Images Festival 2008

This week brings us the second oldest film festival in Toronto: The Images Festival. It is much more than just a film festival, as it celebrates many forms of moving images be they on screen, off screen or live. There are also numerous talks on moving images issues as well as parties. There are even bus tours! How many festivals can boast that? Here are some of the fascinating image opportunities to check out:

The Lollipop Generation (Dir: G.B. Jones) starts off the festival as the Opening Night Gala screening (Thursday April 3/08, 9pm). This film was 15 years in the making and follows a runaway to an underground world of back alleys and lollipops. A strong sense of attitude and fun are infused in what appears to be a dark subject. See for yourself by watching the trailer here.

If shorts are your thing, you have oodles to choose from. There are 8 International Shorts Programs including shorts Russia, Japan, UK, USA and beyond. Want to catch up with new talent? Check out the S is for Student shorts program (Monday April 7/08, 9pm). If you can't get enough of Super 8 there is a fantastic event just for you! NO CUTS. NO SPLICES. Selections from One Take Super 8 (Friday April 11/08, 11pm) a series of 3 minutes films done in one take, on Super 8.

For Live Images, check this out: The Conversation, a.k.a. Everything is Everything (Tuesday April 8/08, 9:30pm). Two artists, Kentaro Taki and Tasman Richardson have a live improvisation through the medium of video. I can't wait to see what this will be like.

Concerned about copyright? Check out Copy Cats: Copyright and Appropriation in the Media Arts (Sunday April 6/08) for a moderated panel will discuss Canadian copyright laws, specifically how they impact media artists.

Want to do something really different? Try one of the Bus Tours. That's right not one but two bus tours. The Performance Bus Tour with media art on the bus itself is on Sunday April 6/08. The Off Screen Bus Tour will be on Saturday April 12/08, focusing on installations in Queen West as well as Harbourfront areas.

See something on the schedule but can't make the time? No problem. Festival goers have the opportunity to catch up on missed films at the Images Mediatheque at the Gladstone Hotel, Room 204 from April 4-12/08, 12-6pm. Free. Now that really is the best thing since spliced bread.

There are many more events during the 11 day festival. For full details visit the Images Festival website (from the website, select Program at the left) or pick up a copy of the program at any of the following locations: Queen Video, Suspect Video, Revue Video, The Film Buff and Pages Books & Magazines.

The Images Festival runs from April 3-13/08 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.