Movie Box Review

I'm a huge fan of film festivals and have attended many Toronto Film Festival since 2007 and always share which ones are hitting town each week in Film Fan Fridays (which you can sign up for here).

Given that we have such a huge number of festivals here in Toronto, I decided in 2008 to create a listing of the festivals to anchor festivals past and also provide give us an idea of what future years may hold.

2011
2010
2009
2008

I'm a huge fan of film festivals and have attended many Toronto Film Festival since 2007 and always share which ones are hitting town each week in Film Fan Fridays (which you can sign up for here).

Given that we have such a huge number of festivals here in Toronto, I decided in 2008 to create a listing of the festivals to anchor festivals past and also provide give us an idea of what future years may hold.

2011
2010
2009
2008

There was a lot of love for The Wrestler at the Spirit Awards, picking up best picture, male lead (Mickey Rourke) and cinematography. Seeing the truncated version on the AMC repeat of the awards almost all awards were shown and of them the most touching acceptance speech had to have been Melissa Leo for best female lead for her performance in Frozen River. The big surprize was how few surprizes there were, as the awards for the majority went to the favourites and wider distributed of the independant films. But, with such fine films to choose from I don't think anyone could complain with the results.

And the winners are....

Best Feature
The Wrestler

Best Director
Tom McCarthy - The Visitor

Best First Feature
Charlie Kaufman, Anthony Bregman, Spike Jonze, Sidney Kimmel - Synecdoche, New York

John Cassavetes Award
In Search of a Midnight Kiss

Best Screenplay
Woody Allen - Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best First Screenplay
Dustin Lance Black - Milk

Best Female Lead
Melissa Leo - Frozen River

Best Male Lead
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

Best Supporting Female
Penélope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Supporting Male
James Franco - Milk

Best Foreign Film
The Class / Entre les murs

Best Documentary
Man on Wire

Best Cinematography
The Wrestler

Robert Altman Award
Synecdoche, New York
Charlie Kaufman (Director), Jeanne McCarthy (Casting Director), Hope Davis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Catherine Keener, Samantha Morton, Tom Noonan, Emily Watson, Dianne Wiest, Michelle Williams

Piaget Producers Award
Heather Rae - Frozen River

Acura Someone to Watch Award
Lynn Shelton - My Effortless Brilliance

Lacoste Truer Than Fiction Award
Margaret Brown - The Order of Myths

We had 76 film festivals in Toronto in 2008. Here is a complete listing of each and every one!

January 2008

No Festivals

February 2008

1st Annual Toronto-Romanian Film Festival
February 1-3, 2008 at Innis Town Hall, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The Reel Paddling Film Festival
Presented by The Complete Paddler, showing films on canoeing and kayaking
February 7th, 2008 at The Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Reel Politik Film Festival
Showcasing political films that address global concerns
February 7 - 9, 2008 at Vivian and David Campbell Conference Facility
1 Devonshire Pl, in the Munk Centre South House, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Canadian Art Reel Artists Film Festival
Film festival focusing on film about visual artists
February 21 - 24, 2008 at various locations, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Small Gauge Film Festival
Super 8 and small gauge films
February 22 - 23, 2008 at Trash Palace, 89B Niagara, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

OzFlix Australian Film Weekend
Showcasing Australian features, documentaries and shorts
February 22 - 24, 2008 at Royal Ontario Museum – Signy and Cléophée Eaton Theatre
100 Queen’s Park Circle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

March 2008

Human Rights Watch International Film Festival
Human Rights Oriented films including Taxi to the Dark Side, Chop Shop and others
February 28 - March 5, 2008 at various locations, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

University of Toronto Film Festival
Films made by students for students
March 12 - 15, 2008 at Innis Town Hall, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Banff Mountain Film Festival
Celebrating films about mountain adventures
March 14 - 16, 2008 at The Bloor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Queer 2 Fly Film Festival
Celebrating Canadian queer film
March 22 - 23, 2008 at Innis Town Hall, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Canadian Film Fest
Celebrating exclusively Canadian film
March 25 - 29, 2008 with screenings at The Carlton and Varsity, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Movie Moxie Coverage of the 2008 Canadian Film Festival

Female Eye Film Festival
Film festival of film made by women, seen by everyone
March 27 - 30, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

MPENZI: Black Women's International Film & Video Festival
March 28, 2008
Medical Sciences Building Auditorium at the University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Cinéfranco
Annual celebration of international Francophone cinema
March 28 - Sunday April 6, 2008 at the Royal in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

April 2008

Reelworld Film Festival
8th annual festival celebrating diversity in film, video, and new media
April 2 - 6, 2008 with screenings at The Carlton and Scotiabank in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Images Festival
21st annual Images Festival of independent film, video and other time-based media
April 3 - 13, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Movie Moxie Coverage of the 2008 Images Festival

Toronto Singapore Film Festival
3rd annual festival introducing Singapore film to Canadians
April 4 - 6, 2008 at Innis Town Hall, the University of Toronto's St. George campus
Movie Moxie Coverage of the 2008 Toronto Singapore Film Festival

Sprockets
Toronto International Film Festival for Children
April 12 - 18, 2008, at Canada Square in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Hot Docs
Canadian International Documentary Film Festival
April 17 - 27, 2008, at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Movie Moxie Coverage of the 2008 Hot Docs

May 2008

Over the Top Fest
Film, music and art festival.
April 30 - May 4, 2008, film screenings at the Royal in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Contact
Toronto Photography Festival
May 1 - 31, 2008
Films on Photography throughout festival at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto Jewish Film Festival
May 3 - 11, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Ryerson University Film Festival (RUFF)
5th annual presentation of films by the graduating class at Ryerson University
May 8 - 10, 2008 at the Royal in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2nd Annual OCAD Video Festival
I Made This For Class
May 14, 2008 at 7pm at the Bloor in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Canadian Sport Film Festival
May 14 - 17, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Inside Out
18th Annual Toronto Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival
May 15 - 25, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Movie Moxie Coverage of the 2008 Inside Out Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival

Toronto Hispano-American Film Festival
Spanish language film festival featuring dramas, comedies, and documentaries from Spanish speaking countries
May 15 - 25, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

June 2008

Luminato
Toronto Festival of Arts + Creativity
June 6 - 15, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

June 10 - 15, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Movie Moxie coverage of the 2008 Worldwide Short Film Festival

10th Annual festival presenting films from Italy and the Italian Diaspora

June 12 - 15, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

ReelHeART International Film Festival
The Filmmakers Film Festival
June 16 - 21, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Queer West Film Fest
June 18, 2008 at Good Catch General Store in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Bicycle Film Festival
June 18 - 21, 2008 film screenings at the Royal in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

June 19 - 22, 2008 at the Bloor in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto International Portuguese Film Festival
June 26 - 29, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Parkdale Video + Film Showcase
June 27 - 29, 2008 at various locations in Parkdale, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour
World Tour website, Toronto specific information
June 27 - 29, 2008 at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

July 2008

Beats, Breaks & Culture
Festival of electronic music and culture and events include dance, music, film and more
July 4 - 6, 2008 at Habourfront Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

CaribbeanTales
Fokus Jamaica: A celebration of film and television from Jamaica
July 10 - 13, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Mississauga Independent Film Festival
July 10 - 13, 2008 at various locations in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

3D Fest
Classic 3D films
July 11 - 17, 2008 at the Fox Theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Masala!Mehndi!Masti!
South Asian Arts festival
July 25 - July 27, 2008, at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

August 2008

Island Soul
Celebration of Caribbean culture
August 1 - August 4, 2008, at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Filmi
South Asian Film Festival
August 13 - 18, 2008 at the Bloor Cinema and the Royal Cinema in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Fan Expo
Includes: Comic Book Expo 2008, SFX 2008 Science Fiction Expo, Rue Morgue Festival of Fear Horror Expo, 2008 CNAnime Expo, GX 2008 Gaming Expo
August 22 - 24, 2008 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Ashkenaz Festival 2008
A festival of New Yiddish Culture
August 26 - September 1, 2008, films screenings are from Aug 30-Sept 1/08 at the Studio theatre in Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

September 2008

Toronto International Film Festival
September 4 - 13, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Movie Moxie coverage of the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival

Toronto Urban Film Festival
Collection of 1 minute silent films that will be shown on the TTC
September 5 - 12, 2008

Pomegranate Film Festival
September 25 - 28, 2008, at the Armenian Youth Centre, 20 Hallcrown Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Student Shorts Film Festival 2008
September 26- 27, 2008, at The Bloor in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Commffest
Community Film Festival
September 26 - 28, 2008, at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Abilities Arts Festival
Disabilities arts organization, promoting inclusiveness and and diversity
Film Forum Schedule
September 27 - October 10, 2008, at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

October 2008

Indie Can Film Festival
Indie Can is a film festival that screens non-judged independent films
October 1 - 5, 2008

Toronto Japanese Short Film Festival
October 7 - 10, 2008 at Innis Town Hall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
Celebrating works of Indigenous peoples from around the world
October 15 - 19, 2008, at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Est Docs
Estonian Documentary Film Festival
October 17 - 24, 2008 at various locations, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto After Dark Film Festival
Horror, Sci-Fi, Action & Cult Film Festival
October 17-24, 2008 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Movie Moxie coverage of 2008 Toronto After Dark Film Festival

Macedonian Film Festival
October 18-19, 2008 at Innis Town Hall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Planet in Focus Film Festival
International Environmental Film and Video Festival
October 22 - 26, 2008 at various locations, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto Palestine Film Festival
October 25 - November 1, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

November 2008

Toronto International Latin Film Festival
October 31 - November 8, 2008 at The Royal in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

International Diaspora Film Festival
Selections from a wide spectrum of diverse ethnicities and cultures from Eastern Europe, North Africa, Latin America and Asia.
November 5 - 9, 2008 at Innis Town Hall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Moving Image Film Festival
This is the festivals first year and the focus of the festival is to welcome fusion and clash of different genres and the experimentation of moving images
November 5 - 9, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Regent Park Film Festival
November 5 - 9, 2008 at the Nelson Mandela Public School in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Brazilian Film Festival of Toronto
November 6 - 9, 2008 at the Bloor Cinema, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Rendezvous with Madness Film Festival
Films focusing on mental health and addiction
November 6 - 15, 2008 at Workman Theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival
November 12 - 16, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Movie Moxie coverage of the 2008 Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival

Voices Forward
Film & Culture about people from Israel & Palestine
November 12 - 16, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Reel Awareness
Human Rights Film Festival
November 13 -16, 2008 at the NFB Cinema , Toronto, Ontario, Canada

New Serbian Film Festival
November 14 - 16, 2008 at the Bloor Cinema in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Eh!U European Film Festival
November 16 - 30, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Mobifest
made-for-mobile-movies
November 18-25, 2008

aluCine
Toronto Latin Media Festival
November 20 - 29, 2008 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Breast Fest
The World's First Breast Cancer Film Festival
November 21 - 22, 2008 at the ROM in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

December 2008

No Festivals

Pre-Festival Coverage
November 11, 2008

Daily Coverage
Day 1 - Wednesday November 12, 2008: Write-Up, Vlog
Day 2 - Thursday November 13, 2008: Write-Up, Vlog
Day 3 - Friday November 14, 2008: Write-Up, Vlog
Day 4 - Saturday November 15, 2008: Write-Up, Vlog
Day 5 - Sunday November 16, 2008: Write-Up, Vlog

Film Reviews - Features and Mid-length Films
Adrift in Tokyo / Tenten
Confessions of a Salesman
Daddy Tran: A Life in 3-D
Drummer, The
Everybody's Children
Flower in the Pocket
Hansel and Gretel
Long Story Short
Oh Saigon
Santa Mesa
Tiger Spirit
Twelve
West 32nd
Wonderful Town

Film Reviews - Shorts
Around the Corner from Solitude
Audience, The
Catalogue
Damn the Past
Discopedia
Machine with Wishbone (WSFF'08 Review)
Others, The
Parallel Adele
Playgrounded, The
Running (Heart, Mind, Body, Spirit)
Self Portrait
Summer Afternoon
What You Eat

Videos - Q&A's, Introductions, Awards
Lester Alfonso: Selections from Twelve
Kenneth Bi: Selections from The Drummer Intro and Q&A
Christine Choy and Jody Long: Selections from Long Story Short Q&A
Aram Siu Wai Collier: Selections from The Others Q&A
Selections from Q&A for Daddy Tran: My Life in 3-D
Selections from Full Boat Program Q&A
Michael Kang: Selections from West 32nd Q&A
Min Sook Lee: Selections from Tiger Spirit Q&A
Ron Morales: Selections from Santa Mesa Q&A
Randall Okita: Selections from Machine with Wishbone Q&A
Raging Asian Women Taiko Drummers Performance on Opening Night
Selections from Closing Night Awards Ceremony

Post Festival Coverage
Wrap Up
Awards

The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival 2008 ran from November 12-16, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

I'm thrilled that in comparison to last year, this year I saw many of Reel Asian Award Winning Films. I agree with many of the selections but also have a few films I'd like to highlight, and because there were so many amazing films I could rarely narrow it down to just one.

Best Features: Adrift in Tokyo / Tenten, Flower in the Pocket

Best Mid-length: Oh Saigon, Twelve

Best Shorts (live action): Catalogue, The Others, Summer Afternoon

Best Short (animated): Running (Heart, Mind, Body, Spirit)

Best Experimental: Confessions of a Salesman

Best Program: Oh Vietnam on Day 5. Beautiful collection of documentaries. Definitely got me teary eyed though!

Best Q&A's: Micheal Kang at the West 32nd Q&A, the packed audience had great questions. Also Christine Choy and Jodi Long were very entertaining at the Long Story Short Q&A.

Best Experience: Seeing all the happy people during the Awards ceremony and then getting to see the lovely closing night film Adrift in Tokyo / Tenten

Fullest Screenings: The Drummer, West 32nd, Adrift in Tokyo / Tenten

Repeating themes: Portraits (self or others), bringing families together, reunification, home, use of found images from the Internet

Funnest collective experience: The rat toss yet really got people going, there were some competitive catchers out there! Especially for the make up / perfume prizes.

Wish I hadn't missed: Paul Wong spotlight

The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival 2008 ran from November 12-16, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The following video clips are from the Awards Ceremony on Sunday November 16, 2008 at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. See a listing of all of the awards here.

Trinity Square Video Visionary Video Award presented to Aram Siu Wai Collier for The Others:


Doug Pringle and Chi-hui Yang present Centennial College @ Wallace Studios Most Innovative Film Production Award to Randall Lloyd Okita for Machine with Wishbone:


Presentation of the NFB Best Canadian Film or Video Award to Paul Wong for Perfect Day:


Lesley Loksi Chan announces the winner of the Animasian Award - Asa Mori's Up the Rabbit Hole:


Megan McPhee, Lesley Loksi Chan announce the winner of the Kim Orr Barristers P.C. Best Narrative Feature Film or Video Award – Liew Seng Tat's Flower in the Pocket:


So You Think You Can Pitch? Introduction by Nobu Adilman and presentation of the Charles Street Video and Reel Asian Pitch Emerging Artist Award to Ian Tuason for Continuity Problems:


Nobu Adilman presents the Charles Street Video and Reel Asian Pitch Professional Artist Award to June Chua and Christine Alexiou for Travels with My Brother:


Reel Asian Artistic Director Heather Keung and the final Rat Toss for the festival:


The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival 2008 ran from November 12-16, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The following video clips are from the screening of Tiger Spirit on Sunday November 16, 2008 at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. See my review of Tiger Spirit here.

Tiger Spirit director Min Sook Lee introduces the film:


Min Sook Lee discusses the theme of the film:


Min Sook Lee responds to audience question on the possibility of a reunified Korea:


The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival 2008 ran from November 12-16, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The following video clips are from the screening of Daddy Tran: A Life in 3-D as a part of the Oh Vietnam program on Sunday November 16, 2008 at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. See my review of Daddy Tran: A Life in 3-D here.

Daddy Tran: A Life in 3-D director Siu Ta and cinematographer John Minh Tran discuss how the film came to be:


Hai (Daddy) Tran responds to question regarding his favourite things to shoot:


Hai (Daddy) Tran dicusses further his love of photography:

The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival 2008 ran from November 12-16, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The following video clips are from the screening of Santa Mesa on Sunday November 16, 2008 at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. See my review of Santa Mesa here.

Santa Mesa director Ron Morales discusses casting


Ron Morales discusses inspiration of the film:


The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival 2008 ran from November 12-16, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The following video clips are from the screening of West 32nd on Saturday November 15, 2008 at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. See my review of West 32nd here.

West 32nd director Michael Kang discusses casting:


Michael Kang discusses choice of character and focus (includes plot spoilers):


Michael Kang responds to audience question on influences:


Michael Kang discusses different possible endings ideas (includes spoilers):


Michael Kang discusses subplots and CJ Entertainment's involvement:


Michael Kang responses to audience question about how CJ Entertainment got involvement:


The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival 2008 ran from November 12-16, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The following video clips are from the screening of Long Story Short on Saturday November 15, 2008 at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. See my review of Long Story Short here.

Long Story Short writer Jodi Long introduces the film and gives background on the films origins:


Long Story Short director Christine Choy and writer Jodi Long discuss the creation of the narrative structure of the film:


Jodi Long discusses acting and roles for Asian actors:


The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival 2008 ran from November 12-16, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The following video clips are from the screening of Twelve as a part of the Everybody Else Program on Friday November 14, 2008 at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. See my review of Twelve here.

Twelve director Lester Alfonso and producer Lea Marin discuss how the film came to be:


Lester Alfonso responds to audience question regarding representing a film that is so personal, and also discusses upcoming projects:


The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival 2008 ran from November 12-16, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The following video clip is from the screening of the Full Boat Program on Thursday November 13, 2008 at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. See my review of Machine with Wishbone here.

Machine with Wishbone director Randall Okita discusses where the idea for the film came from:


Randall Okita responds to audience question regarding budget & time:


The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival 2008 ran from November 12-16, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The following video clip is from the screening of the Full Boat Program on Thursday November 13, 2008 at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. See my reviews of films in the Full Boat Program here.

Filmmakers from the Full Boat program respond to an audience question regarding how their non film backgrounds helped affected the film making process. Vid is a little dark, so here is the order of speakers:
Stefanie Wong dir: Around the Corner From Solitude
Ann Marie Fleming dir: Running (Heart, Mind, Body, Spirit)
Blair Fukumura dir: Catalogue
Khanhthuan Tran dir: Self-Portrait
Randall Okita dir: Machine with Wishbone



The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival 2008 ran from November 12-16, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The huge crowd waits for the Closing Night Awards Ceremony and Closing film Adrift in Tokyo

This years award winners have been announced and it has been another stellar year at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. Festival goers turned out in record numbers bringing numerous sold out screenings and events. Energy and excitement was brimming at the Bloor during the closing night awards ceremony. Let's take a look at the winners and check out selections the ceremony here.

So You Think You Can Pitch? Winners
Charles Street Video and Reel Asian Pitch Professional Artist Award - June Chua and Christine Alexiou for Travels with My Brother

Charles Street Video and Reel Asian Pitch Emerging Artist Award - Ian Tuason for Continuity Problems

Award Winners:
NFB Best Canadian Film or Video Award – Paul Wong's Perfect Day
Honourable Mentions: Anh Minh Truong’s The Playgrounded and Midi Onodera’s A Movie-A-Day

Centennial College @ Wallace Studios Most Innovative Film Production Award – Randall Lloyd Okita's Machine with Wishbone

Kim Orr Barristers P.C. Best Narrative Feature Film or Video Award – Liew Seng Tat's Flower in the Pocket

Trinity Square Video Visionary Video Award - Aram Siu Wai Collier's The Others

Animasian Award – Asa Mori's Up the Rabbit Hole

NOW Audience Award - Kenneth Bi's The Drummer


Happy award winners and presenters at the Closing Night Ceremonies (left to right):
Paul Wong (director of Perfect Day), Randall Okita (director of Machine with Wishbone), Aram Siu Wai Collier (director of The Others), Chi-hui Yang, Doug Pringle, Ann Marie Fleming, Roy Mitchell, Lesley Loksi Chan, Lea Marin, Kass Banning, Megan McPhee.

The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival 2008 ran from November 12-16, 2008 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.