BEGIN:VCALENDAR PRODID:-//B-Side Presents: Hot Docs 2009//iCal4j 1.0//EN VERSION:2.0 CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090430T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090430T194500 SUMMARY:Act of God DESCRIPTION:"I can't accept that it happened for a reason\, nor can I rea lly accept that there is no reason. The only way to carry on is to be hu mble\, and a little bit in awe of these things you can't really understa nd\," observes James O'Reilly\, contemplating a lightning strike. Accide nts\, chance\, fate\, and the elusive quest for understanding underpin J ennifer Baichwal's elegant and captivating new work\, an exploration of the metaphysical effects of being struck by lightning. For the writer Pa ul Auster\, involved in a strike at age 14\, it deeply affected his life and art. "It opened up a whole realm of speculation that I've continued to live with ever since\," says Auster. The improvisational guitarist F red Frith underscores how accidents spark "the beginning of something." Indeed\, as a visually and aurally seductive reverie to storytelling\, o ur attempt to make sense of things\, Act of God may be Baichwal's cinema tic ars poetica. Sean Farnel. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Winter Garden Theatre URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/actofgod_hotdocs2009 UID:2474892285-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090430T213000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090430T230000 SUMMARY:Inside Hanna's Suitcase DESCRIPTION:The delivery of a battered suitcase to Fumiko Ishioka at the Tokyo Holocaust Museum begins the true-life mystery that became the subj ect of Karen Levine's best-selling book Hana's Suitcase. The suitcase ca me from the Auschwitz museum and had Hana Brady's name roughly painted o n it. Larry Weinstein's masterful film follows Fumiko's search to discov er the details of Hana's life\, which leads to the discovery of her brot her George in Toronto. As small children they had been incarcerated for being Jewish after the Nazis invaded Czechoslovakia in 1939. A superb mu sical score by Alexina Louie and Alex Pauk\, coupled with dramatic re-en actments stunningly shot by Horst Zeidler\, catches us by the heart to i nvoke the tragedy of the times. The voices of children from Japan\, Cana da\, and the Czech Republic telling Hana's story are woven around the dr ama\, along with George's memories and Fumiko's quest\, to create a film of astonishing power and hope. Lynne Fernie.\n\nCo-presented with The T oronto Jewish Film Festival. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Winter Garden Theatre URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/insidehannassuitcase_hotdocs2009 UID:2474940522-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T123000 SUMMARY:The Back-Breaking Leaf DESCRIPTION:Smokers say it's relaxing\, but its harvesters call it "the b ack-breaking leaf." A graphic look at the tobacco harvest in southwester n Ontario.\n\nI'm not sure I'd be curating documentaries if it wasn't fo r the National Film Board of Canada. More specifically\, I became hooked on docs while a student at Concordia University in Montreal. At the tim e\, the NFB's Montreal location had just launched its CineRobotheque fea turing a gigantic robotic arm that would snatch selected titles and inse rt them into your laser disc player. Looking back at notes from my Robot heque sessions\, I've selected three of my fave shorts. The common subje ct thread here is labour\, but really\, I was most attracted to the poet ry in these works. I haven't seen any of these films since my school day s\, but each remains quite vivid in my mind's eye. It wasn't so hip to b e into docs in film school. While many of my colleagues were freaking on the Coen brothers or Tarantino\, I was getting hooked on classic vérité and social issue docs. And here I am\, a hot docster. Sean Farnel. CATEGORIES:Spotlight On LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/thebackbreakingleaf_hotdocs2009 UID:2474900089-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T152000 SUMMARY:Nobody Waved Goodbye DESCRIPTION:A youth rebels against his parents' middle-class goals and co nventions\, but away from home and high school he finds the world a cold place to go it alone. A look at the sources of delinquency in an afflue nt society.\n\nNobody Waved Goodbye\, made in 1964 and directed by Don O wen\, started as an idea for a documentary but ended up as a dramatic fe ature that today is considered one of the most important films in the sh ort history of English Canadian cinema. The film embodies all that is wo rth celebrating about the Film Board: talent\, risk-taking\, social and political engagement\, Canada. The impact of Nobody Waved Goodbye on Can adian teenagers in the '60s was as dramatic as the better known American film Rebel Without A Cause-it was just harder to find in the theatres. S. Wayne Clarkson. CATEGORIES:Spotlight On LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/nobodywavedgoodbye_hotdocs2009 UID:2474970999-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T171600 SUMMARY:Incident at Restigouche DESCRIPTION:On June 9\, 1981\, the Quebec Minister of Fisheries\, Lucien Lessard\, demanded the Mi'kmaq of Restigouche (now Listuguj) remove all nets from their traditional fishing waters. For the Mi'kmaq\, salmon has been an essential source of food and income for thousands of years. Pov erty and unemployment makes salmon fishing crucial to the community's su rvival\, though their take accounts for less than 0.5% of commercial fis hing in the region. Within 48 hours of Lessard's demand\, a force of alm ost 400 Quebec provincial police and fisheries wardens brutally raid the reserve to find and destroy the six or seven nets left in the water. Ou traged by the invasion and violence\, First Nations groups across the co untry show solidarity\; barricades spring up\, tension escalates. The se cond police raid is even more brutal\, and the ensuing trial a farce. Ob omsawin's formidable cross-examination of Lessard is the cornerstone of this eloquent examination of justice and sovereignty. Gisèle Gordon.\n\n Co-presented with imagineNative Film + Media Arts Festival. CATEGORIES:Outstanding Achievement LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/incidentatrestigouche_hotdocs2009 UID:2474940451-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T192800 SUMMARY:Cat Ladies DESCRIPTION:A makeshift shrine to a fallen furry companion. Whiskers tuck ed inside a box. Half of the bed kept warm by fluffy tails and padded pa ws. One thinks she's gone too far\, taken too many in. Another says ther e's room for more. With humour and sensitivity\, this vérité portrait fo llows the lives of four crazy "cat ladies\," taking us beyond the stereo types to explore the deeply felt emotions of loss and loneliness. While feline beauties inhabit every frame of this quirky yet remarkably human film\, the real stories are the lives of the cat ladies themselves\, eac h of whom\, in her own way\, is struggling to fill a void within her lif e. Michelle Latimer. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/catladies_hotdocs2009 UID:2474905153-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T200100 SUMMARY:Zombie Girl: The Movie DESCRIPTION:Slamdance award-winner Zombie Girl: The Movie chronicles the two-year journey of irrepressible Austin tween Emily Hagins to complete her directorial debut\, the horror film Pathogen. Emily and her mom have been horror and sci-fi junkies for years\, so naturally when Emily writ es a script for a zombie movie\, Mom is right behind her to help build s ets\, production manage\, and fund Emily's vision. The support and encou ragement Emily receives from her family and her community is astounding. However\, not all is smooth sailing. Emily and Mom clash over the direc tion of the film. And that's just one obstacle Emily must face. Real lif e stuff like homework and financial woes also get in the way. But Emily' s enviable creative passion and drive keep the production going. She neg otiates actors\, extras\, and even her Mom's feelings like a pro. Is Emi ly the next Wes Craven or Peter Jackson? Only time will tell. Shannon Ab el.\n\nCo-presented with Rue Morgue and Toronto After Dark Film Festival .\n\nOfficial website: http://www.zombiegirlthemovie.com CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/zombiegirlthemovie_hotdocs2009 UID:2475000961-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T202600 SUMMARY:Big John DESCRIPTION:Big John Klemetsen trains and coaches his boxer son Ole a.k.a . The Golden Viking. Home videos follow Team Klemetsen's fights\, from t he 1992 Olympics in Barcelona to the European Championships to Ole's com ing out as a pro in the US. Once Big John realizes Ole is just a pawn in the big business game of professional boxing\, Team Klemetsen struggles to decide whether or not to give up. The family has sacrificed so much for Ole's career\, but Big John is dad before he's coach and must draw a line between pushing and protecting his son. What is a shot at the Worl d Championship title worth? What is the value of a loving relationship b etween father and son? After years of relating as coach and athlete\, ma nager and client\, can they shift back to their familial roles? Can they connect beyond boxing? A tough and tender love story between father and son. Angie Driscoll. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/bigjohn_hotdocs2009 UID:2474902036-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T203000 SUMMARY:Paris 1919 DESCRIPTION:Two months after the end of the Great War\, kings\, queens\, presidents\, and diplomats descend on Paris to craft a peace treaty they hope will endure forever. US President Woodrow Wilson\, with his dream of founding a league of nations\, takes the helm along with the leaders of France\, the UK\, Italy\, and Japan. As they meet in the sumptuous Qu ai d'Orsay\, mapmakers in dark rooms across Paris reshape the world. Emp ires are dissolved and new countries created as Wilson's grand vision di ms in the face of demands for territory and the settlement of old scores . Inspired by Margaret MacMillan's celebrated book Paris 1919: Six Month s That Changed the World\, Paul Cowan impeccably merges drama with archi val film to create a portrait of the First World War and the talks that led to the Treaty of Versailles. That significant event has never lost i ts geopolitical influence. We feel the reverberations of its failure dai ly. Lynne Fernie. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/paris1919_hotdocs2009 UID:2474972503-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T191500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T203700 SUMMARY:Korean Wedding Fest DESCRIPTION:According to tradition\, a Korean groom offers an elaborate w edding chest to his bride's parents. Dressed in traditional garb\, he ca rries its meticulously layered treasures\, each one prescribed by centur ies-old custom\, strapped to his back all the way to their door. Venerab le filmmaker Ulrike Ottinger delicately unpacks the ornate rituals and c omplex mores of the Korean wedding rite. While clearly reverent of the p ast\, Korea also has a pervasive modern wedding industry\, which amplifi es the drive for everything to be picture perfect\, down to the last hig hly codified detail. The traditional Pe Baek ceremony\, which sees the n ewly married couple receive their parents\, is now awkwardly\, and rathe r hilariously\, run by wedding assistants who physically lift relatives into position. Like a polite guest\, however\, Ottinger never interrupts \, allowing her poetic images to speak for themselves as old and new Kor ea marry in this fascinating cultural portrait. Myrocia Watamaniuk. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/koreanweddingfest_hotdocs2009 UID:2474965460-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T191500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T204500 SUMMARY:Necrobusiness DESCRIPTION:An upbeat and engaging mix of investigative journalism\, cour troom drama\, and potboiler thriller\, Necrobusiness alternates between an amusing account of a business partnership gone awry and a chilling my stery full of murder\, blackmail\, and betrayal. In Lódz\, Poland\, prom inent funeral director Skrzydlewski\, local pathologist Tomalski\, and s hady florist Sumera concoct a scheme to corner the market on funerals an d burials by bribing paramedics to deliver bodies only to Skrzydlewski's funeral homes. Everything goes fine until other funeral homes want in o n the action-and a paramedic confesses to poisoning 11 patients whose bo dies were subsequently delivered to a Skrzydlewski establishment. Combin ing intimate access to the silver-tongued Skrzydlewski with the unfoldin g trial of Tomalski and further revelations of profiteering deep within the hospital administration\, the filmmakers craft a stylish exposé that expertly unveils one layer of corruption and deceit after another. CATEGORIES:Lets Make Money LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/necrobusiness_hotdocs2009 UID:2474970840-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T203500 SUMMARY:Laughology DESCRIPTION:Laughter. Plato hated it\, the Bible discouraged it\, scienti sts avoided it\, psychologists once thought if it didn't kill you\, it w ould drive you insane. With his trademark blend of humour and serious in vestigation\, Albert Nerenberg drops in on cutting edge neuroscientists and cardiologists\, a joyous yoga teacher\, and Christian holy laughter groups in search of its origin and meaning. He visits the site of a seve re laughter epidemic in Africa and reconvenes the folks who created The Nanny's laugh tracks. Ultimately he finds the man with the most contagio us laugh in the world. Laughology wittily weaves research\, archival sti lls\, television clips\, and a hilarious send-up of the use of re-enactm ents in docs. Nerenberg's quest to rediscover his own laugh has produced a film that will undoubtedly play a major role in a "global laughter tr end at a crucial time when the world needs a good laugh." Lynne Fernie.\ n\nCo-presented with World of Comedy Film Festival. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/laughology_hotdocs2009 UID:2474894677-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T210000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T222100 SUMMARY:When We Were Boys DESCRIPTION:With rare access to the inner sanctum of privilege\, this sen sitive observational glimpse into the under-the-radar world of boys unfo lds over two years through the experiences of Noah and Colin\, two frien ds who attend an elite private boys' school. Director Sarah Goodman (Arm y of One\, Best Canadian Feature Documentary at Hot Docs\, 2004) follows the boys as they navigate from grade eight to the senior school\, playi ng video games\, singing like angels in the choir\, and alternately goof ing off or napping in class. Watching the boys study Lord of the Flies w ith an inspired English teacher is fascinating. Emotional struggles flic ker beneath the surface as the pecking order they establish takes its to ll on their friendship\, and thoughtful\, sincere Noah becomes more isol ated. The way each negotiates the culture of boys begins to define the l eaders\, fathers\, and men they will become. Gisèle Gordon.\n\nOfficial website: http://WWW.NOMADFILMS.CA CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/wewewereboys_hotdocs2009 UID:2474999997-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T211500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T225900 SUMMARY:Fig Trees DESCRIPTION:Drenched in equal measures of joy and grief\, this documentar y opera - a tribute to the warrior saints of AIDS activism - will make y ou weep\, rage\, and sing\, maybe all at once. Director John Greyson gle efully riffs on Gertrude Stein's subversive 1934 opera\, Four Saints in Three Acts\, to create a glorious mélange of palindromes\, saints and cr iminals and a cameo by Queen West's albino squirrel. Winner of a Teddy A ward at the Berlin International Film Festival\, the film features Toron to's Tim McCaskell\, one of the founders of AIDS Action Now\, who has be en living with AIDS for 25 years and South Africa's Zackie Achmat. HIV-p ositive\, Achmat began a treatment strike in 1999\, refusing to take lif e saving anti-retrovirals until they were accessible to all South Africa ns. With beautiful rage and a resplendent score by collaborator David Wa ll\, Greyson takes aim at the political vacuum and outrageous greed of p harmaceutical companies that allowed millions to die when they could hav e lived. Gisèle Gordon.\n\nCo-presented with Toronto International Film Festival. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/figtrees_hotdocs2009 UID:2474938198-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T213000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T225600 SUMMARY:Art & Copy DESCRIPTION:You see an average of 5\,000 ads every day. Most of them suck . A handful are good. Only a few look and feel like-and indeed really ar e-art. The most innovative advertising campaigns of our time and the cre ative rebels behind them are the fascinating subjects of acclaimed filmm aker Doug Pray's Art & Copy. Slick footage and stories from industry leg ends chart the creative revolution that sees a splinter group shift from merely moving product to moving culture. Phyllis K. Robinson empowers t he "Me generation" with a Clairol slogan and Hal Riney re-elects Reagan with "It's morning in America." Yes\, they sell widgets\, but just as ar tists do\, they also tap zeitgeists and rouse emotion: Lee Clow's "Think different" tagline grows more than Apples and Dan Wieden's "Just do it" makes athletes of us all. Pray's captivating tribute- like an ad itself -sells you on the undeniable art of advertising. Myrocia Watamaniuk. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/artcopy_hotdocs2009 UID:2474897834-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T213000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T225600 SUMMARY:The One Man Village DESCRIPTION:Ever since he was a kid\, Semaan El Habre has wanted to raise cows. Sick of the pollution and crowds of the city\, he moved to the ab andoned village of Aïn el-Halazoun\, where he lives a quiet\, peaceful l ife. At one time\, 45 families lived in this picturesque village in a va lley near Beirut. But the villagers were displaced during a 15-year civi l war. Some of them have returned\, if only in the spring and fall\, to maintain the land. "We can't neglect the land\, of course\," one of them says. "We can neglect ourselves but not the land. Our children know not hing about land and planting. When our generation passes away no one wil l visit anymore." Beautifully filmed\, quirky and affectionate\, The One Man Village is a poetic ode to one man's attempt to preserve a pastoral way of life. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/theonemanvillage_hotdocs2009 UID:2474971854-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T231600 SUMMARY:Best Worst Movie DESCRIPTION:When 11-year-old Michael Stephenson and dentist George Hardy were cast in Troll 2\, they were surely destined for stardom. Unfortunat ely\, combining low-budget production with an amateur cast\, an Italian director no one could understand\, and a script about vegetarian goblins resulted in a train wreck of a film that became widely regarded as the "worst movie ever." Twenty years later\, thanks to a new generation of v iewers who value a "so bad it's good" aesthetic\, Troll 2 has become a c ult phenomenon. In Best Worst Movie\, Stephenson follows Hardy and the r est of the cast as they reunite to greet adoring fans at Troll 2 screeni ngs in major cities across North America. Can Hardy return to dentistry after signing autographs in packed movie houses and receiving hundreds o f hits a day on MySpace? Discover the heart and soul behind one of the m ost beloved straight-to-video flops ever. Lynne Crocker.\n\nCo-presented with The Fantasy Worldwide Film Festival and Toronto After Dark Film Fe stival. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/bestworstmovie_hotdocs2009 UID:2474901889-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T230400 SUMMARY:Good Man DESCRIPTION:Chris Rohrlach is not your typical Australian sheep farmer. W illing to try anything to keep wife Rachel out of long-term care\, he de cides to open a brothel. Nothing has ever stopped Chris and Rachel from doing exactly what they've wanted\, so outrage from the community doesn' t faze them one bit. A quadriplegic with neurological impairment for all of their 14 married years\, Rachel is still Rachel to Chris\, and the l ove of his life. As the camera captures the construction and grand openi ng of the best little whorehouse in the outback\, the film exposes tensi on between Chris' indomitable plans to keep his family afloat and Rachel 's own wishes. Reliant on others to translate her eye movements into wor ds\, the film creates a novel friction between Rachel's opaque desires a nd their secondhand expression. Funny and thought provoking\, A Good Man turns preconceptions about disability and macho male stereotypes upside down. Angie Driscoll.\n\nCo-presented with OzFlix: Australian Film Week end. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/goodman_hotdocs2009 UID:2474939016-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T220000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T224400 SUMMARY:Clubland DESCRIPTION:Paaaarty!! It's 3 a.m. and 50\,000 partiers swarm the streets of Toronto's booze-soaked club district while thousands vainly try to g et some sleep in the forest of expensive condos that has sprung up in th e area. Police on horseback and undercover cops desperately attempt to c ontrol the crowds. It's ground zero where partiers and club owners confr ont frustrated law enforcement officials\, city politicians\, and bleary -eyed residents shocked by the blaring music\, noise\, violence\, and pu blic drunkenness. The director follows several clubbers and two leading club owners past the velvet ropes into their magical world. He contrasts this with Councillor Adam Vaughan's passionate arguments on behalf of c ondo residents to limit the number of clubs in the Entertainment Distric t. Clubland takes us deep into the maelstrom of controversy over the lar gest and most congested playground in North America - 60 clubs and 25 ba rs crammed into 1.4 square kilometres. Lynne Fernie. CATEGORIES:Lets Make Money LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/clubland_hotdocs2009 UID:2474905956-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T220000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T225000 SUMMARY:Jackpot DESCRIPTION:It's 10 a.m. on Sunday morning. Do you know where your parent s are? While many of us are sleeping or reading the paper\, hardcore reg ulars are staking out their favorite seats at their favorite tables at D elta Bingo\, where everyone has a story and a dream. The bingo hall\, li ke some of its regulars\, is a little worn down\, but it offers a respit e from the harsh realities of a big\, lonely city. Day after day\, week after week soon becomes decades for the regulars\, who are convinced tha t if they hit the jackpot their problems will be solved. The pressure is intense since winning sometimes means being able to pay bills or make r ent. For others\, it's a way out of a life of hardship and heartbreak. A beautifully filmed meditation on the nature of luck and a reminder that we all need dreams\, even if they are always one number away. Gisèle Go rdon. CATEGORIES:Lets Make Money LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/jackpot_hotdocs2009 UID:2474941207-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090501T235900 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T011900 SUMMARY:Grass DESCRIPTION:Seven years in the making\, Grass is a rollicking analysis of marijuana as it's been loved and loathed since Cab Calloway sang "Reefe r Man" in 1932. The film's opening half focuses on Harry J. Anslinger\, America's first anti-drug czar. The government propaganda films produced under his watch are as humorous as they are hair-raising. In them\, dop e smokers are portrayed as sex-starved libertines\, degenerates\, crimin als\, and killers. President Nixon then takes up the pot-phobic mantle\, at one point ignoring a report he commissioned because it recommended m arijuana's decriminalization. Throughout the film\, graphics compellingl y illustrate just how much public money has been wasted on a futile and destructive drug war. The conspiracy against cannabis documented in Gras s remains completely relevant. Anti-marijuana myths promoted by governme nt agencies linger on. Racially motivated drug enforcement and sentencin g policies endure. Satirical and sly\, with stellar sound design\, Grass is a startling history lesson and necessary antidote to pot prohibition ist propaganda. Astra Taylor. CATEGORIES:Focus On LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/grass_hotdocs2009 UID:2474939795-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T113000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T125400 SUMMARY:Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives DESCRIPTION:Compelling\, often hilarious and always rebellious\, nine wom en paint a portrait of lesbian sexuality against a backdrop of tabloid h eadlines\, book covers and dramatizations from lesbian pulp novels.\n\nE ver since the NFB launched as a mechanism for showcasing Canada to Canad ians\, it has produced documentaries on the nation in all its variety. W ell\, almost all. Despite the work of Studio D (sadly shuttered a decade ago) to produce films by and about women\, Canada on screen appeared as a land without lesbians. Enter Lynne Fernie and Aerlyn Weissman\, whose groundbreaking documentary excavated archives from Liquor Board photo f iles to '50s paperback racks\, recreating the details of lesbian life in postwar Canada. With a cast of unrivaled raconteurs spinning their tale s\, Forbidden Love fills in the blanks in the national psyche. It even i nvents a faux period drama to give shape to its lesbian elders' memories . Here is pleasure\, lust\, and heartbreak writ large\, as if a Sirkian lesbian director had trained her florid lens on the joys and tragedies o f the girls "in the life." An exquisite work of imaginative historiograp hy. B. Ruby Rich. CATEGORIES:Spotlight On LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/forbiddenlovetheunashamedstorieso flesbianlives_hotdocs2009 UID:2478785197-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T141300 SUMMARY:Orgasm Inc. DESCRIPTION:Forty-three per cent of American women suffer from female sex ual dysfunction. Or do they? Can female sexual dysfunction even be consi dered a disease\, or is it only marketed as one by profit-hungry pharmac eutical companies looking to create demand in need of a supply? After ed iting porn to be used in research conducted by the drug company Vivus-wh ich was racing against Big Pharma firms to develop a Viagra equivalent f or women-documentary filmmaker Liz Canner set out to dissect the corpora te commoditization of perfectly normal sexual problems. Along the way\, Canner encounters a sex shop owner who crashes pharmaceutical conference s to educate the doctors who attend\, a vintage vibrator collector who p rovides insight into the history of female "hysteria\," an orgasmatron\, and a man whose monkeys have taught him to pay more attention to women. Upbeat\, engaging\, enlightening\, and provocative\, Orgasm\, Inc. will change the way you think about sex. CATEGORIES:Lets Make Money LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/orgasminc_hotdocs2009 UID:2474971979-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T143000 SUMMARY:The Back-Breaking Leaf DESCRIPTION:Smokers say it's relaxing\, but its harvesters call it "the b ack-breaking leaf." A graphic look at the tobacco harvest in southwester n Ontario.\n\nI'm not sure I'd be curating documentaries if it wasn't fo r the National Film Board of Canada. More specifically\, I became hooked on docs while a student at Concordia University in Montreal. At the tim e\, the NFB's Montreal location had just launched its CineRobotheque fea turing a gigantic robotic arm that would snatch selected titles and inse rt them into your laser disc player. Looking back at notes from my Robot heque sessions\, I've selected three of my fave shorts. The common subje ct thread here is labour\, but really\, I was most attracted to the poet ry in these works. I haven't seen any of these films since my school day s\, but each remains quite vivid in my mind's eye. It wasn't so hip to b e into docs in film school. While many of my colleagues were freaking on the Coen brothers or Tarantino\, I was getting hooked on classic vérité and social issue docs. And here I am\, a hot docster. Sean Farnel. CATEGORIES:Spotlight On LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/thebackbreakingleaf_hotdocs2009 UID:2474900158-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T151900 SUMMARY:Good Man DESCRIPTION:Chris Rohrlach is not your typical Australian sheep farmer. W illing to try anything to keep wife Rachel out of long-term care\, he de cides to open a brothel. Nothing has ever stopped Chris and Rachel from doing exactly what they've wanted\, so outrage from the community doesn' t faze them one bit. A quadriplegic with neurological impairment for all of their 14 married years\, Rachel is still Rachel to Chris\, and the l ove of his life. As the camera captures the construction and grand openi ng of the best little whorehouse in the outback\, the film exposes tensi on between Chris' indomitable plans to keep his family afloat and Rachel 's own wishes. Reliant on others to translate her eye movements into wor ds\, the film creates a novel friction between Rachel's opaque desires a nd their secondhand expression. Funny and thought provoking\, A Good Man turns preconceptions about disability and macho male stereotypes upside down. Angie Driscoll.\n\nCo-presented with OzFlix: Australian Film Week end. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/goodman_hotdocs2009 UID:2474939030-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T141500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T153500 SUMMARY:Nobody Waved Goodbye DESCRIPTION:A youth rebels against his parents' middle-class goals and co nventions\, but away from home and high school he finds the world a cold place to go it alone. A look at the sources of delinquency in an afflue nt society.\n\nNobody Waved Goodbye\, made in 1964 and directed by Don O wen\, started as an idea for a documentary but ended up as a dramatic fe ature that today is considered one of the most important films in the sh ort history of English Canadian cinema. The film embodies all that is wo rth celebrating about the Film Board: talent\, risk-taking\, social and political engagement\, Canada. The impact of Nobody Waved Goodbye on Can adian teenagers in the '60s was as dramatic as the better known American film Rebel Without A Cause-it was just harder to find in the theatres. S. Wayne Clarkson. CATEGORIES:Spotlight On LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/nobodywavedgoodbye_hotdocs2009 UID:2474971018-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T141500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T155000 SUMMARY:Wow DESCRIPTION:Nine teenagers act out their secret dreams and\, between time s\, talk about their world as they see it\, raising all the preoccupatio ns of youth: authority\, drugs\, social conflict\, and sex.\n\nWow! is l egendary director Claude Jutra's under-recognized epic of teenage angst and revolt\, made two years before Mon oncle Antoine. Jutra selected a g roup of teenagers as his documentary subjects\, three girls and six boys \, drawing out their opinions and attitudes about sex\, politics\, drugs \, friends\, parents\, and the future. In true mentor/confessor fashion\ , he also drew out their intimate desires and fantasies\, then dramatize d them with his typically lavish NFB budget and the characters' intense performances to make a docudrama episode film that is truly unique in th e catalogue\, if not world film history. Within our two national cinemas in which youth films have long been a privileged genre\, Wow! takes the cake\, resilient in its solidarity and tenderness (not to mention voyeu rism)\, aching in its eve-of-Stonewall ambiguity. Added bonus: Wow! is t he only NFB film ever to display nude trampoline choreography by the fut ure producer and French studio head Monique Simard. Thomas Waugh. CATEGORIES:Spotlight On LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/wow_hotdocs2009 UID:2475000682-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T170400 SUMMARY:Over the Hills and Far Away DESCRIPTION:Coping with their autistic son Rowan would often leave Rupert and Kristin in a state of grief\, shame\, and frustration. Orthodox the rapies had little impact\, but a chance encounter with a horse gave them a glimpse into a world of new possibilities. It also gave Rupert the id ea to take his son on a journey through Mongolia\, where a strong spirit ual bond exists between people and horses\, and where shamanism-healing at its most raw and direct-is the state religion. Over the Hills and Far Away follows Rupert\, Kristin\, and Rowan as they traverse Mongolia on their quest. Tested to their limits\, they discover that Rowan is accept ed\, even treasured for his differences here. In a world steeped in myst ical tradition\, Rowan makes dramatic leaps forward. Chronicling a coupl e's personal odyssey to make sense of their child's autism\, Over the Hi lls and Far Away captures a moving journey into a little known world.\n\ nCo-presented with Geneva Centre for Autism. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/overthehillsandfaraway_hotdocs200 9 UID:2474972229-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T172900 SUMMARY:Vashti Bunyan: From Here To Before DESCRIPTION:For many cult artists\, rediscovery comes too late. They neve r live to know that their art has been reappraised and loved by a whole new generation. But such is not the case for distinctive folk singer Vas hti Bunyan. After abandoning a disappointing music career to travel the British Isles in a horse and carriage\, Bunyan discovered in the early 2 000s that her only album\, 1970's Just Another Diamond Day\, was selling for $2\,000 on EBay and had become a major influence on "freak folk" ar tists such as Adem Ilhan and Devendra Banhart. Combining a pastoral jour ney through the past with a nostalgic trip to the British pop scene of t he late 1960s-with music luminaries Andrew Loog Oldham\, Joe Boyd\, and Robert Kirby providing their honest insights into Bunyan's significance- this lyrical and evocative film retraces Bunyan's extraordinary journey as she prepares for her first high profile concert in London.\n\nOfficia l website: http://www.cc-lab.com CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/vashtibunyanfromheretobefore_hotd ocs2009 UID:2474998874-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T161500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T180000 SUMMARY:Rocks at Whiskey Trench DESCRIPTION:Obomsawin turns her keen focus on a shameful incident that st ill shocks almost two decades later. During the 1990 "Oka Crisis\," tens ion between Kanehsatake Mohawks and the Canadian army reached a boiling point. The neighbouring Mohawk community of Kahnawake\, having suffered their own loss of territory over the last 300 years\, blocked Montreal's Mercier Bridge in solidarity. Tensions were running high\, death threat s were uttered\, and army raids on Kahnawake were feared. As a precautio n\, Mohawk women\, children\, and elders were evacuated in a 75-car conv oy. Horrifying footage shows the small convoy driving through the gulley of Whiskey Trench\, where they were brutally attacked by an irate mob h urling racist jeers and gleefully smashing car windows with huge rocks. Obomsawin juxtaposes shots of the sickening violence with intimate inter views of the gentle women and children who were attacked\, still shaken years later as they relive the terror and the intensity of the hatred di rected at them. Gisèle Gordon.\n\nCo-presented with imagineNative Film + Media Arts Festival. CATEGORIES:Outstanding Achievement LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/rocksatwhiskeytrench_hotdocs2009 UID:2474991539-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T172800 SUMMARY:Sad Song of Yellow Skin DESCRIPTION:In 1970\, three young American journalists in Saigon explore the consequences of the Vietnam War and of the American presence through the people who live on the fringes of the battle.\n\nMike Rubbo was an outlier during the years he worked at the NFB. His open and personal enq uiries ran counter to the house style at the time\, which tended towards the objective. With Sad Song\, Rubbo was sent to Vietnam to make a film on a Foster Parents Plan program involving Vietnamese children. Instead of order and good deeds\, he found chaos. Rubbo's sensitive eye is obse rvational but cuts to the quick. The war is visible only through the peo ple whom it touches: street children who steal to get by\, a Vietnamese soldier visiting his parents under the watchful eye of an officer\, Amer ican journalists working for a wire service. Rubbo was fascinated by the stories of ordinary people\, and the time and consideration he lavished on the peripheries of life led to a series of finely honed gems of whic h Sad Song of Yellow Skin is perhaps the most famous. Piers Handling. CATEGORIES:Spotlight On LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/sadsongofyellowskin_hotdocs2009 UID:2474993538-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T164500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T174200 SUMMARY:Audition DESCRIPTION:When Afghan-Canadian director Nelofer Pazira returns to Bamiy an\, Afganistan for the screening of the award-winning film she collabor ated on\, The Giant Buddhas\, she is shocked to see a crowd of 2\,000\, and astonished that many are women. Inspired\, she decides to audition l ocals for a film. The men are eager\, enthusiastically laughing and dyin g on command. The women are intrigued\, but reticent\, fearing retributi on. When they do perform\, it is with riveting authenticity. Pazira asks the men and women pointed questions\, challenging their preconceptions and renegotiating the balance of power and control. Equal parts fascinat ing cultural intervention\, exploration of the camera's gaze\, and homag e to Mohsen Makhmalbaf's ethically complex Salaam Cinema (Pazira starred in his film\, Kandahar\, loosely based on her story)\, this multilayere d excavation of a society straddling two worlds uses cinema as a mirror to reflect the underlying tensions between power\, tradition\, ethics\, and honour. Gisèle Gordon. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/audition_hotdocs2009 UID:2474899404-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T195500 SUMMARY:Carmen Meets Borat DESCRIPTION:Life in the tiny rural village of Glod\, Romania is pretty un eventful for 17-year-old Carmen. She works in her father's bar\, waiting on layabouts\, watching Spanish soap operas\, and planning a life far\, far away. But when crews from Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat film arrive\, e verything changes. Speaking no English\, the townsfolk mistake it for a real documentary\, and respected villagers like Carmen's father and gran dfather happily mug for the camera. When they see themselves portrayed o n screen as Kazakhstani whores\, thieves\, and abortionists\, the villag e is horrified. Cue revenge: big city lawyers channel their outrage into a $30-million lawsuit against the studio. Cue drama: fantasies of fanta stic wealth spread like wildfire. Even Carmen begins to reconsider her p rospects in Glod\, but village greed and suspicion soon catch up to her. Director Mercedes Stalenhoef uncovers a story befitting Hollywood in th is darkly comic film about pride\, betrayal\, and Borat. Myrocia Wataman iuk CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/carmenmeetsborat_hotdocs2009 UID:2474904819-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T201700 SUMMARY:Let's Make Money DESCRIPTION:Spanning the globe from Burkina Faso to Chennai\, from Shangh ai to Jersey\, Erwin Wagenhofer's sobering film dissects the philosophie s and practices of the neo-liberal system to lay out the direct causes a nd contributing factors of the ravenous consumption that has led to glob al economic collapse. What might have seemed merely informative a year a go now takes on the character and significance of an autopsy report. A r emarkable degree of access to central players in international finance\, economic theory\, and government policy - not to mention key testimony from an American "economic hit man" - makes for many fascinating insight s\, particularly in light of the recent seismic shifts in the global eco nomy. Lucid and cogent\, with an important environmental undercurrent th at runs throughout the film\, Let's Make Money serves as a kind of time capsule for a failed economic model\, a snapshot of cannibalistic capita lism and Mafioso governmental practices. CATEGORIES:Lets Make Money LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/letsmakemoney_hotdocs2009 UID:2474967946-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T184500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T201200 SUMMARY:The Sound of Insects: Record of a Mummy DESCRIPTION:A hunter in a remote and idyllic forest stumbles on a make-sh ift tent fashioned from sheets of plastic and containing the mummified r emains of a corpse. A detailed journal found on site reveals the man com mitted suicide by self-imposed starvation. Who was this man? Why did he kill himself in such a manner? Inspired by this true event and by the no vella Until I Am a Mummy by Shimada Masahiko\, Insects sensuously evokes the mysterious man's last days. Director Peter Liechti\, known for usin g experimental and impressionistic elements in his documentaries\, layer s lush images and sounds from the forest with sudden cacophonous flashes from an anonymous urban setting to draw us into the mummy's experience. Driving the story is narration-affectingly performed by Canadian filmma ker Peter Mettler-from the mummy's journal entries. Insects is a hypnoti c\, mesmerizing affirmation of life from one man's radical renunciation of it. Shannon Abel.\n\nCo-presented with Rendezvous with Madness Film F estival.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.peterliechti.ch CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/thesoundofinsectsrecordofamummy_h otdocs2009 UID:2474995101-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T210000 SUMMARY:Ganesh: Boy Wonder DESCRIPTION:Hindus pray to Lord Ganesh before any major journey. He can p ut obstacles in the way or remove them. He is the Lord of Obstacles.\n\n Krishna and Jayamma have a happy marriage and a beautiful daughter. Now they would like a son. They pray to the god Ganesh to bless them with a boy\, never dreaming that their son would actually look like his namesak e\, the elephant-headed deity. Nor could they have imagined that an acci dental meeting with a reporter's brother\, after they had given up all h ope of finding medical help\, would trigger a life-changing series of ev ents. A local television story on Ganesh's facial deformity flashes his face around the globe\, connecting a young boy and his struggling workin g-class family in India to a Canadian plastic surgeon. Acclaimed feature filmmaker Srinivas Krishna makes his documentary debut with this powerf ul and moving story about love\, faith and hope. Lynne Fernie.\n\nCo-pre sented with ReelWorld Film Festival. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/ganeshboywonder_hotdocs2009 UID:2474893620-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T204900 SUMMARY:Waterlife DESCRIPTION:This stunning ode to the last great supply of fresh water on earth\, the Great Lakes\, immerses us in their extraordinary beauty\, ec ological complexity\, and extreme state of distress. Under assault on al l fronts by a deadly combination of industrial toxins\, sewage\, invasiv e species\, climate change\, and profound apathy\, they are on the verge of irreversible collapse. Director Kevin McMahon (recipient of the 2007 Hot Docs Focus On retrospective) navigates with fluid clarity through i ndustrial intervention and natural splendor\, from northern Lake Superio r to the Atlantic Ocean\, using breathtaking cinematography and CGI to s how us the waters 35 million of us drink every day. Propelled by a soari ng\, evocative soundtrack\, this eloquent poetic essay allows us to abso rb hard information gracefully balanced with a visceral understanding of how we are inextricably linked to the fate of these waters\, transformi ng the way we think and inspiring us act before it's too late. Gisèle Go rdon.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.ourwaterlife.com CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/waterlife_hotdocs2009 UID:2474999592-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T191500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T202100 SUMMARY:Ana and Arthur DESCRIPTION:The end of the seven-year marriage of Ana\, a dynamic 70-year -old cardiologist\, and Arthur\, her 35-year-old farmer husband\, unfold s with devastating honesty on their stunningly beautiful spiritual retre at. The toxic farm they had transformed into an earthly paradise for hea ling chronic illnesses is now the scene of their anguish. Larry Young sp ent over three years shooting the break-up\, his camera unfailingly comp assionate and relentless in its portrayal of the raw emotions of loss an d grief. Anyone who has tried to hold on to a dying relationship will em pathize with what both Ana and Arthur experience\, their attempts at civ ility\, and their descent into guilt and anger. And while the age differ ence between them gives this break-up film a particular twist-Arthur's l ove for a younger woman is the immediate trigger-the emotions of loss an d grief are ageless. Lynne Fernie. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/anaandarthur_hotdocs2009 UID:2474896861-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T191500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T204500 SUMMARY:Intangible Asset Number 82 DESCRIPTION:When innovative Australian jazz drummer Simon Barker hears a rare recording of Korean shaman Kim Seok-Chul-a grand master playing wit h immense energy and complex technique-he immediately knows he must meet Kim and learn from him. Barker's discovery that the enigmatic Kim is of ficially recognized as South Korea's "82nd intangible asset" only motiva tes him further. Setting out to find the elusive shaman\, Barker's journ ey becomes a rite of passage as he encounters engaging and exotic charac ters and overcomes cultural obstacles. But can he overcome the march of time? The 80-year-old Kim proves to be difficult to find\, and the strai n of the search takes its toll on Barker. Along the way\, Barker uncover s a deeper meaning to self-expression and transformation. An inspiring f ilm that will renew your faith in the power of music. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/intangibleassetnumber82_hotdocs20 09 UID:2474940675-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T210000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T223300 SUMMARY:Defamation DESCRIPTION:What is anti-Semitism today\, two generations after the Holoc aust? In his continuing exploration of modern Israeli life\, director Yo av Shamir (Checkpoint) seeks out the most modern manifestations of the " oldest hatred\," provoking startling revelations. Shamir follows Abraham Foxman\, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League\, as he brings world leaders the message that anti-Semitism thrives as a serious threa t to Jews everywhere. We follow a group of Israeli students to Poland wh ere they visit former ghettos and concentration camps. Others raise seri ous questions about the motives behind what has been called "the Israel Lobby." In distinguishing between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism\, the c ontroversial academic Norman Finkelstein asserts that "the Nazi Holocaus t has become the main ideological weapon for starting wars of aggression ." Cogent\, amiable\, and penetrating in his approach\, Shamir is naviga ting tricky waters here. Yet in constructing a fair context for debate a nd understanding\, he always asks the right questions. Sean Farnel. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/defamation_hotdocs2009 UID:2474907250-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T211500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T220400 SUMMARY:Ascension DESCRIPTION:A surreal\, cosmic trip compiled primarily from the previousl y unseen archives of the Soviet space program\, Ascension is a hypnotic montage of remarkable beauty\, discovery\, and weirdness. Where else can you see early rocket launches\, footage of training tests\, and experim ents and artifacts from a bygone era of space exploration intercut with experimental animation films and archival images of China's rise from ag ricultural society to industrial neophyte? Comprised almost entirely of found footage\, Ascension paints an alternately amusing\, beguiling\, an d chilling portrait of the things mankind was willing to do to launch in to the stratosphere. Compulsory viewing for cinephiles and retro sci-fi geeks. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/ascension_hotdocs2009 UID:2474898374-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T211500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T224900 SUMMARY:Sweety. The Friends\, Betrayal and Murder of Maja Bradaric DESCRIPTION:A girl is seen from behind ... The wind whips her hair around her neck in a silent frenzy of tightening knots ... Everything happens behind her back. On November 17\, 2003\, Maja Bradaric was strangled by three of her friends. She was just 16. Maja's intimates ask themselves w hy none of them saw it coming. Gorgeous cinematography sets a sullen\, o therworldly mood\; the soundtrack speaks for the dead. Sweety innovates by combining actual home video with re-enactments so stylish they feel i nterchangeably real. Cell phone footage could be archival or artificial- it doesn't matter. Adolescence is a dream\, a fantasy without responsibi lity. Maja and her friends are typical teens: out of control\, grasping\ , testing\, and posturing. But the power dynamic of their clique is less typical. The love/hate turbulence in this peer group is extreme\, with frenemies plotting\, planning\, and concealing a murder. Angie Driscoll. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/sweetythefriendsbetrayalandmurder ofmajabradaric_hotdocs2009 UID:2474997685-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T213000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T230600 SUMMARY:Those Who Remain DESCRIPTION:Mexican immigration to the US is an issue as old and complica ted as the countries themselves. Lured by the promise of prosperity\, mi llions of Mexicans leave behind parents\, siblings\, and even children t o attempt dangerous and illegal border crossings. Statistics\, however\, cannot convey the intimate consequences of this fact. Those Who Remain underscores the everyday impact of migration by focusing on the poignant personal stories of contemporary Mexicans whose family members have cro ssed\, or are about to cross\, to "the other side." Beautifully drawn po rtraits capture the emotional nuances of the issue. The wife of a seemin gly financially secure farmer expresses anger and disappointment that he r husband is leaving their family\, yet again\, to work in the US. Most telling is that her protestations are deemed unusual by her friends. In this culture\, absence and loss are par for the course. Shannon Abel.\n\ nCo-presented with aluCine Toronto Latin Media Festival. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/thosewhoremain_hotdocs2009 UID:2474997960-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T230000 SUMMARY:Invisible City DESCRIPTION:"In this community\, manhood comes early. ... Being weak is n ot an option." - Ainsworth Morgan\, Nelson Mandela Park Public School\n\ nOnce\, Mikey and Kendell's friends boasted they'd never get in trouble and never sell drugs\, but by age 15 half of them have done just that. I n this beautifully shot and intimate documentary\, Oscar-nominated direc tor Hubert Davis reaches beyond his own story-so eloquently captured in Hardwood-to follow two charismatic Regent Park boys as they make the tra nsition from youth to manhood. Each runs into trouble with police\, the courts\, and school authorities despite having mothers whose love is pal pable and Morgan's heroic attempt at mentoring. With none of the privile ges of wealth and all of the prejudices of poverty\, with absent fathers \, a landscape of half-demolished buildings\, vacant lots and systemic r acism stacked against them\, the boys struggle to turn their lives aroun d. Lynne Fernie.\n\nCo-presented with Regent Park Film Festival. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/invisiblecity_hotdocs2009 UID:2474940861-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T224300 SUMMARY:Stolen Art DESCRIPTION:Filmmaker Simon Backès investigates an infamous 1978 New York art exhibition called Stolen Art\, where an unknown Czech artist named Pavel Novak presented a collection of amazing reproductions of master wo rks by Rembrandt\, Sérusier\, Malevich\, Van Gogh\, and Courbet. Soon af ter its opening\, the FBI closed down the show. A rich collector had com plained that the copy of Gustave Courbet's "The Calm Sea" on display was in fact his stolen original. Who was Pavel Novak? An artist? A thief? A bit of both? Backès' curiosity is catching\, as he visits the paintings listed in the Stolen Art collection's catalogue\, inside museums and hi gh-security archives all over the world. He pores over these paintings\, searching for the artist behind the creation. Is true art illegal? Do p aintings lose their beauty once they are privately hoarded and can no lo nger be appreciated collectively? The questions raised are as intriguing as the answers. Angie Driscoll. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/stolenart_hotdocs2009 UID:2474995892-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T220000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T232600 SUMMARY:Rembrandt’s J’Accuse DESCRIPTION:Peter Greenaway is one of the most innovative artists of our time. In his latest documentary\, the acclaimed director\, writer\, and visual artist takes up the role of champion of visual literacy by conduc ting a forensic search of Rembrandt's "The Night Watch." In the film's o pening shot at the stunning Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam\, Greenaway context ualizes Rembrandt's creation in the 17th century. As the painting fills the screen\, Greenaway launches the investigation of the painting's 34 c haracters in their collective conspiracy to kill. There's never a dull m oment. The camera acts as a magnifying glass\, scrutinizing the painting 's most subtle details as the plot unfolds. With a vibrant script and no shortage of humour and charm\, Greenaway is a naturally entertaining na rrator. He also enlists the cast of his 2007 film\, Nightwatching\, whos e dramatized interrogations provide a third dimension to complete the pi cture. This exquisitely executed art experiment is a triumphant renderin g of art appreciation. Karina Rotenstein.\n\nOfficial website: http://re mbrandt.submarine.nl/ CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/rembrandtsjaccuse_hotdocs2009 UID:2474986357-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090502T234500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T011600 SUMMARY:Best Worst Movie DESCRIPTION:When 11-year-old Michael Stephenson and dentist George Hardy were cast in Troll 2\, they were surely destined for stardom. Unfortunat ely\, combining low-budget production with an amateur cast\, an Italian director no one could understand\, and a script about vegetarian goblins resulted in a train wreck of a film that became widely regarded as the "worst movie ever." Twenty years later\, thanks to a new generation of v iewers who value a "so bad it's good" aesthetic\, Troll 2 has become a c ult phenomenon. In Best Worst Movie\, Stephenson follows Hardy and the r est of the cast as they reunite to greet adoring fans at Troll 2 screeni ngs in major cities across North America. Can Hardy return to dentistry after signing autographs in packed movie houses and receiving hundreds o f hits a day on MySpace? Discover the heart and soul behind one of the m ost beloved straight-to-video flops ever. Lynne Crocker.\n\nCo-presented with The Fantasy Worldwide Film Festival and Toronto After Dark Film Fe stival. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/bestworstmovie_hotdocs2009 UID:2474901913-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T123300 SUMMARY:Defamation DESCRIPTION:What is anti-Semitism today\, two generations after the Holoc aust? In his continuing exploration of modern Israeli life\, director Yo av Shamir (Checkpoint) seeks out the most modern manifestations of the " oldest hatred\," provoking startling revelations. Shamir follows Abraham Foxman\, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League\, as he brings world leaders the message that anti-Semitism thrives as a serious threa t to Jews everywhere. We follow a group of Israeli students to Poland wh ere they visit former ghettos and concentration camps. Others raise seri ous questions about the motives behind what has been called "the Israel Lobby." In distinguishing between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism\, the c ontroversial academic Norman Finkelstein asserts that "the Nazi Holocaus t has become the main ideological weapon for starting wars of aggression ." Cogent\, amiable\, and penetrating in his approach\, Shamir is naviga ting tricky waters here. Yet in constructing a fair context for debate a nd understanding\, he always asks the right questions. Sean Farnel. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/defamation_hotdocs2009 UID:2474907260-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T113000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T120000 SUMMARY:QATUWAS People Gathering Together DESCRIPTION:As crews from thirty First Nations set out on a remarkable jo urney\, Qatuwas powerfully documents this rebirth of the ocean-going can oe and celebrates the healing power of tradition and the resurgence of N orthwest Coast indigenous culture.\n\nCrews from 30 First Nations People s gathered to paddle their traditional canoes on the Pacific Ocean for h undreds of miles\, just like their ancestors did for thousands of years. To watch this film is to feel the love and strength of the people\, and to know that going back to your traditions is to find yourself. I am so grateful to Barb Cranmer for documenting this very important event with so much love and respect. Alanis Obomsawin. CATEGORIES:Spotlight On LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/qatuwaspeoplegatheringtogether_ho tdocs2009 UID:2474978935-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T142600 SUMMARY:Big John DESCRIPTION:Big John Klemetsen trains and coaches his boxer son Ole a.k.a . The Golden Viking. Home videos follow Team Klemetsen's fights\, from t he 1992 Olympics in Barcelona to the European Championships to Ole's com ing out as a pro in the US. Once Big John realizes Ole is just a pawn in the big business game of professional boxing\, Team Klemetsen struggles to decide whether or not to give up. The family has sacrificed so much for Ole's career\, but Big John is dad before he's coach and must draw a line between pushing and protecting his son. What is a shot at the Worl d Championship title worth? What is the value of a loving relationship b etween father and son? After years of relating as coach and athlete\, ma nager and client\, can they shift back to their familial roles? Can they connect beyond boxing? A tough and tender love story between father and son. Angie Driscoll. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/bigjohn_hotdocs2009 UID:2474902050-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T141500 SUMMARY:Hair India DESCRIPTION:India has always been praised for her idyllic standard of bea uty\, from women's saris to her skin and hair. But now\, even she has un dergone a Western makeover. Hair India takes outsourcing to a new level in this fascinating exposé of a lucrative Indian export: hair. It begins in West Bengal where a young girl donates her hair to the temple. The h air is then sorted by an assembly line of women (with the sound of their bangles keeping rhythm)\, and sold to Great Lengths\, an Italian compan y that sells the plaits as hair extensions to wealthy women around the w orld. Along the way\, we meet the players\, from the hair donors and dea lers to Sangreeta\, who represents the modern Indian working woman and t he Westernization of India's beauty standards. Hair India effortlessly i llustrates how globalization\, marketing of vanity\, and traditional rit uals can all contribute to create a lucrative enterprise. Karina Rotenst ein.\n\nCo-presented with FILMI South Asian Film Festival. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/hairindia_hotdocs2009 UID:2474940005-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T144400 SUMMARY:Waban-aki: People From Where The Sun Rises DESCRIPTION:Continuing to take the pulse of First Peoples in Canada\, Obo msawin takes us home-to her Abenaki community of Odanak\, Quebec. She sk ilfully weaves the richly textured history of her formerly prosperous ba sket- and canoe-making community with an exploration of contemporary Abo riginal identity and official "status." The Abenaki once numbered over 5 0\,000 with a territory that stretched across New England\, the Maritime s\, and southern Quebec. Both their territory and numbers have been dras tically reduced through wars and diseases\, but their biggest threat tod ay falls between love and legislation. Through the colonial mandate of t he Indian Act\, First Nations children continue to lose their Aboriginal status when their parents marry outside of their community\, threatenin g their links to their culture\, and even their rights to live in their family homes. Through a series of intimate interviews\, elders and young people candidly share their stories\, grounding us in the realities of their lives and the complex future of all Aboriginal people. Gisèle Gord on.\n\nCo-presented with imagineNative Film + Media Arts Festival. CATEGORIES:Outstanding Achievement LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/wabanakipeoplefromwherethesunrise s_hotdocs2009 UID:2474999275-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T150000 SUMMARY:Inside Hanna's Suitcase DESCRIPTION:The delivery of a battered suitcase to Fumiko Ishioka at the Tokyo Holocaust Museum begins the true-life mystery that became the subj ect of Karen Levine's best-selling book Hana's Suitcase. The suitcase ca me from the Auschwitz museum and had Hana Brady's name roughly painted o n it. Larry Weinstein's masterful film follows Fumiko's search to discov er the details of Hana's life\, which leads to the discovery of her brot her George in Toronto. As small children they had been incarcerated for being Jewish after the Nazis invaded Czechoslovakia in 1939. A superb mu sical score by Alexina Louie and Alex Pauk\, coupled with dramatic re-en actments stunningly shot by Horst Zeidler\, catches us by the heart to i nvoke the tragedy of the times. The voices of children from Japan\, Cana da\, and the Czech Republic telling Hana's story are woven around the dr ama\, along with George's memories and Fumiko's quest\, to create a film of astonishing power and hope. Lynne Fernie.\n\nCo-presented with The T oronto Jewish Film Festival. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/insidehannassuitcase_hotdocs2009 UID:2474940542-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T150000 SUMMARY:Necrobusiness DESCRIPTION:An upbeat and engaging mix of investigative journalism\, cour troom drama\, and potboiler thriller\, Necrobusiness alternates between an amusing account of a business partnership gone awry and a chilling my stery full of murder\, blackmail\, and betrayal. In Lódz\, Poland\, prom inent funeral director Skrzydlewski\, local pathologist Tomalski\, and s hady florist Sumera concoct a scheme to corner the market on funerals an d burials by bribing paramedics to deliver bodies only to Skrzydlewski's funeral homes. Everything goes fine until other funeral homes want in o n the action-and a paramedic confesses to poisoning 11 patients whose bo dies were subsequently delivered to a Skrzydlewski establishment. Combin ing intimate access to the silver-tongued Skrzydlewski with the unfoldin g trial of Tomalski and further revelations of profiteering deep within the hospital administration\, the filmmakers craft a stylish exposé that expertly unveils one layer of corruption and deceit after another. CATEGORIES:Lets Make Money LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/necrobusiness_hotdocs2009 UID:2474970870-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T153100 SUMMARY:Best Worst Movie DESCRIPTION:When 11-year-old Michael Stephenson and dentist George Hardy were cast in Troll 2\, they were surely destined for stardom. Unfortunat ely\, combining low-budget production with an amateur cast\, an Italian director no one could understand\, and a script about vegetarian goblins resulted in a train wreck of a film that became widely regarded as the "worst movie ever." Twenty years later\, thanks to a new generation of v iewers who value a "so bad it's good" aesthetic\, Troll 2 has become a c ult phenomenon. In Best Worst Movie\, Stephenson follows Hardy and the r est of the cast as they reunite to greet adoring fans at Troll 2 screeni ngs in major cities across North America. Can Hardy return to dentistry after signing autographs in packed movie houses and receiving hundreds o f hits a day on MySpace? Discover the heart and soul behind one of the m ost beloved straight-to-video flops ever. Lynne Crocker.\n\nCo-presented with The Fantasy Worldwide Film Festival and Toronto After Dark Film Fe stival. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/bestworstmovie_hotdocs2009 UID:2474901920-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T145800 SUMMARY:Stolen Art DESCRIPTION:Filmmaker Simon Backès investigates an infamous 1978 New York art exhibition called Stolen Art\, where an unknown Czech artist named Pavel Novak presented a collection of amazing reproductions of master wo rks by Rembrandt\, Sérusier\, Malevich\, Van Gogh\, and Courbet. Soon af ter its opening\, the FBI closed down the show. A rich collector had com plained that the copy of Gustave Courbet's "The Calm Sea" on display was in fact his stolen original. Who was Pavel Novak? An artist? A thief? A bit of both? Backès' curiosity is catching\, as he visits the paintings listed in the Stolen Art collection's catalogue\, inside museums and hi gh-security archives all over the world. He pores over these paintings\, searching for the artist behind the creation. Is true art illegal? Do p aintings lose their beauty once they are privately hoarded and can no lo nger be appreciated collectively? The questions raised are as intriguing as the answers. Angie Driscoll. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/stolenart_hotdocs2009 UID:2474995944-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T165200 SUMMARY:Korean Wedding Fest DESCRIPTION:According to tradition\, a Korean groom offers an elaborate w edding chest to his bride's parents. Dressed in traditional garb\, he ca rries its meticulously layered treasures\, each one prescribed by centur ies-old custom\, strapped to his back all the way to their door. Venerab le filmmaker Ulrike Ottinger delicately unpacks the ornate rituals and c omplex mores of the Korean wedding rite. While clearly reverent of the p ast\, Korea also has a pervasive modern wedding industry\, which amplifi es the drive for everything to be picture perfect\, down to the last hig hly codified detail. The traditional Pe Baek ceremony\, which sees the n ewly married couple receive their parents\, is now awkwardly\, and rathe r hilariously\, run by wedding assistants who physically lift relatives into position. Like a polite guest\, however\, Ottinger never interrupts \, allowing her poetic images to speak for themselves as old and new Kor ea marry in this fascinating cultural portrait. Myrocia Watamaniuk. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/koreanweddingfest_hotdocs2009 UID:2474967814-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T154500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T165100 SUMMARY:City of Borders DESCRIPTION:In the heart of Jerusalem stands an unusual symbol of unity t hat defies generations of segregation\, violence\, and prejudice: a gay bar called Shushan. People of opposing nationalities and religions gathe r here to find acceptance and community while religious fundamentalists strive to reverse anti-discrimination laws. City of Borders follows the intersecting lives of several Shushan regulars in their daily struggle f or dignity and acceptance. The bar's founder\, Sa'ar\, fights for visibi lity and ethnic diversity. Palestinian Samira tries to remain as devoted to her family as she is to her Jewish lover. Devout Muslim Boody risks his life sneaking through razor wire from the West Bank\, while former I sraeli soldier Adam Russo is stabbed by an Orthodox Jew while marching i n Jerusalem's gay pride parade. Yun Suh's thoughtful and inspiring film explores the bond that is forged when people from warring worlds embrace their inherent commonalities rather than be defined by their difference s.\n\nCo-presented with The Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film and Video Festi val. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/cityofborders_hotdocs2009 UID:2474905802-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T173100 SUMMARY:Zombie Girl: The Movie DESCRIPTION:Slamdance award-winner Zombie Girl: The Movie chronicles the two-year journey of irrepressible Austin tween Emily Hagins to complete her directorial debut\, the horror film Pathogen. Emily and her mom have been horror and sci-fi junkies for years\, so naturally when Emily writ es a script for a zombie movie\, Mom is right behind her to help build s ets\, production manage\, and fund Emily's vision. The support and encou ragement Emily receives from her family and her community is astounding. However\, not all is smooth sailing. Emily and Mom clash over the direc tion of the film. And that's just one obstacle Emily must face. Real lif e stuff like homework and financial woes also get in the way. But Emily' s enviable creative passion and drive keep the production going. She neg otiates actors\, extras\, and even her Mom's feelings like a pro. Is Emi ly the next Wes Craven or Peter Jackson? Only time will tell. Shannon Ab el.\n\nCo-presented with Rue Morgue and Toronto After Dark Film Festival .\n\nOfficial website: http://www.zombiegirlthemovie.com CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/zombiegirlthemovie_hotdocs2009 UID:2475000983-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T161500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T180200 SUMMARY:Let's Make Money DESCRIPTION:Spanning the globe from Burkina Faso to Chennai\, from Shangh ai to Jersey\, Erwin Wagenhofer's sobering film dissects the philosophie s and practices of the neo-liberal system to lay out the direct causes a nd contributing factors of the ravenous consumption that has led to glob al economic collapse. What might have seemed merely informative a year a go now takes on the character and significance of an autopsy report. A r emarkable degree of access to central players in international finance\, economic theory\, and government policy - not to mention key testimony from an American "economic hit man" - makes for many fascinating insight s\, particularly in light of the recent seismic shifts in the global eco nomy. Lucid and cogent\, with an important environmental undercurrent th at runs throughout the film\, Let's Make Money serves as a kind of time capsule for a failed economic model\, a snapshot of cannibalistic capita lism and Mafioso governmental practices. CATEGORIES:Lets Make Money LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/letsmakemoney_hotdocs2009 UID:2474967978-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T161500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T175100 SUMMARY:Those Who Remain DESCRIPTION:Mexican immigration to the US is an issue as old and complica ted as the countries themselves. Lured by the promise of prosperity\, mi llions of Mexicans leave behind parents\, siblings\, and even children t o attempt dangerous and illegal border crossings. Statistics\, however\, cannot convey the intimate consequences of this fact. Those Who Remain underscores the everyday impact of migration by focusing on the poignant personal stories of contemporary Mexicans whose family members have cro ssed\, or are about to cross\, to "the other side." Beautifully drawn po rtraits capture the emotional nuances of the issue. The wife of a seemin gly financially secure farmer expresses anger and disappointment that he r husband is leaving their family\, yet again\, to work in the US. Most telling is that her protestations are deemed unusual by her friends. In this culture\, absence and loss are par for the course. Shannon Abel.\n\ nCo-presented with aluCine Toronto Latin Media Festival. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/thosewhoremain_hotdocs2009 UID:2474997991-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T175600 SUMMARY:Art & Copy DESCRIPTION:You see an average of 5\,000 ads every day. Most of them suck . A handful are good. Only a few look and feel like-and indeed really ar e-art. The most innovative advertising campaigns of our time and the cre ative rebels behind them are the fascinating subjects of acclaimed filmm aker Doug Pray's Art & Copy. Slick footage and stories from industry leg ends chart the creative revolution that sees a splinter group shift from merely moving product to moving culture. Phyllis K. Robinson empowers t he "Me generation" with a Clairol slogan and Hal Riney re-elects Reagan with "It's morning in America." Yes\, they sell widgets\, but just as ar tists do\, they also tap zeitgeists and rouse emotion: Lee Clow's "Think different" tagline grows more than Apples and Dan Wieden's "Just do it" makes athletes of us all. Pray's captivating tribute- like an ad itself -sells you on the undeniable art of advertising. Myrocia Watamaniuk. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/artcopy_hotdocs2009 UID:2474897855-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T175500 SUMMARY:Carmen Meets Borat DESCRIPTION:Life in the tiny rural village of Glod\, Romania is pretty un eventful for 17-year-old Carmen. She works in her father's bar\, waiting on layabouts\, watching Spanish soap operas\, and planning a life far\, far away. But when crews from Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat film arrive\, e verything changes. Speaking no English\, the townsfolk mistake it for a real documentary\, and respected villagers like Carmen's father and gran dfather happily mug for the camera. When they see themselves portrayed o n screen as Kazakhstani whores\, thieves\, and abortionists\, the villag e is horrified. Cue revenge: big city lawyers channel their outrage into a $30-million lawsuit against the studio. Cue drama: fantasies of fanta stic wealth spread like wildfire. Even Carmen begins to reconsider her p rospects in Glod\, but village greed and suspicion soon catch up to her. Director Mercedes Stalenhoef uncovers a story befitting Hollywood in th is darkly comic film about pride\, betrayal\, and Borat. Myrocia Wataman iuk CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/carmenmeetsborat_hotdocs2009 UID:2474904830-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T200900 SUMMARY:Black Wave: The Legacy of the Exxon Valdez DESCRIPTION:On March 24\, 1989\, the Exxon Valdez oil tanker ran aground spewing millions of gallons of crude into Prince William Sound. A thick\ , sticky mass washed into thousands of bays and inlets. Media poured int o Cordova\, Alaska and images of oil-covered seabirds and otters flashed around the world. Exxon promised to make the environment and townspeopl e "whole." Black Wave masterfully integrates original news footage\, sho cking statistics\, and personal testimonies to produce a powerful indict ment of corporate greed and irresponsibility. Robert Cornellier lays bar e ExxonMobil's hypocrisy by exposing 20 years of tactics geared solely a t avoiding responsibility for the worst environmental disaster in North American history. Meanwhile\, the townspeople of Cordova fought and lost against ExxonMobil in the longest legal battle in US history\, while th e oil giant's annual profits rose from $5.2 to $40.6 billion. The verdic t: in a world run by multinationals\, citizens are on their own. Lynne F ernie. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/blackwavethelegacyoftheexxonvalde z_hotdocs2009 UID:2474903037-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T201700 SUMMARY:My Greatest Escape DESCRIPTION:Former thief and mobster Michel Vaujour always chose freedom over a life behind bars\, adventure over a life of submission. He spent 27 years in prison\, including 17 in solitary confinement. He succeeded in carrying out amazing escapes-five in total-worthy of a Hollywood scri pt\, the most notorious of which involved a firearm made out of soap and a daring helicopter break-out organized by his wife. Vaujour also exper ienced some of the most challenging conditions the penal system can infl ict\, an isolation that continuously forced him to confront himself and his demons. The reward has been self-enlightenment and an enviable under standing of life. By turns dramatic\, tender\, and philosophical\, Fabie nne Godet's film is an uplifting and universal story of a remarkable tra nsformation. Vaujour's greatest escape was not from jail but from himsel f: the liberation of the mind and ultimately\, the soul.\n\nCo-presented with Cinefranco. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/mygreatestescape_hotdocs2009 UID:2474970294-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T201000 SUMMARY:Rachel DESCRIPTION:"I'm really new to talking about Israel/Palestine\, so I don' t really know the political implications of my words\," wrote Rachel Cor rie\, early in her days as a peace activist in the Gaza Strip. Along wit h other members of the International Solidarity Movement\, she was in Ga za to protest and to bear witness to the destruction of Palestinian home s by the Israel Defense Forces. On March 16\, 2003\, Corrie was killed a ttempting to obstruct an armed bulldozer from clearing land. Whether her death was intentional or an accident remains disputed. Regardless\, bot h Corrie's death and the words she left behind-drawn from journals and c orrespondence with family and friends-continue to have significant polit ical implications. Simone Bitton's rigorous cinematic autopsy of the eve nts leading up to Corrie's death is the most thorough account to date. Y et beyond an investigation of the facts\, Rachel is a taut\, intimate po rtrait of youth\, idealism\, and action. Sean Farnel.\n\nOfficial websit e: http://www.umedia.fr CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/rachel_hotdocs2009 UID:2474984093-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T184500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T202500 SUMMARY:Hard Name DESCRIPTION:From the director of 2007's festival favourite\, Loveable\, c omes a very different film. Raw and intimate interviews with ex-convicts who come across as the most gentle souls you could ever meet-apart from the stabbings and armed robberies-talk about their lives in prison and their struggles to adapt to life on the outside. In jail\, the guards an d the system try to break them down. To survive\, they harden their spir it and live by the prison code: don't make eye contact\, don't rat on yo ur fellow convicts\, don't talk to the guards\, don't be an asshole. Aft er 40 years in prison\, never having held a job\, most find life out of prison harder than life in it. The hardness they've cultivated to surviv e as convicts crumbles as they reveal the horrific tales of abuse that s et the wheels in motion for some very tough lives. Gisèle Gordon.\n\nCo- presented with Friends of Dismas and John Howard Society of Toronto. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/hardname_hotdocs2009 UID:2474940048-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T202900 SUMMARY:Children of God DESCRIPTION:Nepalese Hindus believe the Bagmati River flows directly to h eaven\, gathering the souls of those who are cremated at the steps of th e Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu and carrying them off to their new h ome. But for 12-year-old Alesh Poudel\, home is on the streets next to t he temple. Fishing for coins from the river with magnets and scavenging everything from gold fillings to offerings to the gods\, Alesh and his y oung siblings eke out a contented life from the river\, while a more dan gerous one lures them to the nearby city streets. Director Yi Seung-Juni 's close relationship with-and paternal concern for-his subjects comes t hrough clearly and tenderly in the sincerity and intimacy they share wit h each other and with the camera. Children of God is a beautifully compo sed\, moving and poetic portrait of a life lived on the steps of heaven. \n\nCo-presented with Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. CATEGORIES:Made In... LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/childrenofgod_hotdocs2009 UID:2474905260-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T191500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T204300 SUMMARY:Cooking History DESCRIPTION:Who would have imagined that wars could also be fought with p ots\, pans\, and pepper shakers? Military chefs have a unique\, and unti l now\, unshared influence on the battlefield. "A hungry soldier doesn't feel safe\," explains a sausage-wielding army cook. Feeding troops is a tactical strategy used to truly astounding results in major European co nflicts of the 20th century. A Russian woman's meat blintzes provide 11 million soldiers the necessary courage to conquer in the Second World Wa r. A Jewish prison camp breadmaker executes a plan against his Nazi capt ors with the only tools at his disposal. Tito's personal chef shares the state dinner menus whose warring national cuisines foretell the Balkan War itself. By turns wry and rousing\, the personal stories of history's forgotten witnesses quietly humanize war's unrecorded battles and their costs. Six wars\, 10 recipes\, and 60\,361\,024 dead - Cooking History is a fascinating retelling of the past. Myrocia Watamaniuk. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/cookinghistory_hotdocs2009 UID:2474906232-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T191500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T201100 SUMMARY:Flak DESCRIPTION:Made by Ron Mann when he was 16\, Flak is a gritty improvised drama screening for the first time in 30 years as part of this retrospe ctive. Influenced by John Cassavetes' Shadows\, Michelangelo Antonioni's The Red Desert\, and above all\, Robert Kramer's classic film Ice\, Man n's working title was Viva La Dynamite\, a phrase borrowed from Anaïs Ni n. But Flak isn't about blowing stuff up-it's about inaction. The film e mphasizes boredom\, inertia\, and our tendency to talk about problems wh ile being unable or unwilling to act. As the film progresses\, its ragta g protagonists wander the city\, work\, play street hockey\, and sit aro und debating political change. Suffering because of polluted air from a nearby gypsum plant\, one young man registers a protest with his member of Parliament\; another advocates bombing. Both efforts appear impotent. For Mann\, Flak was a metaphor for the apolitical spirit of the 1970s. Raw\, direct\, restrained\, and impressive\, Flak is a look into an unpo lished Toronto of the past\, and an insightful window onto current socia l predicaments. Astra Taylor. CATEGORIES:Focus On LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/flak_hotdocs2009 UID:2474938462-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T211500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T222500 SUMMARY:The Experimental Eskimos DESCRIPTION:In the 1960s\, three 12-year-old Inuit boys were taken from t heir families in the Canadian Arctic and sent to live with foster famili es in Ottawa. Unaware that they were part of a dubious social experiment initiated by the Canadian government\, they were forced to abandon thei r culture for the opportunity and education of the white man's world. Ye ars later\, the experiment was regarded a success when all three men wen t on to become great leaders who were instrumental in the establishment of Aboriginal rights and the creation of the territory of Nunavut. But i t all came at an unfathomable personal price. Filmmaker Barry Greenwald reunites Peter Ittinuar\, Zebedee Nungak\, and Eric Tagoona to reflect u pon the profound impact the experiment had on their lives and identities as Inuit people. The men candidly recount their stories in this bold an d thought-provoking film about assimilation\, empowerment\, and the triu mph of the human spirit. Michelle Latimer. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/theexperimentaleskimos_hotdocs200 9 UID:2474909443-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T211500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T224100 SUMMARY:Shadow Billionaire DESCRIPTION:Billionaire Larry Hillblom\, founder of the worldwide courier company DHL\, disappears following a 1995 plane crash off the coast of his secluded Micronesian home. Leaving a massive fortune bound by a curi ously general will\, would-be heirs start coming out of the woodwork. Wh at emerges from the ensuing legal battle over his estate\, however\, lea ves all who knew the enigmatic tycoon in shock. Hillblom enjoyed both th e liberal lifestyle and tax laws of the US territory island of Saipan. B ut just how far did his interest in young island bar girls extend? For a n experienced lawyer and shrewd businessman\, why is his will so loosely worded? Why are his "trusted" estate trustees so reluctant to settle th e paternity claims? One by one\, Shadow Billionaire reveals the thrillin g twists in a staggering case of greed and scandal that exposes one man' s secrets and an island's startling truths. Myrocia Watamaniuk.\n\nOffic ial website: http://shadowbillionaire.com/ CATEGORIES:Lets Make Money LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/shadowbillionaire_hotdocs2009 UID:2474994219-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T213000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T230000 SUMMARY:Love at the Twilight Motel DESCRIPTION:Welcome to the Starlite Motel\, the busiest motel in Miami\, where the rooms rent for $25 for the first two hours\, the concealed gar ages have private staircases to the rooms\, and the sheets are clean. Pa rt confessional\, part broken love story\, this series of remarkably int imate interviews softly penetrates the darker side of desire to test our comfort level with other people's secrets. Mr. B loves his wife "more t han life\," but has a plethora of dubious justifications for his hooker and heroin habit. Beautiful\, soft-spoken Rose was a straight "A" studen t until she fell in with the wrong crowd. Whatever you need\, she can ho ok you up. Richard feels it's his destiny to be a "special treat" for ma rried women missing a little "heat." And Sara\, the Bible Belt wife-next -door\, believes that a little extracurricular sex isn't a sin as long a s there's no lying. Gisèle Gordon. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/loveatthestarlitemotel_hotdocs200 9 UID:2474968622-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T213000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T224500 SUMMARY:Objectified DESCRIPTION:From telephones to toothpicks\, nearly everything that fills our world is designed. Objects look and work the way they do because som eone made them that way. Director Gary Hustwit examines industrial desig n's sweeping cultural impact with the same curiosity and cinematic craft of his graphic design hit\, Helvetica. International stars including Ka rim Rashid\, Marc Newson\, Apple's Jonathan Ive\, and Braun's Dieter Ram s share their philosophies and fab products\, bringing the driving force s of the field into perfectly composed focus: "good" industrial design m akes the product supreme\, but the design invisible. In an age where for ms cannot possibly resemble the myriad of functions they now perform\, h owever\, what will our world look like? How does design's drive for "new and improved" reconcile with environmental sustainability? And how do i ndividuals express themselves through mass-produced "stuff"? Objectified is a fascinating look at our relationship with objects and the people w ho design them. Myrocia Watamaniuk.\n\nCo-presented with Design Exchange . CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/objectified_hotdocs2009 UID:2474971268-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T233300 SUMMARY:Action Boys DESCRIPTION:Anyone with an admiration for Asian action films knows that t he genre's acrobatic stunt work is decidedly more realistic than the cus hy\, impressionistic green-screen stunts of Hollywood fare (workplace sa fety standards evidently aren't the same overseas). And no one knows thi s better than Jung Byung-Gil\, a perpetual dreamer and movie junkie who is determined to become the next Stephen Chow. A delightfully sweet and self-deprecating look at one man's transition from film geek to stunt ma n\, Action Boys follows Jung and several of his classmates as they audit ion for and attend the Seoul Action School. The grueling training progra m takes its toll (only seven of the 34 students who begin the program gr aduate) but the survivors earn spots in such cult Korean action pics as City of Violence and The Host. Action Boys is an endearing\, tongue-in-c heek look at where your love for the movies can take you.\n \nCo-present ed with Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. CATEGORIES:Made In... LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/actionboys_hotdocs2009 UID:2474892099-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T230400 SUMMARY:Bastion of Sin DESCRIPTION:When a Stuttgart theatre director assembles an amateur and al l-Turkish cast of women in his modern production of Medea\, more drama e xplodes off stage than on. Designed to examine Eastern and Western image s of women\, the production asks each cast member to contribute her own personal story to the play's experimental script. Headstrong housewife A ysel is the only headscarf-wearing Turk in the bunch and soon takes it u pon her sassy self to defend her traditional views against the more mode rn ideas of the others. Cameras capture exceedingly intelligent discussi ons about religion\, "oppression\," and sex in this politically and reli giously diverse group. But as the exchanges become increasingly personal \, Aysel soon finds her commitment to the play and her newly found frien dships put to the test. Winner of a Golden Dove at DOK Leipzig\, Bastion of Sin presents one of the year's most thoughtful and entertaining disc ussions of identity and tolerance. Myrocia Watamaniuk.\n\nCo-presented w ith International Diaspora Film Festival. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/bastionofsin_hotdocs2009 UID:2474900518-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T231000 SUMMARY:Themis as a Lady of Loose Morals DESCRIPTION:Viktar Dashuk's shocking and compelling film examines the ori gins of oppression in contemporary Belarus\, skillfully crafting a conde mning indictment of the Belarusian social justice system and of Presiden t Alexander Lukashenko's brutal authoritarian regime. Working under cons tant state surveillance in a country where dissenting journalists and po liticians have been kidnapped and killed\, Dashuk outlines how Lukashenk o brought the legal system and the state under his exclusive control. Da shuk's camera is present when the election commission headquarters of th e 2004 referendum are raided by Lukashenko's thugs. Describing his count ry as a dictatorship where Themis\, goddess of justice and morality\, ha s degenerated into a lady of easy virtue seeking her own self-interest\, Dashuk uses damning evidence-show trials against the innocent\, the dis appearance and destruction of political opponents\, the use of brute vio lence against anyone that opposes the ruling powers-to draw a direct lin e from the methods of Stalin to the rule of Lukashenko. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/themisasaladyofloosemorals_hotdoc s2009 UID:2474997807-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090503T235900 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T010800 SUMMARY:Soulwax: Part of the Weekend Never Dies DESCRIPTION:This isn't a typical music doc\, and Soulwax is not a typical band. Pioneers in the electro scene\, brothers Stephen and Dave Dewaele are the brains behind Soulwax\, one of the most electrifying phenomena of our time. Soulwax is actually a four-part animal: a rock band\, a ban d that remixes Soulwax music live (a.k.a. Nite Versions)\, a DJ duo who remix other artists (a.k.a. 2 Many DJs)\, and a live show of all of the above (a.k.a. Radio Soulwax). Director Soam Farahmand takes one camera a nd travels on tour across the globe (including Toronto's Opera House and The Mod Club) capturing candid moments with the duo\, the band\, and th eir eccentric friends and fans. Edited from thousands of hours of footag e\, this electro-punkumentary is an energetic visual and sonic feast hig hlighting the signature Soulwax energy. A true music lover's film\, Soul wax transcends music genres and becomes an endless euphoric party. Karin a Rotenstein.\n\nCo-presented with NXNE Music & Film Festival and Confer ence.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.partoftheweekendneverdies.com/ CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/soulwaxpartoftheweekendneverdies_ hotdocs2009 UID:2474994942-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T122600 SUMMARY:Big John DESCRIPTION:Big John Klemetsen trains and coaches his boxer son Ole a.k.a . The Golden Viking. Home videos follow Team Klemetsen's fights\, from t he 1992 Olympics in Barcelona to the European Championships to Ole's com ing out as a pro in the US. Once Big John realizes Ole is just a pawn in the big business game of professional boxing\, Team Klemetsen struggles to decide whether or not to give up. The family has sacrificed so much for Ole's career\, but Big John is dad before he's coach and must draw a line between pushing and protecting his son. What is a shot at the Worl d Championship title worth? What is the value of a loving relationship b etween father and son? After years of relating as coach and athlete\, ma nager and client\, can they shift back to their familial roles? Can they connect beyond boxing? A tough and tender love story between father and son. Angie Driscoll. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/bigjohn_hotdocs2009 UID:2474902085-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T113000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T120000 SUMMARY:The One Man Village DESCRIPTION:Ever since he was a kid\, Semaan El Habre has wanted to raise cows. Sick of the pollution and crowds of the city\, he moved to the ab andoned village of Aïn el-Halazoun\, where he lives a quiet\, peaceful l ife. At one time\, 45 families lived in this picturesque village in a va lley near Beirut. But the villagers were displaced during a 15-year civi l war. Some of them have returned\, if only in the spring and fall\, to maintain the land. "We can't neglect the land\, of course\," one of them says. "We can neglect ourselves but not the land. Our children know not hing about land and planting. When our generation passes away no one wil l visit anymore." Beautifully filmed\, quirky and affectionate\, The One Man Village is a poetic ode to one man's attempt to preserve a pastoral way of life. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/theonemanvillage_hotdocs2009 UID:2474971889-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T143000 SUMMARY:Hot Docs Talks 1: Creativity in Doc Making DESCRIPTION:Guest filmmakers use illustrative clips to discuss their crea tive processes in developing and making their documentaries. CATEGORIES:Hot Docs Talks LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/hotdocstalks1creativityindocmakin g_hotdocs2009 UID:2474940222-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T143600 SUMMARY:Ana and Arthur DESCRIPTION:The end of the seven-year marriage of Ana\, a dynamic 70-year -old cardiologist\, and Arthur\, her 35-year-old farmer husband\, unfold s with devastating honesty on their stunningly beautiful spiritual retre at. The toxic farm they had transformed into an earthly paradise for hea ling chronic illnesses is now the scene of their anguish. Larry Young sp ent over three years shooting the break-up\, his camera unfailingly comp assionate and relentless in its portrayal of the raw emotions of loss an d grief. Anyone who has tried to hold on to a dying relationship will em pathize with what both Ana and Arthur experience\, their attempts at civ ility\, and their descent into guilt and anger. And while the age differ ence between them gives this break-up film a particular twist-Arthur's l ove for a younger woman is the immediate trigger-the emotions of loss an d grief are ageless. Lynne Fernie. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/anaandarthur_hotdocs2009 UID:2474896873-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T134500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T151800 SUMMARY:Defamation DESCRIPTION:What is anti-Semitism today\, two generations after the Holoc aust? In his continuing exploration of modern Israeli life\, director Yo av Shamir (Checkpoint) seeks out the most modern manifestations of the " oldest hatred\," provoking startling revelations. Shamir follows Abraham Foxman\, National Director of the Anti-Defamation League\, as he brings world leaders the message that anti-Semitism thrives as a serious threa t to Jews everywhere. We follow a group of Israeli students to Poland wh ere they visit former ghettos and concentration camps. Others raise seri ous questions about the motives behind what has been called "the Israel Lobby." In distinguishing between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism\, the c ontroversial academic Norman Finkelstein asserts that "the Nazi Holocaus t has become the main ideological weapon for starting wars of aggression ." Cogent\, amiable\, and penetrating in his approach\, Shamir is naviga ting tricky waters here. Yet in constructing a fair context for debate a nd understanding\, he always asks the right questions. Sean Farnel. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/defamation_hotdocs2009 UID:2474907284-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T134500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T151900 SUMMARY:Over the Hills and Far Away DESCRIPTION:Coping with their autistic son Rowan would often leave Rupert and Kristin in a state of grief\, shame\, and frustration. Orthodox the rapies had little impact\, but a chance encounter with a horse gave them a glimpse into a world of new possibilities. It also gave Rupert the id ea to take his son on a journey through Mongolia\, where a strong spirit ual bond exists between people and horses\, and where shamanism-healing at its most raw and direct-is the state religion. Over the Hills and Far Away follows Rupert\, Kristin\, and Rowan as they traverse Mongolia on their quest. Tested to their limits\, they discover that Rowan is accept ed\, even treasured for his differences here. In a world steeped in myst ical tradition\, Rowan makes dramatic leaps forward. Chronicling a coupl e's personal odyssey to make sense of their child's autism\, Over the Hi lls and Far Away captures a moving journey into a little known world.\n\ nCo-presented with Geneva Centre for Autism. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/overthehillsandfaraway_hotdocs200 9 UID:2474972245-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T134500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T152100 SUMMARY:Those Who Remain DESCRIPTION:Mexican immigration to the US is an issue as old and complica ted as the countries themselves. Lured by the promise of prosperity\, mi llions of Mexicans leave behind parents\, siblings\, and even children t o attempt dangerous and illegal border crossings. Statistics\, however\, cannot convey the intimate consequences of this fact. Those Who Remain underscores the everyday impact of migration by focusing on the poignant personal stories of contemporary Mexicans whose family members have cro ssed\, or are about to cross\, to "the other side." Beautifully drawn po rtraits capture the emotional nuances of the issue. The wife of a seemin gly financially secure farmer expresses anger and disappointment that he r husband is leaving their family\, yet again\, to work in the US. Most telling is that her protestations are deemed unusual by her friends. In this culture\, absence and loss are par for the course. Shannon Abel.\n\ nCo-presented with aluCine Toronto Latin Media Festival. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/thosewhoremain_hotdocs2009 UID:2474998077-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T154500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T171400 SUMMARY:Vashti Bunyan: From Here To Before DESCRIPTION:For many cult artists\, rediscovery comes too late. They neve r live to know that their art has been reappraised and loved by a whole new generation. But such is not the case for distinctive folk singer Vas hti Bunyan. After abandoning a disappointing music career to travel the British Isles in a horse and carriage\, Bunyan discovered in the early 2 000s that her only album\, 1970's Just Another Diamond Day\, was selling for $2\,000 on EBay and had become a major influence on "freak folk" ar tists such as Adem Ilhan and Devendra Banhart. Combining a pastoral jour ney through the past with a nostalgic trip to the British pop scene of t he late 1960s-with music luminaries Andrew Loog Oldham\, Joe Boyd\, and Robert Kirby providing their honest insights into Bunyan's significance- this lyrical and evocative film retraces Bunyan's extraordinary journey as she prepares for her first high profile concert in London.\n\nOfficia l website: http://www.cc-lab.com CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/vashtibunyanfromheretobefore_hotd ocs2009 UID:2474998919-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T173900 SUMMARY:Black Wave: The Legacy of the Exxon Valdez DESCRIPTION:On March 24\, 1989\, the Exxon Valdez oil tanker ran aground spewing millions of gallons of crude into Prince William Sound. A thick\ , sticky mass washed into thousands of bays and inlets. Media poured int o Cordova\, Alaska and images of oil-covered seabirds and otters flashed around the world. Exxon promised to make the environment and townspeopl e "whole." Black Wave masterfully integrates original news footage\, sho cking statistics\, and personal testimonies to produce a powerful indict ment of corporate greed and irresponsibility. Robert Cornellier lays bar e ExxonMobil's hypocrisy by exposing 20 years of tactics geared solely a t avoiding responsibility for the worst environmental disaster in North American history. Meanwhile\, the townspeople of Cordova fought and lost against ExxonMobil in the longest legal battle in US history\, while th e oil giant's annual profits rose from $5.2 to $40.6 billion. The verdic t: in a world run by multinationals\, citizens are on their own. Lynne F ernie. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/blackwavethelegacyoftheexxonvalde z_hotdocs2009 UID:2474903080-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T161500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T180300 SUMMARY:Action Boys DESCRIPTION:Anyone with an admiration for Asian action films knows that t he genre's acrobatic stunt work is decidedly more realistic than the cus hy\, impressionistic green-screen stunts of Hollywood fare (workplace sa fety standards evidently aren't the same overseas). And no one knows thi s better than Jung Byung-Gil\, a perpetual dreamer and movie junkie who is determined to become the next Stephen Chow. A delightfully sweet and self-deprecating look at one man's transition from film geek to stunt ma n\, Action Boys follows Jung and several of his classmates as they audit ion for and attend the Seoul Action School. The grueling training progra m takes its toll (only seven of the 34 students who begin the program gr aduate) but the survivors earn spots in such cult Korean action pics as City of Violence and The Host. Action Boys is an endearing\, tongue-in-c heek look at where your love for the movies can take you.\n \nCo-present ed with Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. CATEGORIES:Made In... LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/actionboys_hotdocs2009 UID:2474892110-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T161500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T174900 SUMMARY:Sweety. The Friends\, Betrayal and Murder of Maja Bradaric DESCRIPTION:A girl is seen from behind ... The wind whips her hair around her neck in a silent frenzy of tightening knots ... Everything happens behind her back. On November 17\, 2003\, Maja Bradaric was strangled by three of her friends. She was just 16. Maja's intimates ask themselves w hy none of them saw it coming. Gorgeous cinematography sets a sullen\, o therworldly mood\; the soundtrack speaks for the dead. Sweety innovates by combining actual home video with re-enactments so stylish they feel i nterchangeably real. Cell phone footage could be archival or artificial- it doesn't matter. Adolescence is a dream\, a fantasy without responsibi lity. Maja and her friends are typical teens: out of control\, grasping\ , testing\, and posturing. But the power dynamic of their clique is less typical. The love/hate turbulence in this peer group is extreme\, with frenemies plotting\, planning\, and concealing a murder. Angie Driscoll. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/sweetythefriendsbetrayalandmurder ofmajabradaric_hotdocs2009 UID:2474997712-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T175600 SUMMARY:Rembrandt’s J’Accuse DESCRIPTION:Peter Greenaway is one of the most innovative artists of our time. In his latest documentary\, the acclaimed director\, writer\, and visual artist takes up the role of champion of visual literacy by conduc ting a forensic search of Rembrandt's "The Night Watch." In the film's o pening shot at the stunning Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam\, Greenaway context ualizes Rembrandt's creation in the 17th century. As the painting fills the screen\, Greenaway launches the investigation of the painting's 34 c haracters in their collective conspiracy to kill. There's never a dull m oment. The camera acts as a magnifying glass\, scrutinizing the painting 's most subtle details as the plot unfolds. With a vibrant script and no shortage of humour and charm\, Greenaway is a naturally entertaining na rrator. He also enlists the cast of his 2007 film\, Nightwatching\, whos e dramatized interrogations provide a third dimension to complete the pi cture. This exquisitely executed art experiment is a triumphant renderin g of art appreciation. Karina Rotenstein.\n\nOfficial website: http://re mbrandt.submarine.nl/ CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/rembrandtsjaccuse_hotdocs2009 UID:2474986396-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T194700 SUMMARY:Broke DESCRIPTION:"They come because they're desperate. They need money\, for w hatever reason. Where else are they gonna get money? You don't see the w ay the poor people live until you come here and see it." - David Woolfso n\, owner\, A1 Trading\n\nIt's not a pretty picture\, but it's one power ful depiction of reality. A1 Trading\, a pawnshop in Edmonton's inner ci ty\, is the bank of last resort for junkies desperate for $10\, out-of-w ork men who have to pawn their equipment\, and two elderly Aboriginal la dies who need a bit of money for food. Woolfson\, a crusty old Jewish im migrant from South Africa\, had run the shop for 16 years when Chris Hoa rd\, a troubled young Aboriginal man\, started assisting him-for free. R osie Dransfeld brilliantly captures the relationship between the soft-he arted Woolfson and Hoard\, a self-confessed ex-con and psychopath\, whil e her cinéma-vérité style draws us deep into Broke's world of bargaining \, insults\, and desperation. Lynne Fernie. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/broke_hotdocs2009 UID:2474903767-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T195500 SUMMARY:Burma VJ: Reporting from a Closed Country DESCRIPTION:Burma VJ recounts the efforts of a small group of independent video journalists who risked torture and life in jail to ensure the tru th behind the country's 2007 political uprising was broadcast to the wor ld. Led by hundreds of Buddhist monks\, more than 100\,000 people marche d peacefully against the military junta that has held the country in an iron grip for 40 years-and that cracked down mercilessly on the protesto rs and the monks. Foreign TV crews were suddenly banned from the country \, leaving undercover video journalists armed with small handy cams to c apture the truth behind the events. Consisting largely of material shot by undercover reporters during the protests\, Burma VJ follows the effor ts of Joshua\, the 27-year-old leader of the Democratic Voice of Burma\, as he and a handful of others counter the propaganda of the military re gime. An insightful and dramatic document of history as it unfolds.\n\nC o-presented with Rights & Democracy. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/burmavjreportingfromaclosedcountr y_hotdocs2009 UID:2474903928-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T202800 SUMMARY:Farmer's Song DESCRIPTION:Protectionism and free trade are controversial issues that ca n have a tremendous impact on a nation's economic success and sovereignt y. They have received renewed attention in North America in recent month s\, but were at the forefront of the conversation in South Korea in 2006 and 2007 as a Free Trade Agreement between that country and the United States was being finalized. With their livelihoods already threatened by an influx of imported agricultural products\, farmers across South Kore a protested the impending policy\, doing everything from rallying in the face of heavily armed riot police to confronting store owners who sold US beef. A compelling document of their struggles\, Farmer's Song follow s the beleaguered farmers as they battle many opponents\, not least diss atisfaction and dissent from within their own ranks\, as those more comf ortable with a quiet\, agrarian lifestyle are forced to adopt aggressive urban methods to preserve their way of life.\n\nCo-presented with Toron to Reel Asian International Film Festival. CATEGORIES:Made In LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/farmerssong_hotdocs2009 UID:2474937473-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T203400 SUMMARY:Sergio DESCRIPTION:Sergio\, based on Pulitzer Prize-winner Samantha Power's grou ndbreaking biography\, Chasing the Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World\, is a riveting account of the amazing career a nd tragic final mission of the United Nations' High Commissioner for Hum an Rights\, Brazilian diplomat Sergio Vieira de Mello. Known to everyone simply as Sergio\, he was lauded for his ability to diffuse some of the most complicated situations in countries with some of the worst human r ights abuses. With his charming personality and his calm\, pragmatic sty le\, some likened him to a cross between James Bond and Bobby Kennedy. A t 55\, Sergio was in love and ready to settle down. But a crisis called him away one final time\, and because of who he was\, he had to answer. Sergio is an exceptional tribute to a rare man who valued humanitarianis m above all else. Shannon Abel. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/sergio_hotdocs2009 UID:2474993980-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T191500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T201000 SUMMARY:Chronicle of a Kidnap DESCRIPTION:On July 12\, 2006\, two Israeli soldiers\, Ehud Goldwasser an d Eldad Regev\, were kidnapped on the Lebanese-Israeli border by Hezboll ah forces\, triggering the Lebanon War. Chronicle of a Kidnap follows th e valiant efforts of Karnit Goldwasser\, Ehud's devoted wife\, and her m edia campaign to generate international pressure on the Israeli governme nt to negotiate the release of her husband. She meets with Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and other international leaders\, but everyone re mains silent and evasive. Nurit Kedar brilliantly illuminates the never- ending psychological warfare of terrorism and the government's silence b ehind its political motives. Do governments really protect their citizen s? Are all citizens valued equally? To Karnit Goldwasser\, the answers a re irrelevant. On her daily bike ride to the border of Lebanon\, hoping for some trace of her husband is her only chance of keeping him alive. K arina Rotenstein. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/chronicleofakidnap_hotdocs2009 UID:2474905698-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T191500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T203000 SUMMARY:Wild Hearts DESCRIPTION:Wanna go for a ride? The randy\, rollicking young men of the Wild Hearts\, a Danish moped club\, are hell-bent on escaping society's rules. In search of freedom\, they hit the road to Poland with only two goals in mind: building an even stronger brotherly bond and wringing adv enture out of all 1\,300 kilometres ahead. The hijinks come easily with comical scenes of drunken nudity\, ritual branding\, and a requisite gro up stop at a roadside sex shop. But the emotional journey proves rockier for some. Just because these metrosexual Vikings can openly\, and rathe r touchingly\, declare their love for one another doesn't mean it all wo n't come to a raucous head. Using a now-signature pumping soundtrack and dazzling visual style\, filmmaker Michael Noer crafts an energetic and unexpectedly emotional study of modern men. Come for an American Graffit i-meets-Jackass road movie\, stay for a surprisingly stirring "bromance. " Myrocia Watamaniuk. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/wildhearts_hotdocs2009 UID:2475000274-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T205000 SUMMARY:About Face: The Story of Gwendellin Bradshaw DESCRIPTION:As a baby\, Gwen Bradshaw was horribly disfigured after being tossed into a campfire by her distraught mother\, suffering from post-p artum psychosis. Her father\, unable to forgive her mother\, took Gwen a way and raised her on his own. She never saw her mother again. Now 24\, Gwen\, estranged from her father\, is recovering in a mental hospital af ter a suicide attempt. About Face picks up Gwen's incredible story as sh e begins a five-year journey to find the answers she needs to forgive\, heal\, and move forward. Gwen's inspirational efforts to change her life are filled with ups and downs. She attends a conference for burn victim s\, finds romance and heartbreak\, and connects with a half-sister. But her quest for self-acceptance culminates in the search for her mentally ill mother. Will meeting her mother give Gwen the sense of family and be longing she has longed for? Shannon Abel.\n\nCo-presented with Rendezvou s with Madness Film Festival. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/aboutfacethestoryofgwendellinbrad shaw_hotdocs2009 UID:2474891485-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T210000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T223000 SUMMARY:The Red Chapel DESCRIPTION:On the pretext of being a small Danish theatre troupe on a cu ltural exchange\, the Red Chapel was granted permission by the North Kor ean government to stage a performance for a select audience in the capit al. In reality\, the small troupe comprises an unscrupulous journalist\, Mads Brügger\, and two Danish/Korean comedians\, Jacob and Simon. Jacob is handicapped\, or as he calls it\, a "spastic." Their goal is to use humour to expose the intricate effects of an oppressive regime. The film follows the troupe as they are lovingly yet firmly escorted by a mother ly government employee around the important historical sights\, and as t hey "collaborate" with other government officials on their performance. Meanwhile\, their double life is wearing on Jacob who feels conflicting emotions of affection and hatred for his hosts. With a sensibility simil ar to that of Lars Von Triers' The Idiots\, The Red Chapel is a darkly h umorous look inside the North Korean dictatorship. Shannon Abel. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/theredchapel_hotdocs2009 UID:2474985838-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T211500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T223600 SUMMARY:End of the Line DESCRIPTION:The world is running out of fish\, and it's due to the most e fficient predators the world has ever known-humans. If we continue to ov erfish at the present rate\, scientists estimate that the fish we know a nd love (to eat) will disappear from grocery shelves and seafood counter s by 2048. Goodbye grouper\, toodles tilapia\, so long sushi. In the wak e of the 1990s cod collapse\, journalist and author Charles Clover focus es on the imminent depletion of commercial stocks of bluefin tuna as the latest example of a species on the verge of extinction. Trawling\, fish farming\, big business\, politicking\, and lack of law enforcement all contribute to this deep-running dilemma. The End of the Line is an upset ting wake-up call that demands a moral examination of our greed and stup idity. No water is safe as long as humans are hungry and a demand exists . Angie Driscoll.\n\nCo-presented with Planet in Focus International Env ironmental Film and Video Festival. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/endoftheline_hotdocs2009 UID:2474908282-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T211500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T223000 SUMMARY:Objectified DESCRIPTION:From telephones to toothpicks\, nearly everything that fills our world is designed. Objects look and work the way they do because som eone made them that way. Director Gary Hustwit examines industrial desig n's sweeping cultural impact with the same curiosity and cinematic craft of his graphic design hit\, Helvetica. International stars including Ka rim Rashid\, Marc Newson\, Apple's Jonathan Ive\, and Braun's Dieter Ram s share their philosophies and fab products\, bringing the driving force s of the field into perfectly composed focus: "good" industrial design m akes the product supreme\, but the design invisible. In an age where for ms cannot possibly resemble the myriad of functions they now perform\, h owever\, what will our world look like? How does design's drive for "new and improved" reconcile with environmental sustainability? And how do i ndividuals express themselves through mass-produced "stuff"? Objectified is a fascinating look at our relationship with objects and the people w ho design them. Myrocia Watamaniuk.\n\nCo-presented with Design Exchange . CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/objectified_hotdocs2009 UID:2474971273-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T213000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T223000 SUMMARY:Aka Ana DESCRIPTION:For far too long\, sex workers have been stigmatized and misu nderstood. Aka Ana offers a profound yet transgressive and raw depiction of their world\, leaving no safety net for the audience. Photographer a nd visual auteur Antoine d'Agata travels to the dark sexual underground of urban Japan\, meeting with prostitutes\, porn stars\, and junkies. He broodingly yet sensually illustrates the women as they perform various explicit sex acts\, sadomasochism\, and drug injections. By cleverly lay ering their narrations\, d'Agata reveals their intimate stories of pleas ure\, isolation\, trauma\, and desire. The women are the protagonists of the film\, and their scenarios\, coupled with their brutally sobering a ccounts\, clearly unveil all the conflicting intricacies of feminine sex uality\, from masturbation\, to the power of orgasms\, to violence. Aka Ana is a daring and provocatively intense subterranean experience. D'Aga ta's true achievement is his artful and multi-sensory approach to helpin g us understand these women and to expanding our own fearful boundaries. Karina Rotenstein.\n \nCo-presented with CONTACT Toronto Photography Fe stival. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/akaana_hotdocs2009 UID:2474892826-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T213000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T223600 SUMMARY:City of Borders DESCRIPTION:In the heart of Jerusalem stands an unusual symbol of unity t hat defies generations of segregation\, violence\, and prejudice: a gay bar called Shushan. People of opposing nationalities and religions gathe r here to find acceptance and community while religious fundamentalists strive to reverse anti-discrimination laws. City of Borders follows the intersecting lives of several Shushan regulars in their daily struggle f or dignity and acceptance. The bar's founder\, Sa'ar\, fights for visibi lity and ethnic diversity. Palestinian Samira tries to remain as devoted to her family as she is to her Jewish lover. Devout Muslim Boody risks his life sneaking through razor wire from the West Bank\, while former I sraeli soldier Adam Russo is stabbed by an Orthodox Jew while marching i n Jerusalem's gay pride parade. Yun Suh's thoughtful and inspiring film explores the bond that is forged when people from warring worlds embrace their inherent commonalities rather than be defined by their difference s.\n\nCo-presented with The Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film and Video Festi val. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/cityofborders_hotdocs2009 UID:2474905806-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T230800 SUMMARY:Rene DESCRIPTION:Through letters and interviews spanning 20 years\, filmmaker Helena Trestíková tracks René's transformation from a thin-skinned\, zit -faced juvie into a hard-nosed\, tattooed criminal. A harsh two-and-a-ha lf year sentence for stealing less than $1\,000 triggered René's life of crime and punishment. Rather than reform him\, incarceration formed him -into the ultimate nihilist. Prison became home\, a place to spend Chris tmases\, a quiet place to write. Once out of jail\, René struggles to fi t into a society that has changed as much as he has over the past two de cades. René provocatively questions the filmmaker-subject dynamic. René robs Helena\, asks her out\, manipulates and charms her\, all the while assuming the role of victim as Trestíková's "object of study\," a whore selling scraps of his life to the audience. You wonder if\, in a twisted way\, René messes up on purpose just to exercise some personal freedom in the bad choices that he makes. Angie Driscoll.\n\nOfficial website: h ttp://www.negativ.cz/cz/films/rene/ CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/rene_hotdocs2009 UID:2474986488-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T231700 SUMMARY:Reporter DESCRIPTION:The job of the print journalist in this day of media saturati on is doubly hard as two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times op-e d columnist Nicholas Kristof knows all too well. Kristof\, whose writing has drawn international attention to humanitarian atrocities in places like Darfur and China\, not only has to negotiate dangerous characters a nd life-threatening situations in order to accurately report events\, bu t must also ensure his story will galvanize an increasingly jaded reader . Reporter follows Kristof on a trek through the ravaged villages of the Democratic Republic of Congo\, a disaster zone where 5.4 million have d ied in the last decade as a result of unceasing warfare over territory\, resources\, and tribal hatred. Eric Daniel Metzgar's account of Kristof 's mission results in a fascinating profile of a driven reporter and a p oignant reflection on the state of humanitarianism. Shannon Abel.\n\nCo- presented with The Canadian Association of Journalists. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/reporter_hotdocs2009 UID:2474987250-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090504T234500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T003400 SUMMARY:Ascension DESCRIPTION:A surreal\, cosmic trip compiled primarily from the previousl y unseen archives of the Soviet space program\, Ascension is a hypnotic montage of remarkable beauty\, discovery\, and weirdness. Where else can you see early rocket launches\, footage of training tests\, and experim ents and artifacts from a bygone era of space exploration intercut with experimental animation films and archival images of China's rise from ag ricultural society to industrial neophyte? Comprised almost entirely of found footage\, Ascension paints an alternately amusing\, beguiling\, an d chilling portrait of the things mankind was willing to do to launch in to the stratosphere. Compulsory viewing for cinephiles and retro sci-fi geeks. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/ascension_hotdocs2009 UID:2474898411-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T122700 SUMMARY:The Sound of Insects: Record of a Mummy DESCRIPTION:A hunter in a remote and idyllic forest stumbles on a make-sh ift tent fashioned from sheets of plastic and containing the mummified r emains of a corpse. A detailed journal found on site reveals the man com mitted suicide by self-imposed starvation. Who was this man? Why did he kill himself in such a manner? Inspired by this true event and by the no vella Until I Am a Mummy by Shimada Masahiko\, Insects sensuously evokes the mysterious man's last days. Director Peter Liechti\, known for usin g experimental and impressionistic elements in his documentaries\, layer s lush images and sounds from the forest with sudden cacophonous flashes from an anonymous urban setting to draw us into the mummy's experience. Driving the story is narration-affectingly performed by Canadian filmma ker Peter Mettler-from the mummy's journal entries. Insects is a hypnoti c\, mesmerizing affirmation of life from one man's radical renunciation of it. Shannon Abel.\n\nCo-presented with Rendezvous with Madness Film F estival.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.peterliechti.ch CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/thesoundofinsectsrecordofamummy_h otdocs2009 UID:2474995136-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T131900 SUMMARY:Bastion of Sin DESCRIPTION:When a Stuttgart theatre director assembles an amateur and al l-Turkish cast of women in his modern production of Medea\, more drama e xplodes off stage than on. Designed to examine Eastern and Western image s of women\, the production asks each cast member to contribute her own personal story to the play's experimental script. Headstrong housewife A ysel is the only headscarf-wearing Turk in the bunch and soon takes it u pon her sassy self to defend her traditional views against the more mode rn ideas of the others. Cameras capture exceedingly intelligent discussi ons about religion\, "oppression\," and sex in this politically and reli giously diverse group. But as the exchanges become increasingly personal \, Aysel soon finds her commitment to the play and her newly found frien dships put to the test. Winner of a Golden Dove at DOK Leipzig\, Bastion of Sin presents one of the year's most thoughtful and entertaining disc ussions of identity and tolerance. Myrocia Watamaniuk.\n\nCo-presented w ith International Diaspora Film Festival. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/bastionofsin_hotdocs2009 UID:2474900570-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T143000 SUMMARY:Hot Docs Talks 2: Dangerous Ideas I DESCRIPTION:Guest filmmakers discuss their approach to making films about hot button topics. CATEGORIES:Hot Docs Talks LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/hotdocstalks2dangerousideasi_hotd ocs2009 UID:2474940251-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T144300 SUMMARY:Orgasm Inc. DESCRIPTION:Forty-three per cent of American women suffer from female sex ual dysfunction. Or do they? Can female sexual dysfunction even be consi dered a disease\, or is it only marketed as one by profit-hungry pharmac eutical companies looking to create demand in need of a supply? After ed iting porn to be used in research conducted by the drug company Vivus-wh ich was racing against Big Pharma firms to develop a Viagra equivalent f or women-documentary filmmaker Liz Canner set out to dissect the corpora te commoditization of perfectly normal sexual problems. Along the way\, Canner encounters a sex shop owner who crashes pharmaceutical conference s to educate the doctors who attend\, a vintage vibrator collector who p rovides insight into the history of female "hysteria\," an orgasmatron\, and a man whose monkeys have taught him to pay more attention to women. Upbeat\, engaging\, enlightening\, and provocative\, Orgasm\, Inc. will change the way you think about sex. CATEGORIES:Lets Make Money LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/orgasminc_hotdocs2009 UID:2474972001-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T150000 SUMMARY:The Red Chapel DESCRIPTION:On the pretext of being a small Danish theatre troupe on a cu ltural exchange\, the Red Chapel was granted permission by the North Kor ean government to stage a performance for a select audience in the capit al. In reality\, the small troupe comprises an unscrupulous journalist\, Mads Brügger\, and two Danish/Korean comedians\, Jacob and Simon. Jacob is handicapped\, or as he calls it\, a "spastic." Their goal is to use humour to expose the intricate effects of an oppressive regime. The film follows the troupe as they are lovingly yet firmly escorted by a mother ly government employee around the important historical sights\, and as t hey "collaborate" with other government officials on their performance. Meanwhile\, their double life is wearing on Jacob who feels conflicting emotions of affection and hatred for his hosts. With a sensibility simil ar to that of Lars Von Triers' The Idiots\, The Red Chapel is a darkly h umorous look inside the North Korean dictatorship. Shannon Abel. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/theredchapel_hotdocs2009 UID:2474985949-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T153000 SUMMARY:Intangible Asset Number 82 DESCRIPTION:When innovative Australian jazz drummer Simon Barker hears a rare recording of Korean shaman Kim Seok-Chul-a grand master playing wit h immense energy and complex technique-he immediately knows he must meet Kim and learn from him. Barker's discovery that the enigmatic Kim is of ficially recognized as South Korea's "82nd intangible asset" only motiva tes him further. Setting out to find the elusive shaman\, Barker's journ ey becomes a rite of passage as he encounters engaging and exotic charac ters and overcomes cultural obstacles. But can he overcome the march of time? The 80-year-old Kim proves to be difficult to find\, and the strai n of the search takes its toll on Barker. Along the way\, Barker uncover s a deeper meaning to self-expression and transformation. An inspiring f ilm that will renew your faith in the power of music. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/intangibleassetnumber82_hotdocs20 09 UID:2474940740-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T141500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T154300 SUMMARY:Cooking History DESCRIPTION:Who would have imagined that wars could also be fought with p ots\, pans\, and pepper shakers? Military chefs have a unique\, and unti l now\, unshared influence on the battlefield. "A hungry soldier doesn't feel safe\," explains a sausage-wielding army cook. Feeding troops is a tactical strategy used to truly astounding results in major European co nflicts of the 20th century. A Russian woman's meat blintzes provide 11 million soldiers the necessary courage to conquer in the Second World Wa r. A Jewish prison camp breadmaker executes a plan against his Nazi capt ors with the only tools at his disposal. Tito's personal chef shares the state dinner menus whose warring national cuisines foretell the Balkan War itself. By turns wry and rousing\, the personal stories of history's forgotten witnesses quietly humanize war's unrecorded battles and their costs. Six wars\, 10 recipes\, and 60\,361\,024 dead - Cooking History is a fascinating retelling of the past. Myrocia Watamaniuk. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/cookinghistory_hotdocs2009 UID:2474906245-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T174700 SUMMARY:My Greatest Escape DESCRIPTION:Former thief and mobster Michel Vaujour always chose freedom over a life behind bars\, adventure over a life of submission. He spent 27 years in prison\, including 17 in solitary confinement. He succeeded in carrying out amazing escapes-five in total-worthy of a Hollywood scri pt\, the most notorious of which involved a firearm made out of soap and a daring helicopter break-out organized by his wife. Vaujour also exper ienced some of the most challenging conditions the penal system can infl ict\, an isolation that continuously forced him to confront himself and his demons. The reward has been self-enlightenment and an enviable under standing of life. By turns dramatic\, tender\, and philosophical\, Fabie nne Godet's film is an uplifting and universal story of a remarkable tra nsformation. Vaujour's greatest escape was not from jail but from himsel f: the liberation of the mind and ultimately\, the soul.\n\nCo-presented with Cinefranco. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/mygreatestescape_hotdocs2009 UID:2474970324-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T172600 SUMMARY:Shadow Billionaire DESCRIPTION:Billionaire Larry Hillblom\, founder of the worldwide courier company DHL\, disappears following a 1995 plane crash off the coast of his secluded Micronesian home. Leaving a massive fortune bound by a curi ously general will\, would-be heirs start coming out of the woodwork. Wh at emerges from the ensuing legal battle over his estate\, however\, lea ves all who knew the enigmatic tycoon in shock. Hillblom enjoyed both th e liberal lifestyle and tax laws of the US territory island of Saipan. B ut just how far did his interest in young island bar girls extend? For a n experienced lawyer and shrewd businessman\, why is his will so loosely worded? Why are his "trusted" estate trustees so reluctant to settle th e paternity claims? One by one\, Shadow Billionaire reveals the thrillin g twists in a staggering case of greed and scandal that exposes one man' s secrets and an island's startling truths. Myrocia Watamaniuk.\n\nOffic ial website: http://shadowbillionaire.com/ CATEGORIES:Lets Make Money LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/shadowbillionaire_hotdocs2009 UID:2474994236-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T161500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T174000 SUMMARY:Themis as a Lady of Loose Morals DESCRIPTION:Viktar Dashuk's shocking and compelling film examines the ori gins of oppression in contemporary Belarus\, skillfully crafting a conde mning indictment of the Belarusian social justice system and of Presiden t Alexander Lukashenko's brutal authoritarian regime. Working under cons tant state surveillance in a country where dissenting journalists and po liticians have been kidnapped and killed\, Dashuk outlines how Lukashenk o brought the legal system and the state under his exclusive control. Da shuk's camera is present when the election commission headquarters of th e 2004 referendum are raided by Lukashenko's thugs. Describing his count ry as a dictatorship where Themis\, goddess of justice and morality\, ha s degenerated into a lady of easy virtue seeking her own self-interest\, Dashuk uses damning evidence-show trials against the innocent\, the dis appearance and destruction of political opponents\, the use of brute vio lence against anyone that opposes the ruling powers-to draw a direct lin e from the methods of Stalin to the rule of Lukashenko. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/themisasaladyofloosemorals_hotdoc s2009 UID:2474997838-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T175900 SUMMARY:Children of God DESCRIPTION:Nepalese Hindus believe the Bagmati River flows directly to h eaven\, gathering the souls of those who are cremated at the steps of th e Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu and carrying them off to their new h ome. But for 12-year-old Alesh Poudel\, home is on the streets next to t he temple. Fishing for coins from the river with magnets and scavenging everything from gold fillings to offerings to the gods\, Alesh and his y oung siblings eke out a contented life from the river\, while a more dan gerous one lures them to the nearby city streets. Director Yi Seung-Juni 's close relationship with-and paternal concern for-his subjects comes t hrough clearly and tenderly in the sincerity and intimacy they share wit h each other and with the camera. Children of God is a beautifully compo sed\, moving and poetic portrait of a life lived on the steps of heaven. \n\nCo-presented with Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. CATEGORIES:Made In... LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/childrenofgod_hotdocs2009 UID:2474905285-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T164500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T173400 SUMMARY:Ascension DESCRIPTION:A surreal\, cosmic trip compiled primarily from the previousl y unseen archives of the Soviet space program\, Ascension is a hypnotic montage of remarkable beauty\, discovery\, and weirdness. Where else can you see early rocket launches\, footage of training tests\, and experim ents and artifacts from a bygone era of space exploration intercut with experimental animation films and archival images of China's rise from ag ricultural society to industrial neophyte? Comprised almost entirely of found footage\, Ascension paints an alternately amusing\, beguiling\, an d chilling portrait of the things mankind was willing to do to launch in to the stratosphere. Compulsory viewing for cinephiles and retro sci-fi geeks. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/ascension_hotdocs2009 UID:2474898418-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T201300 SUMMARY:Rough Aunties DESCRIPTION:Fearless\, feisty\, and resolute\, the "Rough Aunties" are a remarkable group of women unwavering in their stand to protect and care for the abused\, neglected\, and forgotten children of Durban\, South Af rica. This latest documentary by internationally acclaimed director Kim Longinotto follows the outspoken\, multiracial cadre of Thuli\, Mildred\ , Sdudla\, Eureka\, and Jackie who work for Bobbi Bear\, a child welfare organization\, as they wage a daily battle against systemic apathy\, co rruption\, and greed to help the most vulnerable and disenfranchised of their communities. Despite the harsh realities of violence\, poverty\, a nd racism in the women's work and in the heartaches of their personal li ves\, the portraits that emerge on screen are filled with grace\, wisdom \, friendship\, and a deeply stirring conviction. Once again Longinotto offers an intimate portrait of change from Africa\, this time from post- apartheid South Africa\, a nation being transformed by hope and energy i nto a new democracy. Shannon Abel.\n\nCo-presented with Oxfam Canada. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/roughaunties_hotdocs2009 UID:2474992054-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T195200 SUMMARY:Which Way Home DESCRIPTION:Each year\, thousands of people in Latin America risk their l ives to make the long journey north through Mexico in search of a better life in the United States. Many are forced to leave their families behi nd\, hoping that one day they can either return with new-found wealth or bring their families to join them. Rebecca Cammisa's enlightening and h eart-wrenching film follows three unaccompanied children as they make th e dangerous and demanding trek through Latin America to the US. As the c hildren meet all manner of challenges along the way\, they are awaited b y their anxious parents who themselves have faced an arduous journey in establishing a new life for their families in the land of opportunity. A ward-winning director Cammisa brings a compassionate eye to this thought ful portrait of the journey to achieve the American dream. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/whichwayhome_hotdocs2009 UID:2475000097-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T201500 SUMMARY:Hair India DESCRIPTION:India has always been praised for her idyllic standard of bea uty\, from women's saris to her skin and hair. But now\, even she has un dergone a Western makeover. Hair India takes outsourcing to a new level in this fascinating exposé of a lucrative Indian export: hair. It begins in West Bengal where a young girl donates her hair to the temple. The h air is then sorted by an assembly line of women (with the sound of their bangles keeping rhythm)\, and sold to Great Lengths\, an Italian compan y that sells the plaits as hair extensions to wealthy women around the w orld. Along the way\, we meet the players\, from the hair donors and dea lers to Sangreeta\, who represents the modern Indian working woman and t he Westernization of India's beauty standards. Hair India effortlessly i llustrates how globalization\, marketing of vanity\, and traditional rit uals can all contribute to create a lucrative enterprise. Karina Rotenst ein.\n\nCo-presented with FILMI South Asian Film Festival. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/hairindia_hotdocs2009 UID:2474940009-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T201500 SUMMARY:Old Partner DESCRIPTION:The Year of the Ox affords us an opportunity to better unders tand this noble beast\, which is capable of enduring any amount of hards hip but is also extremely stubborn and stuck in its ways. Watching Lee C hung-ryoul's sweet\, witty\, and poignant film\, it's difficult to deter mine whether that description is best applied to 80-year-old Choi\, a ne arly deaf farmer who walks with a limp\, or his 40-year-old ox. Choi's w ife would like to ease their hard work with more modern conveniences\, l ike insecticides and a tractor\, but that would mean dispensing with the faithful ox\, even though it seems ready to drop dead at any moment. Fo llowing Choi\, his wife\, and their ailing ox through the course of a se emingly uneventful year\, Lee crafts a charming and increasingly emotion al tale that gradually takes on the arc of a fable. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/oldpartner_hotdocs2009 UID:2474971445-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T191500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T201500 SUMMARY:69 DESCRIPTION:Since 1982\, the Youth House on the outskirts of Copenhagen h as provided a safe haven for punks\, queers\, freaks\, and pretty much a nyone else who doesn't fit into society. When local government votes to remove the outsiders\, they refuse to go down without a fight. 69 provid es incredible access to the activists whose situational pranks and media spin give way to violent protests and arrests. This is a battle royale between the establishment and the disenfranchised-youth facing off again st police\, squatters resisting condo developers\, anarchists debating p oliticians. What's at stake? A sense of belonging and a place to call ho me. What happens to democracy when you don't have a say in it? Deny peop le their individuality and watch them explode! A suspenseful primer on w hat happens when both sides refuse to negotiate. Angie Driscoll. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/69_hotdocs2009 UID:2474891164-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T191500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T203900 SUMMARY:The Way We Get By DESCRIPTION:Bangor International Airport in Maine is the launching pad fo r troops on their way to Iraq and Afghanistan. It's also their first gli mpse of home when they return. A small group of Bangor senior citizens h ave made it their mission to personally welcome and send off each indivi dual soldier. Since 2003\, they have greeted more than 800\,000. The Way We Get By follows Bill\, Joan\, and Jerry as they sit on "hot standby." Joan\, who struggles with chronic pain\, often sleeps in her recliner a waiting a call that a plane is arriving. Jerry and his faithful dog Flan agan have become so attached to the airport they often sit in a car at t he end of the runway to watch the planes take off. Bill\, who battles fi nancial debt and loneliness\, is always the first to greet the troops as they arrive. A moving look at what millions of seniors face every day. Shannon Abel.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.thewaywegetbymovie.com CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/thewaywegetby_hotdocs2009 UID:2474999716-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T205200 SUMMARY:Antoine DESCRIPTION:Some imaginations are more seductive than others\, and Antoin e Hoang's is irresistible. His is a magical universe of invention\, laug hter\, private detective mysteries\, and everyday discoveries. Blind sin ce he was a baby\, five-year-old Antoine "sees" the world with his finge rtips\, ears\, nose\, and mouth. With these highly attuned senses\, he h unts for sound with his detective kit of brain and microphone\, searchin g for clues and reimagining the world. Integrated into the regular schoo l system in Montreal\, he plays with his friends\, takes attendance in c lass\, cries when he's sad\, and yells when he's mad. It's only in rare and poignant moments of misunderstandings with friends\, or his struggle s in gym and art class\, that we remember he sees differently. Adults re main on the periphery with the camera at boy's-eye view in this innovati ve magic-realist collaboration between director Laura Bari and young Ant oine. Gisèle Gordon.\n\nCo-presented with Women in Film and Television - Toronto. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/antoine_hotdocs2009 UID:2474897320-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T211500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T224500 SUMMARY:The Yes Men Fix The World DESCRIPTION:In December 2004\, BBC World viewers tuned in to receive the surprising but welcome news that Dow Chemical was fully accepting respon sibility for the 1984 Bhopal disaster\, a toxic gas leak in which 18\,00 0 people were killed. Even better\, Dow spokesman 'Jude Finisterra' anno unced a $12-billion aid package for the people of Bhopal. The broadcast was seen by millions. The Yes Men had struck again. Gonzo journalists\, media pranksters\, Swiftian satirists\, the Yes Men are Andy Bichlbaum a nd Mike Bonanno. They pose as corporate spokespersons\, make uncanny rep licas of company websites\, and infamously published a spot-on parody of the New York Times. Among the headlines: "Iraq War Ends" and "Nation Se ts Its Sights On Building Sane Economy." It's screwball nonfiction with a pointed purpose. Can they find a way to defeat the cult of greed and s ave civilization from its excesses? Yes\, they can. Sean Farnel. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/theyesmenfixtheworld_hotdocs2009 UID:2475000796-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T211500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T224500 SUMMARY:Tyson DESCRIPTION:Barely removed from the string of lurid headlines that marked his final years as a celebrity boxer\, it's easy to forget that\, in hi s prime\, Mike Tyson was among the dominant athletes of his era. That's one of the things that James Toback's doc on Tyson reminds us of: that h e was a feared and ferocious opponent. The other is how little we questi on the basis for our understanding of popular figures\, how uncomplicate d people become when they're tabloid fodder. Toback\, a friend of Tyson\ , returns some of the complexity and dignity to our perception of Mike T yson. Yet this isn't hagiography. Essentially a lengthy interview with T yson\, interspersed with riveting footage from his fight career\, Toback prompts Iron Mike on all aspects of his personal and professional life. In turn\, Tyson is raw\, candid\, introspective and\, yes\, thoughtful. An engaging look at a complicated life. Sean Farnel. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/tyson_hotdocs2009 UID:2478785866-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T213000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T230000 SUMMARY:The Cove DESCRIPTION:This devastating thriller is compulsory viewing for anybody w ho believes in the power of documentary to right a wrong. In the 1960s\, Richard O'Barry was the world's leading authority on dolphin training\, working on the set of the popular television program Flipper. Day in an d day out\, O'Barry kept the dolphins working and television audiences s miling. But one day\, it all came to a tragic end. The Cove\, directed b y top dive photographer Louie Psihoyos\, tells the amazing story of how Psihoyos\, O'Barry\, and an elite team of activists\, filmmakers\, and f reedivers embarked on a covert mission to penetrate a hidden cove in Jap an\, shining light on a dark and deadly secret. The mysteries they uncov ered were only the tip of the iceberg. Already the Audience Award-winnin g film at Sundance 2009\, The Cove is a potent\, unforgettable work\, an d sure to be one the year's most acclaimed documentaries. Sean Farnel. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/thecove_hotdocs2009 UID:2474907110-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T213000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T224200 SUMMARY:Kashmir: Journey to Freedom DESCRIPTION:Once described by Gandhi as a pillar of light in a region los t in darkness\, Kashmir has become a land of terror and despair\, charac terized by constant raids\, human rights violations\, and a soldier-to-c ivilian ratio of 1:10-the highest in the world. And yet years of militan t protests and revolts ended in 2007 when former guerrilla leader Yasin Malik emerged from a coma-inflicted while fleeing from authorities-to ad opt a practice of non-violent resistance. As meditative as it is informa tive\, this passionate documentary by Israeli-American filmmaker Udi Alo ni profiles Malik and other dedicated activists as they lead a new gener ation of Kashmiri in a struggle for peace and independence. Like Malik\, the film aims to revive the Kashmiri tradition of religious and ethnic co-existence. It has already raised the ire of the Indian government\, w hich banned Aloni from re-entering Kashmir after the film premiered at t he Berlin Film Festival in February. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/kashmirjourneytofreedom_hotdocs20 09 UID:2474941473-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T224500 SUMMARY:Diary of a Times Square Thief DESCRIPTION:If you looked back at your life\, what would you regret? Dire ctor Klaas Bense ponders this question after purchasing a mysterious dia ry on EBay. The diary belonged to a young man who moved to New York City in the 1980s\, aspiring to become the next William Burroughs. Though ta lented\, the young writer fails to be published and quickly descends int o a life of drugs and crime. Inspired by the stories and photos captured in the diary\, Bense travels to New York to discover what has become of the young writer and those who crossed his path. Through intimate inter views with former residents of the notorious Times Square Hotel\, we are reminded to look deeper into the forgotten faces we encounter everyday. Filled with vivid character portraits and haunting images of New York's seedy underground\, Diary of a Times Square Thief meditates on redempti on\, fate\, and the beauty of human connection. Lynne Crocker. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/diaryofatimessquarethief_hotdocs2 009 UID:2474907707-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T224400 SUMMARY:Wild Art: Olly and Suzi DESCRIPTION:For British nature artists Olly and Suzi\, working on site me ans up close to their subjects-really close. Foregoing cages and protect ive gear\, they paint nose-to-nose and brush-to-claw with the world's fi ercest predators. An understandably nervous camera catches them quickly fixing the details of African wild dogs\, great white sharks\, and leopa rd seals. As filmmaker Rupert Murray (who also directs this year's End o f the Line) questions their adrenaline antics\, unexpected images emerge . Olly\, a six-foot two-inch ex-bouncer\, and Suzi\, a waifish art schoo l phenom\, make an odd pair. Odder still is their fascinating technique. Not only do they share one canvas\, hand over hand completing each othe r's strokes\, they invite their subjects to join in. Bite marks and hoof tracks document the animal that is but briefly passing them\, and possi bly the planet. Wild Art: Olly and Suzi offers a rare glimpse inside nat ure's wild beauty and two equally wild creative spirits. Myrocia Wataman iuk.\n\nCo-presented with Toronto Free Gallery.\n\nOfficial website: htt p://www.arcanepictures.co.uk CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/wildartollyandsuzi_hotdocs2009 UID:2475006332-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T220000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T232300 SUMMARY:Jazz Baroness DESCRIPTION:Young Pannonica "Nica" Rothschild has it all. As the beautifu l heiress to one of the world's largest fortunes\, she lives a life of 1 950s decadence. But on her way to catch a jet out of JFK to meet her hus band\, she stops to hear a jazz record by a struggling musician. She nev er makes her plane. So taken with the unknown's musical talents\, Nica b raves social censure\, and even jail\, to cultivate the genius of the no w-legendary Thelonious Monk. Rescuing instruments from pawn shops\, even shepherding bands to gigs in her Bentley\, this white Jewish woman beco mes an unlikely freedom fighter for a generation of black artists\, a pa tron saint for the bebop movement. Combining interviews with luminaries Quincy Jones\, Sonny Rollins\, and Clint Eastwood with Nica's personal l etters read by Helen Mirren\, filmmaker Hannah Rothschild\, Nica's great -niece\, crafts a fascinating love story between an indomitable woman\, a musical giant\, and the jazz that bewitched them both. Myrocia Wataman iuk.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.thejazzbaroness.com CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/jazzbaroness_hotdocs2009 UID:2474941345-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090505T235900 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T012500 SUMMARY:Graphic Sexual Horror DESCRIPTION:At its height\, Insex.com\, a notorious "torture porn" websit e\, boasted 35\,000 members. Who were these users? Who was the site's cr eator? Who were its models? Known within the industry as the "Michelange lo of porn\," Insex founder Brent Scott gets off on coercion\, terror\, Wonder Woman\, Baudrillard\, Japanese bondage\, and serial killers. Afte r years of struggling to explore his artistic practice within academia a nd the art world\, Scott retreated to the Internet. Live web feeds provi ded him with unheard of opportunities for interactivity and participatio n. The videodrome spectacle of six-hour S&M marathons guaranteed the sit e's instant success. But with money came power\, followed by the realiza tion that porn wasn't art. Soon the models' safe words were gagged by co ld hard cash. Scott's aesthetic goal of showing female orgasms devolved into a selfish pursuit of sexual gratification. And what began as a pomo experiment resulted in a porno empire. Angie Driscoll. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/graphicsexualhorror_hotdocs2009 UID:2474939743-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T124300 SUMMARY:Rough Aunties DESCRIPTION:Fearless\, feisty\, and resolute\, the "Rough Aunties" are a remarkable group of women unwavering in their stand to protect and care for the abused\, neglected\, and forgotten children of Durban\, South Af rica. This latest documentary by internationally acclaimed director Kim Longinotto follows the outspoken\, multiracial cadre of Thuli\, Mildred\ , Sdudla\, Eureka\, and Jackie who work for Bobbi Bear\, a child welfare organization\, as they wage a daily battle against systemic apathy\, co rruption\, and greed to help the most vulnerable and disenfranchised of their communities. Despite the harsh realities of violence\, poverty\, a nd racism in the women's work and in the heartaches of their personal li ves\, the portraits that emerge on screen are filled with grace\, wisdom \, friendship\, and a deeply stirring conviction. Once again Longinotto offers an intimate portrait of change from Africa\, this time from post- apartheid South Africa\, a nation being transformed by hope and energy i nto a new democracy. Shannon Abel.\n\nCo-presented with Oxfam Canada. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/roughaunties_hotdocs2009 UID:2474992080-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T125500 SUMMARY:Chronicle of a Kidnap DESCRIPTION:On July 12\, 2006\, two Israeli soldiers\, Ehud Goldwasser an d Eldad Regev\, were kidnapped on the Lebanese-Israeli border by Hezboll ah forces\, triggering the Lebanon War. Chronicle of a Kidnap follows th e valiant efforts of Karnit Goldwasser\, Ehud's devoted wife\, and her m edia campaign to generate international pressure on the Israeli governme nt to negotiate the release of her husband. She meets with Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and other international leaders\, but everyone re mains silent and evasive. Nurit Kedar brilliantly illuminates the never- ending psychological warfare of terrorism and the government's silence b ehind its political motives. Do governments really protect their citizen s? Are all citizens valued equally? To Karnit Goldwasser\, the answers a re irrelevant. On her daily bike ride to the border of Lebanon\, hoping for some trace of her husband is her only chance of keeping him alive. K arina Rotenstein. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/chronicleofakidnap_hotdocs2009 UID:2474905705-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T144000 SUMMARY:Rachel DESCRIPTION:"I'm really new to talking about Israel/Palestine\, so I don' t really know the political implications of my words\," wrote Rachel Cor rie\, early in her days as a peace activist in the Gaza Strip. Along wit h other members of the International Solidarity Movement\, she was in Ga za to protest and to bear witness to the destruction of Palestinian home s by the Israel Defense Forces. On March 16\, 2003\, Corrie was killed a ttempting to obstruct an armed bulldozer from clearing land. Whether her death was intentional or an accident remains disputed. Regardless\, bot h Corrie's death and the words she left behind-drawn from journals and c orrespondence with family and friends-continue to have significant polit ical implications. Simone Bitton's rigorous cinematic autopsy of the eve nts leading up to Corrie's death is the most thorough account to date. Y et beyond an investigation of the facts\, Rachel is a taut\, intimate po rtrait of youth\, idealism\, and action. Sean Farnel.\n\nOfficial websit e: http://www.umedia.fr CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/rachel_hotdocs2009 UID:2474984122-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T134500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T151000 SUMMARY:Burma VJ: Reporting from a Closed Country DESCRIPTION:Burma VJ recounts the efforts of a small group of independent video journalists who risked torture and life in jail to ensure the tru th behind the country's 2007 political uprising was broadcast to the wor ld. Led by hundreds of Buddhist monks\, more than 100\,000 people marche d peacefully against the military junta that has held the country in an iron grip for 40 years-and that cracked down mercilessly on the protesto rs and the monks. Foreign TV crews were suddenly banned from the country \, leaving undercover video journalists armed with small handy cams to c apture the truth behind the events. Consisting largely of material shot by undercover reporters during the protests\, Burma VJ follows the effor ts of Joshua\, the 27-year-old leader of the Democratic Voice of Burma\, as he and a handful of others counter the propaganda of the military re gime. An insightful and dramatic document of history as it unfolds.\n\nC o-presented with Rights & Democracy. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/burmavjreportingfromaclosedcountr y_hotdocs2009 UID:2474903934-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T150000 SUMMARY:Diary of a Times Square Thief DESCRIPTION:If you looked back at your life\, what would you regret? Dire ctor Klaas Bense ponders this question after purchasing a mysterious dia ry on EBay. The diary belonged to a young man who moved to New York City in the 1980s\, aspiring to become the next William Burroughs. Though ta lented\, the young writer fails to be published and quickly descends int o a life of drugs and crime. Inspired by the stories and photos captured in the diary\, Bense travels to New York to discover what has become of the young writer and those who crossed his path. Through intimate inter views with former residents of the notorious Times Square Hotel\, we are reminded to look deeper into the forgotten faces we encounter everyday. Filled with vivid character portraits and haunting images of New York's seedy underground\, Diary of a Times Square Thief meditates on redempti on\, fate\, and the beauty of human connection. Lynne Crocker. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/diaryofatimessquarethief_hotdocs2 009 UID:2474907744-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T152100 SUMMARY:End of the Line DESCRIPTION:The world is running out of fish\, and it's due to the most e fficient predators the world has ever known-humans. If we continue to ov erfish at the present rate\, scientists estimate that the fish we know a nd love (to eat) will disappear from grocery shelves and seafood counter s by 2048. Goodbye grouper\, toodles tilapia\, so long sushi. In the wak e of the 1990s cod collapse\, journalist and author Charles Clover focus es on the imminent depletion of commercial stocks of bluefin tuna as the latest example of a species on the verge of extinction. Trawling\, fish farming\, big business\, politicking\, and lack of law enforcement all contribute to this deep-running dilemma. The End of the Line is an upset ting wake-up call that demands a moral examination of our greed and stup idity. No water is safe as long as humans are hungry and a demand exists . Angie Driscoll.\n\nCo-presented with Planet in Focus International Env ironmental Film and Video Festival. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/endoftheline_hotdocs2009 UID:2474908330-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T143000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T154500 SUMMARY:Wild Hearts DESCRIPTION:Wanna go for a ride? The randy\, rollicking young men of the Wild Hearts\, a Danish moped club\, are hell-bent on escaping society's rules. In search of freedom\, they hit the road to Poland with only two goals in mind: building an even stronger brotherly bond and wringing adv enture out of all 1\,300 kilometres ahead. The hijinks come easily with comical scenes of drunken nudity\, ritual branding\, and a requisite gro up stop at a roadside sex shop. But the emotional journey proves rockier for some. Just because these metrosexual Vikings can openly\, and rathe r touchingly\, declare their love for one another doesn't mean it all wo n't come to a raucous head. Using a now-signature pumping soundtrack and dazzling visual style\, filmmaker Michael Noer crafts an energetic and unexpectedly emotional study of modern men. Come for an American Graffit i-meets-Jackass road movie\, stay for a surprisingly stirring "bromance. " Myrocia Watamaniuk. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/wildhearts_hotdocs2009 UID:2475000285-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T154500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T170800 SUMMARY:Rene DESCRIPTION:Through letters and interviews spanning 20 years\, filmmaker Helena Trestíková tracks René's transformation from a thin-skinned\, zit -faced juvie into a hard-nosed\, tattooed criminal. A harsh two-and-a-ha lf year sentence for stealing less than $1\,000 triggered René's life of crime and punishment. Rather than reform him\, incarceration formed him -into the ultimate nihilist. Prison became home\, a place to spend Chris tmases\, a quiet place to write. Once out of jail\, René struggles to fi t into a society that has changed as much as he has over the past two de cades. René provocatively questions the filmmaker-subject dynamic. René robs Helena\, asks her out\, manipulates and charms her\, all the while assuming the role of victim as Trestíková's "object of study\," a whore selling scraps of his life to the audience. You wonder if\, in a twisted way\, René messes up on purpose just to exercise some personal freedom in the bad choices that he makes. Angie Driscoll.\n\nOfficial website: h ttp://www.negativ.cz/cz/films/rene/ CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/rene_hotdocs2009 UID:2474986501-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T161500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T174900 SUMMARY:Sergio DESCRIPTION:Sergio\, based on Pulitzer Prize-winner Samantha Power's grou ndbreaking biography\, Chasing the Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World\, is a riveting account of the amazing career a nd tragic final mission of the United Nations' High Commissioner for Hum an Rights\, Brazilian diplomat Sergio Vieira de Mello. Known to everyone simply as Sergio\, he was lauded for his ability to diffuse some of the most complicated situations in countries with some of the worst human r ights abuses. With his charming personality and his calm\, pragmatic sty le\, some likened him to a cross between James Bond and Bobby Kennedy. A t 55\, Sergio was in love and ready to settle down. But a crisis called him away one final time\, and because of who he was\, he had to answer. Sergio is an exceptional tribute to a rare man who valued humanitarianis m above all else. Shannon Abel. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/sergio_hotdocs2009 UID:2474994025-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T175200 SUMMARY:Antoine DESCRIPTION:Some imaginations are more seductive than others\, and Antoin e Hoang's is irresistible. His is a magical universe of invention\, laug hter\, private detective mysteries\, and everyday discoveries. Blind sin ce he was a baby\, five-year-old Antoine "sees" the world with his finge rtips\, ears\, nose\, and mouth. With these highly attuned senses\, he h unts for sound with his detective kit of brain and microphone\, searchin g for clues and reimagining the world. Integrated into the regular schoo l system in Montreal\, he plays with his friends\, takes attendance in c lass\, cries when he's sad\, and yells when he's mad. It's only in rare and poignant moments of misunderstandings with friends\, or his struggle s in gym and art class\, that we remember he sees differently. Adults re main on the periphery with the camera at boy's-eye view in this innovati ve magic-realist collaboration between director Laura Bari and young Ant oine. Gisèle Gordon.\n\nCo-presented with Women in Film and Television - Toronto. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/antoine_hotdocs2009 UID:2474897330-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T180200 SUMMARY:Reporter DESCRIPTION:The job of the print journalist in this day of media saturati on is doubly hard as two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times op-e d columnist Nicholas Kristof knows all too well. Kristof\, whose writing has drawn international attention to humanitarian atrocities in places like Darfur and China\, not only has to negotiate dangerous characters a nd life-threatening situations in order to accurately report events\, bu t must also ensure his story will galvanize an increasingly jaded reader . Reporter follows Kristof on a trek through the ravaged villages of the Democratic Republic of Congo\, a disaster zone where 5.4 million have d ied in the last decade as a result of unceasing warfare over territory\, resources\, and tribal hatred. Eric Daniel Metzgar's account of Kristof 's mission results in a fascinating profile of a driven reporter and a p oignant reflection on the state of humanitarianism. Shannon Abel.\n\nCo- presented with The Canadian Association of Journalists. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/reporter_hotdocs2009 UID:2474987260-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T164500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T181300 SUMMARY:Farmer's Song DESCRIPTION:Protectionism and free trade are controversial issues that ca n have a tremendous impact on a nation's economic success and sovereignt y. They have received renewed attention in North America in recent month s\, but were at the forefront of the conversation in South Korea in 2006 and 2007 as a Free Trade Agreement between that country and the United States was being finalized. With their livelihoods already threatened by an influx of imported agricultural products\, farmers across South Kore a protested the impending policy\, doing everything from rallying in the face of heavily armed riot police to confronting store owners who sold US beef. A compelling document of their struggles\, Farmer's Song follow s the beleaguered farmers as they battle many opponents\, not least diss atisfaction and dissent from within their own ranks\, as those more comf ortable with a quiet\, agrarian lifestyle are forced to adopt aggressive urban methods to preserve their way of life.\n\nCo-presented with Toron to Reel Asian International Film Festival. CATEGORIES:Made In LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/farmerssong_hotdocs2009 UID:2474937502-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T200500 SUMMARY:The Entrepreneur DESCRIPTION:Best known for bringing Subaru and Yugo to North America\, an d for producing the first sports car with gull-wing doors\, Malcolm Bric klin has lost and regained millions\, failing as often as thriving. But Malcolm is a man who gauges success by the experience itself\, not just by the dollars and cents it generates. Filmmaker Jonathan Bricklin follo ws his father's last grasp at power before his last gasp\, as dad dreams of being the first to distribute Chinese cars in North America. All he needs is a near-bankrupt factory and some investors. You wouldn't actual ly think Malcolm could do it\, given his insistence that everyone confor m to his ideas and his blustery\, ostentatious\, and unprofessional cond uct. Can this showman transform his talk into reality? The Entrepreneur is a testament to Bricklin senior's legacy\, a roller coaster ride throu gh the ups and downs of brokering the blockbuster deal of a lifetime. An gie Driscoll. CATEGORIES:Lets Make Money LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/theentrepreneur_hotdocs2009 UID:2474909282-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T200000 SUMMARY:We Live in Public DESCRIPTION:Winner of the Sundance 2009 jury award\, We Live In Public is both a cautionary tale and a fascinating account of the decade-long exp loits of technological and social visionary Josh Harris\, "the greatest Internet pioneer you've never heard of." Harris\, often called the "Warh ol of the Web\," made a small fortune during the dot-com boom of the 199 0s. With that money he founded Pseudo.com\, the first Internet televisio n network\, and conducted several other prescient projects including the controversial 1999 experiment that filmed 100 people living together in an underground bunker for 30 days. However\, it was his last project th at was most foreboding\; Harris and his girlfriend lived for six months under 24-hour Web surveillance\, an experiment that would lead to his un doing. Harris foresaw the future of life online. He knew that\, just lik e he had\, others would willingly trade their privacy for the connection and recognition they so deeply desire. Shannon Abel. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/weliveinpublic_hotdocs2009 UID:2474999822-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T200000 SUMMARY:Boris Ryzhy DESCRIPTION:A winner of Russia's most prestigious award for poetry and th e author of more than 1\,000 poems\, Boris Ryzhy was talented\, handsome \, and famous. Born to an intellectual family in the industrial city of Yekaterinenburg\, he was a hooligan and boxing champion in his teens\, c omfortable with the generation of criminals and bodyguards he grew up wi th. So why did he take his own life at 26? Aliona van der Horst's quest to answer this question sees her visiting the rough streets of Yekaterin enburg-where crime flourished after the fall of Communism-as well as Ryz hy's sister\, wife\, and son. Ryzhy's recordings of his poems\, which co nvey a harsh reality with incredible tenderness\, act as a kind of tour guide to his life and his psyche. What emerges is a penetrating portrait of the perestroika generation\, as well as an affectionate\, melancholy \, and soulful portrait of a complex life. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/borisryzhy_hotdocs2009 UID:2474903436-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T203000 SUMMARY:Mugabe and the White African DESCRIPTION:Michael Campbell is one of the few hundred white farmers stil l left in Zimbabwe since President Robert Mugabe began enforcing his con troversial land seizure program\, an initiative intended to reclaim whit e-owned land and redistribute it to poor black Zimbabweans. Since 2000\, formerly thriving farms that employed thousands now sit derelict while poverty and hunger thrive amongst the majority of the country's citizens . Mike and farmers like him have suffered years of intimidation and viol ence\, but 74-year-old Mike refuses to back down. Set against the backdr op of the tumultuous 2008 presidential election\, Mugabe and the White A frican follows Mike and son-in-law Ben Freeth's harrowing attempt to sue Mugabe for racism and violation of their human rights. For their attemp t to save their land and their country from devastation at the hands of a despot\, they must brave the very real dangers of Mugabe's wrath. Will they survive it? Shannon Abel.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.mugabean dthewhiteafrican.com CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/mugabeandthewhiteafrican_hotdocs2 009 UID:2474969878-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T191500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T203600 SUMMARY:FIXER: The Taking of Ajmal Naqshbandi DESCRIPTION:Just 24 years old\, journalist\, translator\, and coordinator Ajmal Naqshbandi was one of Afghanistan's best "fixers"-people who help foreign media negotiate the treacherous landscape of personalities that includes ordinary citizens\, Afghan government officials\, and Taliban fighters. In Naqshbandi's own words\, "This work is very dangerous. I br ing one enemy to meet another." Fixer follows the close relationship bet ween Naqshbandi and one of his clients\, American journalist Christian P arenti. The intimate portrait of two colleagues shifts dramatically when Naqshbandi is kidnapped\, along with an Italian reporter\, by Taliban f orces. The situation goes from bad to worse as foreign powers pressure f or a fast resolution to the kidnapping\, the Afghan government bungles i ts response\, and the spectre of Taliban power looms in the background. What follows is the tragic story of one man forgotten in the crossfire. Ultimately\, Fixer is an unflinching look at the problems facing a troub led and proud nation. Shannon Abel.\n\nCo-presented with Canadian Journa lists for Free Expression. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/fixerthetakingofajmalnaqshbandi_h otdocs2009 UID:2474938403-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T191500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T201200 SUMMARY:Robinsons of Mantsinsaari DESCRIPTION:Mantsinsaari is a deserted island where the sole inhabitants include a horse\, two dogs\, and two elderly men-one a Belarusian\, the other Finnish. There is a long history between these men\, both personal and geopolitical. They do not speak despite their complete isolation-th ey are actually enemies. The closest they come to interaction is through the Finn's dog\, who sways between moderator and infidel. The desolate landscape and personified animals tell the true back story of this land of banishment and bliss\, silence and violence. These two men could very well be the last on earth\, so different yet so much the same. The Finn ish man quietly surrounds himself with family photos\; the Belarusian ex presses explosive flashes of love and frustration and surrounds himself with political portraits. The film's observations are so quiet\, meditat ive and wise\, they extend an invitation to the audience to speculate on the men's shared past. Angie Driscoll. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/robinsonsofmantsinsaari_hotdocs20 09 UID:2474989800-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T205400 SUMMARY:Forgetting Dad DESCRIPTION:http://schedule.hotdocs.ca/index.php/2009/film/forgetting_dad CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/forgettingdad_hotdocs2009 UID:2474938580-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T211500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T224600 SUMMARY:21 Below DESCRIPTION:Sharon\, pregnant with her first child\, realizes she can't s tart a family of her own until she confronts and mends the dysfunctional family she left behind in Buffalo\, New York. Mom is enraged about the most recent pregnancy of her other daughter\, Karen\, the black sheep of the family. Mom can't understand Karen's choices: Why have a third chil d\, fathered by a drug dealer\, on top of a terminally ill second child? The family unit is in crisis. No one shares the same values and culture s clash-Jew and gentile\, black and white\, middle class and welfare cla ss. But mother and daughters are more alike than they realize. They may not like each other\, but they do love one another. Scenes from everyday life-just surviving\, nagging\, coping\, bills\, and doctor's appointme nts-give the film true intimacy. Angie Driscoll. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/21below_hotdocs2009 UID:2474890363-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T211500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T224500 SUMMARY:Afghan Star DESCRIPTION:After 30 years of war and a ban on music and dancing under Ta liban rule\, pop culture is back in Afghanistan. Millions are watching A fghan Star\, an American Idol-style vocal competition. You know the dril l: thousands audition\, a dozen make the finals\, then viewers whittle d own the roster of contestants until only one is left. But this is more t han a glossy copycat show. Music holds special cultural import to Afghan s\, who have gone decades without art or public performance. So although Afghan Star is entertaining TV first and foremost\, it also symbolizes freedom of expression and peace. Voting by cell phone is a novelty to ma ny-their first encounter with the democratic process. When a female comp etitor dances on stage and drops her headscarf\, there's talk of retribu tion and threats of an honour killing. In Afghanistan\, you risk more th an YouTube humiliation when you sing\; you risk your life. Angie Driscol l.\n \nCo-presented with Toronto Human Rights Watch Film Festival. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/afghanstar_hotdocs2009 UID:2474892563-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T213000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T224600 SUMMARY:Cash & Mary DESCRIPTION:"Will you marry me?" is what is written on the slips of paper that Atanas and Marko are handing out to women in Vienna. These two ent erprising Macedonians have hatched a plan to buy a bride and secure a pa ssport to the European Union. Their journey is a delightful romp through Vienna's colleges\, metro stations\, and red light districts with poign ant glimpses of what lies beyond the fringes. Eventually they meet Barba ra\, a young communist who is willing to marry Atanas on political and c ompassionate grounds\, but pursuing a marriage without love proves to be more challenging than anyone expects. The bureaucratic and psychologica l barriers that these hapless heroes face only highlights how modern day Europe is struggling to be redefined by its burgeoning immigrant underc lass. Isaac Meyer Odell. CATEGORIES:Lets Make Money LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/cashmary_hotdocs2009 UID:2474904982-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T213000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T230000 SUMMARY:Episode 3 - ‘Enjoy Poverty’ DESCRIPTION:Armed with a camera\, a neon sign\, and a compelling premise- that poverty is Africa's primary resource-the Dutch artist Renzo Martens spent three years traveling throughout the Democratic Republic of the C ongo. "Who owns poverty\," he asks. The filmmakers and photographers who document it? Western consumers of these images? NGOs? The people of Afr ica? Confrontational\, provocative\, and bluntly satiric\, Martens' jour ney is something of an art intervention. He brazenly encourages impoveri shed Congolese to enjoy their poverty\, organizing them to capitalize on it. Martens also questions the ubiquity of NGO logos\, Western photogra phers who make a living from images of oppressive suffering\, and UN sol diers protecting foreign gold mining operations. "Experiencing your suff ering helps me become a better person\," he suggests to a desperate\, be wildered Congolese man. This is a tough film in every way and truly poli tical filmmaking of the highest order-fearless\, divisive\, controversia l\, and necessary. Sean Farnel. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/episode3enjoypoverty_hotdocs2009 UID:2474909127-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T231000 SUMMARY:Ghost Bird DESCRIPTION:The ivory-billed woodpecker has long been considered the Holy Grail by diehard birders who refused to believe it went extinct more th an 60 years ago. When a kayaker encounters a strange woodpecker in the b ayous of Eastern Arkansas\, the government is quick to announce the ivor y-bill has been rediscovered. Debate erupts between skeptics and believe rs\, ornithologists and birders\, realists and idealists. In this world gone mad\, yokels with video cameras hold more sway than experts\, blind faith trumps common sense\, and myth takes precedence over truth. Sever al years and millions of dollars later\, proof that the ivory-billed woo dpecker still exists remains to be seen. Ghost Bird uses the woodpecker' s questionable rediscovery as a springboard to expose our uneasy relatio nship with nature\, our pathetic attempts at conservation\, and the curr ent social climate in the US. The film searches for a bird and instead f inds a zeitgeist\, a time of disillusionment and economic ruin\, ivory-b ill haircuts and burgers. Angie Driscoll.\n\nOfficial website: http://gh ostbirdmovie.com CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/ghostbird_hotdocs2009 UID:2474938902-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T230500 SUMMARY:Hunting Down Memory DESCRIPTION:Wind is at home in China when he discovers he belongs in Norw ay. Wind (a.k.a. Øyvind Aamot) has forgotten the first 27 years of his l ife while searching for the horse nomads in the mountains of Northern Ch ina. His ability to navigate multilingual landscapes remains intact yet the purpose of his passport\, his beloved guitar\, and his mother escape s his grasp\; he retains no memories of their common bonds. He is uncert ain where he belongs as he relearns the ways of the world through his lo ved ones. Hunting Down Memory brings to light questions of identity\, cu ltural assumptions\, and national borders. After six years\, Wind decide s to retrace his footsteps with filmmaker Thomas Lien and to question th e Chinese villagers who may know the answer to the mystery of what trigg ered his memory loss. Dannielle Dyson.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.n fi.no/english/norwegianfilms/show.html?id=902 CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/huntingdownmemory_hotdocs2009 UID:2474940385-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T220000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T232900 SUMMARY:Grandmother's Flower DESCRIPTION:Winner of the Best Documentary Award at the Pusan Internation al Film Festival\, Mun Jeong-Hyun's Grandmother's Flower is a moving exp loration of South Korea's tumultuous and violent political past\, as tol d through the experiences of Mun's extended family. Mun's grandfather\, who hailed from a village scarred by divisions between left- and right-w ing factions dating back to feudal times\, barely survived the torture h e endured for siding with the Communist north during the Korean War. Mun 's grandmother\, meanwhile\, harbours a haunting secret about the death of her brother\, who was indiscriminately shot by police while giving hi mself up. The more Mun digs into the dirty details of the past\, the mor e he unearths festering tensions that still exist between seemingly peac eful neighbours in his sleepy little village - and the closer he gets to discovering unexpected branches in his own family tree. A provocative p ortrait of the impact of political divisions on one's self-conception.\n \nCo-presented with Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival.\n\nO fficial website: http://www.docupurn.org CATEGORIES:Made In... LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/grandmothersflower_hotdocs2009 UID:2474939442-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090506T235900 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T005900 SUMMARY:Aka Ana DESCRIPTION:For far too long\, sex workers have been stigmatized and misu nderstood. Aka Ana offers a profound yet transgressive and raw depiction of their world\, leaving no safety net for the audience. Photographer a nd visual auteur Antoine d'Agata travels to the dark sexual underground of urban Japan\, meeting with prostitutes\, porn stars\, and junkies. He broodingly yet sensually illustrates the women as they perform various explicit sex acts\, sadomasochism\, and drug injections. By cleverly lay ering their narrations\, d'Agata reveals their intimate stories of pleas ure\, isolation\, trauma\, and desire. The women are the protagonists of the film\, and their scenarios\, coupled with their brutally sobering a ccounts\, clearly unveil all the conflicting intricacies of feminine sex uality\, from masturbation\, to the power of orgasms\, to violence. Aka Ana is a daring and provocatively intense subterranean experience. D'Aga ta's true achievement is his artful and multi-sensory approach to helpin g us understand these women and to expanding our own fearful boundaries. Karina Rotenstein.\n \nCo-presented with CONTACT Toronto Photography Fe stival. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/akaana_hotdocs2009 UID:2474892858-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T123000 SUMMARY:We Live in Public DESCRIPTION:Winner of the Sundance 2009 jury award\, We Live In Public is both a cautionary tale and a fascinating account of the decade-long exp loits of technological and social visionary Josh Harris\, "the greatest Internet pioneer you've never heard of." Harris\, often called the "Warh ol of the Web\," made a small fortune during the dot-com boom of the 199 0s. With that money he founded Pseudo.com\, the first Internet televisio n network\, and conducted several other prescient projects including the controversial 1999 experiment that filmed 100 people living together in an underground bunker for 30 days. However\, it was his last project th at was most foreboding\; Harris and his girlfriend lived for six months under 24-hour Web surveillance\, an experiment that would lead to his un doing. Harris foresaw the future of life online. He knew that\, just lik e he had\, others would willingly trade their privacy for the connection and recognition they so deeply desire. Shannon Abel. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/weliveinpublic_hotdocs2009 UID:2474999860-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T125800 SUMMARY:Sad Song of Yellow Skin DESCRIPTION:In 1970\, three young American journalists in Saigon explore the consequences of the Vietnam War and of the American presence through the people who live on the fringes of the battle.\n\nMike Rubbo was an outlier during the years he worked at the NFB. His open and personal enq uiries ran counter to the house style at the time\, which tended towards the objective. With Sad Song\, Rubbo was sent to Vietnam to make a film on a Foster Parents Plan program involving Vietnamese children. Instead of order and good deeds\, he found chaos. Rubbo's sensitive eye is obse rvational but cuts to the quick. The war is visible only through the peo ple whom it touches: street children who steal to get by\, a Vietnamese soldier visiting his parents under the watchful eye of an officer\, Amer ican journalists working for a wire service. Rubbo was fascinated by the stories of ordinary people\, and the time and consideration he lavished on the peripheries of life led to a series of finely honed gems of whic h Sad Song of Yellow Skin is perhaps the most famous. Piers Handling. CATEGORIES:Spotlight On LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/sadsongofyellowskin_hotdocs2009 UID:2474993558-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T143000 SUMMARY:Hot Docs Talks 3: Dangerous Ideas II DESCRIPTION:Guest filmmakers discuss their approach to making films about hot button topics. CATEGORIES:Hot Docs Talks LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/hotdocstalks3dangerousideasii_hot docs2009 UID:2474940329-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T144700 SUMMARY:Broke DESCRIPTION:"They come because they're desperate. They need money\, for w hatever reason. Where else are they gonna get money? You don't see the w ay the poor people live until you come here and see it." - David Woolfso n\, owner\, A1 Trading\n\nIt's not a pretty picture\, but it's one power ful depiction of reality. A1 Trading\, a pawnshop in Edmonton's inner ci ty\, is the bank of last resort for junkies desperate for $10\, out-of-w ork men who have to pawn their equipment\, and two elderly Aboriginal la dies who need a bit of money for food. Woolfson\, a crusty old Jewish im migrant from South Africa\, had run the shop for 16 years when Chris Hoa rd\, a troubled young Aboriginal man\, started assisting him-for free. R osie Dransfeld brilliantly captures the relationship between the soft-he arted Woolfson and Hoard\, a self-confessed ex-con and psychopath\, whil e her cinéma-vérité style draws us deep into Broke's world of bargaining \, insults\, and desperation. Lynne Fernie. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/broke_hotdocs2009 UID:2474903812-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T134500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T150800 SUMMARY:Jazz Baroness DESCRIPTION:Young Pannonica "Nica" Rothschild has it all. As the beautifu l heiress to one of the world's largest fortunes\, she lives a life of 1 950s decadence. But on her way to catch a jet out of JFK to meet her hus band\, she stops to hear a jazz record by a struggling musician. She nev er makes her plane. So taken with the unknown's musical talents\, Nica b raves social censure\, and even jail\, to cultivate the genius of the no w-legendary Thelonious Monk. Rescuing instruments from pawn shops\, even shepherding bands to gigs in her Bentley\, this white Jewish woman beco mes an unlikely freedom fighter for a generation of black artists\, a pa tron saint for the bebop movement. Combining interviews with luminaries Quincy Jones\, Sonny Rollins\, and Clint Eastwood with Nica's personal l etters read by Helen Mirren\, filmmaker Hannah Rothschild\, Nica's great -niece\, crafts a fascinating love story between an indomitable woman\, a musical giant\, and the jazz that bewitched them both. Myrocia Wataman iuk.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.thejazzbaroness.com CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/jazzbaroness_hotdocs2009 UID:2474941350-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T152000 SUMMARY:About Face: The Story of Gwendellin Bradshaw DESCRIPTION:As a baby\, Gwen Bradshaw was horribly disfigured after being tossed into a campfire by her distraught mother\, suffering from post-p artum psychosis. Her father\, unable to forgive her mother\, took Gwen a way and raised her on his own. She never saw her mother again. Now 24\, Gwen\, estranged from her father\, is recovering in a mental hospital af ter a suicide attempt. About Face picks up Gwen's incredible story as sh e begins a five-year journey to find the answers she needs to forgive\, heal\, and move forward. Gwen's inspirational efforts to change her life are filled with ups and downs. She attends a conference for burn victim s\, finds romance and heartbreak\, and connects with a half-sister. But her quest for self-acceptance culminates in the search for her mentally ill mother. Will meeting her mother give Gwen the sense of family and be longing she has longed for? Shannon Abel.\n\nCo-presented with Rendezvou s with Madness Film Festival. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/aboutfacethestoryofgwendellinbrad shaw_hotdocs2009 UID:2474891520-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T141500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T152700 SUMMARY:Kashmir: Journey to Freedom DESCRIPTION:Once described by Gandhi as a pillar of light in a region los t in darkness\, Kashmir has become a land of terror and despair\, charac terized by constant raids\, human rights violations\, and a soldier-to-c ivilian ratio of 1:10-the highest in the world. And yet years of militan t protests and revolts ended in 2007 when former guerrilla leader Yasin Malik emerged from a coma-inflicted while fleeing from authorities-to ad opt a practice of non-violent resistance. As meditative as it is informa tive\, this passionate documentary by Israeli-American filmmaker Udi Alo ni profiles Malik and other dedicated activists as they lead a new gener ation of Kashmiri in a struggle for peace and independence. Like Malik\, the film aims to revive the Kashmiri tradition of religious and ethnic co-existence. It has already raised the ire of the Indian government\, w hich banned Aloni from re-entering Kashmir after the film premiered at t he Berlin Film Festival in February. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/kashmirjourneytofreedom_hotdocs20 09 UID:2474941486-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T172100 SUMMARY:FIXER: The Taking of Ajmal Naqshbandi DESCRIPTION:Just 24 years old\, journalist\, translator\, and coordinator Ajmal Naqshbandi was one of Afghanistan's best "fixers"-people who help foreign media negotiate the treacherous landscape of personalities that includes ordinary citizens\, Afghan government officials\, and Taliban fighters. In Naqshbandi's own words\, "This work is very dangerous. I br ing one enemy to meet another." Fixer follows the close relationship bet ween Naqshbandi and one of his clients\, American journalist Christian P arenti. The intimate portrait of two colleagues shifts dramatically when Naqshbandi is kidnapped\, along with an Italian reporter\, by Taliban f orces. The situation goes from bad to worse as foreign powers pressure f or a fast resolution to the kidnapping\, the Afghan government bungles i ts response\, and the spectre of Taliban power looms in the background. What follows is the tragic story of one man forgotten in the crossfire. Ultimately\, Fixer is an unflinching look at the problems facing a troub led and proud nation. Shannon Abel.\n\nCo-presented with Canadian Journa lists for Free Expression. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/fixerthetakingofajmalnaqshbandi_h otdocs2009 UID:2474938410-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T172400 SUMMARY:The Way We Get By DESCRIPTION:Bangor International Airport in Maine is the launching pad fo r troops on their way to Iraq and Afghanistan. It's also their first gli mpse of home when they return. A small group of Bangor senior citizens h ave made it their mission to personally welcome and send off each indivi dual soldier. Since 2003\, they have greeted more than 800\,000. The Way We Get By follows Bill\, Joan\, and Jerry as they sit on "hot standby." Joan\, who struggles with chronic pain\, often sleeps in her recliner a waiting a call that a plane is arriving. Jerry and his faithful dog Flan agan have become so attached to the airport they often sit in a car at t he end of the runway to watch the planes take off. Bill\, who battles fi nancial debt and loneliness\, is always the first to greet the troops as they arrive. A moving look at what millions of seniors face every day. Shannon Abel.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.thewaywegetbymovie.com CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/thewaywegetby_hotdocs2009 UID:2474999742-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T161500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T174500 SUMMARY:Mugabe and the White African DESCRIPTION:Michael Campbell is one of the few hundred white farmers stil l left in Zimbabwe since President Robert Mugabe began enforcing his con troversial land seizure program\, an initiative intended to reclaim whit e-owned land and redistribute it to poor black Zimbabweans. Since 2000\, formerly thriving farms that employed thousands now sit derelict while poverty and hunger thrive amongst the majority of the country's citizens . Mike and farmers like him have suffered years of intimidation and viol ence\, but 74-year-old Mike refuses to back down. Set against the backdr op of the tumultuous 2008 presidential election\, Mugabe and the White A frican follows Mike and son-in-law Ben Freeth's harrowing attempt to sue Mugabe for racism and violation of their human rights. For their attemp t to save their land and their country from devastation at the hands of a despot\, they must brave the very real dangers of Mugabe's wrath. Will they survive it? Shannon Abel.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.mugabean dthewhiteafrican.com CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/mugabeandthewhiteafrican_hotdocs2 009 UID:2474970008-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T175200 SUMMARY:Which Way Home DESCRIPTION:Each year\, thousands of people in Latin America risk their l ives to make the long journey north through Mexico in search of a better life in the United States. Many are forced to leave their families behi nd\, hoping that one day they can either return with new-found wealth or bring their families to join them. Rebecca Cammisa's enlightening and h eart-wrenching film follows three unaccompanied children as they make th e dangerous and demanding trek through Latin America to the US. As the c hildren meet all manner of challenges along the way\, they are awaited b y their anxious parents who themselves have faced an arduous journey in establishing a new life for their families in the land of opportunity. A ward-winning director Cammisa brings a compassionate eye to this thought ful portrait of the journey to achieve the American dream. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/whichwayhome_hotdocs2009 UID:2475000119-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T164500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T181500 SUMMARY:The Yes Men Fix The World DESCRIPTION:In December 2004\, BBC World viewers tuned in to receive the surprising but welcome news that Dow Chemical was fully accepting respon sibility for the 1984 Bhopal disaster\, a toxic gas leak in which 18\,00 0 people were killed. Even better\, Dow spokesman 'Jude Finisterra' anno unced a $12-billion aid package for the people of Bhopal. The broadcast was seen by millions. The Yes Men had struck again. Gonzo journalists\, media pranksters\, Swiftian satirists\, the Yes Men are Andy Bichlbaum a nd Mike Bonanno. They pose as corporate spokespersons\, make uncanny rep licas of company websites\, and infamously published a spot-on parody of the New York Times. Among the headlines: "Iraq War Ends" and "Nation Se ts Its Sights On Building Sane Economy." It's screwball nonfiction with a pointed purpose. Can they find a way to defeat the cult of greed and s ave civilization from its excesses? Yes\, they can. Sean Farnel. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/theyesmenfixtheworld_hotdocs2009 UID:2475000813-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T195000 SUMMARY:Nauru\, An Island Adrift DESCRIPTION:Nauru\, a tiny little-known island in the Micronesian South P acific\, serves as a devastating example of a people and place utterly d estroyed by industry. A century's worth of rampant phosphate exploitatio n has drained the nation's natural resources. Once the second richest co untry in the world\, with the highest per capita income anywhere\, Nauru now faces complete financial disaster\, a health crisis\, and governmen tal and infrastructural collapse. Mining has stripped the land\; silt an d run-off have killed the marine life. All that's left is a barren\, apo calyptic terrain\, a graveyard for excess and prosperity. The telling sc ene of a seabird trapped in a netted cage\, riding the wind\, stands in for Nauruans\, who still know how to survive but who must now return to old techniques of subsistence. A terrifying look at the end results of s o-called progress\, capitalism\, and a resource-based economy. Angie Dri scoll. CATEGORIES:Lets Make Money LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/nauruanislandadrift_hotdocs2009 UID:2474970721-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T200000 SUMMARY:Prom Night in Mississippi DESCRIPTION:"They have separate proms and they have separate Homecoming Q ueens\, one white and one black. I said\, 'how stupid can that be'." - M organ Freeman\n\nGoing to classes together is one thing. Dancing togethe r is quite another. It took 16 years for Morgan Freeman's hometown to al low black students into its whites-only high school after desegregation. That was 1970. The Academy Award-winning actor offered to foot the bill for the school's first racially integrated senior prom in 1997. It was finally accepted in 2008. As girls try on ball gowns and get the latest sophisto hairdos\, guys preen in their first tuxedos\, book limos\, and arrange dates. Paul Saltzman intercuts this lively footage with intervie ws of students\, teachers\, and parents to reveal the everyday prejudice s and tensions underlying the excitement. But as the pure joy\, hot musi c\, and radiant glamour of this prom clearly show\, race relations in Ch arleston\, Mississippi will never be the same again. Lynne Fernie. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/promnightinmississippi_hotdocs200 9 UID:2474978746-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T201200 SUMMARY:Tinar DESCRIPTION:Set in the majestic mountainous region of Iran\, this compell ing doc follows the life of a boy named Tinar\, a hired cowherd. Tinar w orks alone\; his father lives elsewhere on the mountain with his new wif e and family. Tinar's job is to keep careful watch over a fairly large h erd of milking cows. He eats\, sleeps\, and even plays with them\; they are his only companions. As the seasons change\, a pastoral portrait of Tinar and his life gradually turns into a harrowing and lonely account o f a boy longing for escape and love. What Tinar wants most is to go to s chool like his step-siblings\, or to join his brother\, who has escaped their father and now works in the city with their uncle. Tinar's spirit is remarkably resilient\, though\, making his story even more heartbreak ing. A moving account of the effects of poverty. Shannon Abel. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/tinar_hotdocs2009 UID:2474998579-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T204000 SUMMARY:Big River Man DESCRIPTION:This transcendent and rather strange demi-documentary follows Slovenian long distance swimmer Martin Strel on his most dangerous swim yet: down the mighty Amazon. Part world class sporting event\, part cir cus sideshow\, we travel with the vodka-swilling 53-year-old Strel as he battles treacherous currents\, pollution\, and his own insanity over th e 66-day swim. Director John Maringouin's first feature doc\, Running St umbled (2006)\, has gathered a cult following for its eerie\, disturbing portrait of his parents. Big River Man continues to reveal the director 's penchant for darkly poetic\, even Herzogian\, realism. Strel's son na rrates while his father remains mostly silent\, swinging between focused and disoriented throughout the risky swim. The jaunty road trip comedy that characterizes the early days of the journey morphs into surprising surrealism in the final leg as the tension - and Strel's blood pressure - mounts. Sean Farnel. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/bigriverman_hotdocs2009 UID:2478786255-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T191500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T204800 SUMMARY:Oblivion DESCRIPTION:Hot Docs Outstanding Achievement Award-winner Heddy Honigmann returns to her birthplace of Lima\, Peru to reacquaint herself and us w ith a place and people dear to her heart. Peru is a country known for it s state violence\, economic crises\, and political corruption. But it's the people Honigmann wants us to know. Oblivion paints empathetic portra its of child street performers\, a frog juice vendor\, and a presidentia l sashmaker\, to name a few. She contrasts the work and home environment s of people who are employed at Lima's finest restaurants and hotels but who live in slums in the city's surrounding hillsides. In typical Honig mann style\, she extracts moving\, intimate\, and often amusing stories from her characters. These reminiscences are interwoven with scenes of c ontemporary political protest and archival footage. Oblivion introduces us to the everyday reality of Lima\, celebrating a people who - albeit p olitically powerless - have resisted being consigned to oblivion. Shanno n Abel. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/oblivion_hotdocs2009 UID:2474908016-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T191500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T202500 SUMMARY:Sacred Places DESCRIPTION:Thoughtful and reflective\, probing and provocative\, Sacred Places sees award-winning Cameroonian filmmaker Jean-Marie Teno examinin g Africa's struggle for a cohesive post-colonial identity through the ro le that contemporary films play in African communities. Shooting during the biannual FESPACO African film festival in Ouagadougou\, the capital of Burkina Faso\, Teno focuses on the experiences of Bouba\, a self-prof essed film geek who runs the local Cine Club\, and Jules Cesar\, a djemb e maker and player who literally drums up business for the local theatre . Cesar applies himself to a traditional grassroots art\, while Bouba ru ns a business that is highly dependent on an international industry that makes African films less accessible to Africans. Sacred Places addresse s such key issues as national identity in the context of globalization a nd the relationship between cultural identity and economics\, and does s o with a gentle\, warm approach and an affectionate eye to the vibrancy and camaraderie of the community.\n\nCo-presented with The Toronto Afric an Film and Music Festival. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/sacredplaces_hotdocs2009 UID:2474992859-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T204100 SUMMARY:65_Redroses DESCRIPTION:Eva is a young\, beautiful and smart overachiever with a lovi ng family and a great sense of humour. She also shares a terrible bond w ith some very special friends. Eva (65_redroses) and her online friends\ , Spirit_of_Kina and megmucus\, all have cystic fibrosis\, a fatal genet ic disease affecting the lungs and digestive system. On a waiting list f or a lung transplant\, Eva faces the stark reality that the transplant c ould either kill her or give her another shot at life. The only ones who truly know what she's facing are 22-year-old Kina\, battling chronic re jection from her double lung transplant\, and 19-year-old Meg\, who trie s to drink and medicate herself into denial. Unable to meet because of t he deadly risk of passing superbugs to one another\, the girls are each other's lifelines as they face some of the toughest decisions anyone cou ld ever make when all they really want to do is breathe. Gisèle Gordon. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/65_redroses_hotdocs2009 UID:2474890576-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T210000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T234000 SUMMARY:Encirclement: Neo-Liberalism Ensnares Democracy DESCRIPTION:Encirclement may be the most important documentary you see th is year if you want to understand the erosion of democracy and the curre nt global economic disaster. With this elegantly structured analysis on the origins and devastating impact of neo-liberalism\, Richard Brouillet te has distilled 12 years' worth of black-and-white 16mm film footage in to a reinvigoration of the talking head doc. Thirteen acclaimed academic s and intellectuals spell out-with surgical precision-the tenets of the neo-liberal gospel and slice through the mindset that demonizes notions of the public good and naturalizes market forces. It explores\, with ter rifying momentum\, how multinational financiers\, think tanks\, the IMF\ , the World Bank and our politicians have created a virtual unelected gl obal shadow parliament that is stripping nations of their power and hand ing their resources over to private interests. And in an age when techno logy can instantly transfer money and information\, no country's currenc y is safe. Lynne Fernie. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/encirclementneoliberalismensnares democracy_hotdocs2009 UID:2474908148-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T211500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T223500 SUMMARY:Outrage DESCRIPTION:Outrage delivers a searing indictment of the hypocrisy of clo seted politicians who actively campaign against the LGBT community they covertly belong to. Boldly revealing the hidden lives of some of the Uni ted States' most powerful policymakers\, award-winning filmmaker Kirby D ick details the harm they've inflicted on millions of Americans\, and ex amines the media's complicity in keeping their secrets. Sure to be one o f the year's most explosive documentaries\, Outrage could also very well be a game changer in the ongoing battle for same sex civil rights in th e United States. Sean Farnel. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/outrage_hotdocs2009 UID:2474972076-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T213000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T222200 SUMMARY:Rabbit A La Berlin DESCRIPTION:It's an important lesson of history that a system of order in tended to produce one result will often give birth to something entirely unexpected. So it was with the Berlin Wall\, which was\, in fact\, two separate walls\, one on the east and one on the west with a 120-kilometr e strip of land between them. The enclosed patch was unintentionally con verted into a kind of rabbit reserve as the walls encircled the lush gre en meadows of Potsdamer Platz and cut its rabbit population off from bot h escape and predators. But then one day the walls came down and the rab bits were suddenly freed from a restrictive system\, albeit one to which they had become accustomed. Told in the style of a nature documentary\, with a captivatingly dreamy tone and a tongue-in-cheek nod to the story 's allegorical significance\, Rabbit à la Berlin provides a fascinating history lesson told through the eyes of animals. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/rabbitalaberlin_hotdocs2009 UID:2474979325-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T231500 SUMMARY:The Cove DESCRIPTION:This devastating thriller is compulsory viewing for anybody w ho believes in the power of documentary to right a wrong. In the 1960s\, Richard O'Barry was the world's leading authority on dolphin training\, working on the set of the popular television program Flipper. Day in an d day out\, O'Barry kept the dolphins working and television audiences s miling. But one day\, it all came to a tragic end. The Cove\, directed b y top dive photographer Louie Psihoyos\, tells the amazing story of how Psihoyos\, O'Barry\, and an elite team of activists\, filmmakers\, and f reedivers embarked on a covert mission to penetrate a hidden cove in Jap an\, shining light on a dark and deadly secret. The mysteries they uncov ered were only the tip of the iceberg. Already the Audience Award-winnin g film at Sundance 2009\, The Cove is a potent\, unforgettable work\, an d sure to be one the year's most acclaimed documentaries. Sean Farnel. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/thecove_hotdocs2009 UID:2474907130-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T230800 SUMMARY:P-star Rising DESCRIPTION:P-Star is a nine-year-old rap phenom who's been spittin' rhym es since she could string a sentence together. Managed by her single fat her\, the self-anointed Princess of Hip Hop hits da clubs at night and r ocks appearances by day. Dad used to produce Ice-T and 2 Live Crew but n ow focuses all of his attention on his daughter. He's taught her everyth ing he knows and now P-Star is living his dream. With a record deal clin ched\, Daddy's little protégé starts flexin' her own muscles over image and costume. We're so used to seeing ads that sexualize young girls\, an d parents who pimp out their kids for TV fame\, that it's hard to be jol ted. But P-Star's maturity is breathtaking\, not blasé. She interacts wi th adults as if she were one\, cursing and shopping\, tolerating drug us e and marketing meetings. P-Star Rising presents a uniquely modern look at the real costs of dreams coming true. Angie Driscoll. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/pstarrising_hotdocs2009 UID:2474972339-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T230900 SUMMARY:Winnebago Man DESCRIPTION: CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/winnebagoman_hotdocs2009 UID:2475000425-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T220000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T232700 SUMMARY:Bloody Mondays & Strawberry Pies DESCRIPTION:Boredom has a bad rap. We exert enormous amounts of energy to keep it and all its incarnations-tedium\, apathy\, ennui-at bay. Schope nhauer\, who sung boredom's praises\, defined it as a "tame longing with out any particular object." Other philosophers\, writers\, and artists h ave recognized boredom and loneliness as essential to the creative proce ss. As Nietzsche said\, "He who completely entrenches himself against bo redom also entrenches himself against himself." Bloody Mondays & Strawbe rry Pies evocatively explores the negative and positive effects of bored om on the human condition. A Wall Street stockbroker\, the last living f emale spy of the Second World War\, a painter who has been painting "Tim e" for the last 42 years\, and the infamous Brenda Spencer who\, at 16\, shot 11 people because she didn't like Mondays are among the main chara cters. Narrated by John Malkovich\, Bloody Mondays is intriguing\, compe lling\, and so not boring-but in a good way. Shannon Abel. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/bloodymondaysstrawberrypies_hotdo cs2009 UID:2474903231-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090507T234500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T010000 SUMMARY:Wild Hearts DESCRIPTION:Wanna go for a ride? The randy\, rollicking young men of the Wild Hearts\, a Danish moped club\, are hell-bent on escaping society's rules. In search of freedom\, they hit the road to Poland with only two goals in mind: building an even stronger brotherly bond and wringing adv enture out of all 1\,300 kilometres ahead. The hijinks come easily with comical scenes of drunken nudity\, ritual branding\, and a requisite gro up stop at a roadside sex shop. But the emotional journey proves rockier for some. Just because these metrosexual Vikings can openly\, and rathe r touchingly\, declare their love for one another doesn't mean it all wo n't come to a raucous head. Using a now-signature pumping soundtrack and dazzling visual style\, filmmaker Michael Noer crafts an energetic and unexpectedly emotional study of modern men. Come for an American Graffit i-meets-Jackass road movie\, stay for a surprisingly stirring "bromance. " Myrocia Watamaniuk. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/wildhearts_hotdocs2009 UID:2475000303-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T123000 SUMMARY:Afghan Star DESCRIPTION:After 30 years of war and a ban on music and dancing under Ta liban rule\, pop culture is back in Afghanistan. Millions are watching A fghan Star\, an American Idol-style vocal competition. You know the dril l: thousands audition\, a dozen make the finals\, then viewers whittle d own the roster of contestants until only one is left. But this is more t han a glossy copycat show. Music holds special cultural import to Afghan s\, who have gone decades without art or public performance. So although Afghan Star is entertaining TV first and foremost\, it also symbolizes freedom of expression and peace. Voting by cell phone is a novelty to ma ny-their first encounter with the democratic process. When a female comp etitor dances on stage and drops her headscarf\, there's talk of retribu tion and threats of an honour killing. In Afghanistan\, you risk more th an YouTube humiliation when you sing\; you risk your life. Angie Driscol l.\n \nCo-presented with Toronto Human Rights Watch Film Festival. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/afghanstar_hotdocs2009 UID:2474892612-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T113000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T130000 SUMMARY:Episode 3 - ‘Enjoy Poverty’ DESCRIPTION:Armed with a camera\, a neon sign\, and a compelling premise- that poverty is Africa's primary resource-the Dutch artist Renzo Martens spent three years traveling throughout the Democratic Republic of the C ongo. "Who owns poverty\," he asks. The filmmakers and photographers who document it? Western consumers of these images? NGOs? The people of Afr ica? Confrontational\, provocative\, and bluntly satiric\, Martens' jour ney is something of an art intervention. He brazenly encourages impoveri shed Congolese to enjoy their poverty\, organizing them to capitalize on it. Martens also questions the ubiquity of NGO logos\, Western photogra phers who make a living from images of oppressive suffering\, and UN sol diers protecting foreign gold mining operations. "Experiencing your suff ering helps me become a better person\," he suggests to a desperate\, be wildered Congolese man. This is a tough film in every way and truly poli tical filmmaking of the highest order-fearless\, divisive\, controversia l\, and necessary. Sean Farnel. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/episode3enjoypoverty_hotdocs2009 UID:2474909139-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T145500 SUMMARY:Ghost Bird DESCRIPTION:The ivory-billed woodpecker has long been considered the Holy Grail by diehard birders who refused to believe it went extinct more th an 60 years ago. When a kayaker encounters a strange woodpecker in the b ayous of Eastern Arkansas\, the government is quick to announce the ivor y-bill has been rediscovered. Debate erupts between skeptics and believe rs\, ornithologists and birders\, realists and idealists. In this world gone mad\, yokels with video cameras hold more sway than experts\, blind faith trumps common sense\, and myth takes precedence over truth. Sever al years and millions of dollars later\, proof that the ivory-billed woo dpecker still exists remains to be seen. Ghost Bird uses the woodpecker' s questionable rediscovery as a springboard to expose our uneasy relatio nship with nature\, our pathetic attempts at conservation\, and the curr ent social climate in the US. The film searches for a bird and instead f inds a zeitgeist\, a time of disillusionment and economic ruin\, ivory-b ill haircuts and burgers. Angie Driscoll.\n\nOfficial website: http://gh ostbirdmovie.com CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/ghostbird_hotdocs2009 UID:2474938923-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T145900 SUMMARY:Grandmother's Flower DESCRIPTION:Winner of the Best Documentary Award at the Pusan Internation al Film Festival\, Mun Jeong-Hyun's Grandmother's Flower is a moving exp loration of South Korea's tumultuous and violent political past\, as tol d through the experiences of Mun's extended family. Mun's grandfather\, who hailed from a village scarred by divisions between left- and right-w ing factions dating back to feudal times\, barely survived the torture h e endured for siding with the Communist north during the Korean War. Mun 's grandmother\, meanwhile\, harbours a haunting secret about the death of her brother\, who was indiscriminately shot by police while giving hi mself up. The more Mun digs into the dirty details of the past\, the mor e he unearths festering tensions that still exist between seemingly peac eful neighbours in his sleepy little village - and the closer he gets to discovering unexpected branches in his own family tree. A provocative p ortrait of the impact of political divisions on one's self-conception.\n \nCo-presented with Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival.\n\nO fficial website: http://www.docupurn.org CATEGORIES:Made In... LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/grandmothersflower_hotdocs2009 UID:2474939632-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T141500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T151500 SUMMARY:Boris Ryzhy DESCRIPTION:A winner of Russia's most prestigious award for poetry and th e author of more than 1\,000 poems\, Boris Ryzhy was talented\, handsome \, and famous. Born to an intellectual family in the industrial city of Yekaterinenburg\, he was a hooligan and boxing champion in his teens\, c omfortable with the generation of criminals and bodyguards he grew up wi th. So why did he take his own life at 26? Aliona van der Horst's quest to answer this question sees her visiting the rough streets of Yekaterin enburg-where crime flourished after the fall of Communism-as well as Ryz hy's sister\, wife\, and son. Ryzhy's recordings of his poems\, which co nvey a harsh reality with incredible tenderness\, act as a kind of tour guide to his life and his psyche. What emerges is a penetrating portrait of the perestroika generation\, as well as an affectionate\, melancholy \, and soulful portrait of a complex life. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/borisryzhy_hotdocs2009 UID:2474903464-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T143000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T152900 SUMMARY:Wild Art: Olly and Suzi DESCRIPTION:For British nature artists Olly and Suzi\, working on site me ans up close to their subjects-really close. Foregoing cages and protect ive gear\, they paint nose-to-nose and brush-to-claw with the world's fi ercest predators. An understandably nervous camera catches them quickly fixing the details of African wild dogs\, great white sharks\, and leopa rd seals. As filmmaker Rupert Murray (who also directs this year's End o f the Line) questions their adrenaline antics\, unexpected images emerge . Olly\, a six-foot two-inch ex-bouncer\, and Suzi\, a waifish art schoo l phenom\, make an odd pair. Odder still is their fascinating technique. Not only do they share one canvas\, hand over hand completing each othe r's strokes\, they invite their subjects to join in. Bite marks and hoof tracks document the animal that is but briefly passing them\, and possi bly the planet. Wild Art: Olly and Suzi offers a rare glimpse inside nat ure's wild beauty and two equally wild creative spirits. Myrocia Wataman iuk.\n\nCo-presented with Toronto Free Gallery.\n\nOfficial website: htt p://www.arcanepictures.co.uk CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/wildartollyandsuzi_hotdocs2009 UID:2475006352-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T173100 SUMMARY:21 Below DESCRIPTION:Sharon\, pregnant with her first child\, realizes she can't s tart a family of her own until she confronts and mends the dysfunctional family she left behind in Buffalo\, New York. Mom is enraged about the most recent pregnancy of her other daughter\, Karen\, the black sheep of the family. Mom can't understand Karen's choices: Why have a third chil d\, fathered by a drug dealer\, on top of a terminally ill second child? The family unit is in crisis. No one shares the same values and culture s clash-Jew and gentile\, black and white\, middle class and welfare cla ss. But mother and daughters are more alike than they realize. They may not like each other\, but they do love one another. Scenes from everyday life-just surviving\, nagging\, coping\, bills\, and doctor's appointme nts-give the film true intimacy. Angie Driscoll. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/21below_hotdocs2009 UID:2474890382-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T171500 SUMMARY:Old Partner DESCRIPTION:The Year of the Ox affords us an opportunity to better unders tand this noble beast\, which is capable of enduring any amount of hards hip but is also extremely stubborn and stuck in its ways. Watching Lee C hung-ryoul's sweet\, witty\, and poignant film\, it's difficult to deter mine whether that description is best applied to 80-year-old Choi\, a ne arly deaf farmer who walks with a limp\, or his 40-year-old ox. Choi's w ife would like to ease their hard work with more modern conveniences\, l ike insecticides and a tractor\, but that would mean dispensing with the faithful ox\, even though it seems ready to drop dead at any moment. Fo llowing Choi\, his wife\, and their ailing ox through the course of a se emingly uneventful year\, Lee crafts a charming and increasingly emotion al tale that gradually takes on the arc of a fable. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/oldpartner_hotdocs2009 UID:2474971477-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T173000 SUMMARY:69 DESCRIPTION:Since 1982\, the Youth House on the outskirts of Copenhagen h as provided a safe haven for punks\, queers\, freaks\, and pretty much a nyone else who doesn't fit into society. When local government votes to remove the outsiders\, they refuse to go down without a fight. 69 provid es incredible access to the activists whose situational pranks and media spin give way to violent protests and arrests. This is a battle royale between the establishment and the disenfranchised-youth facing off again st police\, squatters resisting condo developers\, anarchists debating p oliticians. What's at stake? A sense of belonging and a place to call ho me. What happens to democracy when you don't have a say in it? Deny peop le their individuality and watch them explode! A suspenseful primer on w hat happens when both sides refuse to negotiate. Angie Driscoll. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/69_hotdocs2009 UID:2474891195-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T164500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T180500 SUMMARY:Hunting Down Memory DESCRIPTION:Wind is at home in China when he discovers he belongs in Norw ay. Wind (a.k.a. Øyvind Aamot) has forgotten the first 27 years of his l ife while searching for the horse nomads in the mountains of Northern Ch ina. His ability to navigate multilingual landscapes remains intact yet the purpose of his passport\, his beloved guitar\, and his mother escape s his grasp\; he retains no memories of their common bonds. He is uncert ain where he belongs as he relearns the ways of the world through his lo ved ones. Hunting Down Memory brings to light questions of identity\, cu ltural assumptions\, and national borders. After six years\, Wind decide s to retrace his footsteps with filmmaker Thomas Lien and to question th e Chinese villagers who may know the answer to the mystery of what trigg ered his memory loss. Dannielle Dyson.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.n fi.no/english/norwegianfilms/show.html?id=902 CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/huntingdownmemory_hotdocs2009 UID:2474940401-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T194900 SUMMARY:Brock Enright: Good Times Will Never Be the Same DESCRIPTION:Emerging art star Brock Enright and his artist girlfriend\, K irsten Deirup\, travel to Deirup's family cabin in California to prepare for what could be Enright's most significant New York exhibition. With the help of Deirup and others\, Enright throws himself into his work. Te nsions rise under the watchful eye of Deirup's family who begin to quest ion the violent and sexually graphic nature of his work. Deirup's concer ns about their financial situation add to an already tense scenario as E nright depletes the gallery's budget and the completion of his work is j eopardized. Enright's final plea for more money results in a visit from gallery director Nicelle\, who upon arrival is shocked to find that no p rogress has been made. As Enright tries to justify his situation things spiral out of control into a shocking and surreal chain of events that a re guaranteed to leave you on the edge of your seat. Heather Haynes.\n\n Co-presented with Toronto Free Gallery. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/brockenrightgoodtimeswillneverbet hesame_hotdocs2009 UID:2474903653-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T194500 SUMMARY:H2OIL DESCRIPTION:Thanks to Alberta's Athabasca oil sands\, Canada is now the b iggest oil supplier to the United States. A controversial billion-dollar industry is heavily invested in extracting crude from the tarry sands t hrough a process so toxic it has become an international cause for conce rn. Four barrels of glacier-fed spring water are used to process each ba rrel of oil\, then are dumped\, laden with carcinogens\, into leaky tail ings ponds so huge they can be seen from space. Downstream\, the people of Fort Chipewyan are already paying the price for what will be one of t he largest industrial projects in history. When a local doctor raises th e alarm about clusters of rare cancers\, evidence mounts for industry an d government cover-ups. In a time when wars are fought over oil and a cr isis looms over access to clean fresh water\, which resource is more pre cious? And what price are we willing to pay? Gisèle Gordon. CATEGORIES:Lets Make Money LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/h2oil_hotdocs2009 UID:2474939915-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T202400 SUMMARY:pereSTROIKA - reCONSTRUCTION of a flat DESCRIPTION:And you thought Toronto's real estate market was tough! In a St. Petersburg "komunalka" flat\, every room belongs to a different owne r. At 43 Marat Street\, four families share only a kitchen and bathroom\ , living in shifts and never entering each other's spaces. When one owne r decides to sell her room\, profiteering agents angle to sell everyone else's too\, like it or not. Director Christiane Büchner's observation o f one colossal real estate deal unfolds into a hilarious cultural exposé . Complete lack of privacy and cramped quarters leave no room for agreem ent-or kind words-between neighbours. Add to the edgy atmosphere the que stionable good cop/bad cop sales tactics of the agents\, and Russia's so cialist-capitalist growing pains come into entertaining focus. pereSTROI KA is a witty look at what a little more room and a few less neighbours could do for a city and a soul. Myrocia Watamaniuk. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/perestroikareconstructionofaflat_ hotdocs2009 UID:2474972805-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T191500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T204600 SUMMARY:Love in India DESCRIPTION:In India\, Lord Krishna and his consort Radha are the gods of love\, lust\, and passion. Their sexual freedom and devotion has been a n inspiration for generations\, placing India at the forefront of sexual innovation and introducing the world to the wonders of the Kama Sutra. Fast forward to the present day\, where director Q and his girlfriend ar e in the midst of a passionate romance\, yet are in conflict with an Ind ian culture that has become sexually repressed. How did this happen? In this personal journey\, Q travels across India to openly discuss love\, sex and the evolution of attitudes towards them. His remarkable film exp oses their many positive and hypocritical facets\, from the Bollywood fi lm industry and the worship of Radha as a powerful woman to arranged mar riages\, rampant domestic violence\, and lack of sexual education. Q cha mpions the freedom to express love and sexual desire as an intrinsic par t of being Indian. Karina Rotenstein. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/loveinindia_hotdocs2009 UID:2474968760-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T191500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T204300 SUMMARY:RiseUp DESCRIPTION:Far from the tourist resorts\, RiseUp travels to the heart of contemporary Jamaica and its flourishing underground music scene. On an island where opportunity is scarce\, three aspiring artists - Turbulenc e (a charismatic lyrical master from the ghetto)\, Ice Anastasia (the we althy "Vanilla Ice" from uptown Kingston)\, and Kemoy (a shy angelic son gstress from the country) - seek to "rise up" into the legendary eminenc e of their iconic predecessors. Deep in the Kingston ghetto where reggae was born\, reggae music continues to be a key forum of expression for g hetto youths\, who still face crippling inequalities\, poverty\, and vio lence. Making a very promising filmmaking debut\, Luciano Blotta combine s interviews with local underground musicians and Jamaica's music elite (including Lee "Scratch" Perry\, Sly Dunbar\, and Robbie Shakespeare) wi th an energetic and inspiring soundtrack that gives life to an entire na tion. RiseUp is a celebration of struggle and the elevation of the human spirit. Karina Rotenstein.\n\nCo-presented with CaribbeanTales Annual F ilm Festival.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.RiseUpMovie.com CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/riseup_hotdocs2009 UID:2474988283-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T210700 SUMMARY:Fierce Light: When Spirit Meets Action DESCRIPTION:When ScaredSacred filmmaker-activist Velcrow Ripper's friend is killed during a peaceful protest in Mexico\, Ripper takes a hard look at how activism and spirituality can co-exist. He embarks on a refreshi ngly honest\, visually sublime\, and deeply thoughtful historical and in ternational quest. Human rights activists\, environmentalists\, politici ans\, and spiritual philosophers such as Thich Nhat Hanh\, Desmond Tutu\ , and Alice Walker discuss what Gandhi called "soul force\," and Martin Luther King described as "love in action." Grounding this stirring explo ration is the story of a vibrant oasis in South Central Los Angeles wher e a decade ago 350 low-income families were granted plots of land. What became the largest urban garden in North America is under threat from de velopers. This road map to the transition from anger-based activism to a ction rooted in the "fierce light" of love and compassion inspires us to do our absolute best when faced with impossible odds. Gisèle Gordon. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/whenspiritmeetsaction_hotdocs2009 UID:2474937586-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T210000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T221000 SUMMARY:Another Perfect World DESCRIPTION:Online virtual worlds have the potential to create a utopian paradise\, a technological Eden\, not possible in our real world. World of Warcraft\, EVE\, Lineage\, Metaplace\, UWorld\, and Second Life all p rovide users with fantastic alternate realities that transcend day-to-da y existence. These 3D games represent the last public spaces\, environme nts where people can explore thoughts and push boundaries. The games are about the players and the digital worlds that they create and govern-pl aces where they build democracies from dictatorships\, enforce systems o f justice\, organize revolutions\, and re-invent morality. The Internet' s alternate universes began with endless promise for experimentation and creativity\, but are increasingly mirrors of our corporeal reality. Cor porate investments and compliance with international laws ensure that cr eativity knows bounds. Avatar murder\, cyber terrorism\, and virtual cri me guarantee that invention be policed. Total freedom remains an elusive dream that not even the virtual world can offer. Angie Driscoll.\n\nOff icial website: http://www.submarine.nl CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/anotherperfectworld_hotdocs2009 UID:2474897008-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T211500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T224300 SUMMARY:Ashes of American Flags DESCRIPTION:What makes a concert by Chicago-based alt-rock band Wilco so effing good? Simply\, it's their incredible music. Wilco has been around since 1994. Their critically acclaimed albums include: Mermaid Avenue\, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot\, and their latest\, Sky Blue Sky. Described by Ro lling Stone as "one of America's most consistently interesting bands" an d "America's foremost rock impressionists\," Wilco is an amazing assembl y of talented\, passionate\, and committed musicians whose concerts are veritable bonanzas of inspired songs. Ashes of American Flags follows th e band on their 2008 US concert tour. Filmed and recorded at some quinte ssentially American concert venues like Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa\, and T ipitina's in New Orleans\, Ashes boasts beautiful cinematography and int imate access to the performances. Between gigs band members offer brief\ , but fascinating reflections on touring. This doc is a real treat for n ew fans\, and a must-see for longstanding Wilco lovers. Shannon Abel.\n\ nCo-presented with NXNE Music & Film Festival and Conference. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/ashesofamericanflags_hotdocs2009 UID:2474898736-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T213000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T225000 SUMMARY:Professor Norman Cornett - “Since When Do We Divorce the Right An swer From an Honest Answer?” DESCRIPTION:After exam pressure pushed one of his students to a meltdown\ , McGill University professor Dr. Norman Cornett drastically reinvented his teaching methodology to banish fear and awaken the joy of learning. Fuelled by a love of teaching\, he trains his students to find their own intellectual and moral compasses using dialogue\, mandatory field trips \, and stream-of-consciousness journals. Student videos capture the elec tricity of his controversial panel discussions covering ethically comple x issues: Judaism and anti-Zionism\, the relationship between music and medicine\, First Nations issues\, death and dying\, and media and genoci de. Cornett's disdain for conventional course structure and his improvis ational attitude towards administration make him a misfit at McGill\, bu t when the university abruptly terminates his contract after 15 years\, he is devastated. At a time when the role of higher learning is under in tense scrutiny\, this is a fascinating exploration of pedagogy\, moralit y\, and the price of freedom of thought. Gisèle Gordon.\n\nCo-presented with imagineNative Film + Media Arts Festival. CATEGORIES:Outstanding Achievement LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/professornormancornettsincewhendo wedivorcetherightanswerfromanhonestanswer_hotdocs2009 UID:2474978451-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T213000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T224200 SUMMARY:Roadsworth: Crossing the Line DESCRIPTION:Over a period of three years\, elusive artist Peter Gibson\, a.k.a. Roadsworth\, made his mark on Montreal by launching a self-descri bed "attack on the streets." Armed with spray-paint\, handmade stencils\ , and a boundless imagination\, he began to paint life into the concrete \, overlaying urban asphalt with bold imagery. A crosswalk became a gian t boot print\, traffic dividers transformed into zippers\, electrical pl ugs filled parking spots. While many appreciated Roadsworth's unique cre ations\, others denounced the work as pure vandalism\, an act of "artist ic anarchy" to be punished by law. With tremendous tenacity and vision\, director Alan Kohl paints a portrait of a man struggling to defend his work and define himself as an artist while confronting larger questions about the nature of art and freedom of expression. What emerges is an ad venturous and powerfully inspiring film that asks the question: "who own s public space?" Michelle Latimer.\n\nCo-presented with The Images Festi val. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/roadsworthcrossingtheline_hotdocs 2009 UID:2474989591-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T231100 SUMMARY:Graphic Sexual Horror DESCRIPTION:At its height\, Insex.com\, a notorious "torture porn" websit e\, boasted 35\,000 members. Who were these users? Who was the site's cr eator? Who were its models? Known within the industry as the "Michelange lo of porn\," Insex founder Brent Scott gets off on coercion\, terror\, Wonder Woman\, Baudrillard\, Japanese bondage\, and serial killers. Afte r years of struggling to explore his artistic practice within academia a nd the art world\, Scott retreated to the Internet. Live web feeds provi ded him with unheard of opportunities for interactivity and participatio n. The videodrome spectacle of six-hour S&M marathons guaranteed the sit e's instant success. But with money came power\, followed by the realiza tion that porn wasn't art. Soon the models' safe words were gagged by co ld hard cash. Scott's aesthetic goal of showing female orgasms devolved into a selfish pursuit of sexual gratification. And what began as a pomo experiment resulted in a porno empire. Angie Driscoll. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/graphicsexualhorror_hotdocs2009 UID:2474939749-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T233800 SUMMARY:Strongman DESCRIPTION:Stanless Steel is the strongest man in the world at bending s teel. He can leg press 10\,000-pound dump trucks and drive nails through boards with his bare hands. He can even bend a US penny in his fingers- a feat no one else in the world can match. These are not just acts of ph ysical strength but of incredible mental and emotional fortitude. A swee t and genuine person\, Stan gets his power from "good thoughts" and beli eves in the possibilities of change. But as strong as he is\, Stan is st ruggling. As he reaches middle age\, career disappointments and personal relationships test him and his ability to cope with his own weaknesses. Shot in a strict vérité style with all the heart and moxie of its subje ct\, Strongman is a funny and endearing tale of one man's determination to lift his life to a higher place.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.stro ngmanfilm.com CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/strongman_hotdocs2009 UID:2474997407-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T220000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T232600 SUMMARY:Tiger Next Door DESCRIPTION:Dennis H. is a neighbour's worst nightmare. A former meth add ict\, convicted felon\, and biker\, he also counts a streak of Bengal ti gers\, a trio of black bears\, and a pride of cougars in his gang. Fifte en years of hand-raising big cats in his backyard has served as both occ upation and obsession for this collector. A self-professed animal lover\ , Dennis doesn't perceive any hypocrisy in keeping wild animals captive in cages. When a surprise USDA inspection reveals health and safety conc erns and neglect\, Dennis scrambles to find homes for all but three of h is furry friends or face being shut down permanently. The community of F lat Rock\, Indiana provides a microcosm for larger issues of poaching\, legislation\, inbreeding\, and the private collection and consumption of exotic animals that does nothing to aid in their conservation. Dennis i s both infuriating and endearing\, a flawed mix of shady morality and na iveté. Angie Driscoll.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.TheTigerNextDoor. com CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/tigernextdoor_hotdocs2009 UID:2474998410-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090508T234500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T011500 SUMMARY:The Yes Men Fix The World DESCRIPTION:In December 2004\, BBC World viewers tuned in to receive the surprising but welcome news that Dow Chemical was fully accepting respon sibility for the 1984 Bhopal disaster\, a toxic gas leak in which 18\,00 0 people were killed. Even better\, Dow spokesman 'Jude Finisterra' anno unced a $12-billion aid package for the people of Bhopal. The broadcast was seen by millions. The Yes Men had struck again. Gonzo journalists\, media pranksters\, Swiftian satirists\, the Yes Men are Andy Bichlbaum a nd Mike Bonanno. They pose as corporate spokespersons\, make uncanny rep licas of company websites\, and infamously published a spot-on parody of the New York Times. Among the headlines: "Iraq War Ends" and "Nation Se ts Its Sights On Building Sane Economy." It's screwball nonfiction with a pointed purpose. Can they find a way to defeat the cult of greed and s ave civilization from its excesses? Yes\, they can. Sean Farnel. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/theyesmenfixtheworld_hotdocs2009 UID:2475000849-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T123300 SUMMARY:Oblivion DESCRIPTION:Hot Docs Outstanding Achievement Award-winner Heddy Honigmann returns to her birthplace of Lima\, Peru to reacquaint herself and us w ith a place and people dear to her heart. Peru is a country known for it s state violence\, economic crises\, and political corruption. But it's the people Honigmann wants us to know. Oblivion paints empathetic portra its of child street performers\, a frog juice vendor\, and a presidentia l sashmaker\, to name a few. She contrasts the work and home environment s of people who are employed at Lima's finest restaurants and hotels but who live in slums in the city's surrounding hillsides. In typical Honig mann style\, she extracts moving\, intimate\, and often amusing stories from her characters. These reminiscences are interwoven with scenes of c ontemporary political protest and archival footage. Oblivion introduces us to the everyday reality of Lima\, celebrating a people who - albeit p olitically powerless - have resisted being consigned to oblivion. Shanno n Abel. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/oblivion_hotdocs2009 UID:2474908038-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T113000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T130000 SUMMARY:Doc It! DESCRIPTION:Hot Docs is pleased to present the third annual Doc It! Showc ase\, a 90-minute program of young people’s films reflecting their inter ests\, perspectives\, and artistic choices as they explore their world t hrough non-fiction filmmaking. This year\, the Showcase presents 12 outs tanding films made by Canadian and international youths between 14 and 1 8 years of age. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/docit_hotdocs2009 UID:2478786571-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T143000 SUMMARY:Hot Docs Talks 4: Hot Docs Town Hall DESCRIPTION: CATEGORIES:Hot Docs Talks LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/hotdocstalks4hotdocstownhall_hotd ocs2009 UID:2474940349-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T141000 SUMMARY:Sacred Places DESCRIPTION:Thoughtful and reflective\, probing and provocative\, Sacred Places sees award-winning Cameroonian filmmaker Jean-Marie Teno examinin g Africa's struggle for a cohesive post-colonial identity through the ro le that contemporary films play in African communities. Shooting during the biannual FESPACO African film festival in Ouagadougou\, the capital of Burkina Faso\, Teno focuses on the experiences of Bouba\, a self-prof essed film geek who runs the local Cine Club\, and Jules Cesar\, a djemb e maker and player who literally drums up business for the local theatre . Cesar applies himself to a traditional grassroots art\, while Bouba ru ns a business that is highly dependent on an international industry that makes African films less accessible to Africans. Sacred Places addresse s such key issues as national identity in the context of globalization a nd the relationship between cultural identity and economics\, and does s o with a gentle\, warm approach and an affectionate eye to the vibrancy and camaraderie of the community.\n\nCo-presented with The Toronto Afric an Film and Music Festival. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/sacredplaces_hotdocs2009 UID:2474992900-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T132900 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T135900 SUMMARY:Rabbit A La Berlin DESCRIPTION:It's an important lesson of history that a system of order in tended to produce one result will often give birth to something entirely unexpected. So it was with the Berlin Wall\, which was\, in fact\, two separate walls\, one on the east and one on the west with a 120-kilometr e strip of land between them. The enclosed patch was unintentionally con verted into a kind of rabbit reserve as the walls encircled the lush gre en meadows of Potsdamer Platz and cut its rabbit population off from bot h escape and predators. But then one day the walls came down and the rab bits were suddenly freed from a restrictive system\, albeit one to which they had become accustomed. Told in the style of a nature documentary\, with a captivatingly dreamy tone and a tongue-in-cheek nod to the story 's allegorical significance\, Rabbit à la Berlin provides a fascinating history lesson told through the eyes of animals. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/rabbitalaberlin_hotdocs2009 UID:2474979379-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T145700 SUMMARY:Bloody Mondays & Strawberry Pies DESCRIPTION:Boredom has a bad rap. We exert enormous amounts of energy to keep it and all its incarnations-tedium\, apathy\, ennui-at bay. Schope nhauer\, who sung boredom's praises\, defined it as a "tame longing with out any particular object." Other philosophers\, writers\, and artists h ave recognized boredom and loneliness as essential to the creative proce ss. As Nietzsche said\, "He who completely entrenches himself against bo redom also entrenches himself against himself." Bloody Mondays & Strawbe rry Pies evocatively explores the negative and positive effects of bored om on the human condition. A Wall Street stockbroker\, the last living f emale spy of the Second World War\, a painter who has been painting "Tim e" for the last 42 years\, and the infamous Brenda Spencer who\, at 16\, shot 11 people because she didn't like Mondays are among the main chara cters. Narrated by John Malkovich\, Bloody Mondays is intriguing\, compe lling\, and so not boring-but in a good way. Shannon Abel. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/bloodymondaysstrawberrypies_hotdo cs2009 UID:2474903290-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T145300 SUMMARY:P-star Rising DESCRIPTION:P-Star is a nine-year-old rap phenom who's been spittin' rhym es since she could string a sentence together. Managed by her single fat her\, the self-anointed Princess of Hip Hop hits da clubs at night and r ocks appearances by day. Dad used to produce Ice-T and 2 Live Crew but n ow focuses all of his attention on his daughter. He's taught her everyth ing he knows and now P-Star is living his dream. With a record deal clin ched\, Daddy's little protégé starts flexin' her own muscles over image and costume. We're so used to seeing ads that sexualize young girls\, an d parents who pimp out their kids for TV fame\, that it's hard to be jol ted. But P-Star's maturity is breathtaking\, not blasé. She interacts wi th adults as if she were one\, cursing and shopping\, tolerating drug us e and marketing meetings. P-Star Rising presents a uniquely modern look at the real costs of dreams coming true. Angie Driscoll. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/pstarrising_hotdocs2009 UID:2474972370-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T151100 SUMMARY:65_Redroses DESCRIPTION:Eva is a young\, beautiful and smart overachiever with a lovi ng family and a great sense of humour. She also shares a terrible bond w ith some very special friends. Eva (65_redroses) and her online friends\ , Spirit_of_Kina and megmucus\, all have cystic fibrosis\, a fatal genet ic disease affecting the lungs and digestive system. On a waiting list f or a lung transplant\, Eva faces the stark reality that the transplant c ould either kill her or give her another shot at life. The only ones who truly know what she's facing are 22-year-old Kina\, battling chronic re jection from her double lung transplant\, and 19-year-old Meg\, who trie s to drink and medicate herself into denial. Unable to meet because of t he deadly risk of passing superbugs to one another\, the girls are each other's lifelines as they face some of the toughest decisions anyone cou ld ever make when all they really want to do is breathe. Gisèle Gordon. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/65_redroses_hotdocs2009 UID:2474890837-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T141500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T153900 SUMMARY:pereSTROIKA - reCONSTRUCTION of a flat DESCRIPTION:And you thought Toronto's real estate market was tough! In a St. Petersburg "komunalka" flat\, every room belongs to a different owne r. At 43 Marat Street\, four families share only a kitchen and bathroom\ , living in shifts and never entering each other's spaces. When one owne r decides to sell her room\, profiteering agents angle to sell everyone else's too\, like it or not. Director Christiane Büchner's observation o f one colossal real estate deal unfolds into a hilarious cultural exposé . Complete lack of privacy and cramped quarters leave no room for agreem ent-or kind words-between neighbours. Add to the edgy atmosphere the que stionable good cop/bad cop sales tactics of the agents\, and Russia's so cialist-capitalist growing pains come into entertaining focus. pereSTROI KA is a witty look at what a little more room and a few less neighbours could do for a city and a soul. Myrocia Watamaniuk. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/perestroikareconstructionofaflat_ hotdocs2009 UID:2474972814-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T164900 SUMMARY:Brock Enright: Good Times Will Never Be the Same DESCRIPTION:Emerging art star Brock Enright and his artist girlfriend\, K irsten Deirup\, travel to Deirup's family cabin in California to prepare for what could be Enright's most significant New York exhibition. With the help of Deirup and others\, Enright throws himself into his work. Te nsions rise under the watchful eye of Deirup's family who begin to quest ion the violent and sexually graphic nature of his work. Deirup's concer ns about their financial situation add to an already tense scenario as E nright depletes the gallery's budget and the completion of his work is j eopardized. Enright's final plea for more money results in a visit from gallery director Nicelle\, who upon arrival is shocked to find that no p rogress has been made. As Enright tries to justify his situation things spiral out of control into a shocking and surreal chain of events that a re guaranteed to leave you on the edge of your seat. Heather Haynes.\n\n Co-presented with Toronto Free Gallery. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/brockenrightgoodtimeswillneverbet hesame_hotdocs2009 UID:2474903659-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T153000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T164500 SUMMARY:Invisible City DESCRIPTION:"In this community\, manhood comes early. ... Being weak is n ot an option." - Ainsworth Morgan\, Nelson Mandela Park Public School\n\ nOnce\, Mikey and Kendell's friends boasted they'd never get in trouble and never sell drugs\, but by age 15 half of them have done just that. I n this beautifully shot and intimate documentary\, Oscar-nominated direc tor Hubert Davis reaches beyond his own story-so eloquently captured in Hardwood-to follow two charismatic Regent Park boys as they make the tra nsition from youth to manhood. Each runs into trouble with police\, the courts\, and school authorities despite having mothers whose love is pal pable and Morgan's heroic attempt at mentoring. With none of the privile ges of wealth and all of the prejudices of poverty\, with absent fathers \, a landscape of half-demolished buildings\, vacant lots and systemic r acism stacked against them\, the boys struggle to turn their lives aroun d. Lynne Fernie.\n\nCo-presented with Regent Park Film Festival. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/invisiblecity_hotdocs2009 UID:2474940930-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T172400 SUMMARY:Forgetting Dad DESCRIPTION:http://schedule.hotdocs.ca/index.php/2009/film/forgetting_dad CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/forgettingdad_hotdocs2009 UID:2474938588-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T171200 SUMMARY:Tinar DESCRIPTION:Set in the majestic mountainous region of Iran\, this compell ing doc follows the life of a boy named Tinar\, a hired cowherd. Tinar w orks alone\; his father lives elsewhere on the mountain with his new wif e and family. Tinar's job is to keep careful watch over a fairly large h erd of milking cows. He eats\, sleeps\, and even plays with them\; they are his only companions. As the seasons change\, a pastoral portrait of Tinar and his life gradually turns into a harrowing and lonely account o f a boy longing for escape and love. What Tinar wants most is to go to s chool like his step-siblings\, or to join his brother\, who has escaped their father and now works in the city with their uncle. Tinar's spirit is remarkably resilient\, though\, making his story even more heartbreak ing. A moving account of the effects of poverty. Shannon Abel. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/tinar_hotdocs2009 UID:2474998606-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T161500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T175900 SUMMARY:Fig Trees DESCRIPTION:Drenched in equal measures of joy and grief\, this documentar y opera - a tribute to the warrior saints of AIDS activism - will make y ou weep\, rage\, and sing\, maybe all at once. Director John Greyson gle efully riffs on Gertrude Stein's subversive 1934 opera\, Four Saints in Three Acts\, to create a glorious mélange of palindromes\, saints and cr iminals and a cameo by Queen West's albino squirrel. Winner of a Teddy A ward at the Berlin International Film Festival\, the film features Toron to's Tim McCaskell\, one of the founders of AIDS Action Now\, who has be en living with AIDS for 25 years and South Africa's Zackie Achmat. HIV-p ositive\, Achmat began a treatment strike in 1999\, refusing to take lif e saving anti-retrovirals until they were accessible to all South Africa ns. With beautiful rage and a resplendent score by collaborator David Wa ll\, Greyson takes aim at the political vacuum and outrageous greed of p harmaceutical companies that allowed millions to die when they could hav e lived. Gisèle Gordon.\n\nCo-presented with Toronto International Film Festival. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/figtrees_hotdocs2009 UID:2474938204-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T175800 SUMMARY:Ashes of American Flags DESCRIPTION:What makes a concert by Chicago-based alt-rock band Wilco so effing good? Simply\, it's their incredible music. Wilco has been around since 1994. Their critically acclaimed albums include: Mermaid Avenue\, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot\, and their latest\, Sky Blue Sky. Described by Ro lling Stone as "one of America's most consistently interesting bands" an d "America's foremost rock impressionists\," Wilco is an amazing assembl y of talented\, passionate\, and committed musicians whose concerts are veritable bonanzas of inspired songs. Ashes of American Flags follows th e band on their 2008 US concert tour. Filmed and recorded at some quinte ssentially American concert venues like Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa\, and T ipitina's in New Orleans\, Ashes boasts beautiful cinematography and int imate access to the performances. Between gigs band members offer brief\ , but fascinating reflections on touring. This doc is a real treat for n ew fans\, and a must-see for longstanding Wilco lovers. Shannon Abel.\n\ nCo-presented with NXNE Music & Film Festival and Conference. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/ashesofamericanflags_hotdocs2009 UID:2474898743-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T164500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T171500 SUMMARY:Is the Crown at War With Us? DESCRIPTION:In 1999\, after a Supreme Court of Canada decision upholds th eir treaty rights to fish for a "moderate livelihood" in their tradition al waters\, the Mi'kmaq community of Esgenoôpetitj (Burnt Church) First Nation in New Brunswick is overjoyed. With a 35% unemployment rate\, set ting a few lobster traps often puts supper on the table. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO)\, however\, claims the Mi'kmaq's 5\,600 tr aps are a violation of conservation\, even though they permit 240\,000 n on-Aboriginal commercial traps in the same area. Gritty and compelling f ootage shows an armada of huge commercial and DFO boats in an altercatio n with a handful of small Mi'kmaq boats. Traps are destroyed\, a respect ed community member is beaten bloody\, and a government boat repeatedly rams a Mi'kmaq boat at full speed. Fifteen million dollars later\, an el der sums it up perfectly: "Where do they get all this money to fight the Indians? It seems crazy to me." Gisèle Gordon.\n\nCo-presented with ima gineNative Film + Media Arts Festival. CATEGORIES:Outstanding Achievement LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/isthecrownatwarwithus_hotdocs2009 UID:2474941077-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T195000 SUMMARY:Nauru\, An Island Adrift DESCRIPTION:Nauru\, a tiny little-known island in the Micronesian South P acific\, serves as a devastating example of a people and place utterly d estroyed by industry. A century's worth of rampant phosphate exploitatio n has drained the nation's natural resources. Once the second richest co untry in the world\, with the highest per capita income anywhere\, Nauru now faces complete financial disaster\, a health crisis\, and governmen tal and infrastructural collapse. Mining has stripped the land\; silt an d run-off have killed the marine life. All that's left is a barren\, apo calyptic terrain\, a graveyard for excess and prosperity. The telling sc ene of a seabird trapped in a netted cage\, riding the wind\, stands in for Nauruans\, who still know how to survive but who must now return to old techniques of subsistence. A terrifying look at the end results of s o-called progress\, capitalism\, and a resource-based economy. Angie Dri scoll. CATEGORIES:Lets Make Money LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/nauruanislandadrift_hotdocs2009 UID:2474970753-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T201000 SUMMARY:Big River Man DESCRIPTION:This transcendent and rather strange demi-documentary follows Slovenian long distance swimmer Martin Strel on his most dangerous swim yet: down the mighty Amazon. Part world class sporting event\, part cir cus sideshow\, we travel with the vodka-swilling 53-year-old Strel as he battles treacherous currents\, pollution\, and his own insanity over th e 66-day swim. Director John Maringouin's first feature doc\, Running St umbled (2006)\, has gathered a cult following for its eerie\, disturbing portrait of his parents. Big River Man continues to reveal the director 's penchant for darkly poetic\, even Herzogian\, realism. Strel's son na rrates while his father remains mostly silent\, swinging between focused and disoriented throughout the risky swim. The jaunty road trip comedy that characterizes the early days of the journey morphs into surprising surrealism in the final leg as the tension - and Strel's blood pressure - mounts. Sean Farnel. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/bigriverman_hotdocs2009 UID:2478786269-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T201000 SUMMARY:Another Perfect World DESCRIPTION:Online virtual worlds have the potential to create a utopian paradise\, a technological Eden\, not possible in our real world. World of Warcraft\, EVE\, Lineage\, Metaplace\, UWorld\, and Second Life all p rovide users with fantastic alternate realities that transcend day-to-da y existence. These 3D games represent the last public spaces\, environme nts where people can explore thoughts and push boundaries. The games are about the players and the digital worlds that they create and govern-pl aces where they build democracies from dictatorships\, enforce systems o f justice\, organize revolutions\, and re-invent morality. The Internet' s alternate universes began with endless promise for experimentation and creativity\, but are increasingly mirrors of our corporeal reality. Cor porate investments and compliance with international laws ensure that cr eativity knows bounds. Avatar murder\, cyber terrorism\, and virtual cri me guarantee that invention be policed. Total freedom remains an elusive dream that not even the virtual world can offer. Angie Driscoll.\n\nOff icial website: http://www.submarine.nl CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/anotherperfectworld_hotdocs2009 UID:2474897018-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T195700 SUMMARY:Robinsons of Mantsinsaari DESCRIPTION:Mantsinsaari is a deserted island where the sole inhabitants include a horse\, two dogs\, and two elderly men-one a Belarusian\, the other Finnish. There is a long history between these men\, both personal and geopolitical. They do not speak despite their complete isolation-th ey are actually enemies. The closest they come to interaction is through the Finn's dog\, who sways between moderator and infidel. The desolate landscape and personified animals tell the true back story of this land of banishment and bliss\, silence and violence. These two men could very well be the last on earth\, so different yet so much the same. The Finn ish man quietly surrounds himself with family photos\; the Belarusian ex presses explosive flashes of love and frustration and surrounds himself with political portraits. The film's observations are so quiet\, meditat ive and wise\, they extend an invitation to the audience to speculate on the men's shared past. Angie Driscoll. CATEGORIES:International Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/robinsonsofmantsinsaari_hotdocs20 09 UID:2474989842-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T191400 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T194400 SUMMARY:Love at the Twilight Motel DESCRIPTION:Welcome to the Starlite Motel\, the busiest motel in Miami\, where the rooms rent for $25 for the first two hours\, the concealed gar ages have private staircases to the rooms\, and the sheets are clean. Pa rt confessional\, part broken love story\, this series of remarkably int imate interviews softly penetrates the darker side of desire to test our comfort level with other people's secrets. Mr. B loves his wife "more t han life\," but has a plethora of dubious justifications for his hooker and heroin habit. Beautiful\, soft-spoken Rose was a straight "A" studen t until she fell in with the wrong crowd. Whatever you need\, she can ho ok you up. Richard feels it's his destiny to be a "special treat" for ma rried women missing a little "heat." And Sara\, the Bible Belt wife-next -door\, believes that a little extracurricular sex isn't a sin as long a s there's no lying. Gisèle Gordon. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/loveatthestarlitemotel_hotdocs200 9 UID:2474968633-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T191500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T201200 SUMMARY:Audition DESCRIPTION:When Afghan-Canadian director Nelofer Pazira returns to Bamiy an\, Afganistan for the screening of the award-winning film she collabor ated on\, The Giant Buddhas\, she is shocked to see a crowd of 2\,000\, and astonished that many are women. Inspired\, she decides to audition l ocals for a film. The men are eager\, enthusiastically laughing and dyin g on command. The women are intrigued\, but reticent\, fearing retributi on. When they do perform\, it is with riveting authenticity. Pazira asks the men and women pointed questions\, challenging their preconceptions and renegotiating the balance of power and control. Equal parts fascinat ing cultural intervention\, exploration of the camera's gaze\, and homag e to Mohsen Makhmalbaf's ethically complex Salaam Cinema (Pazira starred in his film\, Kandahar\, loosely based on her story)\, this multilayere d excavation of a society straddling two worlds uses cinema as a mirror to reflect the underlying tensions between power\, tradition\, ethics\, and honour. Gisèle Gordon. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/audition_hotdocs2009 UID:2474899431-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T211000 SUMMARY:Hard Name DESCRIPTION:From the director of 2007's festival favourite\, Loveable\, c omes a very different film. Raw and intimate interviews with ex-convicts who come across as the most gentle souls you could ever meet-apart from the stabbings and armed robberies-talk about their lives in prison and their struggles to adapt to life on the outside. In jail\, the guards an d the system try to break them down. To survive\, they harden their spir it and live by the prison code: don't make eye contact\, don't rat on yo ur fellow convicts\, don't talk to the guards\, don't be an asshole. Aft er 40 years in prison\, never having held a job\, most find life out of prison harder than life in it. The hardness they've cultivated to surviv e as convicts crumbles as they reveal the horrific tales of abuse that s et the wheels in motion for some very tough lives. Gisèle Gordon.\n\nCo- presented with Friends of Dismas and John Howard Society of Toronto. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/hardname_hotdocs2009 UID:2474940085-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T210000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T222000 SUMMARY:Outrage DESCRIPTION:Outrage delivers a searing indictment of the hypocrisy of clo seted politicians who actively campaign against the LGBT community they covertly belong to. Boldly revealing the hidden lives of some of the Uni ted States' most powerful policymakers\, award-winning filmmaker Kirby D ick details the harm they've inflicted on millions of Americans\, and ex amines the media's complicity in keeping their secrets. Sure to be one o f the year's most explosive documentaries\, Outrage could also very well be a game changer in the ongoing battle for same sex civil rights in th e United States. Sean Farnel. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/outrage_hotdocs2009 UID:2474972168-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T213000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T224600 SUMMARY:Cash & Mary DESCRIPTION:"Will you marry me?" is what is written on the slips of paper that Atanas and Marko are handing out to women in Vienna. These two ent erprising Macedonians have hatched a plan to buy a bride and secure a pa ssport to the European Union. Their journey is a delightful romp through Vienna's colleges\, metro stations\, and red light districts with poign ant glimpses of what lies beyond the fringes. Eventually they meet Barba ra\, a young communist who is willing to marry Atanas on political and c ompassionate grounds\, but pursuing a marriage without love proves to be more challenging than anyone expects. The bureaucratic and psychologica l barriers that these hapless heroes face only highlights how modern day Europe is struggling to be redefined by its burgeoning immigrant underc lass. Isaac Meyer Odell. CATEGORIES:Lets Make Money LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/cashmary_hotdocs2009 UID:2474904996-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T213000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T225400 SUMMARY:Winnebago Man DESCRIPTION: CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/winnebagoman_hotdocs2009 UID:2475000435-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T224300 SUMMARY:Cat Ladies DESCRIPTION:A makeshift shrine to a fallen furry companion. Whiskers tuck ed inside a box. Half of the bed kept warm by fluffy tails and padded pa ws. One thinks she's gone too far\, taken too many in. Another says ther e's room for more. With humour and sensitivity\, this vérité portrait fo llows the lives of four crazy "cat ladies\," taking us beyond the stereo types to explore the deeply felt emotions of loss and loneliness. While feline beauties inhabit every frame of this quirky yet remarkably human film\, the real stories are the lives of the cat ladies themselves\, eac h of whom\, in her own way\, is struggling to fill a void within her lif e. Michelle Latimer. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/catladies_hotdocs2009 UID:2474905175-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T230500 SUMMARY:Twist DESCRIPTION:Like all good narratives\, Twist has both text and subtext. O n one level\, Twist is all fun\, an affectionate documentary about the e volution of a dance craze. It's the story of the underappreciated Hank B allard\, who wrote The Twist\, and Chubby Checker\, who rerecorded it an d scored a hit on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. The archival footage is stunning: white youths stiffly ballroom dancing\, black teenagers cut ting a rug to early rhythm and blues\, Christian preachers condemning po pular dance\, racists breaking records in protest. The Twist is so effor tlessly engaging\, it's almost easy to overlook just how serious a film it really is. It's about personal freedom\, self-expression\, and even f eminism. But Twist is really about race relations in the late 20th centu ry. When white dancers from American Bandstand reflect back on their exp eriences\, they flippantly confess to taking credit for dances actually cribbed from black schoolmates. Whatever you do\, don't sit this one out . Astra Taylor. CATEGORIES:Focus On LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/twist_hotdocs2009 UID:2474998730-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T220000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T233500 SUMMARY:The Entrepreneur DESCRIPTION:Best known for bringing Subaru and Yugo to North America\, an d for producing the first sports car with gull-wing doors\, Malcolm Bric klin has lost and regained millions\, failing as often as thriving. But Malcolm is a man who gauges success by the experience itself\, not just by the dollars and cents it generates. Filmmaker Jonathan Bricklin follo ws his father's last grasp at power before his last gasp\, as dad dreams of being the first to distribute Chinese cars in North America. All he needs is a near-bankrupt factory and some investors. You wouldn't actual ly think Malcolm could do it\, given his insistence that everyone confor m to his ideas and his blustery\, ostentatious\, and unprofessional cond uct. Can this showman transform his talk into reality? The Entrepreneur is a testament to Bricklin senior's legacy\, a roller coaster ride throu gh the ups and downs of brokering the blockbuster deal of a lifetime. An gie Driscoll. CATEGORIES:Lets Make Money LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/theentrepreneur_hotdocs2009 UID:2474909310-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090509T235900 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T012700 SUMMARY:RiseUp DESCRIPTION:Far from the tourist resorts\, RiseUp travels to the heart of contemporary Jamaica and its flourishing underground music scene. On an island where opportunity is scarce\, three aspiring artists - Turbulenc e (a charismatic lyrical master from the ghetto)\, Ice Anastasia (the we althy "Vanilla Ice" from uptown Kingston)\, and Kemoy (a shy angelic son gstress from the country) - seek to "rise up" into the legendary eminenc e of their iconic predecessors. Deep in the Kingston ghetto where reggae was born\, reggae music continues to be a key forum of expression for g hetto youths\, who still face crippling inequalities\, poverty\, and vio lence. Making a very promising filmmaking debut\, Luciano Blotta combine s interviews with local underground musicians and Jamaica's music elite (including Lee "Scratch" Perry\, Sly Dunbar\, and Robbie Shakespeare) wi th an energetic and inspiring soundtrack that gives life to an entire na tion. RiseUp is a celebration of struggle and the elevation of the human spirit. Karina Rotenstein.\n\nCo-presented with CaribbeanTales Annual F ilm Festival.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.RiseUpMovie.com CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/riseup_hotdocs2009 UID:2474988301-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T110000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T123000 SUMMARY:Paris 1919 DESCRIPTION:Two months after the end of the Great War\, kings\, queens\, presidents\, and diplomats descend on Paris to craft a peace treaty they hope will endure forever. US President Woodrow Wilson\, with his dream of founding a league of nations\, takes the helm along with the leaders of France\, the UK\, Italy\, and Japan. As they meet in the sumptuous Qu ai d'Orsay\, mapmakers in dark rooms across Paris reshape the world. Emp ires are dissolved and new countries created as Wilson's grand vision di ms in the face of demands for territory and the settlement of old scores . Inspired by Margaret MacMillan's celebrated book Paris 1919: Six Month s That Changed the World\, Paul Cowan impeccably merges drama with archi val film to create a portrait of the First World War and the talks that led to the Treaty of Versailles. That significant event has never lost i ts geopolitical influence. We feel the reverberations of its failure dai ly. Lynne Fernie. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/paris1919_hotdocs2009 UID:2474972510-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T113000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T124500 SUMMARY:H2OIL DESCRIPTION:Thanks to Alberta's Athabasca oil sands\, Canada is now the b iggest oil supplier to the United States. A controversial billion-dollar industry is heavily invested in extracting crude from the tarry sands t hrough a process so toxic it has become an international cause for conce rn. Four barrels of glacier-fed spring water are used to process each ba rrel of oil\, then are dumped\, laden with carcinogens\, into leaky tail ings ponds so huge they can be seen from space. Downstream\, the people of Fort Chipewyan are already paying the price for what will be one of t he largest industrial projects in history. When a local doctor raises th e alarm about clusters of rare cancers\, evidence mounts for industry an d government cover-ups. In a time when wars are fought over oil and a cr isis looms over access to clean fresh water\, which resource is more pre cious? And what price are we willing to pay? Gisèle Gordon. CATEGORIES:Lets Make Money LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/h2oil_hotdocs2009 UID:2474939916-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T123000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T151000 SUMMARY:Encirclement: Neo-Liberalism Ensnares Democracy DESCRIPTION:Encirclement may be the most important documentary you see th is year if you want to understand the erosion of democracy and the curre nt global economic disaster. With this elegantly structured analysis on the origins and devastating impact of neo-liberalism\, Richard Brouillet te has distilled 12 years' worth of black-and-white 16mm film footage in to a reinvigoration of the talking head doc. Thirteen acclaimed academic s and intellectuals spell out-with surgical precision-the tenets of the neo-liberal gospel and slice through the mindset that demonizes notions of the public good and naturalizes market forces. It explores\, with ter rifying momentum\, how multinational financiers\, think tanks\, the IMF\ , the World Bank and our politicians have created a virtual unelected gl obal shadow parliament that is stripping nations of their power and hand ing their resources over to private interests. And in an age when techno logy can instantly transfer money and information\, no country's currenc y is safe. Lynne Fernie. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/encirclementneoliberalismensnares democracy_hotdocs2009 UID:2474908174-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T145300 SUMMARY:Strongman DESCRIPTION:Stanless Steel is the strongest man in the world at bending s teel. He can leg press 10\,000-pound dump trucks and drive nails through boards with his bare hands. He can even bend a US penny in his fingers- a feat no one else in the world can match. These are not just acts of ph ysical strength but of incredible mental and emotional fortitude. A swee t and genuine person\, Stan gets his power from "good thoughts" and beli eves in the possibilities of change. But as strong as he is\, Stan is st ruggling. As he reaches middle age\, career disappointments and personal relationships test him and his ability to cope with his own weaknesses. Shot in a strict vérité style with all the heart and moxie of its subje ct\, Strongman is a funny and endearing tale of one man's determination to lift his life to a higher place.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.stro ngmanfilm.com CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/strongman_hotdocs2009 UID:2474997424-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T153000 SUMMARY:Ganesh: Boy Wonder DESCRIPTION:Hindus pray to Lord Ganesh before any major journey. He can p ut obstacles in the way or remove them. He is the Lord of Obstacles.\n\n Krishna and Jayamma have a happy marriage and a beautiful daughter. Now they would like a son. They pray to the god Ganesh to bless them with a boy\, never dreaming that their son would actually look like his namesak e\, the elephant-headed deity. Nor could they have imagined that an acci dental meeting with a reporter's brother\, after they had given up all h ope of finding medical help\, would trigger a life-changing series of ev ents. A local television story on Ganesh's facial deformity flashes his face around the globe\, connecting a young boy and his struggling workin g-class family in India to a Canadian plastic surgeon. Acclaimed feature filmmaker Srinivas Krishna makes his documentary debut with this powerf ul and moving story about love\, faith and hope. Lynne Fernie.\n\nCo-pre sented with ReelWorld Film Festival. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/ganeshboywonder_hotdocs2009 UID:2474893631-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T150000 SUMMARY:Prom Night in Mississippi DESCRIPTION:"They have separate proms and they have separate Homecoming Q ueens\, one white and one black. I said\, 'how stupid can that be'." - M organ Freeman\n\nGoing to classes together is one thing. Dancing togethe r is quite another. It took 16 years for Morgan Freeman's hometown to al low black students into its whites-only high school after desegregation. That was 1970. The Academy Award-winning actor offered to foot the bill for the school's first racially integrated senior prom in 1997. It was finally accepted in 2008. As girls try on ball gowns and get the latest sophisto hairdos\, guys preen in their first tuxedos\, book limos\, and arrange dates. Paul Saltzman intercuts this lively footage with intervie ws of students\, teachers\, and parents to reveal the everyday prejudice s and tensions underlying the excitement. But as the pure joy\, hot musi c\, and radiant glamour of this prom clearly show\, race relations in Ch arleston\, Mississippi will never be the same again. Lynne Fernie. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/promnightinmississippi_hotdocs200 9 UID:2474978787-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T133000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T145600 SUMMARY:Tiger Next Door DESCRIPTION:Dennis H. is a neighbour's worst nightmare. A former meth add ict\, convicted felon\, and biker\, he also counts a streak of Bengal ti gers\, a trio of black bears\, and a pride of cougars in his gang. Fifte en years of hand-raising big cats in his backyard has served as both occ upation and obsession for this collector. A self-professed animal lover\ , Dennis doesn't perceive any hypocrisy in keeping wild animals captive in cages. When a surprise USDA inspection reveals health and safety conc erns and neglect\, Dennis scrambles to find homes for all but three of h is furry friends or face being shut down permanently. The community of F lat Rock\, Indiana provides a microcosm for larger issues of poaching\, legislation\, inbreeding\, and the private collection and consumption of exotic animals that does nothing to aid in their conservation. Dennis i s both infuriating and endearing\, a flawed mix of shady morality and na iveté. Angie Driscoll.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.TheTigerNextDoor. com CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/tigernextdoor_hotdocs2009 UID:2474998448-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T155900 SUMMARY:Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance DESCRIPTION:One of the most important Canadian documentaries ever made\, Kanehsatake still resonates with power and fury. On a hot July day in 19 90\, an historic 78-day standoff between the Mohawk community of Kanehsa take and the 3\,000-strong combined forces of the Quebec police and Cana dian army was sparked when the mayor of Oka\, Quebec\, approved plans to build luxury housing over Mohawk sacred burial grounds. From behind the barricades\, Obomsawin deftly builds historical and philosophical conte xt from the Mohawk perspective\, illuminating the human emotions behind the dramatic actions. When contrasted with ugly retaliation from the gov ernment and townspeople\, it is clear why warriors and women were prepar ed to die to protect this last scrap of their territory. Obomsawin staye d behind the barricades until the bitter end of the standoff\, when 30 w arriors\, one spiritual leader\, one traditional chief\, 19 women\, and seven children walked out to face 300 armed soldiers and tanks. Gisèle G ordon.\n\nCo-presented with imagineNative Film + Media Arts Festival. CATEGORIES:Outstanding Achievement LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/kanehsatake270yearsofresistance_h otdocs2009 UID:2474941426-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T152400 SUMMARY:Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives DESCRIPTION:Compelling\, often hilarious and always rebellious\, nine wom en paint a portrait of lesbian sexuality against a backdrop of tabloid h eadlines\, book covers and dramatizations from lesbian pulp novels.\n\nE ver since the NFB launched as a mechanism for showcasing Canada to Canad ians\, it has produced documentaries on the nation in all its variety. W ell\, almost all. Despite the work of Studio D (sadly shuttered a decade ago) to produce films by and about women\, Canada on screen appeared as a land without lesbians. Enter Lynne Fernie and Aerlyn Weissman\, whose groundbreaking documentary excavated archives from Liquor Board photo f iles to '50s paperback racks\, recreating the details of lesbian life in postwar Canada. With a cast of unrivaled raconteurs spinning their tale s\, Forbidden Love fills in the blanks in the national psyche. It even i nvents a faux period drama to give shape to its lesbian elders' memories . Here is pleasure\, lust\, and heartbreak writ large\, as if a Sirkian lesbian director had trained her florid lens on the joys and tragedies o f the girls "in the life." An exquisite work of imaginative historiograp hy. B. Ruby Rich. CATEGORIES:Spotlight On LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/forbiddenlovetheunashamedstorieso flesbianlives_hotdocs2009 UID:2478785269-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T173100 SUMMARY:Love in India DESCRIPTION:In India\, Lord Krishna and his consort Radha are the gods of love\, lust\, and passion. Their sexual freedom and devotion has been a n inspiration for generations\, placing India at the forefront of sexual innovation and introducing the world to the wonders of the Kama Sutra. Fast forward to the present day\, where director Q and his girlfriend ar e in the midst of a passionate romance\, yet are in conflict with an Ind ian culture that has become sexually repressed. How did this happen? In this personal journey\, Q travels across India to openly discuss love\, sex and the evolution of attitudes towards them. His remarkable film exp oses their many positive and hypocritical facets\, from the Bollywood fi lm industry and the worship of Radha as a powerful woman to arranged mar riages\, rampant domestic violence\, and lack of sexual education. Q cha mpions the freedom to express love and sexual desire as an intrinsic par t of being Indian. Karina Rotenstein. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/loveinindia_hotdocs2009 UID:2474968918-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T172800 SUMMARY:RiseUp DESCRIPTION:Far from the tourist resorts\, RiseUp travels to the heart of contemporary Jamaica and its flourishing underground music scene. On an island where opportunity is scarce\, three aspiring artists - Turbulenc e (a charismatic lyrical master from the ghetto)\, Ice Anastasia (the we althy "Vanilla Ice" from uptown Kingston)\, and Kemoy (a shy angelic son gstress from the country) - seek to "rise up" into the legendary eminenc e of their iconic predecessors. Deep in the Kingston ghetto where reggae was born\, reggae music continues to be a key forum of expression for g hetto youths\, who still face crippling inequalities\, poverty\, and vio lence. Making a very promising filmmaking debut\, Luciano Blotta combine s interviews with local underground musicians and Jamaica's music elite (including Lee "Scratch" Perry\, Sly Dunbar\, and Robbie Shakespeare) wi th an energetic and inspiring soundtrack that gives life to an entire na tion. RiseUp is a celebration of struggle and the elevation of the human spirit. Karina Rotenstein.\n\nCo-presented with CaribbeanTales Annual F ilm Festival.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.RiseUpMovie.com CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/riseup_hotdocs2009 UID:2474988311-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T172100 SUMMARY:When We Were Boys DESCRIPTION:With rare access to the inner sanctum of privilege\, this sen sitive observational glimpse into the under-the-radar world of boys unfo lds over two years through the experiences of Noah and Colin\, two frien ds who attend an elite private boys' school. Director Sarah Goodman (Arm y of One\, Best Canadian Feature Documentary at Hot Docs\, 2004) follows the boys as they navigate from grade eight to the senior school\, playi ng video games\, singing like angels in the choir\, and alternately goof ing off or napping in class. Watching the boys study Lord of the Flies w ith an inspired English teacher is fascinating. Emotional struggles flic ker beneath the surface as the pecking order they establish takes its to ll on their friendship\, and thoughtful\, sincere Noah becomes more isol ated. The way each negotiates the culture of boys begins to define the l eaders\, fathers\, and men they will become. Gisèle Gordon.\n\nOfficial website: http://WWW.NOMADFILMS.CA CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/wewewereboys_hotdocs2009 UID:2475000027-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T161500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T175200 SUMMARY:Fierce Light: When Spirit Meets Action DESCRIPTION:When ScaredSacred filmmaker-activist Velcrow Ripper's friend is killed during a peaceful protest in Mexico\, Ripper takes a hard look at how activism and spirituality can co-exist. He embarks on a refreshi ngly honest\, visually sublime\, and deeply thoughtful historical and in ternational quest. Human rights activists\, environmentalists\, politici ans\, and spiritual philosophers such as Thich Nhat Hanh\, Desmond Tutu\ , and Alice Walker discuss what Gandhi called "soul force\," and Martin Luther King described as "love in action." Grounding this stirring explo ration is the story of a vibrant oasis in South Central Los Angeles wher e a decade ago 350 low-income families were granted plots of land. What became the largest urban garden in North America is under threat from de velopers. This road map to the transition from anger-based activism to a ction rooted in the "fierce light" of love and compassion inspires us to do our absolute best when faced with impossible odds. Gisèle Gordon. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/whenspiritmeetsaction_hotdocs2009 UID:2474937678-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T161500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T180400 SUMMARY:Waterlife DESCRIPTION:This stunning ode to the last great supply of fresh water on earth\, the Great Lakes\, immerses us in their extraordinary beauty\, ec ological complexity\, and extreme state of distress. Under assault on al l fronts by a deadly combination of industrial toxins\, sewage\, invasiv e species\, climate change\, and profound apathy\, they are on the verge of irreversible collapse. Director Kevin McMahon (recipient of the 2007 Hot Docs Focus On retrospective) navigates with fluid clarity through i ndustrial intervention and natural splendor\, from northern Lake Superio r to the Atlantic Ocean\, using breathtaking cinematography and CGI to s how us the waters 35 million of us drink every day. Propelled by a soari ng\, evocative soundtrack\, this eloquent poetic essay allows us to abso rb hard information gracefully balanced with a visceral understanding of how we are inextricably linked to the fate of these waters\, transformi ng the way we think and inspiring us act before it's too late. Gisèle Go rdon.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.ourwaterlife.com CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/waterlife_hotdocs2009 UID:2474999615-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T163000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T174200 SUMMARY:Roadsworth: Crossing the Line DESCRIPTION:Over a period of three years\, elusive artist Peter Gibson\, a.k.a. Roadsworth\, made his mark on Montreal by launching a self-descri bed "attack on the streets." Armed with spray-paint\, handmade stencils\ , and a boundless imagination\, he began to paint life into the concrete \, overlaying urban asphalt with bold imagery. A crosswalk became a gian t boot print\, traffic dividers transformed into zippers\, electrical pl ugs filled parking spots. While many appreciated Roadsworth's unique cre ations\, others denounced the work as pure vandalism\, an act of "artist ic anarchy" to be punished by law. With tremendous tenacity and vision\, director Alan Kohl paints a portrait of a man struggling to defend his work and define himself as an artist while confronting larger questions about the nature of art and freedom of expression. What emerges is an ad venturous and powerfully inspiring film that asks the question: "who own s public space?" Michelle Latimer.\n\nCo-presented with The Images Festi val. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/roadsworthcrossingtheline_hotdocs 2009 UID:2474989617-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T181000 SUMMARY:The Experimental Eskimos DESCRIPTION:In the 1960s\, three 12-year-old Inuit boys were taken from t heir families in the Canadian Arctic and sent to live with foster famili es in Ottawa. Unaware that they were part of a dubious social experiment initiated by the Canadian government\, they were forced to abandon thei r culture for the opportunity and education of the white man's world. Ye ars later\, the experiment was regarded a success when all three men wen t on to become great leaders who were instrumental in the establishment of Aboriginal rights and the creation of the territory of Nunavut. But i t all came at an unfathomable personal price. Filmmaker Barry Greenwald reunites Peter Ittinuar\, Zebedee Nungak\, and Eric Tagoona to reflect u pon the profound impact the experiment had on their lives and identities as Inuit people. The men candidly recount their stories in this bold an d thought-provoking film about assimilation\, empowerment\, and the triu mph of the human spirit. Michelle Latimer. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/theexperimentaleskimos_hotdocs200 9 UID:2474909473-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T192000 SUMMARY:Jackpot DESCRIPTION:It's 10 a.m. on Sunday morning. Do you know where your parent s are? While many of us are sleeping or reading the paper\, hardcore reg ulars are staking out their favorite seats at their favorite tables at D elta Bingo\, where everyone has a story and a dream. The bingo hall\, li ke some of its regulars\, is a little worn down\, but it offers a respit e from the harsh realities of a big\, lonely city. Day after day\, week after week soon becomes decades for the regulars\, who are convinced tha t if they hit the jackpot their problems will be solved. The pressure is intense since winning sometimes means being able to pay bills or make r ent. For others\, it's a way out of a life of hardship and heartbreak. A beautifully filmed meditation on the nature of luck and a reminder that we all need dreams\, even if they are always one number away. Gisèle Go rdon. CATEGORIES:Lets Make Money LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/jackpot_hotdocs2009 UID:2474941217-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T200000 SUMMARY:Poetry in Motion DESCRIPTION:Amiri Baraka. Helen Adam. Four Horsemen. William Burroughs. A llen Ginsberg on stage experimenting with punk rock. Poetry in Motion is a groundbreaking and vibrant homage to the power of the spoken word. Tw enty-four artists perform their works\, some against the recurring backd rop of a wooden set\, others in unassuming cafés or on the steps outside their homes. The irascible Charles Bukowski superbly plays the role of anti-narrator\, reappearing now and again to rail against literary pieti es. "Reading the poets has been the dullest of things\," he declares. "P oetry needs practitioners who are alive to bring it alive. Poetry's alwa ys been said to be a private hidden art\, not appreciated. The reason it 's not appreciated is that it hasn't shown any guts\, hasn't shown any d ance\, hasn't shown any moxie." Perhaps he's right. But thanks to Mann's smart direction\, guts\, dance\, and moxie are precisely what Poetry in Motion is made of. Astra Taylor. CATEGORIES:Focus On LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/poetryinmotion_hotdocs2009 UID:2474977698-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T184500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T201400 SUMMARY:Children of God DESCRIPTION:Nepalese Hindus believe the Bagmati River flows directly to h eaven\, gathering the souls of those who are cremated at the steps of th e Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu and carrying them off to their new h ome. But for 12-year-old Alesh Poudel\, home is on the streets next to t he temple. Fishing for coins from the river with magnets and scavenging everything from gold fillings to offerings to the gods\, Alesh and his y oung siblings eke out a contented life from the river\, while a more dan gerous one lures them to the nearby city streets. Director Yi Seung-Juni 's close relationship with-and paternal concern for-his subjects comes t hrough clearly and tenderly in the sincerity and intimacy they share wit h each other and with the camera. Children of God is a beautifully compo sed\, moving and poetic portrait of a life lived on the steps of heaven. \n\nCo-presented with Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. CATEGORIES:Made In... LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/childrenofgod_hotdocs2009 UID:2478786979-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T191500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T202000 SUMMARY:Laughology DESCRIPTION:Laughter. Plato hated it\, the Bible discouraged it\, scienti sts avoided it\, psychologists once thought if it didn't kill you\, it w ould drive you insane. With his trademark blend of humour and serious in vestigation\, Albert Nerenberg drops in on cutting edge neuroscientists and cardiologists\, a joyous yoga teacher\, and Christian holy laughter groups in search of its origin and meaning. He visits the site of a seve re laughter epidemic in Africa and reconvenes the folks who created The Nanny's laugh tracks. Ultimately he finds the man with the most contagio us laugh in the world. Laughology wittily weaves research\, archival sti lls\, television clips\, and a hilarious send-up of the use of re-enactm ents in docs. Nerenberg's quest to rediscover his own laugh has produced a film that will undoubtedly play a major role in a "global laughter tr end at a crucial time when the world needs a good laugh." Lynne Fernie.\ n\nCo-presented with World of Comedy Film Festival. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/laughology_hotdocs2009 UID:2474894704-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T191500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T204000 SUMMARY:Burma VJ: Reporting from a Closed Country DESCRIPTION:Burma VJ recounts the efforts of a small group of independent video journalists who risked torture and life in jail to ensure the tru th behind the country's 2007 political uprising was broadcast to the wor ld. Led by hundreds of Buddhist monks\, more than 100\,000 people marche d peacefully against the military junta that has held the country in an iron grip for 40 years-and that cracked down mercilessly on the protesto rs and the monks. Foreign TV crews were suddenly banned from the country \, leaving undercover video journalists armed with small handy cams to c apture the truth behind the events. Consisting largely of material shot by undercover reporters during the protests\, Burma VJ follows the effor ts of Joshua\, the 27-year-old leader of the Democratic Voice of Burma\, as he and a handful of others counter the propaganda of the military re gime. An insightful and dramatic document of history as it unfolds.\n\nC o-presented with Rights & Democracy. CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/burmavjreportingfromaclosedcountr y_hotdocs2009 UID:2474903959-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T191500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T201000 SUMMARY:Chronicle of a Kidnap DESCRIPTION:On July 12\, 2006\, two Israeli soldiers\, Ehud Goldwasser an d Eldad Regev\, were kidnapped on the Lebanese-Israeli border by Hezboll ah forces\, triggering the Lebanon War. Chronicle of a Kidnap follows th e valiant efforts of Karnit Goldwasser\, Ehud's devoted wife\, and her m edia campaign to generate international pressure on the Israeli governme nt to negotiate the release of her husband. She meets with Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and other international leaders\, but everyone re mains silent and evasive. Nurit Kedar brilliantly illuminates the never- ending psychological warfare of terrorism and the government's silence b ehind its political motives. Do governments really protect their citizen s? Are all citizens valued equally? To Karnit Goldwasser\, the answers a re irrelevant. On her daily bike ride to the border of Lebanon\, hoping for some trace of her husband is her only chance of keeping him alive. K arina Rotenstein. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/chronicleofakidnap_hotdocs2009 UID:2474905738-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T193000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T203000 SUMMARY:Diary of a Times Square Thief DESCRIPTION:If you looked back at your life\, what would you regret? Dire ctor Klaas Bense ponders this question after purchasing a mysterious dia ry on EBay. The diary belonged to a young man who moved to New York City in the 1980s\, aspiring to become the next William Burroughs. Though ta lented\, the young writer fails to be published and quickly descends int o a life of drugs and crime. Inspired by the stories and photos captured in the diary\, Bense travels to New York to discover what has become of the young writer and those who crossed his path. Through intimate inter views with former residents of the notorious Times Square Hotel\, we are reminded to look deeper into the forgotten faces we encounter everyday. Filled with vivid character portraits and haunting images of New York's seedy underground\, Diary of a Times Square Thief meditates on redempti on\, fate\, and the beauty of human connection. Lynne Crocker. CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/diaryofatimessquarethief_hotdocs2 009 UID:2478787027-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T210000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T215800 SUMMARY:Cat Ladies DESCRIPTION:A makeshift shrine to a fallen furry companion. Whiskers tuck ed inside a box. Half of the bed kept warm by fluffy tails and padded pa ws. One thinks she's gone too far\, taken too many in. Another says ther e's room for more. With humour and sensitivity\, this vérité portrait fo llows the lives of four crazy "cat ladies\," taking us beyond the stereo types to explore the deeply felt emotions of loss and loneliness. While feline beauties inhabit every frame of this quirky yet remarkably human film\, the real stories are the lives of the cat ladies themselves\, eac h of whom\, in her own way\, is struggling to fill a void within her lif e. Michelle Latimer. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 3 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/catladies_hotdocs2009 UID:2478787084-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T211500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T222600 SUMMARY:65_Redroses DESCRIPTION:Eva is a young\, beautiful and smart overachiever with a lovi ng family and a great sense of humour. She also shares a terrible bond w ith some very special friends. Eva (65_redroses) and her online friends\ , Spirit_of_Kina and megmucus\, all have cystic fibrosis\, a fatal genet ic disease affecting the lungs and digestive system. On a waiting list f or a lung transplant\, Eva faces the stark reality that the transplant c ould either kill her or give her another shot at life. The only ones who truly know what she's facing are 22-year-old Kina\, battling chronic re jection from her double lung transplant\, and 19-year-old Meg\, who trie s to drink and medicate herself into denial. Unable to meet because of t he deadly risk of passing superbugs to one another\, the girls are each other's lifelines as they face some of the toughest decisions anyone cou ld ever make when all they really want to do is breathe. Gisèle Gordon. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Bloor URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/65_redroses_hotdocs2009 UID:2478787113-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T213000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T223900 SUMMARY:Soulwax: Part of the Weekend Never Dies DESCRIPTION:This isn't a typical music doc\, and Soulwax is not a typical band. Pioneers in the electro scene\, brothers Stephen and Dave Dewaele are the brains behind Soulwax\, one of the most electrifying phenomena of our time. Soulwax is actually a four-part animal: a rock band\, a ban d that remixes Soulwax music live (a.k.a. Nite Versions)\, a DJ duo who remix other artists (a.k.a. 2 Many DJs)\, and a live show of all of the above (a.k.a. Radio Soulwax). Director Soam Farahmand takes one camera a nd travels on tour across the globe (including Toronto's Opera House and The Mod Club) capturing candid moments with the duo\, the band\, and th eir eccentric friends and fans. Edited from thousands of hours of footag e\, this electro-punkumentary is an energetic visual and sonic feast hig hlighting the signature Soulwax energy. A true music lover's film\, Soul wax transcends music genres and becomes an endless euphoric party. Karin a Rotenstein.\n\nCo-presented with NXNE Music & Film Festival and Confer ence.\n\nOfficial website: http://www.partoftheweekendneverdies.com/ CATEGORIES:Next LOCATION:Royal URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/soulwaxpartoftheweekendneverdies_ hotdocs2009 UID:2474994978-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T213000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T225500 SUMMARY:Carmen Meets Borat DESCRIPTION:Life in the tiny rural village of Glod\, Romania is pretty un eventful for 17-year-old Carmen. She works in her father's bar\, waiting on layabouts\, watching Spanish soap operas\, and planning a life far\, far away. But when crews from Sacha Baron Cohen's Borat film arrive\, e verything changes. Speaking no English\, the townsfolk mistake it for a real documentary\, and respected villagers like Carmen's father and gran dfather happily mug for the camera. When they see themselves portrayed o n screen as Kazakhstani whores\, thieves\, and abortionists\, the villag e is horrified. Cue revenge: big city lawyers channel their outrage into a $30-million lawsuit against the studio. Cue drama: fantasies of fanta stic wealth spread like wildfire. Even Carmen begins to reconsider her p rospects in Glod\, but village greed and suspicion soon catch up to her. Director Mercedes Stalenhoef uncovers a story befitting Hollywood in th is darkly comic film about pride\, betrayal\, and Borat. Myrocia Wataman iuk CATEGORIES:Special Presentations LOCATION:Cumberland Cinemas 2 URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/carmenmeetsborat_hotdocs2009 UID:2478787195-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T213000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T230400 SUMMARY:Sergio DESCRIPTION:Sergio\, based on Pulitzer Prize-winner Samantha Power's grou ndbreaking biography\, Chasing the Flame: Sergio Vieira de Mello and the Fight to Save the World\, is a riveting account of the amazing career a nd tragic final mission of the United Nations' High Commissioner for Hum an Rights\, Brazilian diplomat Sergio Vieira de Mello. Known to everyone simply as Sergio\, he was lauded for his ability to diffuse some of the most complicated situations in countries with some of the worst human r ights abuses. With his charming personality and his calm\, pragmatic sty le\, some likened him to a cross between James Bond and Bobby Kennedy. A t 55\, Sergio was in love and ready to settle down. But a crisis called him away one final time\, and because of who he was\, he had to answer. Sergio is an exceptional tribute to a rare man who valued humanitarianis m above all else. Shannon Abel. CATEGORIES:World Showcase LOCATION:ROM URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/sergio_hotdocs2009 UID:2478787224-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T230000 SUMMARY:Invisible City DESCRIPTION:"In this community\, manhood comes early. ... Being weak is n ot an option." - Ainsworth Morgan\, Nelson Mandela Park Public School\n\ nOnce\, Mikey and Kendell's friends boasted they'd never get in trouble and never sell drugs\, but by age 15 half of them have done just that. I n this beautifully shot and intimate documentary\, Oscar-nominated direc tor Hubert Davis reaches beyond his own story-so eloquently captured in Hardwood-to follow two charismatic Regent Park boys as they make the tra nsition from youth to manhood. Each runs into trouble with police\, the courts\, and school authorities despite having mothers whose love is pal pable and Morgan's heroic attempt at mentoring. With none of the privile ges of wealth and all of the prejudices of poverty\, with absent fathers \, a landscape of half-demolished buildings\, vacant lots and systemic r acism stacked against them\, the boys struggle to turn their lives aroun d. Lynne Fernie.\n\nCo-presented with Regent Park Film Festival. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Isabel Bader URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/invisiblecity_hotdocs2009 UID:2478787245-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTAMP:20091126T010559Z DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T214500 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20090510T230200 SUMMARY:Broke DESCRIPTION:"They come because they're desperate. They need money\, for w hatever reason. Where else are they gonna get money? You don't see the w ay the poor people live until you come here and see it." - David Woolfso n\, owner\, A1 Trading\n\nIt's not a pretty picture\, but it's one power ful depiction of reality. A1 Trading\, a pawnshop in Edmonton's inner ci ty\, is the bank of last resort for junkies desperate for $10\, out-of-w ork men who have to pawn their equipment\, and two elderly Aboriginal la dies who need a bit of money for food. Woolfson\, a crusty old Jewish im migrant from South Africa\, had run the shop for 16 years when Chris Hoa rd\, a troubled young Aboriginal man\, started assisting him-for free. R osie Dransfeld brilliantly captures the relationship between the soft-he arted Woolfson and Hoard\, a self-confessed ex-con and psychopath\, whil e her cinéma-vérité style draws us deep into Broke's world of bargaining \, insults\, and desperation. Lynne Fernie. CATEGORIES:Canadian Spectrum LOCATION:Innis Town Hall URL:http://hotdocs.bside.com/2009/films/broke_hotdocs2009 UID:2478787304-hotdocs.bside.com/2009 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR