Canada
Postcard from Northern Ontario
John Charette reports from Sudbury, Ontario about the local films and filmmakers featured at the 23rd Cinefest Sudbury International Film Festival.
September 27th, 2011 | John Charette
For 23 years, the Cinefest Sudbury International Film Festival has come at the heels of the Toronto International Film Festival. But Cinefest has no red carpet, and the only big name you’re likely to see is on the screen. John Charrette introduces us to one Ontario filmmaker whose name you should know, Benjamin Paquette. His fourth feature, (Non) Fiction premiered at Cinefest over the weekend.
Filmmaker Benjamin Paquette stood stoically by the theater lobby with his crew, his friends and collages. He quietly greeted movie goers as they filed in to the premiere of his fourth feature film, (Non) Fiction, at this year’s Cinefest Sudbury International Film Festival in Sudbury, Ontario.
Leader of Red Sheep
Lou Reed and his cousin--organizer, activist, and spitfire, Red Shirley--talk life after his documentary about her screens at the New York Jewish Film Festival.
January 19th, 2011 | Kurt Brokaw
In Red Shirley, notorious rocker Lou Reed asks his 101-year-old cousin, Shirley Novick, to share her wisdom on camera. Reed and Novick appeared with the short doc at its New York premiere at the New York Jewish Film Festival.
Red Shirley, Lou Reed’s 28-minute homage to his 101-year-old cousin, Shirley Novick, had its New York premiere January 15th, as part of the 20th Annual New York Jewish Film Festival which runs through January 27th.
George Hickenlooper on “Casino Jack” and the New Definition of Independent Film
Katherine Brodsky spoke with the now departed filmmaker in Toronto.
November 23rd, 2010 | Katherine Brodsky
From a childhood of activism to the Reagan campaign of 1984, the late George Hickenlooper wrestled with politics on and off screen. He discussed his final effort, Casino Jack, a fictional re-telling of lobbyist Jack Abramoff's rise and fall, opening on December 17th, with The Independent.
There’s no doubt that making a political film was meant to be in Casino Jack director George Hickenlooper’s future.
How to Open a Festival with a Bang
Katherine Brodsky reports on how "Score: A Hockey Musical" opened the Toronto International Film Festival with an unforgettable gala, complete with viral song and video.
October 4th, 2010 | Katherine Brodsky
Festival opening night can be a pressure cooker for both programmers and filmmakers. Katherine Brodsky examines how the gala premiere of Score, the Canadian hockey musical that opened the Toronto International Film Festival, hit all the right notes.
There is something unusual about Score: A Hockey Musical, which opened the Toronto International Film Festival this year. For one, it is a Canadian musical.
Do Canadian Indies Depend on American Celebrity?
Getting your independent film seen often means packing it full of famous actors. At the Toronto International Film Festival, Katherine Brodsky discovered that to be especially true for films made in Canada.
September 21st, 2010 | Katherine Brodsky
At the close of the Toronto International Film Festival and after taking in most of the fest's new Canadian releases, Katherine Brodsky noticed a common import: American fame.
Barney's Version is a Canadian film with a lot of stars, especially American ones like Paul Giamatti and Dustin Hoffman.
Fantasia's Programmer Simon Laperrière Wants You to See More Genre Films
Genre and auteur cinema cross paths in Montréal at the Fantasia International Film Festival.
July 30th, 2010 | Patrick Pearce
The Independent's Patrick Pearce sits down with Fantasia International Festival's programmer Simon Laperrière to discuss the intersection between genre and auteur cinema at the festival, and genre films' most influential directors.
Montréal’s Fantasia International Film Festival may well be the largest film fest you’ve never heard of. If you haven’t been following genre film at all, you might be excused...but not for much longer.
On the Fast Track of Derby History
Roller derby expert Steven LaFond (aka “Pelvis Costello”) recommends five documentaries that chart the rise of the modern roller derby revival.
June 17th, 2010 | Steven LaFond
According to Steven LaFond, err...Pelvis Costello, roller derby is back. With a vengeance. Get to know the real story behind its reemergence with five must-see documentaries, from the classic Blood on the Flat Track to the most recent Hugs and Bruises.
Doc Highlights from the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma
In part two of two, The Independent comments on intriguing docs from Montréal's Festival du Nouveau Cinéma.
January 7th, 2010 | Patrick Pearce
The Independent's Patrick Pearce offers take two of highlights from Montréal's Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, this time with a focus on docs. Last month he served up narrative features.
You may want to check out part one, which offers a festival overview with a focus on its narrative features.
Under-the-radar Features from the Festival du Nouveau Cinéma
The Independent highlights some of the most interesting narrative films at Montréal's Festival du Nouveau Cinéma. The forthcoming part two will cover docs.
December 16th, 2009 | Patrick Pearce
The Independent's Patrick Pearce offers up an eclectic global sampling of indie features from Montréal's Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, a veteran fest that offers a bounty of stimulating films. In the forthcoming part two, he'll highlight docs.
If you’ve never been to Montréal, Québec you’re missing out. With cheap rent, creative industries, and multiculturalism seeping out all of its pores, this port city is crawling with artsy & cinematic characters from the très hip to the downright derelict, a cross between Brooklyn, New Orleans, Marseilles and maybe Istanbul.
Sex, Cats and Rock & Roll
The Toronto International Film Festival
November 1st, 2004 | Andrea MeyerIf anyone captured the spirit of this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, it was the codger who hoisted a placard that read: “The Toronto Film Festival is Satan’s Idea of Entertainment.” This middle-aged gentleman was part of a 150-person demonstration protesting the premiere screening of Casuistry: The Art of Killing a Cat.
See all The Independent's