Benny Zenga

Toronto Producer of the Bicycle Film Festival

I glanced over my mug's rim at every guy who entered I Deal Coffee on Ossington wondering which one would be Benny Zenga, producer of the Toronto segment of The Bicycle Film Festival. After a couple of false alarms, a lean, sun-kissed blonde strolled (or, more precisely, rolled) in with an absolutely stellar bike. Smooth black tires on red wheels. Vintage bike lamp. It was a pretty safe bet that this was him: “You must be Benny.”

“I forgot my lock’s keys,” he shrugs, gesturing towards his bike.

Sitting down, he proceeds to tell me that he’s been a bit scatterbrained recently. You see, he just returned from a four month bike trip across Africa where, amongst other activities, he drove a tall bike (constructed of two bikes on top of each other) through Ethiopia causing off the cuff reactions everywhere. After returning, he edited a brief film of his journey, zipped to NYC to screen it, and has been prepping for the Toronto Bicycle Film Fest, for which he’ll be screening a short that he’ll be filming this weekend at the Cycle Messenger World Championships.

Yep, I think he can be excused for forgetting his keys.

Though Benny’s an awfully busy guy right now, his demeanour doesn’t show it. He’s laid back, and always speaks of bikes as a source of joy, rather than a responsibility. He raves about how fun it is to race against the ticking countdown at pedestrian crossings and jokes about how it’s laughable how many people trade in the awesomeness of cycling when they turn sixteen only to get trapped in traffic all the time.

Benny’s role as producer of Toronto’s Bicycle Film Festival is clearly a labour of love, and his spirit of playful bike adoration is shared by the festival.

Glancing through the bicycle film fest’s program, you’ll find that the only commonality between the films, artwork and bands involved is their love of bicycles. A single shorts program to be screened at The Royal on June 30 includes a comic D.I.Y. made by a couple of amateurs about bike thieves, a cine-poem about bikes bringing freedom to women, and a doc on the Recycle a Bicycle program at NYC public schools.

The art show – Joy Ride – hosted at Studio Gallery features thirty-two artists representing the spectrum of mediums. While the Bikes Rock party, likewise at Studio Gallery, features bands that, like bikes, make you want to move: The Bicycles, Sandro Perri & Friends, Syntonics and The Cleef. It will have, in Benny’s words, “a fun sock hop feel.”

Asked how he envisions the future of the Bicycle Film Festival, Benny thoughtfully responds that he really likes what he sees now and hopes it will continue that way. It’s in the beautiful Royal Cinema, which adds an air of glamour, yet the festival’s relatively small scale preserves the sense of community.

So with all this love on for bikes, will you feel like a freak for arriving on the streetcar? Heck no. Benny wants everyone to come out so that they can acquire a taste for the perfection that is the bicycle.

Diversity, inclusiveness and celebration are the festival’s guiding mantras. It’s not limited to the hot trends in biking – courier culture and fixies (that’s fixed gear riders for those out of the loop) – nor is it targeted exclusively at twenty-something bike scenesters. It’s about toddlers giggling on their trikes, bike commuters zooming to work, and post-menopausal moms rekindling that love affair with the cycle hiding at the back of the garage. It’s about building an international movement of bike enthusiasm across seventeen cities on four continents.

So come out to the Bicycle Film Fest, get your bike valet parked (ooh la la), walk the red carpet, and raise a toast to the beautiful invention that is the bicycle with, as Benny puts it, “the flare, style and energy that it deserves.”

The Bicycle Film Festival runs from June 18-June 21. Screenings take place at The Royal, 608 College S.. The Joy Ride art show and the Bikes Rock party take place at Studio Gallery, 294 College St. 2nd Floor. See www.bicyclefilmfestival.com for tickets and details.

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In Conversation with Brendt Barbur

Founder of The Bicycle Film Festival

With so many festivals hitting Toronto a year, it’s often hard to keep track; in film alone, we have over sixty.

Let me start by saying, The Bicycle Film Festival (BFF) is not one to be overlooked. Having grown to span seventeen cities in just a few years, this fest is way more than a means to advocate cycling.

I had the opportunity to chat with founder Brendt Barbur, based in New York City, and non-coincidentally the first city to launch BFF. With all the protests, rallies and politics buzzing over bike lanes, it’s refreshing to see a festival devoted to celebrating the international bike community through art and creativity.

I begin by asking Brendt what prompted him to start the festival. He responds frankly:

“Have you ever been doored? Do you know what that means?” Unfortunately, I am one of millions who have been doored. There is nothing more jarring then merrily cycling on a warm summer day and then GAPHUMPH – getting the wind smacked out of you by a careless driver or cab passenger, toppling to the ground, scraping your knee and watching as all the shit spills onto the street from your purse. INFURIORIATING!

It doesn’t surprise me that the intense anger felt in this moment spurred Brendt to create a film festival. After all, it was time to open up the dialogue of biking to a mainstream audience, and increase the overall awareness and appreciation for our who-wheeled companions.

Over the past few years, the momentum has picked up faster than a no-brake ride down the steepest of San Francisco streets. As a side note, although the film spreads to Tokyo, Paris, Portland, Chicago, Toronto and many other major cities, the bike community of San Francisco has embraced the festival the most. It was in 2005 in San Fran, that Brendt really knew he was doing something right when lineups curled around screening venues for ten blocks.

The films encompass a gamut of bike-related issues as well as the emotionally charged themes that accompany them. This year expect films about love, thievery, ghost riding, bikes & fashion, racing, riding blind, hip hop, and bike messengers. In the past, the festival has included acclaimed works such as MONKEY WARFARE, which won a Jury Prize at TIFF. While this is certainly an impressive notch on the belt, Brendt is most proud to see people in the community who aren’t filmmakers, submitting their stories.

“Most of the movies were made by people with no formal education in film; graphic designers, bike messengers – they all have a unique perspective and something to say.”

But beyond films spilling in from around the world, and cities raising a hand to be a part of the festival, Brendt will define real success when, “artists are truly incorporated into the lifestyle and the bike movement can take care of their own.”

He is taking a lot of measures to move towards this goal. Most importantly, Brendt seeks to bring the festival out of theatres to encompass multidisciplinary art along with revelry in the streets, and curate art shows – this year’s is titled Joy Ride. In New York it was exhibited in a giant empty raw retail space, in Paris at the internationally renowned design boutique, Collette - and in Toronto at newly established Studio Gallery, the ultimate hot spot for cutting edge art shows.

Artists partaking in the exhibit include the likes of Swoon, Steve Macdonald, Michel Gondry, Philip Frost and Peter Sutherland. How exciting to see such a diverse group of heavy hitters working towards a common goal, and producing unique works in celebration of bicycles.

While BFF is certainly picking up steam in North America, Europe, and Asia, Brendt’s ultimate dream is to bring the fest to a financial level where it can have the resources to serve communities in need in Negeria, Bangkok, and Indonesia; after all, the bicycle is hardly elitist.

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Toronto Off Road Bicycling Association

A Conversation with Brian Betsworth

Cycling in Toronto doesn't have to be reserved for tinkering around Kensignton on your bicyclette. Looking for a ride with some bumps, fresh air and mud? Yeah, we like it a little rough and dirty sometimes.

After meeting Brian at the Sex and The City premiere, it appeared as though we had more to discuss than the topic of the night; "SEX ROCKS" and quickly moved on to "BIKES ROCK!" And guess what? Biking in mud and rocks can be better than sex!

Brian's love for cycling began back in high school. BMXing around the DVP and whizzing around the local parks. His passion for sport lead him to Lakehead University where he excelled in the Outdoor Education Program. Like most grads, Brian's path took an alternative route; he now divides his time between DJing, specialized laser light shows, and being a founding member of TORBA.

The mandate behind TORBA is to work with local authorities, stakeholders and communities to raise awareness and help to preserve, maintain and create off road cycling routes.

Through his work and adventures with TORBA, Brian hopes to promote environmental sustainability and healthy lifestyles for Torontonians.
Often city dwellers forget that terrific and rugged trails exist closer than the nearest H&M. Brian informed me that beyond being a magnificent ride, the trails along the DVP are heritage trails that were used by the North West Company who portaged fur trading up the Don River in the early 1800's. A ride through history – yeeeeah!
Every week, the members of this group – and the general public, are encouraged to meet at the Loblaws Trail Head at 77 Redway Road - 7PM. The group then takes a two-hour bike ride in whichever direction suits their fancy. If you like mountain biking, and can't afford a ticket to BC – this is a terrific way to exert your pent up frustrations from work, connect with nature and see a part of the city otherwise forgotten.

I ask Brian what it is about off road cycling that he loves so much:

"I like moving under my own power, being able to hit awesome speeds without engine. It's sheer exhilaration…the therapeutic value is exceptional."
So if you are sick and tired of inhaling garbage truck exhaust fumes, or fearing for your life when a bitch on their blackberry casually throws a cab door open – perhaps this is something you can venture in to, and fall in love with cycling all over again.
Oh, and in case you are concerned that you don't have the right gear, or are an amateur in this department – it's completely up to you how hard or easy you take it, and often the group divides to take the high and low road.
www.torontooffroad.org

Sights On Bikes Tour Company

http://www.sightsonbikes.com/
Interview with Tour Guide Leader, Lizzie McNeely

Explain how the company operates:
We provide guided bike tours of Toronto on these sweet Schwinn cycles (big handlebars, comfy seats, primary colours). Our tours range from couples wanting an exclusive romantic tour, to corporate groups for whom we plan Amazing Race style scavenger hunts complete with delicious picnics on the islands.

What is the mandate of the company:
To offer people green, fun and informative tours.

Where do you do your tours?
Our city tour (depending on the speed of the bikers, their interests and the length they choose) covers such sites as the Distillery District, St Lawrence Market, Queen's Park, City Hall, Old City Hall, U of T, Casa Loma, Kensington Market, OCAD, CN Tower and Harbourfront. The island tour covers from Hanlan's Point to Ward's and everything in between. The West Beaches hits The Ex, Ontario Place, Fort York, Sunnyside Beach and Harbourfront.

What do you love most about being a tour guide?
Toronto has so many delightful secrets and it's wonderful to see visitors' expressions of utter surprise when you share those with them. Makes me feel proud of our city. Plus, I think I'm more physically fit than I've been since high school.

What are tourists the most surprised about when you take them on their journey?
By the utopia that is Ward's and Algonquin Islands. The homes there feel like cottages, yet have the most startlings view of the city. They offer an amazing model of how calm and community oriented neighbourhoods would be if it weren't for cars.
How does a bike tour differ from a busride, from a tourist's point of view:
If you get stuck in traffic you can just start walking on the sidewalk. There are places you can go on a bike that are inaccesible on a bus (like the Island and the Boardwalk). There's a lot more flexibility with a bike ride; it's easy to shift the route according to the interests of the clients and to lock them up if they want to go inside somewhere. Plus, for a lot of people it's rekindling their youth. They haven't been on a bike in years and to jump on one makes them feel young and free again.

Where are your favourite places to bike in Toronto?
Harbord and St. George: there are so many fellow bikers along them that you feel like you're part of a team, plus they're just excellent routes for getting through the city fast. I like spying into the backyards of houses along The Belt Line, and have recently discovered that zooming through the Ex is a great way to cut from Strachan to Dufferin. The most rewarding cycle is definitely when you go from Downtown to the Humber River along the Martin Goodman Trail. When you gaze back at downtown from the bridge across the Humber you feel like you've accomplished an epic journey.
Do you think Toronto should facilitate the same program that has been so successful in Paris, in having bikes available at every tourist stop?
A few places might be good - Harbourfront, Distillery - but until we have the same degree of dedicated bike lanes as Paris I fear such a program would not be as succesful. Most of our tourists are Americans or Canadians, and they don't tend to be as comfortable cycling in cities as Europeans.

If you could make three changes to the city of Toronto to make it more conducive to bike riders, what would you do?
Well, aside from getting rid of December, January, February and most of March:
1) Have a dedicated bike route going from Front Street to the lake: it can be pretty scary shifting lanes to avoid turning traffic and dodging vehicles coming off the ramps, especially since it's dark underneath the rail tracks.
2) Have safe city biking units as a mandatory part of gym classes at Toronto schools: if kids realize how much more convenient biking is than driving, they'll keep it up.
3) Dedicated bike lanes that are protected from parked cars by bollards or a boulevard: I'd recommend doing this beside dedicated streetcar routes like Spadina and just stop cars from making left turns, they hold up the streetcars too much anyway.

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We were first introduced to The Deadly Nightshades at [FAT] during a screening of “A Night Out With the Deadly Nightshades” directed by George Browne.  The slick film captured the free spirited bike gang doing what they do best – riding in style.  But there’s so much more.  Comprised of 6 designers, the Deadly Nightshades are out to spread the word about social responsibility in fashion and bring about change in the industry. 

1. How did the Deadly Nightshades begin? Were you a collective of designers who loved bikes or a bike riding gang that decided to start a design collective?

The Deadly Nightshades degenerated from a design collective, kNOwdresscode, which was started as a promotional tool for new designers. The Deadly Nightshades continues on the same vein, but also tries to promote and participate in sustainable design projects. It just happens that bike culture is a big part of our lifestyle.

- Cat Essiambre, Niamh McManus agrees.

The bike gang aspect started last summer. We all choose bikes as an alternative form of transit. So soon enough summer resulted in a general desire to ride through the city in matching jean vests, blaring west side story or something equally ridiculous from a boom box.  

– Laura Mensinga

2. What is your mandate or objective of the clothing and the film?

Our purpose and theme merge sustainable fashion design and sustainable transportation. That being said, we all have different mandates in life and in fashion, but the film was about bringing us all together to spread a message (and cause a scene...)

– Niamh McManus

The mandate of the film was to document a group of young new creative gals who are at the forefront of Green 2.0 -  not like the enviros of the previous generation chaining themselves to whaling ships, but a group of friends who merge sustainable transportation with sustainable fashion in a fun, hip and inviting way. They live it!  

- George Browne (Director)

3. How does each member of your collective contribute differently? (feel free to have fun with this question)

Irene Stickney aka Fierce Bambi...the connections

Cat Essiambre aka Rig Red...master of all party trades

Niamh McManus aka Namtron...spokesperson

Laura Mensinga aka Mzungu...the gate-keeper

Patty Youn aka Patty Milkshake...brings the naked

Meaghan Orlinski aka MEG OH!...sustainable police

4. What impact do you hope to have on the Canadian fashion scene?

As in our manifesto, our mission is to create awareness of responsible fashion without shoving it down people's throats. We want to make fashion accessible, and enjoy a shot of tequila along the way.

– Cat Essiambre

5. What triggered the idea of making this film?

I was originally going to do a simple fashion-show-on-wheels film for F.A.T. (Toronto's Alternative Fashion and Arts Week) as I am an avid cyclist and love fashion. But it needed to have a strong message about getting people out of their cars while documenting the sorry state of our wasteful, "disposable" clothing industry.  After meeting the Deadly Nightshades it was obvious they should be the messengers. 

- George Browne (Director)

6. What's your favourite bike route in Toronto? What is your main complaint about biking in Toronto?

Secret alleyways, which cannot be disclosed due to extreme secrecy.

– Patricia Youn

Beverley between College and Dundas! It's so smooth and wide and luxurious...and for me it's the home stretch.

- Niamh McManus

Side streets with big trees and no traffic, and going the wrong way on a one way.

– Cat Essiambre

When we were filming the scene from the movie "A Night Out With The Deadly Nightshades" with the Critical Mass folks, we rode down the middle of Bloor, College and University Streets. The sense of freedom, void of any gas guzzler interruptions, was heavenly.  That has to rank as one of my favourite routes – at least when we stop traffic!  -

- George Browne (Director)

7. Is your clothing line inspired or made with the idea of 'bike fashion' in mind?

Sometimes, if we are designing for ourselves. We are such a diverse design group, from women’s to costume to men’s. We are all recent graduates and have been formally trained to make what is needed. Clothes are clothes...but our ultimate goal is to produce looks that are hot! – functional or not.  But heels on wheels are a must!

– Cat Essiambre

8. What differentiates the clothes you make from other Canadian designers?

We each do our own thing. We all have our own flair which I guess is that in it's own. We are all fresh, young and uncorporate in our methods and ideas of the industry. UNTAINTED.

– Cat Essiambre and Niamh McManus

9. What was the most fun aspect about making this film?

Beer.

– Cat Essiambre

Filming from a bike, filming the Deadly Nightshades (they are very fun), showing the film live at F.A.T. , and beer.

- George Browne (Director)

10. What do you love most about the Canadian fashion industry? What is it (if anything) that pisses you off?

It's defiantly an accessible market, which is nice for newcomers and the mainstream fashionable people are into trying new things and love to support local artists. What pisses me off? Hmmm...Ha-ha, I guess that would have to be the difficulty of obtaining sustainable materials and local production.

- Cat Essiambre

Also the pretension that surrounds fashion and bravado... but we are working on breaking through that.

– Niamh McManus

I think we have the ability to create positive change, look good and have fun in the process. It all goes hand in hand; you just need to approach it with the right attitude.

- Laura Mensinga

11. What is the next step?

Step 2

- Everybody