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18th Annual Vancouver Jewish Film Festival, 2006 *
March 30 - April 9, 2006, Vancouver, BC. This year's highlights. . .
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3rd Annual Whistler Film Festival *
December 4 - 7, 2003, Whistler, BC
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Making the Movies -- discussion at the 17th annual Vancouver Jewish Film Festival *
Film panel discussion, April 9, 2005, 2:00 p.m., Vancouver, BC
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A feast for sore eyes *
If not a cure for crass commercialism and box-office banality, this annual extravaganza is at least a blissful reprieve, RICK GROEN writes. And he, for one, is grateful
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A movie director came to school today *
A program called Special Delivery has local directors from various ethnic backgrounds showing their short films to an audience of kids with the same roots. It's part of the weeklong Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children, which kicked off yesterday.
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A reel close-up on diversity *
Documentaries and social-realist dramas dominate this film festival dedicated to giving visual minorities greater exposure, LIAM LACEY writes.
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A socko Québécois invasion *
Québec director Denys Arcand's new film must be considered a serious contender for the Palme d'or, writes LIAM LACEY
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Arcand's film opens festival *
The Barbarian Invasion strikes a note of optimism in an uncertain year, writes ALEXANDRA GILL from 28th kickoff
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Are you looking at me? *
Director Adam Goldberg and actress Christina Ricci have a philosophical discussion on the nature of celebrity with LIAM LACEY, and how it inspired the film I Love Your Work
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At the festival Schmooze, look for the guy in black *
Andrew Ryan demystifies the real motivation for the Toronto International Film Festival -- the schmooze factor.
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Baghdad Blogger to unveil new doc *
Salam Pax, also known as the Baghdad Blogger, will be a special guest at this year's Vancouver International Film Festival as part of a new showcase called Changing the World, which will champion a series of unabashedly activist political documentaries.
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Between Iraq and a hard place *
Living in a country between Afghanistan and Iraq, the Iranian director Samira Makhmalbaf felt compelled to tell its stories, LIAM LACEY writes
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Can Quentin give Cannes a jolt? *
Who better to shoot up the august and elitist Cannes Film Festival with a little adrenaline than cinema's hyper-violent saviour Quentin Tarantino, who this year serves as the festival's jury president, writes LIAM LACEY from France.
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Can the canapés, we want local films *
Forget Cannes. Forget Toronto. Let us now praise not-so-famous film festivals. Let's celebrate the smaller, regional festivals that crop up because audiences subjected to a steady diet of blockbusters want to see movies that reflect their own experience. Those low-budget festivals happen in small cities because emerging filmmakers are desperate for an audience.
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Canadian film inspires tears, applause at Cannes *
Denys Arcand's film about a French-Canadian man whose friends rally around him as he fights cancer won prolonged applause at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday and had many people wiping away tears.
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Cannes clips *
Sweet, sensitive Claire Danes from television's So-Called Life fighting deadly killing machines out to destroy humanity?
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Cannes provides glittery Pitt stop *
Brad Pitt stormed Troy. Then he marched on Cannes.
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Cannes: Slow and decidedly sombre *
When this year's lineup of films isn't lulling the crowds to sleep, it's got them pondering some of the darker corners of the human condition, writes LIAM LACEY
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Centre to be built for Toronto film festival *
The fear of SARS among film types here has subsided much like a fever, which means the Toronto International Film Festival is expected to remain healthy and more popular than ever, festival promoters say.
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Child of the fest comes of age *
Noah Cowan, who began his cinematic career at age 15 selling tickets for the Toronto International Film Festival, was crowned the fete's new co-director yesterday.
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China's iron beauty *
Riveting film star Gong Li plays a coy and flirtatious lover in her latest film, an unusual part for an actress known for her headstrong roles. But don't get the idea that Gong has gone soft, GUY DIXON writes
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Copenhagen gets ready for film festival *
The Golden Palm may wave in France, but Danish film lovers will bestow Golden Swans to winners of its first international film festival, organizers said Tuesday
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Dark horse takes top prize *
In a surprise twist, Louis Bélanger's Gaz Bar Blues was awarded the jury prize at Montreal's World Film Festival instead of the top-ranking Grand Prize of the Americas, which went to a taut Serbian war drama called The Cordon, by Goran Markovic.
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Days and Hours (Waldman review) *
Existence in a small Bosnian town comes under the microscope in Days and Hours, a slow-paced yet compelling 96-minute slice-of-life.
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Debunking the myth of evil L.A. *
A filmmaker sets out to show a more just picture of the City of Angels
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Desolation Sound (Waldman review) *
Going from Vancouver to secluded Desolation Sound seemed like a no-brainer for Laurel and Michael Elliot; everything seems to be going well -- until one of their big city friends decides to pay them a visit.
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Don't make me schmooze before my Pretox *
Leah McLaren unearths the pre-festival preening rituals of the rich and fabulous.
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Five Days in September (Waldman review) *
Viewers will get an insider's look into the lives of a busy orchestra and the surrounding army of personnel charged with getting a night's program in place. VIFF screenings October 3 and 5, 2005, Vancouver, BC.
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Giving good airport *
As anyone who has followed glossy-image merchant Bonnie Fuller from Us to the National Enquirer knows, the red carpet has gone big box. Paparazzi shots of Meg Ryan shopping at Ralph's or Nicole Kidman swigging a Starbucks have as much currency as portraits of them be-gowned and be-jewelled strutting into a movie premiere.
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Holding court in Cannes *
Canadian Charlotte Mickie is in the big leagues of global film distribution. LIAM LACEY finds her hunkered down in a back office, doing deals.
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Hopkins presents new film at Venice *
Anthony Hopkins' new film The Human Stain tells the tale of a brilliant man brought down by political correctness, a modern trend that the esteemed actor describes as "a cancer."
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HOT DOCS 2004 *
The following are reviews of selected films at the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, which kicks off today in Toronto.
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HOT DOCS CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES ITS 2006 PROGRAMME *
From April 28 to May 7, Hot Docs will showcase the best in contemporary documentary cinema from Canada and around the world, screening 99 outstanding docs from 23 countries for Toronto audiences and more than 1700 international industry delegates.
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HOT DOCS WRAPS UP, ANNOUNCES TWO MORE AWARD WINNERS *
With the 12th annual festival having closed on Sunday, May 1, Hot Docs is proud to announce a record-breaking attendance of 41,000 and an astounding 100 per cent increase in sold-out screenings over the 2004 festival.
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I think it has a double life, Toronto *
Gay marriage, legal pot, strip clubs -- we've finally got Hollywood's attention
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Indie filmmakers derive energy from Sundance *
From first-time directors to Rossellini and Redford, SIMON HOUPT surveys the festival scene in Park City, Utah.
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Jessica Simpson, Jandek's not *
A new documentary spins the tale of a most unusual recording artist, who in 26 years has made 35 recordings and no public appearances.
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Johanna Schneller: Welcome to the sex and violence festival *
At this point in the Toronto International Film Festival, my most significant relationship is with the bare breasts of the actresses on screen. I swear, going to festival films is like hanging out in the girls' locker room at Hollywood High on track-meet day.
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Letter from Cannes *
People often ask me what the Cannes Film Festival is really like and I try to explain to them that, when sex-starved starlets aren't trying to pull you into bathtubs filled with champagne and European royalty of dubious pedigree aren't pressuring you to attend their gaudy little yacht parties, it can be a modest, relaxing spring interlude on the Riviera.
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Lining up for love *
A great deal of the avalanche of romance and lust at Toronto's film festival is not on the screen, GAYLE MacDONALD reports
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Looking for the next Bowling for Columbine? *
Truth, it is said, is stranger than fiction -- and, I would add, frequently more entertaining. Last year, Michael Moore's Bowling For Columbine was an uproarious success, while the buzz on films like Spellbound and Winged Migration lasted long after their Toronto International Film Festival screenings, both films becoming box office successes for the genre.
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Louis Bélanger: A labour of love from Quebec *
Louis Bélanger grew up working in his father's gas station and pays tribute to those roots in his feature Gaz Bar Blues, the opener at Montreal's World Film Festival
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Making scene all in day's work for busy actress *
Count on Chloe Sevigny to show up all over town, ALEXANDRA GILL discovers
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Making waves in Cannes *
LIAM LACEY talks to underground folk hero Harvey Pekar and goes on the trail of the film fest's first flap
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Matrix and Cannes: Feelin' kind of blue *
LIAM LACEY listens to other hacks thrash out the merits of blue screens in the Matrix sequel and sees a film about the blues
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Montreal fest unveils line-up of 439 films *
With its contentious new position on the calendar of film festivals, Montreal's annual celebration of world cinema now overlaps Toronto's festival by four days -- and Venice's by several.
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Montreal film fest absent its A-list status *
The upcoming 27th annual instalment of Montreal's World Film Festival could be its most interesting yet -- but less for what's on its screens than the circumstances under which it will be occurring.
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Neil Young, cinéaste *
The musician's most recent foray into the movies may annoy some old fans, but as JAMES ADAMS writes, the songwriter has the heart of a filmmaker
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New Altman film to premiere in Toronto *
Robert Altman's new film, , will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.
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New Kidman & Paltrow flix at London Film Festival *
Two new films starring Nicole Kidman will be among the highlights of the Orange Film On The Square strand at this year's London Film Festival.
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Nicole Kidman: 'It's a burnout business' *
Nicole Kidman is already planning the end of her acting career, writes LIAM LACEY
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Not coming to the multiplex *
Toronto's Images Festival features 200 works exploring images in sequence. It's storytelling at its most un-Hollywood, LIAM LACEY writes.
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Redford struts his indie credentials *
The actor-director takes on his critics, while Zach Braff takes up the mantle of Sundance It-Boy, SIMON HOUPT writes.
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Russian drama tops at Venice Film Festival *
An intense Russian father-and-son drama, The Return, won the Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion for best picture Saturday, though first-time director Andrey Zvyagintsev remained shaken by the death of the 15-year-old star of the movie.
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Santa Fe Film Festival (Madelyn Miller round-up) *
This year marks the fifth annual Santa Fe Film Festival, celebrating the best in contemporary cinema from around the globe this December 1-5, 2004.
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See Some of the World's Best Commercials *
Have You Always Wanted to Write a Commercial? Then, come see some really great commercials without being interrupted by really bad television: April 30 to May 4, 2006, Vancouver, BC.
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Serious year for Toronto film fest *
Denzel Washington, Gong Li, Nicolas Cage to walk down red carpet
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Sex, Drugs, Love, Marx... *
An underground feature by Vancouver's Flick Harrison. St John's, Newfoundland, Thurs., July 17, 2003
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Some talking, but mostly smoking *
Benicio Del Toro has played some of the most engaging characters in the movies, but GUY DIXON finds the actor doesn't have the words to explain them
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Spanish festival honours Huppert, Penn, Duvall *
Isabelle Huppert, Sean Penn and Robert Duvall will be honoured with lifetime achievement awards at the 51st San Sebastian International Film Festival.
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Stars rise on Toronto's Sunset Strip *
It's hardly swanky, REBECCA CALDWELL writes, but the Delta Chelsea hotel is getting ready to play host to Hollywood's elite
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Strikes, security and SARS cast a shadow over Cannes *
In what looks like a low-wattage year, the biggest buzz is over a Lars von Trier film starring Nicole Kidman, LIAM LACEY writes
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Sunshine bright light at Sundance *
The art house scene was busy over the weekend, with Woody Allen's crime farce Scoop and the Sundance Film Festival favourite Little Miss Sunshine opening in limited release.
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Taking over the family business *
She carries one of the most famous names in filmmaking, but it's Sofia Coppola's own talent that illuminates her second feature film (and brought Bill Murray onboard).
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The (your name) Festival Hall *
If you have a spare $30-million -- and preferably more -- then the Toronto International Film Festival wants to speak with you.
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The 20th Annual Film and Television Trade Forum presents a contest *
To celebrate the grand opening of the Vancouver International Film Centre and Vancity Theatre (VIFC), the Vancouver Film and Television Trade Forum is proud to announce the Trade Forum One Minute Motion Picture Film Contest sponsored by Kodak Motion Picture Film.
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The best of TIFF... and the worst *
Toronto Film Festival opens in Tee-Zero. . .
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The end in sight *
Why, in a year when the film festival's movies are supposed to be all about sex, are Canadian films offering up death as the big star? The answer lies in our anxious times, LIAM LACEY writes
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The evolution of Sundance *
The independent-film festival Robert Redford built has morphed from goldfish bowl into shark tank in the past 10 years thanks to the bloody-minded aggression of Miramax, SIMON HOUPT writes. He talks to the author of a gossipy new book on the phenomenon.
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The gospel according to Woody *
'My god is nature,' says actor, vegan and committed eco-activist Woody Harrelson, whose message of organic living is on full display in the documentary Go Further
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The Komagata Maru's Return To Vancouver *
DOXA is an annual documentary film festival dedicated to bringing thought-provoking and compelling films to local audiences. This year's festival will run from May 24 - 29, 2005, Vancouver, BC.
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This debut has 22 minutes *
The Worldwide Short Film Festival includes works by Illeana Douglas, Chad Lowe and Will & Grace's Eric McCormack, who parlayed his entry into a feature-length contract with Disney, writes KAMAL AL-SOLAYLEE
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TIFF -- MINI REVIEWS *
The following assessments of films screening today at the Toronto International Film Festival, rated on a system of 0 to 4 stars, are by Rick Groen, Liam Lacey, James Adams and Ray Conlogue
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TIFF unveils film lineup *
He's held the job for six months, but Noah Cowan finally kicked off his official duties as new co-director of the Toronto International Film Festival by unveiling an internationally diverse slate of films for the fete's 29th year.
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TIFF unveils rich lode of docs *
With filmmaker Michael Moore's anti-war documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 joining the $100-million club on the weekend -- a record for a documentary in North American box office -- 2004 is undeniably the year of the Super Doc.
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TIFF: A solid year, with few stinkers *
As they stagger to The End, our screen team selects some favourite movies and moments, and captures the mood of the film-fest marathon
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TIFF: Ink-stained airheads asking wretched questions *
What is to be done about the alleged press conferences during the Toronto International Film Festival? They should be a golden opportunity -- rows of glittering cast members from the hottest movies provide salient quotes to a lot of reporters who can't get one-on-one interview time.
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TIFF: MINI REVIEWS -- Friday, September 12, 2003 *
The following assessments of films screening today at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival, rated on a system of 0 to 4 stars, are by Liam Lacey, James Adams, Ray Conlogue and Mark Peranson
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Toronto Film Festival unveils galas *
Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman will play a May-December romance in director Robert Benton's The Human Stain, one of two gala presentations just announced by the Toronto International Film Festival.
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Toronto International Film Fest: MINI REVIEWS *
From the Film Fest trenches: a collection of assessments of films at the Toronto International Film Festival - rated on a system of 0 to 4 stars - by Rick Groen, Liam Lacey and James Adams.
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Toronto International Film Festival: The best . . . and the rest *
MINI REVIEWS: The following assessments of major films at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival, rated on a system of 0 to 4 stars, are by Rick Groen (R.G.), Liam Lacey (L.L.), Ray Conlogue (R.C.), James Adams (J.A.) and Mark Peranson (M.P.)
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Two Canadian films win awards at Sundance *
The high-tech thriller Primer, about two get-rich-quick inventors whose time-travel device complicates their lives, won the top dramatic honour at the Sundance Film Festival.
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Two veterans take the top film-festival honours *
Denys Arcand's The Barbarian Invasions and Zatoichi by Japan's Takeshi Kitano are voted the most popular movies as the curtain closes in Toronto
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V-Day marked with pink bubbly *
Vaginas were in full bloom over the weekend here at the Sundance Film Festival. In a small art gallery on this ski town's picturesque Main Street, more than 100 women and a handful of men raised their glasses to Jane Fonda and Eve Ensler, the playwright who helped spawn a worldwide movement to halt violence against women through her play The Vagina Monologues.
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Vancouver Jewish Film Festival 2005 film schedule *
Here is the complete line-up for this year's festival. . .
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Vancouver Jewish Film Festival serves up delicious smorgasbord of film fare *
Katherine Brodsky writes. . ."I'm helping out with publicity for the 17th Annual Vancouver Jewish Film Festival that is running April 7-17, 2005. They have some wonderful films lined up from all around the world, including drama, romance, comedy and shorts. There is something for everyone!"
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War at forefront of film festival *
"Fun and crucial" are the words veteran documentary filmmaker Michael Maclear used to describe the Hot Docs film festival, which had its official kickoff yesterday in Toronto.
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Waving a red flag *
Documentaries have created the biggest buzz at Sundance, SIMON HOUPT writes.
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Whistler's mountains receive 40 centimetres (16 inches) of NEW SNOW *
Whistler, BC (November 17, 2003) -- Whistler residents awoke Monday morning to more than 40 centimetres (16 inches) of new snow on Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains.
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Woody Allen film to open Venice festival *
Woody Allen, inspired by his love for the city of Venice, will open the 60th Venice Film Festival on Aug. 27 with the world premiere of his new film Anything Else, festival organizers said on Thursday.
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Woody Allen's film opens Venice festival *
Allen has a past in Venice: the 67-year-old filmmaker got married here, he's filmed in the canal city and he's won awards here. But he has never made an appearance at the world's longest-running film fest.
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Secondary Sites:
A door-crasher's guide to the Toronto film festival *
Avoiding bouncers with clipboards at the ritzy parties is all about exuding self-confidence and panache, says Alex Mamlet
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Amazing what's in store at Documart *
High-school sluts, fag hags and obsessive compulsive teens were just a few of the topics pitched at this year's CTV Canadian Documart.
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Anne's top 13 movie picks of 2007 *
These are a few of my faves over the past year. I hope they all win Oscars.
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Berlin film fest not lost in translation *
Germany's premiere showcase elicits tears and laughter with its international fare.
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Bollywood's extra appeal *
With the Toronto film fest wrapping up, another production hot spot, Bombay, is luring travellers to work on screen
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Features editor John T.D. Keyes offers his choices for the 2002 Vancouver International Film Festival: *
evalu8.org's Features Editor, John Keyes helps you cut to the chase, at this year's VIFF...
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Free Film screenings at the Ridge *
Four free films this Sunday at the Ridge.
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Harrelson: 'I make films for subcultures' *
From his childhood boycott of processed cheese slices to his new film documenting Woody Harrelson's crusade for organic living, Ron Mann has always been the master of the marginal, SARAH HAMPSON writes
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In praise of bolder directors *
Actresses Nicole Kidman, Sarah Polley and Meg Ryan tell JOHANNA SCHNELLER how the right person behind the camera can make all the difference.
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John Keyes' 10 picks for VIFF 2003 *
The Vancouver International Film Festival is now on. Check out John T.D. Keyes' top 10 picks for this year's festival (and compare your own opinions to his choices for last year).
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Liam Lacey: Onward to the Oscars *
Merry Os-mas everyone! The movie competition/promotion of the Oscar campaign has become so mixed with the Christmas season that Hollywood and the retail industry really should converge to create a new superholiday, celebrating the best in celluloid pride and seasonal joy.
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Rules of the pitch *
Selling your film idea to the money men need not be a Cecil B. DeMille production, GUY DIXON writes. Sometimes just delivering the straight goods will do
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So many parties, so little frock *
The most perfect dress ever. Was that so much to ask for? Was I being completely hysterical, flinging my tearful half-naked self around the private dressing room at Holt's as my personal shopper, Christina, looked on with mounting alarm? Of course I was! But there was good reason -- the opening-night film-festival gala party was starting in 45 minutes, and I still didn't have anything to wear.
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Stan Lee: Captain Comics *
Like his heroes and villains, Stan Lee has taken some blows. But at 81, the man who helped create the Marvel universe is still going strong, ALEXANDRA GILL finds.
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The Modernity of Fellini's Cinema *
A lecture to kick off a Fellini film series by Prof. Sam Rohdie, Vancouver, BC, August 31, 2005 (Read event details)
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Toronto film fest unveils lineup *
Barring a rain of frogs or a plague of locusts, the 28th annual Toronto International Film Festival is "good to go," Michelle Maheu, managing director of the Festival Group, declared on Tuesday.
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Vancouver Jewish Film Festival *
May 15-29, 2003, Vancouver, BC
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Vive la différence! *
Quebec films are beating out Hollywood blockbusters at the province's box office. KONRAD YAKABUSKI reports the recent renaissance in local movies may be more about quality than nationalism
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Watts starting to turn up the amps *
Jet-lagged Naomi Watts can barely hold her head up. But GUY DIXON finds she's holding up under the pressure of her new A-list movie star status
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