by Olga Barsky
The city is abuzz with pleasant weather and film fests everywhere we turn.  ReelWorld Film Festival (April 2 – 6) sets the wheels in motion.  Next comes Images Festival (April 3 – 13), and the whirlwind begins.  What to see? Where to go? With just enough time to catch our breath HotDocs (April 17 – 27) is upon us, rounding off our moving (image) saturated month 

The mood is just right, and for the film buff, April is as romantic as it gets. Between screenings galore, wide array of panels with industry pros, galas, and parties, there’s nothing more satisfying than sipping wine in the midst of a heated discussion about child labour, euthanasia, or any other fascinating topic featured in over three hundred films set to screen in these festivals combined. 

ReelWorld kicked off with bang – a party where rum flowed as freely as thought provoking conversation, and towers of dainty cupcakes were the dessert of choice.  We were lucky enough to chat with filmmakers, actors, and queen bee, Tonya Lee Williams (best known for her starring role in THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS), who founded the festival in 2001.  She wanted to see more positive diverse stories on screen and create opportunities for emerging talent of colour to showcase work in Canada. And she did. 

Opening the festival, SPINNING INTO BUTTER, an American feature starring Sarah Jessica Parker with brown (hair colour commercial) hair as the Dean of Students in a liberal arts college in Vermont. The narrative is set in motion when a hateful note is left on the door of a black student’s dorm unleashing a frank dialogue between faculty and students, with Sarah Jessica’s character sneakily playing on our own prejudices. The subject of racism is treated with the utmost respect yet the film maintains a sense of humour as it opens our minds to new ideas by way of provocative writing as opposed to heartstring tugging filmic devices resulting in empty tear shed.   

Now onto the shorts! SOUVENIRS FROM ASIA, written and directed by local filmmaker Joyce Wong is amongst our top picks.  The uber-clever satire follows the lives of two Korean girls adopted by a Canadian family. Comedy ensues when their waspy mother begins to appropriate Asian-specific iconography (like chopsticks) in totally unacceptable ways in hopes of better relating to her daughters. 

SOUVENIRS FROM ASIA screens Friday April 4th at 7:30pm at the Cineplex Odeon Carlton. 

Another SDTC favourite, AFIA is a charming tale about a quirky nine-year-old girl obsessed with Michael Jackson.  Written and directed by Toronto’s own Lacey Duke, her film chronicles Afia’s journey from private to public school as she tries to adjust to her new surroundings, and most importantly, a ruthless bully who’s out to get her.  A film for kids and adults alike, AFIA will have you happily bopping your head to MJ tunes as you cheer on the misunderstood protagonist and secretly wished she was your next-door neighbor.

AFIA screens Saturday April 5th at 10:00am at the Cineplex Odeon Carlton *FREE SCREENING*