It’s time to expand your mind and see life on earth in all its forms. This block will bring you stories of Mother Earth and our human relationship to the planet, the grandeur and horror of nature, organic farming, the power of hurricanes, and more. Total runtime: 99 minutes.
Earth, Wind and FILM!
Groundwork
Shifting from conventional farming practices to regenerative agriculture takes courage, but the Kahles believe it could be the key to restoring the health of their soil—and the health of their family.
Devouring Stones up Close
A non-linear dance film that serves as a visually poetic abstract expression of personal and shared rage, artistic harvesting, and channeling the spirit of those whose land we walk, create and dance on.
Ivan
When a hurricane threatens to destroy her home, a young mother struggles to keep her family safe.
Ottu
A filmmaker searches for the eight winds of the Mediterranean on the island of Corsica. Using found footage and employing 16mm hand-processing experiments that attempt to expose its ethereal subject, the film brings audiences to abandoned churches, cemeteries, and ravaged beaches in its quest to find meaning in that which is invisible and has neither source nor end.
Terry’s Little Village
Terry Wilson is a 70-year-old lifelong resident of Meadowvale Village, Ontario's first heritage district. As development looms and begins to destroy Terry’s favourite place in the world, he recreates pieces of history in his backyard, crafting an oasis where it feels like nothing has changed. A beautiful tribute to his childhood, his mother, and his town, Terry passionately fights to preserve history in a world that’s too anxious for change.
To the Dancers
It’s 2023 and Britain is in pieces. Brexit is an embarrassment and electricity bills are through the roof. For many, heading to a local music venue is a necessary escape from life’s bleakness. But what’s on the cards for small music venues of today, fighting to survive the trials and tribulations of late-stage capitalism? In the north east city of Newcastle the non-profit, multifaceted safe space Cobalt has made its home. There, the local queer scene and its queens party till late and rising stars such as Alabaster DePlume grace the stage. Anyone who’s been to Cobalt will tell you of its unrivaled hospitality and enchanting atmosphere. Yet even for a venue as unique as this one, existence is a fight for survival. Founders Mark, Kate and son Jacob must commit to 70-hour weeks to navigate challenges such as threats from developers in their gentrifying neighbourhood. Overheads rise and ticket sales dwindle as the disposable income of regulars is squeezed. This story calls into question why we fight so hard to dance together, in a society where the importance of art and culture is sometimes forgotten.
The Doll’s House
It's the end of dinner at Miriam's house and having just inherited a doll's house from her mother, she’d like the answer to one simple question before her four adult children leave the table: which one of them will give her a grandchild and inherit the family heirloom?