Toronto International Film Fest features work of York U talent

film reel

The 2016 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF16) will highlight an abundance of York University talent when it screens 397 features and shorts from Sept. 8 to 18.

This year, seven films selected for the festival showcase the work of York alumni and faculty from the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD).

Screening at TIFF16 are:

nirvannathebandtheshowNirvanna the Band The Show (75 min) – Sept. 10, 11, 13, 15 and 17
Matt Johnson (BFA ’06, MFA ’16) is the director, co-creator and co-star of this film. In this world premiere, Johnson and co-creator Jay McCarrol bring back their web series about a Toronto band that will do anything to get a gig at The Rivoli, as long as they don’t have to actually do any work.
The film is scheduled for five screenings. It is part of the Primetime category.
http://www.tiff.net/films/nirvanna-the-band-the-show/

dark-adaptationDark Adaptation (14 min) – Sept. 11
Chris Gehman (MFA ’09) and current faculty member in the Department of Cinema & Media Arts, is the director of this 13-minute visual presentation of refracted light and prismatic colour. This film screened at the Wavelengths 3 post-performance event on Sept. 11. It was selected for the Experimental category and was a world premiere.
http://www.tiff.net/films/dark-adaptation/

350 MYA (5 min) – Sept. 11350mya Terra Jean Long (MFA ’14) is the director, producer, cinematographer of this 5-minute short film that explores the movement and shape of wind and sand, and how it connects to a vanished ocean. This film screened at the Wavelengths 3 post-performance event on Sept. 11. It was selected for the Experimental category and the screening was the world premiere.
http://www.tiff.net/films/350-mya/

giants-of-africaGiants of Africa (83 min) – Sept.  11, 16, 17 and 18
Chris Romeike (MFA ’13) and faculty member of the Department of Cinema & Media Arts is the cinematographer for the world premiere of this feature length documentary that follows the work of Giants of Africa, a program created by Toronto Raptors GM Masai Ujiri that uses basketball to inspire underprivileged youth. The film is scheduled for four screenings. It is part of the Feature Documentary category.
http://www.tiff.net/films/giants-of-africa/

baitTope/The Bait (88 min) – Sept. 12, 13, 15 and 18
Alokananda Dasgupta (BFA ’09) composed music for this film, which her father and celebrated filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta directed. The film is the world premiere of this three-part portrait of rural Indian life, and was scheduled for four screenings. It is featured in the Masters category of TIFF.
http://www.tiff.net/films/the-bait/

thestairsThe Stairs (95 min) – Sept. 12, 14 and 16
Hugh Gibson (BFA ’04) is the director and producer, and Cam Woykin (MFA ’11) is the cinematographer of the world premiere of this documentary that explores Toronto’s Regent Park and the habitual drug users that frequent it. This film is scheduled for three screenings. It is part of the Feature Documentary category.
http://www.tiff.net/films/the-stairs/

the-road-to-webequieThe Road to Webequie (19 min) – Sept. 13, 14 and 18
Tess Girard (BFA ’05) is the co-director of the world premiere of this short documentary that examines the uncertain future of youths in a remote First Nations community, and a mining company that promises to bring opportunities. This film is scheduled for three screenings. It is part of the Short Cuts Program.
http://www.tiff.net/films/the-road-to-webequie/