Monday June 23 – 7:00PM
Theme: Shorts Heard Around the World
*Official Opening Films*
Daniels Spectrum
585 Dundas Street East, Toronto M5A 2B7
(Opening Gala Party to Follow at Different Location)
“The Longest Way 1.0”, Dir. Christoph Rehage (Germany)
North America Festival Premiere
5:19 Short Documentary :: This self-directed, staggering, time-lapse and superbly edited documentary is made up of roughly 1400 photographs that depict a one-year walk from Beijing to the Chinese city of Ürümqi.
- Trailer:
- Web: http://www.thelongestway.com/
Tags: Walking, Distance Walking, Spiritual Walks, China, Travel Stories, Master Walking Teacher Xie
ReelHeART Director’s Programmer Note: I discovered this short film on the Internet and was blown away. You will be too.
“The Marvelous Girl”, Dir. Johnny Vong (Canada)
14:00 Dance and Music Related :: A young paraplegic girl has an encounter with the ‘boy from her dreams’, who moves her in unexpected ways.
Tags: Dance, Contemporary Dance, Fantasy, Paraplegic
ReelHeART Director’s Programmer Note: Director Johnny Vong’s cinematography is sumptuous. A touching story about living your dreams, even when life throws you the least odds of doing so. Beautifully danced by Daniel da Silva, Taylor Gill and expertly choreographed by Hiroto Saito.
“John Lennon’s Turd”, Dir. Phil Peel (UK)
Canadian Premiere
14:45 Short Film :: Dec 16th 1969. John Lennon, en route to meet the Canadian Prime Minister, stops off to use a stranger’s toilet. Über-fans can’t believe their luck and hatch a plan to sell their idol’s unflushed poo. *Director In Attendance*
- Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJn2x9yRYO0
- Web: www.johnlennonsturd.com
Tags: The Beatles, Comedy, Toilet Humor
ReelHeART Director’s Programmer Note: With a grabber title like “John Lennon’s Turd” it going to be one of the first films I want to see when it comes across my desk. What a funny story, that is actually based on a true-life event. Melissa De Mol and Luke Stevenson make a cute couple. I’d like to see them cast again together in a feature film. Food for thought Phil Peel…
“Narcissist”, Dir. Eric Casaccio (USA)
Canadian Premiere
17:52 Short Film :: Evan, a hard working writer discovers the painful truth of a handsome and charming, yet manipulative and toxic love interest.
Tags: LGBTTIQQ2SA, Fidelity, Romance, Lust, Relationships, Monogamy
ReelHeART Director’s Programmer Note: Super solid portrait of Gay male relationships. Realistic. Raw. Honest.
“Bebete e Daniboy”, Dir. Ruy Veridiano (Brazil)
Canadian Premiere
35:35 Experimental :: Shot as an experimental post-gay sci-fi musical – Daniboy (Rodrigo Pavon) is a young bisexual who faces the problems of every teenager at his age, always counting on his friend Bebete (Katiana Rangel). His life changes when he literally falls for Felipe in a club and breaks his teeth, a few hours before seeing his dying father in hospital. Also stars, the Spanish electropop diva La Prohibida and Brazilian opera singer Francisco Campos Neto.
- Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIzLiLThNt8
- Web: https://pt-br.facebook.com/pages/Bebete-e-Daniboy/447585128644208
Tags: Sci-Fi, Transgender, LGBTTIQQ2SA, Dramedy, LGBTQ, Youth/Teen
ReelHeART Director’s Programmer Note: A post-modern operetta meets off-Broadway musical. A creative story about teenage LGBT angst seeking his parents approval. La Prohibida and Brazilian opera singer Francisco Campos Neto appearances in the film are a HUGE treat.
“Mousse”, Dir. John Hellberg (Sweden / France)
40:54 Short Film :: During the year’s biggest horse race, a remote betting shop gets an unexpected visit from a desperate Frenchman. His plan is to rob the shop, free his buddy from custody and flee the country.
- Trailer: http://mousse.nu/trailer.php
- Web: http://mousse.nu/
Tags: Friendship, Loyalty, Police Comedy, Smalltown Idiosyncrasies, In Bruges, French Comedy
ReelHeART Director’s Programmer Note: John Hellberg – Thank you for making my day. An inventive, dark comedy about loyalty. “In Bruges” meets “Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis“. Great ensemble cast with Sweden standouts Marienette Dahlin and Gunnar Ernblad . Stepháne Bertola as “Mousse” is Superb!
https://reelheart.org/en/qyd2