2009 Festival program

"…one of Toronto's best programmed annual festivals, thinking locally and also trawling abroad to find worthy films treating issues of addiction and mental health."
AN, EYE Weekly, 2007

Click the film titles in the schedule to jump to details for that film. Click the back-to-top links to return to the top of this page.

Thursday, November 5

7:00pm - 651 Dufferin Street

Program Rated 14A Mature Themes

Clara

Helma Sanders, Brahms, Germany/France/Belgium, German with subtitles, 2008, 109 mins

In this grand Romantic tale of passion, betrayal and redemption Clara Schumann is torn between loyalty and desire. To remain true to her husband Robert, during his darkest hour or surrender to temptation with his brilliant young protégé, Johannes Brahms.

With a stunning classical score by Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms.

Friday, November 6

1:00pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Program Rated 14A Substance Abuse, Coarse Language

Devil Plays Hardball

Nijole Kuzmickas, Canada, English, 2008, 63 mins

IA ground-level look at life on the streets in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside where four homeless individuals are paired with mentors who work to help them turn their lives around.

7:00pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Program Rated 14A Mature Themes

Cure for Love

Francine Pelletier, Christina Willings, Canada, English, 2008, 59 min

Homosexuality and orthodox religion have rarely been eager bedfellows, but this enlightening look inside the ex-gay movement draws a whole new line in the sand.

9:15pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Program Rated 14A Language May Offend

Prodigal Sons

Kimberly Reed, USA/UK/Canada, English, 2008, 86 mins

An insider’s perspective on a true family drama with more twists and turns than you can imagine, you can’t make this stuff up.

Saturday, November 7

1:00pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Program Rated 14A Mature Themes, Substance Abuse

It’s Always Late for Freedom

Mehrad Oskouei, Iran, Farsi with subtitles, 2007, 53 min

At a detention centre for juvenile delinquents in Iran, a group of teenaged boys build a sense of camaraderie and support, but will they find redemption?

Gol Pary

Mustafa Kia Afghanistan Dari/Afghani, subtitles, 2007, 22 min

Gol Pary is 12 years old. She is also a heroine addict. For Gol, begging, stealing, and doing drugs with your mom are all part of growing up in Afghanistan.

6:00pm - 651 Dufferin St.

Program Rated 14A Mature Themes, Language May Offend

Laugh a Little

This light hearted collection of short films answers the hard questions, like when is it okay to laugh about mental illness?

Just Because You’re Paranoid…

Thomas Carter, UK, English, 2009, 6 mins

From babies to butchers, everyone seems to hate Derek. Is he paranoid or are they really out to get him?

Thank You For Washing

Camille Brown, USA, English, 2009, 14 mins

Things get dirty for an office germaphobe when the girl who doesn’t wash her hands brings in home made cupcakes for the cute new guy.

I Can Speak Swedish

Charlene Loh, David Forster, Australia, English, Swedish, 2009, 18 mins

Social Anxiety is a lot easier to deal with when no one understands what you’re saying, but will one woman’s dramatic cure hold up in Ikea?

Welgunzer

Bradford Schmidt, USA, English, 2009, 14 mins

How is David supposed to get to the future to kill himself when his future selves keep coming back to distract him?

Rare Chicken Rescue

Randall Wood, Australia, English, 2008, 26 mins

After a long battle with depression, Queensland rare chicken breeder Mark Tully is now on a mission to protect the endangered chickens to which he owes his life.

8:00pm - 651 Dufferin St.

Funny…You Don’t LOOK Crazy

"What is the relationship between madness and comedy?", "Why do comedians venerate the mentally ill?", "Is laughter an effective therapy?", "What about the high suicide rate among comics?", "If comedians were ?well-adjusted' would they be funny?", "How does comedy in pop culture appropriate the language of madness and does it trivialize it?"

In a conversation between Mark Breslin, founder of Yuk Yuk's and Dr. Joel Jeffries, these topics and more will be examined in an intimate and exciting discussion, followed by a performance by Mike MacDonald.

MacDonald will be replacing "Big Daddy" Tazz and all tickets will be honoured.

Sunday, November 8

1:00pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Program Rated 14A Disturbing Images

0.9 Ampere

Giotto Barbiere, Italy, Italian with subtitles, 2008, 55 mins

A haunting exploration into the world of electroshock therapy; tracing the history of the practice from its controversial beginnings to its use today.

3:45pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Program Rated 14A Mature Themes

Possessed

Curtis Bernhardt, USA, English, 1947, 108 mins

As a tormented love sick woman, Joan Crawford turns in one of the strongest performances of her career in an early Hollywood depiction of schizophrenia.

7:00pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Program Rated 14A Mature Themes

Feed Your Head

Connie Littlefield, Canada, English, 2009, 45 mins

Are we really what we eat? This film explores the growing field of orthomolecular psychiatry, and the possibility that mental health could be influenced by nutrition.

Masks of Madness: Science of Healing

Connie Bortnick and Steven Carter, Canada, English, 1998, 15 min

Margot Kidder, who herself suffered from bipolar disorder, recounts her journey to recovery using orthomolecular medicine through alterations in diet, supplements and a minimum of pharmacological intervention.

Monday, November 9

1:00pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Program Rated 14A Mature Themes, Language May Offend

A Hard Name

Alan Zweig, Canada, English, 2009, 100min

Candid interviews with eight ex-cons about their early lives, their time in prison and if they are motivated to break their patterns and stay out for good.

Deadline

Joseph Bakhash, USA, English, 2008, 18 mins

A wrongfully convicted man gets more than he wanted when he comes face to face with his abusive jailer the morning after his release.

5:30pm - 651 Dufferin St.

Program Rated R Mature Themes, Nudity

Experimental Madness

In this evening of experimental film, R. Bruce Elder will explore works by DADA and Surrealists artists on madness, hysteria, and paranoia, and show how the experimental forms they developed have influenced contemporary artists.

7:00pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Program Rated 14A Mature Themes, Nudity, Substance Abuse, Sexual Content

Behind Me

Rafael Ouellet Canada French with subtitles 2008 87 min

When twenty-something Betty arrives in the Quebec countryside no one knows about her questionable past, unfortunately no one knows why she’s decided to befriend fourteen year old Lea either.

Bird

Melanie Brunt, Australia, English, 2008, 5 min

In a dark and lonely alley one young addict sees something of herself in the injured parakeet fluttering nearby. Can she hope to fly again?

Tuesday, November 10

1:00pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Program Rated 14A Mature Themes

Over my Dad’s Body

Taliya Finkel, Israel, Hebrew/Russian/Ukranian with subtitles, 2008, 70 min

When Taliya was young, she never knew for sure whether her uncle was a member of the family or a KGB agent in disguise.

A Small Vacation

Sivan Stavi, Israel, Hebrew with subtitles, 2008, 20 mins

Ilan, is suffering from mental illness. Can he live up to his promises of a normal father son relationship, even if it’s just for one weekend?

5:00pm - 651 Dufferin St.

The Stranger in the Mirror

When people with eating disorders look in the mirror, they do not see their own reflection. They see a version of themselves distorted by fear, anxiety and unrealistic expectations. This distortion is so powerful that it can drown out hunger and pain. It is a form of mental illness that holds the body hostage. How can we recognize and address the underlying problems that trigger disordered eating in women and a growing number of men?
 
Join us to share your thoughts and hear the latest research evidence from experts in eating disorder prevention. The conversation will begin with the screening of a short film, entitled Alice or Life in Black and White by Canadian filmmaker Sophie Schoukens.

Overview of Café Scientifiques

Café Scientifiques started in the late-20th century as an informal discussion about scientific subjects. They were never intended to be lectures. The same holds true for CIHR Café Scientifiques. They provide insight into health-related issues of popular interest to the general public, and in turn provoke questions and provide answers. For that reason, the CIHR Café Scientifiques are all about accessibility. They involve interaction between the public and experts in a given field at a café, a pub or a restaurant. To take part in a CIHR Café Scientifique, there is no need for a person to have a science degree. They just need to have a deep-rooted desire to talk about a particular health subject.

This free event is presented by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and its Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes, in partnership with the Mental Health Commission of Canada and in conjunction with the Rendezvous with Madness Film Festival.
 
RSVP: 416-978-1315 or Alexandra.novis@sickkids.ca   Space is limited.

8:00pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Program Rated 14A Mature Themes, Violence, Language May Offen

To Love Someone

Ake Sandgren, Sweden, Swedish with subtitles, 2007, 92 mins

We can’t always choose who we love. As Lena tries to build a new life with Alf, the shadow of her ex boyfriend hangs over them.

Wednesday, November 11

1:00pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Program Rated 14A Mature Themes, Disturbing Content

About Face

Mary Katzke, USA, English, 2009, 80 min

As a baby, Gwen Bradshaw survived against all odds. Now, over twenty-five years later she’s coming to terms with the traumas that shaped her life, and the family members who caused them.

Invisible Loneliness

Jung, Hsien Lin, Taiwan, No dialogue, 2009, 12 min

A richly textured animated tale following a young girl who feels isolation and loneliness when she realizes no one will be home when she returns from her day.

6:00pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Dr. David Goldbloom: Creativity, Mental Health and Mental Illness

In common perception; creativity, genius and mental illness are inexorably intertwined. In this entertaining psychiatric exploration for the layman, Dr. Goldbloom separates the fact from the mythology.

7:45pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Program Rated 14A Mature Themes

Marion Woodman: Dancing in the Flames

Adam Greydon Reid, Canada, English, 2009, 83 mins

Marion Woodman is one of the western world’s most important wisdom keepers. This film celebrates Marion’s psychological “deaths” and “rebirths” throughout her life in conversation with renowned scholar and mystic, Andrew Harvey.

My Uncle Loved the Colour Yellow

Mats Olof Olsson, Sweden, Swedish with subtitles, 2008, 9 min

Today is Martin’s 12th birthday and, as always, his shy Uncle Helmer’s gift to him is something yellow. Helmer is very fond of the colour yellow.

Thursday, November 12

4:00pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Program Rated 14A Mature Themes

Animania

For decades, NFB animators have been drawing from the altered realities of mental illness, and addiction to create worlds of unsurpassed beauty, horror, and brilliance.

6:00pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Chris Landreth’s Psychorealism

In this artist’s talk, join Oscar winning filmmaker Chris Landreth as he explores how his groundbreaking psycho realistic techniques capture the complex and conflicted qualities of human nature.

7:45pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Program Rated 14A Mature Themes

Mommy’s at the Hairdresser

Léa Poole, Canada, French with subtitles, 2008, 97 min

A moving portrait of what happens to children left behind when someone leaves, the emotional impact, and the resulting questions they have to live with.

The Spine

Chris Landreth, Canada, English, 2009, 11 min

In the follow up to his Oscar Award winning film, Ryan, Chris Landreth explores the impacts of dysfunctional relationships using his distinctive psycho animated style.

Friday, November 13

11:00am - 250 College St.

Program Rated 14A Mature Themes

Unlisted Relationships

In this Grand Rounds presentation open exclusively to CAMH staff, psychiatrist Delaney Ruston explores her relationship with her mentally ill father, and the struggle to successfully treat him.

1:00pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Program Rated 14A Mature Themes

This Dust of Words

Bill Rose, USA, English, 2008, 59 min

Elizabeth Wiltsee was a brilliant young author overcome by mental illness. Found sleeping in the doorway of a church far from home, she’s soon ‘adopted’ by the community around her.

Hug

Khary Jones, USA, English, 2008, 16 min

Drew has talent. Asa, his friend and manager, knows it. But, now Drew is off his medication, can a hug from Asa calm him down?

7:00pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Program Rated 14A Disturbing Content

Mark of an Angel

Safy Nebbou, France, French with subtitles, 2008, 95 min

Elsa is fighting to keep custody of her son, Thomas. But, a chance encounter with a seemingly familiar little girl changes her life, and focus, forever.

A Small Thing

Adam Garnet Jones, Canad,a English, 2008, 15 min

Everyone thinks Margaret is empty inside. After her boyfriend leaves her on the eve of her birthday she starts thinking back to the tenth birthday that left her feeling so cold.

Saturday, November 14

1:00pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Program Rated 14A Mature Themes

Unlisted: A Story of Schizophrenia

Delaney Ruston, USA, English, 2009, 53 min

Delaney is a psychiatrist; she should be able to deal with mental illness. So why is it so difficult to forge a relationship with her father Richard who struggles with schizophrenia?

Stay

Anna Bucchetti, Netherlands/Italy Italian with subtitles, 2008, 24 min

Elena keeps disappearing in the middle of the night. No one knows where she’s going. Her husband and daughters anxiously await her return every morning.

1:00pm - 651 Dufferin St.

Workman Arts, Working Artists

The artists of Workman Arts have created great films over the past seventeen years; these are the festival’s favourites, including six new world premieres.

2:30pm - 651 Dufferin St.

Program Rated 14A Mature Themes

Clara

Helma Sanders, Brahms, Germany/France/Belgium, German with subtitles, 2008, 109 mins

In this grand Romantic tale of passion, betrayal and redemption Clara Schumann is torn between loyalty and desire. To remain true to her husband Robert, during his darkest hour or surrender to temptation with his brilliant young protégé, Johannes Brahms.

With a stunning classical score by Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms.

7:00pm - 1001 Queen St. W.

Program Rated PG Mature Themes

Achilles and the Tortoise

Takeshi Kitano Japan Japanese with subtitles 2008 119 min

The only constant in Machisu’s life has been painting. From his childhood, through his university years and into his old age, Machisu has been chasing a dream.