KarmaFilm's DONKEYHEAD Acquired by Ava DuVernay's ARRAY Releasing
Donkeyhead is written and directed by Agam Darshi (DMZ, Funny Boy) who stars in the leading role before a stellar ensemble cast including Saskatoon-native, Kim Coates. Donkeyhead co-stars Kim Coates, Stephen Lobo, Sandy Sidhu, and Huse Madhavji (Schitt’s Creek) as her seemingly polished siblings.
Soundtrack Composer Mark Korven Guests With Improvisers 'The Vertical Squirrels' at Silence Guelph
Guelph's own 'Vertical Squirrels' (Daniel Fischlin, Ajay Heble, Lewis Melville, and Ted Warren) continue hosting a residency at Silence through the Fall and Winter of 2019-20, featuring performances that highlight the group in improvised dialogue with special guests. Called an a?oean unclassifiable blast of fresh aira?? by the Montreal Mirror, with their album Hold True (Accroche-toi) chosen as one of the top ten offerings in 2010, the music of the Vertical Squirrels is group-improvised, live in the moment, and draws on a potent mixture of free jazz and post rock sensibilities with nods to Indian ragas, jazz-inflected minimalism, Zappa-esque bouts of sonic anarchy, and German rock music from the 1970s.
ANNE WITH AN E, SCHITT'S CREEK Win Big at the Canadian Screen Awards
A spotlight was shone on the country's best in film and television this evening, as 2019 Canadian Screen Week concluded its festivities with the biggest night of celebration at the Canadian Screen Awards: Broadcast Gala. The awards show was broadcast live from Toronto's Sony Centre for the Performing Arts on CBC and the free CBC Gem streaming service.
Netflix Announces New Original Content From India
Netflix concluded its inaugural content event in Asia, “See What's Next: Asia” with a celebration of the company's rapidly growing diverse content slate in India. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings and chief content officer Ted Sarandos joined performers and creators from India to announce eight original films and a new original series. The showcase also included updates on four Indian original series that were previously announced.
Queer Cinema History to Present “Movies That Charmed” at Yellow Peril on Saturdays in April 2018
Yellow Peril is pleased to announce 'Movies That Charmed,' a month-long film series presented by Emile Doll, founder of Queer History Cinema, featuring underrepresented visions outside mainstream portrayals of queer desire and love. The screenings will be hosted on Saturdays in April at Yellow Peril, beginning with 'Personal Best' (1982) on April 7 from 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. This screening series complements the current exhibit, 'Charmed,' curated by Kyle Quinn of Raw Meat Collective, which explores the sexual desire and intimacy by queer artists of color.
Featured films selected for 'Movies That Charmed' include:
'Personal Best' (1986). Directed by Robert Towne and starring Mariel Hemingway and Patrice Donnelly. 'Personal Best' follows the relationship between two Olympic hopefuls who are led to choose between their increasing attraction and their goals of achieving the highest honor in their field. In English. Screening April 7.
'I Don't Want to Sleep Alone' (2006). Directed by Tsai Ming Liang and starring Lee Kang-Sheng, Norman Atun, and Cheng Shiang-chyi. Three vastly different people's stories merge into one romantic relationship in the city of Kuala Lumpur. In Taiwanese, Malay, Mandarin, and Bengali with English subtitles. Screening April 14.
'Army of Lovers or Revolt of the Perverts' (1979). Directed by Rosa Von Praunheim. Following the immediate years after Stonewall, this documentary shows the early queer-rights movement in 1970's San Francisco. In English and German with subtitles. Screening April 21.
'Fire' (1996). Directed by Deepa Mehta and starring Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das. Two women, trapped in miserable heterosexual marriages, are pulled together by love and attraction despite enormous outside pressures trying to keep them apart. In Hindi and English with English subtitles. Screening April 28.
'Desire' has a number of different meanings, with a similar root. One can desire another, while one can also desire a goal or feeling. These films all show different iterations of desire and want, from sexual desire to the desire for respect,' notes Doll, on why he selected these films. 'Each film shows characters that want something deeply, and the extent to which they will go to achieve what they want.'
Doll plans to extend the reach of Queer Cinema History to a larger audience throughout the year during special events held in Rhode Island, such as PVDfest and Pride. The first screening for 'Movies That Charmed' is 'Personal Best' (1986), which will be on Saturday, April 7, from 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. This is Queer Cinema History's first collaboration with Yellow Peril.
About Queer Cinema History
Queer Cinema History is a project dedicated to the preservation of queer history in the form of film and video. In highlighting the products of queer cultural producers from across the world and throughout history, as well as exploring ways in which queer society is represented from the outside, Queer Cinema History aims to facilitate access to queer history and artistic tradition. For more information, visit Queer Cinema History on Instagram.
Piers Handling Announces 2018 Will Be His Final Year at TIFF
Piers Handling, Director and CEO of TIFF, announced today 2018 will be his final year leading the Toronto International Film Festival®. After almost 25 years at the helm of one of Canada's most important cultural organizations Piers will leave behind an unparalleled legacy of accomplishments and innovation.
Guest Blog: When Theatre Married Bollywood
Theatre in India borrows heavily from folk stories and legends, which are given a contemporary twist. The messages contained in these classics are considered timeless and universal, just as Shakespear's works are regarded in the west. But there is another source from which our theatre borrows ...particularly theatre in North India, and that is Bollywood. It is common practice today to include original songs and dances from popular cinema or a slightly changed version to dodge the copyright act. Adding to this melee are the Indianised versions of Shakespear's plays, some of them commissioned by the Globe Theatre, Britain, that narrate the story through a Bollywood style song and dance routine.
Berkeley Rep Announces Casting of MONSOON WEDDING
Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced the casting for the world premiere of Monsoon Wedding. The musical stage production will be directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair and hosts a cast of 20 actors from around the globe.