Friday screening downtown kicks off women’s film series

Two people sitting at a table counting coins

On Friday, the Art Gallery of York University (AGYU) kicks off a new show downtown called Cinenova: All Hands on the Archive and continues to celebrate the legacy of Toronto’s feminist and queer communities.

Presented in tandem with the AGYU’s current exhibit, Will Munro: History, Glamour, Magic (see YFile, Jan. 11), which runs until March 11, Cinenova: All Hands on the Archive features two screenings An image from The Displaced View two woman sitting at a table playing a gameeach Saturday throughout February from the archives of Cinenova, a London-based, nonprofit organization dedicated to the distribution of films and videos made by women.

An image from The Displaced View

The month-long program with Cinenova kicks off Friday at The Department, 1389 Dundas St. W. at 7pm with screenings of work by two Toronto artists: I Feel Hopeful About the Future (1986) by Ronna Bloom and The Displaced View (1988) by Midi Onodera. Both artists will join Cinenova’s Emma Hedditch for a discussion following the screening.

The program continues Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25 at the Feminist Art Gallery, 25 Seaforth Ave. (enter by the side gate). An Audience of Enablers Cannot Fail takes place each Saturday from 1 to 5pm and features local artists, activists and educators screening, introducing and discussing two works they have selected from the Cinenova collection. They are:

  • Feb. 4 – Midi Onodera and Lisa Steele
  • Feb. 11 – Natalie Kouri-Towe, and Logan MacDonald and Hazel Meyer
  • Feb. 18 – Chase Joynt and Syrus Marcus Ware
  • Feb. 25 – Michèle Pearson Clarke, and Hannah Jickling and Helen Reed

On March 4, Cinenova: All Hands on the Archive concludes in the Gladstone Hotel Ballroom, 1214 Queen St. W. at 8pm, with a party featuring a performance by Sharlene Bamboat. The performance is followed by Rebels Rule, a screening featuring Will Munro’s films and his film appearances, at 9pm.

Cinenova: All Hands on the Archive is an initiative of the AGYU, the Feminist Art Gallery and The Power Plant. It is supported by the Ontario Arts Council Art Investment Fund.