2024 Festival

Directed by: Thea Sharrock / UK, France (2024) / Comedy, Crime, History, Mystery / Rated R / 1h 50m

A 1920s English seaside town bears witness to a farcical and occasionally sinister scandal in this riotous mystery comedy. Based on a stranger than fiction true story, WICKED LITTLE LETTERS follows two neighbours: deeply conservative local Edith Swan (Olivia Colman) and rowdy Irish migrant Rose Gooding (Jessie Buckley). When Edith and fellow residents begin to receive wicked letters full of unintentionally hilarious profanities, foul-mouthed Rose is charged with the crime. The anonymous letters prompt a national uproar, and a trial ensues. However, as the town’s women - led by Police Officer Gladys Moss (Anjana Vasan) - begin to investigate the crime themselves, they suspect that something is amiss, and Rose may not be the culprit after all.

Opening Night Reception to follow screening.

Directed by: Tia Lessin and Emma Pildes / United States (2022) / Documentary / Subject matter may be difficult for some / 1h 41m

In the spring of 1972, police raided an apartment on the South Side of Chicago. Seven women were arrested and charged. The accused were part of a clandestine network. Using code names, blindfolds, and safe houses to protect their identities and their work, they built an underground service for women seeking safe, affordable, illegal abortions. They called themselves Jane.

Directed by: Leila Jarman / USA (2018) / Short dance film / All ages / 7m

A short, poetic, narrative dance film that investigates gender and masculinity --more specifically the American black male experience-- through embodied inquiry to find spaces where identity exists between and in opposition to social constructs.

This screening is a collaboration with the amazing Mile Zero Dance

* Please join us for a panel discussion after the dance program.

Directed by: Jen Mesch / Canada (2018) / Short dance film / All ages / 9m

Eight Bridget Studies is an exploration and commentary on figurative art. Made in collaboration with sound artist Scott Smallwood and dance artist Bridget Jessome. Camera, Direction, Editing by Jen Mesch. All artists are from Edmonton, Alberta.

This screening is a collaboration with the amazing Mile Zero Dance

* Please join us for a panel discussion after the dance program. Director in attendance.

Directed by: Tavia Christina and Daniel Stewart / Canada (2023) / Short dance film / All ages / 6m

Oracle asks how we might approach the end times. Drawing inspiration from the Anishinabe Seven Fire prophecy, as well as the Judeo-Christian account of Revelations, choreographer Tavia Christina and the dancers researched what it would be like for them to bear the weight of this knowledge, finding community, love, and celebration at the core of their collective response.” Oracle was commissioned by Guelph Dance Festival "Screen Series" in 2023 and since has been screened at: Dance Ontario's Dance 24 Festival and Mile Zero Dance Festival.

This screening is a collaboration with the amazing Mile Zero Dance

* Please join us for a panel discussion after the dance program.

Directed by: Tavia Christina / Canada / Short dance film / All ages / 3m

Seafoam was created during the pandemic as a collaboration with members and resident artists at The Heliconian Club for their virtual concert "Alone Together".

This screening is a collaboration with the amazing Mile Zero Dance

* Please join us for a panel discussion after the dance program.

Directed by: Eva Colmers / Canada (2016) / Short dance film / Partial nudity / 13m

Far away, inexplicable forces shape matter into form. From dust they arise, drawn to each other by the magical frequency of 2,750Hz. Captivating, beautiful and stirring, the remarkable shortfilm 2.57k has received multiple awards and allows us to see and hear the extraordinary.

This screening is a collaboration with the amazing Mile Zero Dance

* Please join us for a panel discussion after the dance program.

Directed by: Gabri Christa / USA (2022) / Short dance film / All ages / 8m

Sheila is a short experimental documentary about Sheila Rohan, one of the founding members of Dance Theater of Harlem. Dancers: Sheila Rohan, Sajda Musawwir Ladner, Makeda Thomas, Nyah Love Thomas, Idea Reid, Malasia Bell, Niyah Bell

• Best Experimental Short,Pure Magic International Film Festival (2022)
• Experimental Film Odyssey Festival Surreel Award (2022)
• Best Screendance film, Denton Black Film Festival, Denton, Texas (2023)
• Best Film, Greensboro Dance Film Festival, Greensboro, North Carolina (2023)
• Jury select “Best of the Fest” at the renowned CINEDANS festival in Amsterdam

This screening is a collaboration with the amazing Mile Zero Dance

* Please join us for a panel discussion after the dance program.

Directed by: Leila Jarman / USA (2020) / Short dance film / All ages / 7m

an experimental documentary that takes viewers into the vibrant and kinetic world of Somali-Australian performer and Guinness World Record holder, Marawa Ibrahim, known as "The Amazing Marawa." Through a blend of artistic visuals and intimate storytelling, the film explores Marawa's journey as an extraordinary hula-hoop artist and performer who has defied expectations, broken cultural barriers, and achieved multiple world records

This screening is a collaboration with the amazing Mile Zero Dance

* Please join us for a panel discussion after the dance program.

Directed by: Rosanna Terracciano / Canada (2020) / Short dance film / All ages / 12m

A trilogy of cities. Napoli — the birthplace of Terracciano’s parents. Sevilla — a foundational city for Terracciano’s work in flamenco experimentation. Calgary — where Terracciano was raised and developed into an artist.

• 2022, FAVA Festival Gala, Winner for Outstanding Performance (Edmonton)
• 2021, Official Selection, Vesuvius International Film Festival (Naples, Italy)
• 2021, Official Selection, Wild Dogs International Screendance Festival (Calgary)

This screening is a collaboration with the amazing Mile Zero Dance

* Please join us for a panel discussion after the dance program. Director in attendance.

Directed by: Alexandra Lazarowich / Canada (2016) / Documentary / All ages / 13m

Cree Code Talker reveals the role of Canadian Cree code talker Charles ‘Checker’ Tomkins during the Second World War. Digging deep into the US archives it depicts the true story of Charles’ involvement with the US Air Force and the development of the code talkers communication system, which was used to transmit crucial military communications, using the Cree language as a vital secret weapon in combat.

Directed by: Echo Henoche / Canada (2017) / Animation / All ages / 5m

Shaman is a first collaboration between the National Film Board of Canada and Labrador Inuk artist—and first-time animator—Echo Henoche. The short brings to life Henoche’s favourite legend, told to her by her grandfather in her home community of Nain, Nunatsiavut, on Labrador’s North Coast. It is the story of a ferocious polar bear turned to stone by an Inuk shaman. Hand-drawn and painted by Henoche in a style all her own, Shaman shares with the world her perspective on this Labrador Inuit legend.

Directed by: Holly Andersen / Canada (2023) / Documentary / All ages / 15m

Filmmaker Holly Andersen of Makkovik, Nunatsiavut, always knew that the house she lives in carries within its frame the echoes of the forced displacement of northern Labrador Inuit. In Hebron Relocation, Andersen explores what makes a place a home as she speaks with friends and family about how the relocation impacted generations of Labrador Inuit.

Andersen’s house was one of many homes across Labrador hastily built for incoming northern Inuit relocatees. In 1959, residents of the community of Hebron were told that, without question, they would be divided up and relocated to more southerly communities across Labrador. Most families were not prepared for such a drastic change and left everything they knew behind.

Weaving together intimate stories from her community with rare footage that gives us a glimpse of community life during this upheaval, Andersen provides a heartfelt look at a difficult past that has changed the lives of Labrador Inuit forever.

Directed by: Germaine Arnattaujuq (Arnaktauyok), Neil Christopher and Louise Flaherty / Canada (2021) / Animation / All ages / 6m

In this six-minute short, Inuit artist, storyteller and co-director Germaine Arnattaujuq (Arnaktauyok) depicts Inuit creation stories in all their glory. Arctic Song tells stories of how the land, sea and sky came to be in beautifully rendered animation. Telling traditional Inuit tales from the Iglulik region of Nunavut through song, the film revitalizes ancient knowledge and shares it with future generations.

Directed by: Heather Campbell / Canada (2023) / Documentary / All ages / 15m

To Heather Campbell, her grandmother Evelyn was a teacher, a matriarch and a beloved family member, but to everyone else in the small community of Rigolet, Labrador, she was a force of nature otherwise known as Miss Campbell.

As a trailblazer for an Inuit-led educational system, Evelyn was the only teacher in a one-room school, teaching grades K–12. Although she had inherited the methodologies of earlier educators, her motivation was entirely different. In a career that spanned more than 35 years, she embraced her Inuit heritage and passed on her passion for learning through music and stories. In 1986, Evelyn Campbell was awarded the Order of Canada.

Part oral history and part visual poem, Miss Campbell: Inuk Teacher combines Heather’s exquisite water colour paintings of narwals, polar bears, seals and birds with home movies, family photos and lively animation to capture the spirit of this extraordinary woman for her documentary portrait.

Directed by: Rebecca Campbell / Canada (2021) / Documentary / Subject matter may be difficult for some / 1h 24m

The Secret Society shines light on a hidden and unacknowledged women's health crisis. Complicating the already stressful and stigmatized world of infertility, women who are unable to conceive because their eggs are no longer viable are forced to take their medical needs into their own hands only to discover that Canadian law criminalized payment to anyone who wants to use an egg donor. These laws perpetuated the secrecy surrounding egg donation and created a bizarrely complex world of assisted reproduction in this country.

Directed by: Maryam Touzani / Morocco (2022) / Drama, Romance, LGBTQ2S / 2h 2m

Halim and Mina run a traditional caftan store in one of Morocco's oldest medinas. In order to keep up with demanding customers, they hire a talented young man as an apprentice. Slowly Mina realises how much her husband is moved by his presence.

Arabic with English Subtitles.

• Cannes Film Festival 2022, FIPRESCI Prize – Un Certain Regard
• Morroco’s Oscar entry shortlist 2023