Genres: documentary

THREE BORDERS

“Three Borders” is a found-footage film reminiscent of Chris Marker’s “La Jetée” (1962). It consists of family photos of the artist and other anonymous found (family) photos. In the style of Magic Realism, the video narrates anecdotes from the families of Alisa Berger’s Jewish father and her North Korean mother. The ten stories narrate the meeting between Koreans and Jews from Galicia. They address the overcoming or the construction of inner, outer, national, ethnic, spiritual or emotional borders which span three generations.
Heimat

The short film “Heimat” is one story from ten stories in “Three Borders.” It is the story of the filmmaker’s father about migration and homeland. “Three Borders” is a 55-minute found-footage film reminiscent of Chris Marker’s “La Jetée” (1962). It consists of family photos of the artist and of other anonymous found (family) photos. In the style of Magic Realism, the video narrates anecdotes from the families of Alisa Berger’s Jewish father and her North Korean mother. They address the overcoming or the construction of inner and outer borders which span three generations.
Another Day in America

This film profiles three Japanese women artists. Monterey-born Grace Munakata works with abstract collages which evoke an attempt to locate her family’s past, especially her parents’ lives in internment camps. Japanese-born Rumi Sakata has worked for the past twenty years as a traditional brush painter. Her life celebrates freedom and individuality within her own traditional mode of artistic achievement. The third artist, Jan Yonemoto, fronts a Jazz fusion quintet, Crosswinds. Her musical artistry celebrates talent over gender.
Badassery

This compelling exposé takes a look at three female DJs who are unapologetically disrupting the Toronto hip-hop scene. The film chronicles the journey of women who are pursuing their passions and crafting their careers in a male-dominated industry. From the up-and-coming independent curator to the global powerhouse, these creatives have crafted a brand for themselves as industry leaders, without compromising who they are. They are paving the way for a generation of women and LGBTQ people, previously excluded from the social and cultural norms of the hip-hop world. It is the weirdos and nonconformists who are now redefining what it…
Nadia’s Songs

“Nadia’s Songs” follows a teenage boy who finds a collection of CDs that used to belong to a stranger known only as Nadia. In their shared taste in music he imagines her life story while in turn reflecting on his own. One part essay and one part love letter to second-hand music shops, “Nadia’s Songs” explores the many ways we can forge our identities through the art we consume and things we collect as young adults.
The Adobe House

Adobe is a building material made from earth and other organic materials. It is among the earliest building materials, used throughout the world. This film is hand-processed in sage, mint, eucalyptus, and compost. Filmed at Site + Cycle 2018 at Anima Casa Rural, San Isidro Mazatepec, Mexico. Sound by Linus Winstam (aka Dj Bruce Leenus).
Cathedral Bluffs

“Cathedral Bluffs” is a satire about the interrelationships of consumerism, religion, and fine art. Consumers stream en masse through a shopping mall. The action freezes and the title of a Renaissance painting is superimposed on the resulting still. The film then cuts to the actual painting, superimposed with contemporary advertising copy.
THE GENDER LADY: THE FABULOUS DR. MAY COHEN

Roe v Wade and women’s abortion rights are under concerted attack in a number of American states. In Canada abortion has been legal for more than 30 years, but access to abortion services varies considerably across the country and conservative MPs and MLAs are increasingly participating in anti-choice strategy gatherings. Into this retrogressive context arrives a timely documentary: the compelling story of a courageous, pro-choice feminist campaigning Canadian family physician, “The Gender Lady – The Fabulous Dr May Cohen”. Dr. May Cohen has advocated for women’s health, women’s rights, abortion rights, LGBT rights and human sexuality for more than fifty…
The Gender Lady: The Fabulous Dr. May Cohen Short

This is a short preview of the full documentary The Gender Lady: The Fabulous Dr. May Cohen. Dr. May Cohen is a brilliant Canadian physician and women’s rights trailblazer. For over 60 years, she has advocated powerfully in Canada and internationally for women’s reproductive rights, women’s health and women physicians’ advancement — and in the end, for us all. May is widely recognized for her many contributions to women’s health, sexuality, abortion choice and human rights. Numerous medical awards bear her name. The Gender Lady explores Dr. Cohen’s life and career and her extraordinary gender equity and human sexuality contributions.…
Extractions

A personal film about Canada’s extraction industry and its detrimental effects on the land and Indigenous peoples. This film parallels resource extraction with the booming child apprehension Industry currently operating in Canada which is responsible for putting more Indigenous children into foster care than were in Residential Schools. As the filmmaker reviews his life and how these Industries have affected him, he also reflects on having his own eggs retrieved and frozen to make an Indigenous baby.