We are moving stories

“The personal themes I’m exploring in the film revolve around the experience of the single mother. I was raised entirely by my mother and I am drawn to telling stories about families with absent fathers, and how the woman is expected to be the primary caregiver for their children. That same expectation of responsibility is not placed on men with kids. In terms of universal themes, the film explores feelings of loneliness and grieving over a lost relationship.”

“To better understand mental illness or better understand what it’s like to relate to someone that’s struggling. To see beyond someone’s actions and into their humanity. Our film also depicts a very real, relatable sibling dynamic. We think She Keeps Me is a movie that connects people.”

“The memory of Anna Lisa was one of the first stories Melissa Wilson-Bain told me when we met over 20 years ago. At that time Melissa was interested in a move back to the Thunder Bay area to research her family history. We both thought the intrigue surrounding her Great Aunt’s mysterious death in 1936 was the makings of an interesting story. ”

“I want people to FEEL connected to themselves and to their loved ones, to their aunts and uncles and the family members they may have lost touch with, and to be curious about the ones they know little about. Because they all have stories to tell. ”

“A few days before departing, we had a crazy idea: we’re going to be in a gorgeous foreign city… we should capture a story in this setting full of inspiration. From there, a script was written on the plane, equipment was stuffed into suitcases; we turned our beautiful apartment into a set/production office - and somewhere in between festival screenings and sightseeing, Time Out was born. In a nutshell, we made it because we’re a team of misfits that just love to make movies, even while we’re on vacation!”

“My partner Brian and I wanted to make a fun, silly film that highlights the fact that, no matter who you are, how old you are, your background, ethnicity, or orientation, we all suffer and deal with the same relationship problems.”

“I wanted to make a film that was a celebration of life and love. I’ve also always been interested in temporal fluidity in cinema, and I was irresistibly drawn to the idea of traveling through a particular space while moving between eras. I always knew it would be difficult to successfully pull off a film without conflict, but I hoped that the film would be engaging on the level of a dream or poetry. ”

“Almost everything in the film was born out of a place of uncertainty and by asking questions, so naturally, it asks the audience to do a bit of searching. I think it can lead to interesting discussions afterwards due to the film living in this sort of grey area where it can be hard to pin down.”

“RAW* was both an artistic and therapeutic endeavor for me. In late 2013 and early 2014, my family suffered the tragic loss of two loved ones, including my 18-year old nephew, Lukas. These tragedies acted as a catalyst for me to take a long and hard look at my life. And ultimately led to the extreme decision to walk away from my established career, my home of over 10 years, and to pursue a deep-seeded passion for filmmaking. ”

“S: I’ve always thought there are interesting parts of Canadian culture that are often not addressed in art. The relationship between the economy and the environment is always at the forefront of our political discourse. Having grown up in Alberta, amongst the people who make their living in oil and gas, I have developed a complex view of these issues. When Julie told me about her family’s story I was inspired to create a film that contrasted the personal battle of a struggling family and the difficult questions we ask ourselves as a society.

J: I’ve always been inspired by my family and by the landscape of Alberta. I believe it’s an incredible story worth exploring. It’s rare to see behind the curtain of Canada’s Oil and Gas Industry never mind through the lens of the women who work in it. The events were also loosely based on my family’s experience working in the industry as long haul truckers. ”

“It is no surprise that the world isn’t in great shape right now. There is climate change, melting ice caps, rising sea levels, bleaching corals, and massive human rights issues regarding mining precious metals for the production of things like your cell phone. One of the biggest sources of toxic waste in this world is e-waste: electronics. If we’re going to fix these problems we need to work together. ”

“A friend had told me this story as she knew Trish, our main character. I fell in love with the mystery behind Mahmoud and his mint plant - as well as the simple solution: that he carried the mint plant through a war zone due to a promise he made to his daughter. It was so touching and sweet and I felt it should be shared with the world”

“It’s funny. That is the first comment that I get. People immediately are drawn to the humour of it, but as they get to understand the relationships between these guys and their dogs they enjoy it on different levels. It’s a fun watch and a great conversation piece.”

“Our country is no different from any other; we also have a rich backstory full of exciting, dramatic, and haunting lore. The trouble is, it’s never been properly exposed in any medium besides print; the average Canadian—let alone global audience—hasn’t been given the chance to enjoy it in an entertaining way. Canadiana was created as a web series so that we could do Canadian history the right way, and in doing so bury the phrase, “Canadian history is boring,” because it’s anything but.”

“This film tells a gripping and unbelievable tale, full of twists and turns, larger-than-life characters, and has a rare tonal range, from darkly humorous to dark and shocking.”

“It’s a competition film so it is very suspenseful - which makes it fun to watch. The characters are young and cool and they are all really likable and different from each other. You will get to know them and be rooting for your favorites through the film. The music is great and it was filmed around the world in really sumptuous and beautiful locations. Finally, the film has some fun and unexpected scenes featuring: dogs, beer, machine guns, mini-putt and chickens. It’s a rollicking good time that will have you at the edge of your seat!”

“Through the honesty and openness of Jeremy Hainsworth, a well-known and respected Canadian journalist, my hope is that this film shines a light on the issues of mental illness experienced in the workplace that can have devastating effects on the lives of so many people who suffer in silence.”

“CAROL: Part of it was wanting to work with the National Film Board of Canada and to create a film that would reflect their mandate of telling Canadian stories to Canadians and to the world. We have a great deal of respect for the NFB and have always held the work that their filmmakers do in the very highest regard, especially the animators.”

“When I’m free to be creative, I start playing. I define it as being a “sensonaut” (an astronaut of the senses) who makes stories with audiovisual elements that trigger feelings; I archive all this in detailed drawings and animate them to catch thoughts. My animations are like therapeutic maps or meditation.”

“I wanted to do a satirical take on a culture obsessed with perfection. I made the connection between physical beauty and spiritual enlightenment and imagined an institution that offered quick-fix treatments to attain a new kind of personal mastery. Through advanced medical procedures, customers can sign up, go under the knife and become better versions of themselves. I wanted to imagine where we might be headed with advances in technology and shifting ideals. ”