Derrick O'Toole, producer, though currently based in Toronto, was born and raised in London.
SWO Connection: Director Patrick Barfoot spent 5 years at Western University and now returns to London, Ontario to settle.
Run Time: 27:00 min
Description: The city is a canvas in Cité Mémoire providing 20 story high backgrounds for the world famous projections on the walls of Old Montreal. Characters from the past emerge nightly from the bricks and stones creating visual poetry that has captured millions of spectators from around the globe. Into the Light takes us behind the scenes to discover how the walls whisper to us through cinematic projections that reimagine Canadian history.
SWO Connection: Janice Zolf is from London.
Run Time: 44:31 min
Description: Unbound Revival provides a glimpse into the Fanshawe Fashion Design class of 2020 as they transformed their educational experience into a poetic, refashioned runway experience.
SWO Connection: This is a film about Fanshawe College’s students and faculty.
Run Time: 15:00 min
Description: As Mitzi Bearclaw turns 25 years-old, she is faced with a tragic decision – stay in the big city to pursue her dream of designing hats or leave her boyfriend and return home to her isolated reserve to help care for her sick mother. Loyal to her family, Mitzi reluctantly returns to Owl Island to find that not much has changed. Her confidence and modern style clash with the sleepy, slow-paced island; the bullies are the same; the handsome Honeyboy is still running the water taxi; and Mitzi’s mother is still as bitter and unloving as ever. She’s also reunited with her spiritual friends, Faith, Hope, and Charity who guide her as she navigates a year of anger, loss and love. Mitzi is soon surprised to find comfort in being home and starts to question her destiny.
Description: One day, a shy boy named Carl wins the biggest prize of his life from a mysterious old lady.
SWO Connection: This is a graduation film for Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario.
Run Time: 02:14 min
Description: INHALE documents the emotional journey of the Chappell family and how their daughter’s struggle with Cystic Fibrosis have helped them to live in the moment. Cystic fibrosis is a fatal genetic disease affecting over 70,000 children and young adults worldwide. At present, there is no cure.
SWO Connection: The family was from London, Ontario, and moved St Thomas.
Run Time: 09:14 min
Description: A short meditative documentary about the legacy of Kingston’s Prison for Women told through the women of the P4W Memorial Collective.
SWO Connection: The cinematographer and her family are from London, Ontario.
Run Time: 22:29 min
Description: Mr. Emancipation is the story of Walter L Perry’s determination to put on a celebration that would transcend divisions of race and class. He staged an Emancipation Day festival that was where everyone wanted to be. Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr, Jesse Owens all headed there because, as civil rights activist Dick Gregory said ""The largest Juneteenth celebration was not in America, it was in Windsor, Canada.”
A celebration of ending slavery sounds grim.
What Walter Perry organized was the exact opposite of grim. For him the Emancipation Weekend was a celebration of life and escape from reality.
In the mid-twentieth century, Windsor and Detroit were far from models of harmonious integration. There was blatant discrimination and segregated communities on both sides of the border. But somehow, in the midst of racial tension and fear, all differences were put aside once a year, and black culture was celebrated by everyone.
Imagine a miles-long parade. The smell of soul food. Whirling carnival rides. There was live music, talent shows and even the Miss Sepia beauty pageant (the first international beauty pageant for Black women).
At its peak the event doubled the City of Windsor's population of 100,000.
From 1936 until 1967, that's how Walter Perry celebrated freedom. Perry and his celebration got caught up in the overheated racial politics of the day, sabotage and race riots of 1967 in Detroit. His event never recovered that year and shortly after Walter Perry died…. but the spirit of Mister. Emanciaption still lives on.
SWO Connection: Writer/ director Preston Chase was born and raised in Windsor Ontario, and footage of Southwestern Ontario towns are used in the film.
Run Time: 61:00 min
Description: My Waking Nightmare is a horror-inspired miniature documentary about Becca Serena: a young woman whose life has been irreversibly altered by chronic insomnia. Blending documentary realism with terrifying surrealism, the film visualizes Becca's struggles against sleepless nights, terrible nightmares and mental health crises in vivid detail; only to prove her strength in overcoming these issues as the film progresses. The short documentary chronicles Becca's personal journey through terror and triumph, whilst drawing attention to the severity of insomnia as a whole.
SWO Connection: The director and featured subject of this documentary short are both graduates of Western University in London, Ontario.
Run Time: 04:59 min
Description: Pedro Opeka declined an opportunity to play professional soccer in his native Buenos Aires. He chose instead to become a missionary and live in one of the poorest countries in the world. The son of a bricklayer, he convinced destitute families living in Madagascar’s largest landfill that he could teach them how to build their own houses and, in the process, build their dignity. After 30 years of construction, fighting increasing poverty and political instability, Opeka has created a highly functional city within this dysfunctional African nation. His mission is to prepare the children he saves to one day save their own country.
SWO Connection: Director Cam Cowan was born in Petrolia, Ontario and spent his early years in London, Ontario.
Run Time: 89:00 min
Description: While trying to navigate life as he enters his 30s, Ryan slips further into loneliness. A chance meeting with a friend's boyfriend, Sam, changes that trajectory, and as they grow closer, Ryan must come to terms with who he is, and what that means for him and the life he's been living.
SWO Connection: Writer/director Mark Weeden grew up in Cambridge, Ontario and attended Wilfrid Laurier University.
Run Time: 107:00 min
Description: This story encapsulates the figurative and literal end of summer. Carefree youth spent getting up to consequence free shenanigans ends at a certain point and like how Labour Day brings about the end of summer the feeling that summer brings as a teenager eventually ends. Mel and James tries to keep it alive for one more night knowing that this life won't last. Shot in Grand Bend by a Grand Bend native.
SWO Connection: Direcotr Tyson Breuer is from Grand Bend, Ontario, and the film is alos set in Grand Bend.
Run Time: 08:00 min
Description: From The Vine is the story of a downtrodden CEO experiencing a moral crisis that travels back to Italy to recalibrate his moral compass. He discovers new life by reviving his Nonno's old vineyard, offering the small town of Acerenza a sustainable future and reconnecting with his family in the process. Combining magic realism and Italian neorealism, and set against the backdrop of wine country Italy, the film is about finding your roots in your family when you're at the bottom of the barrel.
SWO Connection: Ken Cancellara, the writer of the book the film is based on, spent many years in Collingwood, Ontario.
Run Time: 94:00 min
Description: Two different women are subjected to the uncompromising subversions of the male gaze. The Male Gaze explores the female perspective on a culture that is created and perpetuated by the male gaze. Their experience is revealed through a phone message confessional. The confessions give insight into a females emotional state and reveal what it means to experience a lonely and subtle form of harassment.
SWO Connection: The director/writer is from London, Ontario, and the cast and crew are all students at Fanshawe College.
Run Time: 11:02 min
Description: Four notorious thieves wake up in a fortified warehouse and are forced by a cunning master thief to plan and commit an extraordinary diamond heist.
SWO Connection: Writer Geoff Hart is a London local, and director Jesse Ikeman graduated from the Ivey Business School of Western University.
Run Time: 78:00 min
Description: When the Philadelphia public-school system began losing almost all the funding for its music-education programs in 2007, thousands of instruments in need of repair were forced into retirement, and community members moved to action. In this triumphant new documentary by Hamilton Filmmaker, Charlie Tyrell, we are introduced to a few of the innovators, educators, volunteers, advocates, and musicians behind Symphony for a Broken Orchestra, a music and art project begun in 2017 that raised awareness for the issue, helping to get those broken instruments back into Philadelphia students' hands. Symphony for a Broken Orchestra was originally created and commissioned by Temple Contemporary at Temple University, USA. Original support for Symphony for a Broken Orchestra was provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, Philadelphia.
SWO Connection: Part of the film was shot in Hamilton, Ontario. Director Charlie Tyrell is from Ancaster, Ontario.
Run Time: 11:49 min
Description: Three young Cuban baseball players leave their families and risk exile to train in Central America and chase their dreams of playing in the Major Leagues.
SWO Connection: Director-producer Sami Khan was born in Sarnia, Ontario
Run Time: 1:24:00 min
Description: "The Thing of Feathers’ is a documentary about a group of ambitious and resilient refugee women here in London, Ontario. Most of these women left their homes and families behind in Syria and Iraq and fled the war zone to come and have a second shot at a better life in Canada and a local business that is helping them achieve their dreams. Their stories are empowering.
At the end of the day, this is a story about hope. Hope, the one thing that gives them the power to keep going.
“Because “Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul - And sings the tune without the words - And never stops - at all -...” - Emily Dickinson"
SWO Connection: This was filmed in London Ontario Canada by a crew of comprising of film students from Fanshawe College's Advanced Filmmaking program.
Run Time: 14:32 min
Description: Beatriz gets a second chance after failing in almost every aspect of her life while working as a substitute psychologist in her eccentric aunt's school. Funny enough, this school used to be her family's estate.
SWO Connection: The Columbian Population in SWO is large
Run Time: 90:00 min
Description: Midland Motel Room 77' tells the tale of reincarnate lovers on the run after robbing a bank. We are thrust into their journey as they make their escape to Northern Ontario.
SWO Connection: The Bawaadan Collective lives, work, and are community members of Southern Ontario. Our membership stretches from Ottawa, to Tkaronto, Neyaashiinigmiing, and Hamilton.
Description: Aspiring inventor Flint Lockwood develops a machine that converts water into food. After the machine gains sentience, Flint must destroy his creation in order to save the world.
SWO Connection: Kris Pearn was the Head of Story on this. He grew up in the London Region and attended Sheridan College's Animation program This is Kris's first Major film and he went on to director Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 and the Willoughbys.
Run Time: 90 min
A story of girls confronting the reality of being pushed aside at times when they should be empowered by their own achievements.
More InfoIntimate conversations with filmmakers about their creative process, and what they've accomplished in Southwestern Ontario and beyond.
Celebrate your favourite film of the season, and let the filmmakers know how much you appreciate their talent and hard work with your vote!
Catch one-on-one conversations with filmmakers over a chill beer, and chat with audiences about their favourite films of the season.
The party you don’t want to miss.
Party Postponed Until 2021This is your chance to network with and learn from other filmmaking creatives.
Registration to Open in AugustFilm and music elevate each other and the FCFF has been working towards building awards categories to honour the art of Music Videos.
More InformationCelebrating older iconic films with connection to the region of Southwestern Ontario.
To Be AnnouncedCelebrating the brilliant world class talent from our indigenous community in Southwestern Ontario.
To Be AnnouncedSouthwestern Ontario's banner event for high school filmmakers.
Forest City Youth Film FestivalInteractive conversations with talented, successful and connected people in the film industry.
To Be AnnouncedA series of events designed to educate, entertain and inspire filmmakers and filmlovers.
Learn MoreLess than 25 minutes in length. Any Genre $500 prize money
JOHN KAPELOS - Actor / Writer / Producer
In the three decades since John Kapelos co-starred in the pop cultural phenomenon: THE BREAKFAST CLUB he has consistently proven himself as one of the most versatile and popular actors of his generation, heralded for his work in both comedy and drama on the big and small screens.
John co-starred in a several of John Hughes’ generation-defining Brat Pack films, notably THE BREAKFAST CLUB (as Carl the Janitor), 16 CANDLES and WEIRD SCIENCE. John Hughes discovered John while Kapelos was a member of the resident company at Chicago’s legendary SECOND CITY. He spent 8 years with Second City, both on their Chicago main stage, in their National Touring Company and in ORWELL THAT ENDS WELL, their triumphant 1984 off-Broadway return at the celebrated Village Gate in Manhattan.
Since that time John has made his mark in more than 70 features films including LEGALLY BLONDE, ROXANNE, THE SHAPE OF WATER. John loves independent film and has worked on over 250 film and television projects in his career as actor, writer, and producer. He is a London Ontario native and a big supporter of the film industry in this region. John will be seen in Guillermo del Toro's upcoming film NIGHTMARE ALLEY.
COURTNEY McCALLISTER - Head of Development + Co-productions at Vortex Pictures
Courtney is a passionate and dedicated writer/producer. Most recently, Courtney wrote an elevated horror script (Don’t Click) that is going into production in April, 2019.
Over the past two years, she has helped both emerging and established filmmakers develop and package their scripts. Of the 100+ scripts she’s read and provided notes for, she has proudly seen seven greenlit projects go to camera— selling well internationally afterwards. And though her background is in writing, this past spring/summer, Courtney produced the critically acclaimed documentary series Street Spirits for Bell Canada. Moreover, Courtney managed the production on Night Owl, a web-series that premiered at SXSW Film Festival in March, 2018.
Less than 120 minutes in length. Any Genre. $500 prize money
JOHN KAPELOS - Actor / Writer / Producer
In the three decades since John Kapelos co-starred in the pop cultural phenomenon: THE BREAKFAST CLUB he has consistently proven himself as one of the most versatile and popular actors of his generation, heralded for his work in both comedy and drama on the big and small screens.
John co-starred in a several of John Hughes’ generation-defining Brat Pack films, notably THE BREAKFAST CLUB (as Carl the Janitor), 16 CANDLES and WEIRD SCIENCE. John Hughes discovered John while Kapelos was a member of the resident company at Chicago’s legendary SECOND CITY. He spent 8 years with Second City, both on their Chicago main stage, in their National Touring Company and in ORWELL THAT ENDS WELL, their triumphant 1984 off-Broadway return at the celebrated Village Gate in Manhattan.
Since that time John has made his mark in more than 70 features films including LEGALLY BLONDE, ROXANNE, THE SHAPE OF WATER. John loves independent film and has worked on over 250 film and television projects in his career as actor, writer, and producer. He is a London Ontario native and a big supporter of the film industry in this region. John will be seen in Guillermo del Toro's upcoming film NIGHTMARE ALLEY.
COURTNEY McCALLISTER - Head of Development + Co-productions at Vortex Pictures
Courtney is a passionate and dedicated writer/producer. Most recently, Courtney wrote an elevated horror script (Don’t Click) that is going into production in April, 2019.
Over the past two years, she has helped both emerging and established filmmakers develop and package their scripts. Of the 100+ scripts she’s read and provided notes for, she has proudly seen seven greenlit projects go to camera— selling well internationally afterwards. And though her background is in writing, this past spring/summer, Courtney produced the critically acclaimed documentary series Street Spirits for Bell Canada. Moreover, Courtney managed the production on Night Owl, a web-series that premiered at SXSW Film Festival in March, 2018.
Films up to 40 minutes. It qualifies if any member of the key artistic team are from or currently reside in Southwestern Ontario or if it was shot in Southwestern Ontario. Subject matter does not need to be restricted to Southwestern Ontario. $500 prize money
CRAIG THOMPSON - Experienced director / Writer / Producer
Craig Thompson is an experienced Director, Writer and Producer whose company, Ballinran Entertainment, marks its 25 th anniversary in 2020. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Craig and his team adapted quickly to the changing film and television production landscape. In March, his 22- minute documentary Inside Wuhan was one of the highest-rated programs of the season for CTV’s W5. Directed and Produced from Canada, Inside Wuhan was shot undercover in the epicentre of the coronavirus using a camera smuggled into the city where a Canadian expat provided a glimpse of life in a city under lockdown. Other recent credits include the Alex Trebek documentary Game Changers, nominated for a 2020 Canadian Screen Award for Best Arts or Biography Documentary; streaming worldwide on Netflix, The Truth is in the Stars, with William Shatner and featuring a raft of international celebrities including Stephen Hawking in one of his last documentary interviews. Ballinran is currently in production on the Cirque du Soleil documentary, Balancing Act, filmed in China and is adapting for the screen Richard Wright’s award-winning novel Clara Callan. Prior to setting out as an independent producer, Craig was an on-camera reporter for CTV National News with Lloyd Robertson, a correspondent for CBC’s The National and for three years in the 1980s served as the London correspondent for CBC National Radio News, covering “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland. In addition to his production career, Craig has taught documentary filmmaking at the University of Waterloo. He is also active in his community of Stratford, Ontario, operating the art house cinema, Queen of the Square Cinema, located in the city’s historic city hall auditorium.
ALEX ROGALSKI - Film programmer
Alex has been a professional film programmer for more than a decade focusing on documentary and Canadian cinema for festivals across the country including TIFF, Hot Docs, Calgary International Film Festival, Victoria Film Festival, Gimme Some Truth, and others. He is the founder of the One Take Super 8 Event. This event started in Regina in 2000 and has spread across North America, helping to create more than 1000 independent films.
In addition to his film curation, Alex is currently a program consultant with the Saskatchewan Arts Board and was previously the Executive Director of PAVED Arts in Saskatoon. He holds a Masters in Communication and Culture from York and Ryerson Universities and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film from the University of Regina and has written for publications including POV magazine.
Any length between 40 to 120 minutes qualify for documentary. It qualifies if any member of the key artistic team are from or currently reside in Southwestern Ontario or if it was shot in Southwestern Ontario. Subject matter does not need to be restricted to Southwestern Ontario. $500 prize money
CRAIG THOMPSON - Experienced director / Writer / Producer
Craig Thompson is an experienced Director, Writer and Producer whose company, Ballinran Entertainment, marks its 25 th anniversary in 2020. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Craig and his team adapted quickly to the changing film and television production landscape. In March, his 22- minute documentary Inside Wuhan was one of the highest-rated programs of the season for CTV’s W5. Directed and Produced from Canada, Inside Wuhan was shot undercover in the epicentre of the coronavirus using a camera smuggled into the city where a Canadian expat provided a glimpse of life in a city under lockdown. Other recent credits include the Alex Trebek documentary Game Changers, nominated for a 2020 Canadian Screen Award for Best Arts or Biography Documentary; streaming worldwide on Netflix, The Truth is in the Stars, with William Shatner and featuring a raft of international celebrities including Stephen Hawking in one of his last documentary interviews. Ballinran is currently in production on the Cirque du Soleil documentary, Balancing Act, filmed in China and is adapting for the screen Richard Wright’s award-winning novel Clara Callan. Prior to setting out as an independent producer, Craig was an on-camera reporter for CTV National News with Lloyd Robertson, a correspondent for CBC’s The National and for three years in the 1980s served as the London correspondent for CBC National Radio News, covering “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland. In addition to his production career, Craig has taught documentary filmmaking at the University of Waterloo. He is also active in his community of Stratford, Ontario, operating the art house cinema, Queen of the Square Cinema, located in the city’s historic city hall auditorium.
ALEX ROGALSKI - Film programmer
Alex has been a professional film programmer for more than a decade focusing on documentary and Canadian cinema for festivals across the country including TIFF, Hot Docs, Calgary International Film Festival, Victoria Film Festival, Gimme Some Truth, and others. He is the founder of the One Take Super 8 Event. This event started in Regina in 2000 and has spread across North America, helping to create more than 1000 independent films.
In addition to his film curation, Alex is currently a program consultant with the Saskatchewan Arts Board and was previously the Executive Director of PAVED Arts in Saskatoon. He holds a Masters in Communication and Culture from York and Ryerson Universities and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film from the University of Regina and has written for publications including POV magazine.
50% of the team must be currently enrolled in either a high school or a post-secondary school in Southwestern Ontario to qualify. - $500 prize money
NEIL HAVERTY - Senior Manager, MVP Project / Prism Prize at the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television
Neil Haverty oversees multiple initiatives that aim to spotlight artistry in the Canadian music video industry. The Prism Prize was established in 2012 to recognize extraordinary achievement within the field. The MVP Project, a joint initiative with RBCxMusic, was recently launched to assist in the creation of new music video work by way of production grants for emerging artist teams (comprised of recording artists, directors and producers). Haverty also works as a film composer and musician, most notably as a founding member of Toronto-based ensemble Bruce Peninsula.
At least one person on the key creative team must have spent a significant portion of their lives in Southwestern Ontario
Neil Haverty - Film/TV Composer & Senior Manager, MVP Project / Prism Prize
As Senior Manager, MVP Project / Prism Prize at the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, Neil Haverty oversees multiple initiatives that aim to spotlight artistry in the Canadian music video industry. The Prism Prize was established in 2012 to recognize extraordinary achievement within the field. The MVP Project, a joint initiative with RBCxMusic, was recently launched to assist in the creation of new music video work by way of production grants for emerging artist teams (comprised of recording artists, directors and producers). Haverty also works as a film composer and musician, most notably as a founding member of Toronto-based ensemble Bruce Peninsula.
This competition is for “Feature Length” screenplays with a minimum of 75 pages and a maximum of 120 pages. Only persons who are permanent residents of Southwestern Ontario are eligible. Multiple levels of prizes. See more information.
JESSICA SHADLOCK – Development Manager, Temple Street
Jessica Shadlock is the Development Manager at Temple Street, part of the premium scripted division of Boat Rocker Media. Jessica is responsible for developing television projects for the Canadian and international markets from concept to series order, collaborating with writers, creators and executives across Temple Street’s slate.
Prior to joining the Temple Street team, Jessica was Development Manager at Back Alley Film productions where she helped develop drama series Coroner (CBC) and Bellevue (CBC, WGN America) in addition to managing the company’s development slate and sourcing new projects and IP. Jessica joined Back Alley in 2011, supporting the Executive Producers and company principals during the production of Bomb Girls (Global, Reelz) and the development and production of Played (CTV). A graduate of Ryerson’s RTA School of Media, Jessica got her start on set in the unscripted space on series including Canada’s Worst Driver.
SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO’S BANNER EVENT FOR HIGH SCHOOL FILMMAKERS!
Judging happens in 5 categories:
Narrative
Documentary
Animation
Experimental
The Pitch
A short film pitch in 1-2 minutes for $12,000 in prize
ENTRIES TO BE SUBMITTED BY OCTOBER 12
IT IT FREE TO SUBMIT BUT ALL CHOSEN APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY A $30 ENTRY FEE PRIOR TO THEIR PITCH.
Limited space! The 10 participants will be selected by October 17
Ontario Creates (formally OMDC) supports the province of Ontario’s creative economy by providing innovative programs, services and funding for the film & television; book & magazine publishing; interactive digital media & music industries. As Program Consultant, Film and Television Ms. Payne brings over 20 years’ of industry experience to the administration and development of programs and strategies which help to drive innovation and growth in Ontario’s creative industries. Her portfolio includes the Film Fund, Industry Development and the Marketing and Distribution Initiative.
Craig Thompson is an experienced Director, Writer and Producer whose company, Ballinran Entertainment, marks its 25th anniversary in 2020. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Craig and his team adapted quickly to the changing film and television production landscape. In March, his 22-minute documentary Inside Wuhan was one of the highest-rated programs of the season for CTV’s W5. Directed and Produced from Canada, Inside Wuhan was shot undercover in the epicentre of the coronavirus using a camera smuggled into the city where a Canadian expat provided a glimpse of life in a city under lockdown.
Other recent credits include the Alex Trebek documentary Game Changers, nominated for a 2020 Canadian Screen Award for Best Arts or Biography Documentary; streaming worldwide on Netflix, The Truth is in the Stars, with William Shatner and featuring a raft of international celebrities including Stephen Hawking in one of his last documentary interviews. Ballinran is currently in production on the Cirque du Soleil documentary, Balancing Act, filmed in China and is adapting for the screen Richard Wright’s award-winning novel Clara Callan.
Prior to setting out as an independent producer, Craig was an on-camera reporter for CTV National News with Lloyd Robertson, a correspondent for CBC’s The National and for three years in the 1980s served as the London correspondent for CBC National Radio News, covering “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland.
In addition to his production career, Craig has taught documentary filmmaking at the University of Waterloo. He is also active in his community of Stratford, Ontario, operating the art house cinema, Queen of the Square Cinema, located in the city’s historic city hall auditorium.
He holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts from the Ryerson School of Journalism.
An NSI Features First alumni, has written and produced short films that have been broadcast, released theatrically and are available on iTunes. His short film, THE HUNT, was named the best short film of 2013 by RUE MORGUE MAGAZINE. His directorial debut, IT’S ALL IN YOUR HEAD premiered at the 2016 Horror Channel Fright Fest and continues to tour the worldwide festival circuit. Through his work with William F. White he helps new talent learn the industry procedures and develop a plan for their project that will help maximize the results.
Jordan is an award-winning producer and director of films like Nintendo Quest and FCFF Best Documentary winner, Missing Mom. He has also worked on numerous films as an actor, production designer, art director and screenwriter. Since 2013, Jordan has been creating and hosting popular seminars and workshops on the nebulous art and science of writing screenplays.
Best known as co-creator and producer of Canada's internationally respected Women In the Director’s Chair (WIDC) program, Carol Whiteman is a two-time Governor General’s award nominee and multiple award-winner for promoting gender equality in Canada’s screen industry. Since 1997, Whiteman has worked tirelessly to advance the careers, fiction feature films, network television and web series of a generation of female screen writers and directors across Canada and internationally. She produced over 150 short films through WIDC and is executive producer on seven award-winning feature films including Red Snow, Rustic Oracle, and Queen of the Morning Calm, with two more WIDC features in the pipeline. Whiteman recently completed her doctoral degree in education at Simon Fraser University, British Columbia. Her dissertation shares an inspiring chronicle of the tenacity and transformative leadership behind WIDC’s decades-long history. (Photo credit: Wendy D.)
Kirk Cooper is the founder of Film Market Access, a film consulting and PR firm. Kirk’s contribution to the international film community spans over 17 years with experience in the global arts and the entertainment industry. His strength lies in Film Programming, Communications, Professional Development, and Project Management for Film. Kirk has created film programming for festivals such as - Durham Region International Film Festival, Victoria International Film Festival, ReelWorld Film Festival, Inside Out (LGBT) Film Festival, Planet In Focus, Canadian Film Festival, River to River, Pan Africa Film Festival. Kirk is currently the Festival Manager for Raven Banner Entertainment - a genre distributor in Canada.
A freelance military historian, author and broadcaster who has specialised in the study of the two world wars Andy is currently working on a project for Twickenham Studios that will compete later this year. He was previously a Museum Director for the MOD and before that Head of Education and Events at the National Army Museum in London. He runs a replica World War One trench in Sussex which has been featured in a variety of television and film projects and for which he provided advice, uniformed extras and props. Andy’s business, Battlefield Partnerships Ltd, provides military props and original items for prop houses and consultations on film projects. He was Military Consultant War Horse and was on location throughout the filming. In the period before filming started he was consulted on the screenplay and worked with Richard Curtis. For ‘1917’ he was also costume, prop and Set Dec consultant. This very successful experience demonstrated his ability to balance historical accuracy with the needs of a production. He works with actors, extras and crew, provides historical background, and motives for actors and extras that are unfamiliar with military history or the period being portrayed.
Niro is a member of the Six Nations Reserve, Bay of Quinte Mohawk, Turtle Clan. Shelley Niro is a multi-media artist. Her work involves photography, painting, beadwork and film. Niro is conscious the impact post-colonial mediums have had on Indigenous people. Like many artists from different Native communities, she works relentlessly pre-senting people in realistic and explorative portrayals. Photo series such as MOHAWKS IN BEEHIVES, THIS LAND IS MIME LAND and M: STORIES OF WOMEN are a few of the genre of artwork. Films include: HONEY MOCCASIN, IT STARTS WITH A WHIS-PER, THE SHIRT, KISSED BY LIGHTNING and ROBERT’S PAINTINGS. Recently she finished her film THE INCREDIBLE 25th YEAR OF MITZI BEARCLAW. Shelley graduated from the Ontario College of Art, Honours and received her Master of Fine Art from the University of Western Ontario. Niro was the inaugural recipient of the Aboriginal Arts Award presented through the On-tario Arts Council in 2012. In 2017 Niro received the Governor General’s Award For The Arts from the Canada Council, The Scotiabank Photography Award and also received the Hnatyshyn Foundation REVEAL Award. Niro recently received an honorary doctorate from the Ontario College of Arts and De-sign University. She also was the 2019 Laureate of the Paul de Hueck and Norman Walford Career Achievement Award for Photography
Samora Smallwood is an award winning, classically trained actor, writer, & cool feminist of West African & Caucasian descent. Samora is fluent in French, proficient in Spanish & a lover of action who is trained in stage combat, fighting for TV & Film, and archery. She is Co-Chair of ACTRA's Diversity Committee as well as the founder of The Actors Work Studio, an innovative acting studio in Toronto. Samora's recent television work includes Star Trek Discovery, Star Trek Short Treks, The Expanse, American Gods, Coroner, The Shelter, Shadowhunters, and an episode of Frankie Drake Mysteries involving a story close to her heart about white passing & black identity in Canada. Upcoming projects include “Daughter Dearest”, “Counting on Christmas” & “Toni & Solo”.
Samora won The Theatre Windsor Award for “Best Actress” for her portrayal of May Henning in Norm Foster’s “The Affections of May” & is nominated for a 2020 ACTRA award nomination for Best Series Ensemble for her work in “Tokens”. Samora's passion is telling fresh stories and promoting diversity on-screen and behind the camera. She was recently a jury member for The Female Eye Film Festival as well as a selected participant in The Reelworld Film Festival's "Emerging 20" Talent to Watch Program. Samora is also a passionate public speaker whose recent work includes hosting panels at TIFF, The Toronto Black Film Festival, Official International Women’s Day & ACTRA Toronto.
Kris Pearn was born in London, Ontario, Canada. After graduating from Sheridan College, Kris has spent most of his life making cartoons for both film and television. His credits include: Open Season, Surf’s Up, Arthur Christmas, Shawn the Sheep, Pirates: Band of Misfits, and Home to name a few. He was Head of Story on Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, and co-directed Cloudy Two: Rise of the Leftovers. He has most recently written and directed the Netflix animated feature THE WILLOUGHBYS based on the novel by Lois Lowry. Kris has been nominated for several Annies, has taught at Sheridan College, lectures all over the world through Schoolism, and has given a Ted Talk called “The Optimistic Opportunity of Failure”. He has illustrated several books including: Edward The Tree Climbing Dog, Project Superhero, and Tales of Spiffing. He still loves to draw.
Sean Cisterna is a multi award-winning director whose most recent film is From the Vine (2020), an international coproduction starring Emmy winner Joe Pantoliano. Cisterna directed the acclaimed cancer drama Kiss and Cry (2017), which topped the Canadian box office, and is currently streaming on Netflix worldwide. His 2015 feature Full Out, starring Jennifer Beals, is based on the true story of gymnast Ariana Berlin. The film was broadcast on NBC, now residing with Netflix Worldwide and Disney Europe. Cisterna was awarded a Canada 150 Citizenship Award by the Federal Government for his dedication to and community engagement in the arts.
Paige Murray has worked at the CBC for over eight years within the content areas and is currently the Development Manager, Comedy and Drama for CBC English Television. As the key point of contact for comedy and drama submissions, Paige actively looks for new talent and projects and evaluates series pitches to fulfill CBC’s programming needs. Paige is also the programmer for Canadian Reflections, the longest running Canadian short film showcase on national broadcast television. Paige currently sits as Vice Chair of the Breakthroughs Film Festival Board. Breakthroughs is the only festival in Canada devoted exclusively to showcasing short films made by emerging women, trans and non-binary directors.
Victor Garber has been in some of the most memorable projects of the past four decades including Sleepless in Seattle (1993), The First Wives Club (1996), Legally Blonde (2001), Titanic (1997), Milk (2008), and Argo (2012). Victor has recently appeared in Family Law, The Slap, The Flash, Motive and Web Therapy. He is currently starring in Greg Berlanti's new DC Comics Superhero series "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" for Warner Bros/CW. He has shared in two Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award® nominations for Outstanding Motion Picture Cast, the latest for Milk, and previously as a member of the cast of Titanic as well as winning with the cast of Argo. Garber received three Emmy® nods for his role on Alias and has also earned Emmy® nominations for Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows, and his guest roles on Frasier and Will & Grace. He is also an accomplished stage actor, whose extensive credits encompass lead roles in both plays and musicals, and has earned four Tony Award® nominations, for his work in Damn Yankees (1994-1995), Lend Me a Tenor (1989-1990), Little Me (1982) and Deathtrap (1978-1982. Victor also starred in the 1998 Tony Award-winning Best Play, Art. He originated the roles of Anthony in Sweeny Todd and John Wilkes Booth in Assassins both by Stephen Sondheim.
Carolyn McMaster is a Canadian film producer and president of CHAOS, a film company that focuses on scripted content for the international marketplace. Her most recent production is the horror film Don't Say Its Name. Previous work includes the CIFF Audience Choice Award winner Root of the Problem with Sergio Di Zio and Claire Rankin, the sci-fi thriller Parallel Minds, starring Greg Bryk and Tommie Amber Pirie, the 2016 romantic comedy Chokeslam starring Chris Marquette and Amanda Crew with wrestling icon Mick Foley. In 2013 the thriller Ferocious, starring Amanda Crew and Kim Coates, was released. Walk All Over Me starring Leelee Sobieski and Tricia Helfer premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2008. McMaster is also an alumna of the Canadian Film Centre Comedy Lab and the NSI, she is a member of the Producers Guild of America, CMPA, Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television and is a recipient of an EMMY award.
Jeremy Lalonde is a filmmaker who resides in Toronto where he was awarded NOW Magazine’s ‘Best Local Filmmaker’ Reader’s Choice Award in 2015. His films have screened internationally including TIFF, Slamdance, Cinequest, Santa Barbara, and Whistler. His film Sex After Kids won Best Feature at Film North Huntsville, Best Comedy at the Edmonton Int’l Film Festival, and Best Screenplay & Best Director at the Canadian Comedy Awards. His film How To Plan An Orgy In A Small Town premiered at Slamdance and won Best Indie Feature at the Edmonton Int’l Film Festival, and Best Ensemble & Best Feature film at the Canadian Film Fest. His fourth feature film The Go-Getters had its world premiere at Cinequest where it won the Jury Award for Best Comedy Feature. Jeremy has won multiple Canadian Screen Awards, a Director’s Guild of Canada, and a Canadian Comedy Award for his work both directing and editing on BARONESS VON SKETCH SHOW (CBC/IFC). He was an integral part of the show for its first three seasons. His fifth feature film James Vs. His Future Self, co-written by Jonas Chernick and starring Daniel Stern, Frances Conroy, and Cleopatra Coleman, recently took home four awards at Toronto After Dark including Best Feature Film (Bronze), Best Canadian Feature, Best Sci-Fi Feature, and Best Supporting Actor and is also screening at Whistler, Santa Barbara, and Brussels among others. It was recently nominated for four Canadian Screen Awards including Best Original Screenplay. He has recently finished production on his sixth feature film, the title of which has yet to be announced and is developing several properties for television.
Zoe Hopkins is a Heiltsuk and Mohawk woman, born in Bella Bella, a fishing village on the coast of BC. She is now raising her son in her father’s community of Six Nations, Ontario, where she learned to speak and teach Kanyen’kéha (the Mohawk language.) Zoe drew upon her personal connection to the Great Bear Rainforest for her award-winning first feature film, Kayak to Klemtu, which received a theatrical release in Canada, and is distributed in Canada by Mongrel Media. Zoe is a winner of the Audience Choice Award at the imagineNATIVE Film Festival & Powell River Film Festival, Best Canadian First Feature Film at Victoria Film Festival, Best Narrative Feature at CAIIFF, Official Selection at Edinburgh International Film Festival. Her Leo Awards include Best Actress (Ta’Kaiya Blaney), Best Supporting Actress (Sonja Bennett), Best Director & Best Actor (Lorne Cardinal): American Indian Film Festival. Zoe holds a BAA in Film from Ryerson University and is an alumna of the Sundance Institute’s Feature Film Program. Her films have screened internationally at festivals including Sundance and Berlinale. Zoe is a member of the Embargo Collective, the creators of the omnibus feature, The Embargo Project, which included her short film Skyworld (Best Short Film, Niagara Integrated Film Festival). Zoe also writes on the soon-to-be broadcast dramatic series Trickster, based on the much-celebrated book Son of a Trickster, by Eden Robinson. Also for the small screen, Zoe has directed an episode of the music documentary series, Amplify, for APTN. In 2004, she was Senior Producer on the documentary series, Venturing Forth, also for APTN. She directed 26 episodes of the children’s series Art Zone, produced by Force Four Entertainment. She 's currently in post-production with her sophomore feature, previously entitled Running Home, with Toronto’s Big Soul Productions and Devonshire Productions. Zoe is a member of the Writer’s Guild of Canada.
Courtney McAllister is a passionate, dedicated and innovative writer/producer. In 2020, Courtney wrote Inn for Christmas, starring Jonna Walsh and Jesse Hutch, which will be available to watch this Christmas. She is also currently working on a slate of MOW films that have been sold and are scheduled to shoot when production resumes in a post-COVID world. Over the past four years, she has helped both emerging and established filmmakers develop and package their scripts. Most recently, she has found and optioned a script that has since sold to Blumhouse and Amazon. Of the hundreds of screenplays she’s read and provided notes for, she has proudly seen 15+ greenlit projects go to camera — selling well internationally afterwards. Though her background is in writing, in the spring/summer of 2018, Courtney produced the critically acclaimed documentary series Street Spirits for Bell Canada. While earning her Master’s Degree in Media Production in 2016, Courtney managed the production on Night Owl, a web-series that premiered at SXSW Film Festival in March, 2018.
Caroline Monnet is an Anishinaabe/French multidisciplinary artist from Outaouais, Québec, currently based in Montréal. She studied in both Sociology and Communication at the University of Ottawa (Canada) and the University of Granada (Spain) before pursuing a career in visual arts and films. Monnet’s short films have screened at numerous festivals including Toronto International Film Festival (Ikwé, Warchild, Mobilize, Tshiuetin, Creatura Dada, Emptying the Tank), Les Rencontres Internationales Paris/Berlin (Gephyrophobia), Sundance Film Festival (Mobilize), and Palm Springs (Mobilize). She won a Golden Sheaf Award at the Yorkton Film Festival for Best experimental film for Mobilize. She was nominated for two Canadian Screen Awards: Best Short Drama for Roberta and Best Short Documentary Tshieutin. Her first feature film entitled Bootlegger, selected for both CineMart and Berlinale Co-Production Market 2016. That same year, she was selected for the prestigious Cinéfondation residency in Paris. The project won Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival 2017, an award granted by Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée (CNC) and Cinéfondation. Monnet is also an accomplished visual artist with exhibitions at the Whitney Museum (NYC), Toronto Biennial of Art, Walter Phillips gallery (Banff), Division Gallery (Montreal), Contemporary Art Museum (Montreal), Arsenal Contemporary (New-York) and the National Art gallery (Ottawa).
Dylan Mitro is a young Toronto-based writer/director. He focuses most of his filmmaking on queer and gender positive representation, told through heavily stylized absurd narratives. His credits include 6 music videos for artists including The Zolas and Kendal Thompson. That Funeral Glow is his largest project to date. He hopes to use his filmmaking to help younger artists in the LGBTQ community find their voice.
Janice Zolf worked as an arts and entertainment reporter and producer for CTV News before winning prizes and international acclaim with her documentaries on art, music, and design. Her award-winning films have screened on CBC’s Documentary Channel, Air Canada, and toured festivals around the world. Her current documentary film Into the Light, about the immersive projections that reimagine history on the walls of Old Montreal, will appear on CBC and GEM in October 2020. Janice’s other films include Michael Bublé: Audacious, a Governor General’s Awards film, profiling the artist behind the superstar and Revealing Marie Saint Pierre, about the influence of artist Jean-Paul Riopelle on a renowned Canadian fashion designer. Janice holds a Master’s of Digital Experience and Innovation from the University of Waterloo.
Kat Webber is fascinated by all things storytelling. With attention to detail and extensive understanding of multiple genres, she brings a deliberate eye to her work as both an Editor and Director. Kat received a BFA in Acting from the conservatory program at York University in Toronto, which provided her with a unique appreciation for the actor’s process. After graduating, Kat stepped behind the camera to develop her technical skills. After years of editing international broadcast campaigns, feature films and award-winning music videos, she’s studied the storytelling process from the inside-out. Kat has had the honour of working as a close collaborator with visionary director Karena Evans, who catapulted her onto the international scene after editing pieces like Drake’s “Nice for What” and Coldplay’s “Everyday Life.” Recently Kat worked as an additional editor for multiple episodes of the new STARZ series, P-Valley. Kat’s mission is centred around amplifying the female gaze, whether that be in service as an editor, director or mentor to young femme-identifying creatives. Each decision she makes, from pre-production to post, comes down to two questions: why now & what serves the story?
Cory Crossman is a musician and music enthusiast. His background focused on presenting live music ranging from small club shows to large festivals to community events. His current role as Music Industry Development Officer for the City of London positions him as the lead contact at City Hall for the music industry. Serving as a liaison between City Hall and the music sector. Working to create conditions to grow the music sector, Cory is focused on building things steadily from the ground up.
Neil Haverty is a Senior Manager, MVP Project / Prism Prize at the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Haverty oversees multiple initiatives that aim to spotlight artistry in the Canadian music video industry. The Prism Prize was established in 2012 to recognize extraordinary achievement within the field. The MVP Project, a joint initiative with RBCxMusic, was recently launched to assist in the creation of new music video work by way of production grants for emerging artist teams (composed of recording artists, directors and producers). Haverty also works as a film composer and musician, most notably as a founding member of Toronto-based ensemble Bruce Peninsula.
Richmond Obeng is a Canadian cinematic director moved by thought-provoking authentic narrative. Starting his filmmaking journey shooting commercials, music videos and corporate branded content, Richmond quickly embarked on his own inspired path, focusing on creating stories grounded in truth and representation. These efforts include the award-winning and internationally praised anti-bullying short “Helping Hands”, and the HIV/AIDS branded content trifecta “PrEP”, “It Takes Courage” and “The Test”, which was featured at various community events including World Aids Day 2017. Continuing on his mission to bring important stories to light, Richmond’s long-form debut came with his 2018 Toronto inner-city documentary “Some Sort of Judas”, which after debuting to 100,000 homes on TVO, has been dubbed by several educators and activists as one of the most important Canadian documentaries in crime and justice, and made its way to the 2018 Cannes Marche du Film. Richmond’s latest project takes him to historical non-fiction, as he works with Peoples Temple cult survivor Leslie Wagner-Wilson, author of “Slavery of Faith” and the main focus of his June 2020 YouTube short docu-series “No Church in the Wild”. After securing the rights to Leslie’s autobiographical novel Richmond is now working on adapting it into a scripted miniseries.
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