From June 30 to July 19, 2017, Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema will be paying tribute to the great filmmaker Jonathan Demme, who passed away on April 16, 2017. While Demme may be most well-known for directing the Academy Award winning, The Silence of the Lambs, The Documentaries of Demme (+1): A Tribute aims to highlight his spirit through his many documentaries.
“Jonathan Demme may be well known for his major Hollywood films, but we wanted to shine a spotlight on his remarkable documentaries,” says Adam Cook, programmer of the Jonathan Demme series at Hot Docs. “Whether it’s his inventive approach to capturing performances in films like Stop Making Sense and Swimming to Cambodia, or his admiration for social justice advocates in films like The Agronomist and Cousin Bobby, Demme always brought a curious eye and a distinctly human touch. It’s the work he cited as being most proud of, and we’re excited to pay tribute to one of the great American filmmakers and documentarians by sharing some of his, and our, favourites.”
Special guests including journalists, musicians, and other artists will introduce films and participate in post-screening discussions. Tickets for The Documentaries of Demme (+1): A Tribute are available for purchase at the Hot Docs box office or online at www.hotdocscinema.ca.
Full Programme:
COUSIN BOBBY
Jonathan Demme delivers one of his most personal films with this portrait of his cousin, a controversial minister in Harlem working with the civil rights movement.
Introduced by local film critic Tina Hassannia, contributor to National Post, The Globe and Mail, RogerEbert.com, CBC Arts and Village Voice.
FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 9:00 PM
NEIL YOUNG: HEART OF GOLD
Join us on Canada Day for one of Neil Young’s most memorable performances caught on film culled from two emotionally charged concerts at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.
SATURDAY, JULY 1, 6:15 PM
JIMMY CARTER MAN FROM PLAINS
Jimmy Carter criss-crosses the country advocating for peace in this endearing portrait filmed during the book tour for his controversial book, Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.
SUNDAY, JULY 2, 8:00 PM
SWIMMING TO CAMBODIA
Master monologist Spalding Gray delivers one of his most entertaining pieces with this humorous series of musings on his experience working on a Hollywood movie shot in Thailand.
Actor, playwright and director Daniel MacIvor, who wrote and starred in Who Killed Spalding Gray? which ran in Toronto this past winter, joins us for a post-screening discussion.
MONDAY, JULY 3, 6:30 PM
STOREFRONT HITCHCOCK
British pop singer-songwriter Robyn Hitchcock is at the top of his game in this inventive collaboration with Demme, featuring an always shifting storefront background.
Film subject Robyn Hitchcock joins us via Skype for a special introduction and post-screening discussion.
TUESDAY, JULY 4, 8:45 PM
SOMETHING WILD
There simply might not be another movie like Something Wild, Jonathan Demme’s infectious and energetic screwball odyssey that became a cult hit.
This screening will be introduced by Calum Marsh, arts and culture reporter for National Post.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 5, 8:45 PM
THE AGRONOMIST
Something of a modern-day folk hero, Jean Dominique founded Haiti’s first independent radio station and spoke truth to power, inspiring his fellow people for decades.
THURSDAY, JULY 6, 3:30 PM
STOP MAKING SENSE
The Talking Heads deliver a full blast, high-energy performance in the greatest concert doc of all time. Screening alongside cinemas across the U.S. and Canada on July 19 in a salute to Jonathan Demme.
This screening will be introduced by Chandler Levack, a Juno-nominated music video director, journalist and digital editor and staff writer for TIFF.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 8:45 PM
Purchase your tickets at the Hot Docs box office or online at www.hotdocscinema.ca.