documentary
Since 1999, the Planet in Focus Environmental Film Festival has been bringing some of the best environmentally conscious films from around the world to the city. Featuring nearly 100 films, the 2011 edition of Planet in Focus kicks off tomorrow and runs until Sunday, October 16th.
TIFF 2011: Sarah Palin – You Betcha! Review
In Sarah Palin – You Betcha! British documentarian Nick Broomfield and his tiny team cozy up in Wasilla, Alaska to try to gather opinions and footage from Palin's friends, colleagues and even Palin herself. Two thirds of those goals do not go very well at all, and for some bizarre reason Broomfield lets you in on every production misfortune.
Beauty Day Review
In the St. Catherines area, he was known as local TV spirit Cap'n Video. If he saw a post, he'd climb it and then jump from it. See a wall? He'd run into it. If he saw a raw egg, he'd eat it through his nose. In Beauty Day, the audience gets a thorough profile of a semi-retired goof, long after his raid on the airwaves but still more than ready to slip back into the wacky-tight-pants.
Hot Docs to take over Bloor Cinema
It's the end of an era for the historic Bloor Cinema, and the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Annex rep theatre. Earlier today, Hot Docs announced that it has entered into a joint venture with Blue Ice Film to manage and program the theatre beginning this Fall. The group also plans to revitalize the space by making much needed upgrades to the Bloor's technical equipment; that means new projectors, a new sound system, new seating and more. A major overhaul of the lobby and the façade are also in the works.
Hot Docs 2011 Review:
Superheroes
In Superheroes, director Michael Barnett introduces to a gallery of men and women who take it upon themselves to don masks and capes, lurking the streets for criminals to thwart. But in a subculture that is so much more showmanship than substance, Barnett's film begins to stumble on almost identical faults.
Hot Docs 2011 Review: The National Parks Project
The National Parks Project documentary is about two hours long. Two things will result from this: 1) If you see it in a theatre, your ass and legs will hurt by the time it’s over; and 2) If you see it in a city, you will emerge from the film incredibly restless after seeing thirteen of this country’s prettiest places.
Hot Docs 2011 Review: Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop
It’s been about six months since Conan O’Brien took back the night with his talk show on TBS, but any fan of his or at least anyone still interested in what happened while he was off the air will want to see this documentary.
Hot Docs 2011 Preview Part Two
This year’s Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival kicks off today and runs through May 8. Featuring over 200 films in total, picking which films are worth seeing is a tall order for even the most seasoned fest-vet. With that in mind, allow us to present the second part of our Hot Docs coverage – A selection of documentaries that may just pique your interest.
Andrew’s Hot Docs 2011 Picks
The 2011 Hot Docs Film Festival is bigger than ever this year with over 200 movies being screened of the course of 11 days. I understand that the choices are overwhelming this year, but here I am to briefly give all you fine Dork Shelf readers my top five picks of the festival and five other films that are in smaller categories of competition that you shouldn't overlook.
Hot Docs 2011 Preview Part One
This year's Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival kicks off tomorrow and runs through May 8. Featuring over 200 films in total, picking which films are worth seeing is a tall order for even the most seasoned fest-vet. With that in mind, allow us to present the first part of our Hot Docs coverage - A selection of documentaries that may just pique your interest.
The Rep – Episode 5
Top Men?
Dork Shelf.com is now a proud sponsor of The Rep! The ongoing web-series documents the trials and tribulations of our friends at the Toronto Underground Cinema. Episode 5 follows the gang as they travel deep into the depths of a defunct cinema to uncover a mysterious cache of 35mm film cannisters.
This Week in Dork: February 20 – 26
This Week in Dork is a new feature that will attempt to encapsulate all of the dorky events happening in and around Toronto every week. This week's highlights include a free Tim Burton Day at the Lightbox, a metalhead documentary, a classic monster movie and more!
The Rep Episode 4
The Wright Stuff? Part 2
The latest episode of the ongoing web-series The Rep is now online. The series documents the trials and tribulations of our friends at the Toronto Underground Cinema. Episode 4 concludes the events of the previous episode – Charlie, Nigel, Alex and Peter continue to prep the theatre for The Wright Stuff, while anxiously awaiting the arrival of director Edgar Wright
The Rep Episode 3
The Wright Stuff?
The latest episode of the ongoing web-series The Rep is now online. The series documents the trials and tribulations of our friends at the Toronto Underground Cinema. In this episode Charlie, Nigel, Alex and Peter prep the theatre for The Wright Stuff and the arrival of director Edgar Wright.
Cool It Review
The new documentary Cool It from acclaimed filmmaker Ondi Timoner is a breath of fresh air for anyone sick and tired of the fear-based approach to fighting climate change. With the help of Danish environmentalist Bjørn Lomborg, Timoner’s Cool It acts as a rebuttal of sorts to Al Gore‘s documentary An Inconvenient Truth.