Not everyone believes in the institution of marriage, and that’s okay. But what happens when a lesbian couple are desperately in love with each other, but have different views about marriage and how marriage has affected the LGBT community? William Sullivan explores this topic in The Ring Thing, using his characters to tell this story in […]
Film Festivals
Reviews, interviews, and news about film festivals.
Inside Out 2017: ‘The Lavender Scare’ Review
In 1953, President Eisenhower declared all homosexuals as “sexual perverts” that were risks to national security. During the Cold War where paranoia was at an all-time high, his executive order discriminated against the LGBT community, terminating them from their positions as public servants. This moment in history was a major catalyst for the fight for […]
Inside Out 2017: ‘Heartstone (Hjartasteinn)’ Review
Set against the background of a beautiful, rural village in Iceland, Heartstone is an auspicious debut from director Guðmundur Arnar Guðmundsson. Neither Thor nor Christian have the best home life. Thor’s sisters bully him relentlessly and his single mother pretty much resents his existence. Christian’s dad is no better – he’s abusive and his homophobia is evident […]
Inside Out 2017: ‘Handsome Devil’ Review
In Handsome Devil, Ned, the music loving ginger, and Conor, the rugby team’s star athlete, are forced to be roommates at their Irish boarding school. And what starts off as an uncomfortable situation turns into an unlikely friendship. Their mentor and teacher, Mr. Sherry (Andrew Scott), help the loner and the jock bond by convincing them […]
Inside Out 2017: ‘Woman on Fire’ Review
Brooke Guinan is the first openly transgender firefighter in New York City. She’s proud that she followed in her father’s footsteps to become a firefighter, but her journey wasn’t easy. From a young age, Brooke struggled with her own gender identity – she originally thought she was gay before understanding that she was actually transgender. […]
Inside Out 2017: ‘Rebels on Pointe’ Review
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo is an all-male drag ballet company that mixes the technical perfection of ballet with the humour of a comedy troupe. Using their masculinity to explore femininity and the wide spectrum of sexuality, these dance rebels play up the clichés found in typical ballets that often intimidate people to attend, […]
Inside Out 2017: ‘I Dream In Another Language’ Review
In I Dream In Another Language, Martin, a university linguist and researcher, travels deep within the Mexican jungle to learn about the lost language of Zikril. Only, the two remaining men who speak the language had a falling out and no longer want anything to do with the other man. It’s a story about broken […]
Inside Out 2017: ‘Free CeCe’ Review
In 2011, CeCe McDonald was unfairly incarcerated after fighting back against her attacker. The media misgendered her and CeCe was forced to go to a male prison when she identifies as a women. From this, a movement began in order to support CeCe and other trans women, especially those of colour. The transgender community, including acclaimed […]
Inside Out 2017: ‘Center of My World’ (‘Die Mitte der Welt’) Review
Imagine not knowing who your birth father is and feeling like you don’t know your own twin sister anymore, all while trying to understand your sexuality and discovering who you are as a person. Center of My World beautifully weaves all of these topics in a captivating coming-of-age film. With strong performances from the entire cast, […]
Inside Out 2017: ‘Hooked’ Review
Hooked follows Tom and Jack, two homeless LGBT youth who run away from home in order to start a life together. To survive, Jack gets involved in sex work to make money, but the more he makes the more disillusioned he becomes with his safety, both financially and physically. Instagram star turned director Max Emerson […]
Inside Out 2017: ‘Ginger Nation’ Review
Toronto comedian Shawn Hitchins is funny. Really funny. And it’s not because he’s a redhead making fun of himself being “a person of primary colour.” And it’s not because he’s a “gold star gay.” But these two factors make up a large part of who he is and from them come some really fantastic, and […]
Hot Docs 2017 Interview: Nathan Fitch and Bryan Chang Discuss the Importance of the Micronesian Voice in ‘Island Soldier’
On one of the rainiest days in Toronto this year, I had the pleasure of speaking with some of the filmmakers behind Island Soldier. I was glad to hear that director Nathan Fitch and producer Bryan Chang were able to enjoy some sunshine in Toronto before the rainy weekend, but even more excited to talk about this […]
Hot Docs 2017: Strad Style
Stefan Avalos. USA. 104 Minutes. More Info. Danny Houck, a Ohioan who has never left the USA, is obsessed with violins. But he’s not obsessed with playing them – he’s obsessed with making them. His friends tell him that he could probably make more than just violins, including “guitars and stuff”. To which Danny responds […]
Hot Docs 2017: ‘House of Z’ Showcases Zac Posen’s Fashion Comeback
Sandy Chronopoulos. USA, Canada. 87 Minutes. More Info. In her feature film debut, director Sandy Chronopolous, a television producer for Rogers Media, documents the rise and fall and rise again of fashion wunderkind Zac Posen. House of Z is an intimate look at the beginnings of the fashion house and the drama that occurred behind the […]
Hot Docs 2017: Island Soldier
Nathan Fitch. USA. 85 Minutes. More Info. Island Soldier opens with a sobering shot; we’re at the funeral of a fallen soldier, Sapuro Nena. In the Federated States of Micronesia, the Islanders are able to enlist in the U.S. military and receive financial assistance for their service as per the contract set out in the Compact Free […]