Discoveries from Canada World Cinema

We are drowning in celebrity culture and certainly no tabloid topic has been as big as Paris Hilton. Her incarceration and subsequent release, then re-incarceration and her ultimate release once again-left us submerged knee-deep in the twists and turns of her life. Famous for doing nothing, she's the ultimate manifestation of our obsession with celebrity culture and the massive profits that it wields. As long as we are willing to watch and read, who can resist feeding our habit?

This short documentary is part of the Canada Carries On series of morale-boosting wartime propaganda films. In Home Front, the various WWII-era social contributions of women are highlighted. From medicine to industrial labour to hospitality, education and domesticity, the service these women provided to their country is lauded.

This animated short tells the story of Seraphim "Joe" Fortes, one of Vancouver's most beloved citizens. Born in the West Indies, Joe Fortes swam in English Bay for over than 30 years. A self-appointed lifeguard at first, he became so famous that the city of Vancouver finally rewarded him with a salary for doing what he loved best.

Samentha is a mediator for the spirits haunting her apartment. One morning, she has to confront repairman Christophe, who apparently caused grievous harm in the past but denies all accusations.

Hank and his wife, Jules, both in their 40s, set out for a leisurely summer boat ride. As they drift out into the harbor, we quickly realize that things between them are not as peaceful as we've been led to believe.

When camps around the country were shutting down every year and Camp Kitchikewana made the economically necessary move to turn co-ed, the result was a very real clash of the sexes.

Yvonne is a young woman living in Quebec in the latter half of the 19th century, under the controlling influence of both her elder sister, Hélène, and the repressive Victorian society that pervades the area. Yvonne has a sensual passion that her sister hopes to extinguish by placing her in a convent. As summer arrives, a strange dream suggests a different future, and Yvonne confronts the unexpected return of both her mother and her first love.

Allison Sawyer is the go-to reporter at Metropolis Post, known for breaking high-profile stories. Her next story is writing a profile piece on one of her favourite authors Annabelle Lee. Annabelle based all her romantic novels on the timelessly beautiful Clybourne Ranch, far away from city life.

Rose Hindmarsh finds herself at the centre of a controversy when she meets author Sarah Maloney as she investigates the life of Mary Swann, an obscure poet who was brutally murdered in a small town in rural Ontario.

A psychological-horror-comedy about a cool girl who falls into paranoia and psychosis as everyone seems to be trying to copy her style. Is it all in her head or is she really being followed by an increasingly manic group of clones trying to steal her identity?

Spanning seven short stories - each taking place in a different city around the globe, “All the Lonely People” showcases a slice of life from various strangers while they try to face their regular, everyday problems. From New Zealand to New York city, the assortment of strangers deal with modern day anxieties that slowly spiral out of control.

Acclaimed documentarian John Walker catches the legendary Cape Breton Miner’s singing group The Men of the Deeps just as the last mines on the island are shut down. Featuring ravishing cinematography of Cape Breton, and plenty of music, Men of the Deeps is a deeply touching portrait of a culture that still survives despite the ultimate end of an industry, and a tribute to the men and the songs that kept things moving on the Island for almost two hundred years.

Brad, Christina, T.K. and Kelly are on a post-graduation trip to Europe. Unfortunately, what starts out as a dream quickly spirals into a nightmare. Upon entering a 14th century castle, the friends find themselves trapped in a horrifying alternate realm where violent hallucinations overtake them. A stranger emerges, shocking them with the reality of their terrifying fate; one must stay behind - alone forever within the torturous stone walls, in order for the rest of the group to escape. As time runs out, hope and reason disappear, anarchy takes over and extreme violence erupts. Will it be male strength or female guile that will ultimately determine who will bear the terrible fate?

Two estranged sisters go on a road trip that leads them to a place they never believed possible.

Consumed by hatred, recruited by the devil, a loner is given the power to destroy.

The authors showcase unique information that disproves previously held stereotypes. It turns out that the roots of Ukrainian hockey go back over a century. Ukrainian hockey players from immigrant families gained world fame while playing for teams in their new homeland. Meanwhile, they continued to maintain their language and culture. Throughout the 100-year existence of the NHL, more than fifty Ukrainians became champions of the League. This is the largest number of champions representing a non-North American nationality. Even the best hockey player of all times, Wayne Gretzky, is of Ukrainian descent.

Jim explores multiple aspects of life including religion, marriage and his own sanity. This stand-up special was taped at Theatre Passe Muraille, Toronto, Canada, in front of a live audience.

During a snowstorm that strands her family at a hotel, attorney Megan runs into her high school sweetheart, Brad, sparking tension as her husband Jim disappears and her daughter Lisa vanishes. Cut off from the outside world and unsure who to trust, Megan must navigate a night of secrets, danger, and her own past to save her family before it’s too late.

Two women attending a women's seminar on personal development walk out in acute embarrassment during the introduction. They meet up with a woman who arrived too late to be admitted. Thrown together by chance, they discuss their emotional lives in intimate detail.

Pakistan and India exchange nukes. Other countries join the fray, and the nuclear fallout causes a plague of the living dead. David attempts to lead a band of survivors from safe house to safe house, hoping to outlast the zombies, while also trying to protect the group from the machinations of a survivor and former member of his party bent on revenge.

HOMECOMING is a short film about Drew, a young war vet returning home from Afghanistan. Still processing his horrific experience overseas, Drew contacts his parents to discuss his homecoming. While his mother eagerly anticipates his return, his father holds onto the valiant expectations he has had for his son as a soldier. Ultimately, they are all forced to deal with the dark side of post-war trauma.

We follow the Newman-Haas (Andretti) racing team through the process of building, testing, and racing for a season. This includes extensive race speed on-track footage, including some pre-race footage with a full squad of cars. From time to time, we check in with a small shop building/restoring one of the first roadsters Mario Andretti raced; the finale includes him taking it for a spin.

On the last day of summer in a small seaside resort town, an older woman named Louise realizes that the last train has departed without her. She finds herself alone in the town, abandoned by everyone. As the weather turns for the worse and with no one to keep her company, louise must rely on her past to help her survive the present.

After her foster sister dies, Leila takes a DNA test and discovers the identity of her biological father and sister. But when her father is tragically murdered, and Leila travels to meet the sister she never knew, she lands herself in more danger than she ever imagined.

Rudi is in her mid-thirties, in between jobs, lives in a run down East Vancouver apartment, oh and is completely in denial of her mental state. After making the decision to break up with her ex, Dave, a new owner of a bed and breakfast in the middle of nowhere B.C., the decision still haunts her. She takes a road trip to reconcile with him but things take an interesting turn.

The documentary proposes a unique meeting with the speakers of several indigenous and inuit languages of Quebec – all threatened with extinction. The film starts with the discovery of these unsung tongues through listening to the daily life of those who still speak them today. Buttressed by an exploration and creation of archives, the film allows us to better understand the musicality of these languages and reveals the cultural and human importance of these venerable oral traditions by nourishing a collective reflection on the consequences of their disappearance.

An Iranian-Canadian family struggles to reconcile with their past after news of an unexpected inheritance.

Explore the secret world of the bodyguards who risk their lives to protect the rich, famous and powerful.

As Trish’s once-perfect daughter suddenly shuts her out of her life with lies and sneaking around, Trish’s motherly intuition kicks into high gear. Can she uncover the truth about what’s wrong with her daughter in time to save her and the baby?

As a family moves into their new country home, strange events occur, making them believe that their autistic daughter is somehow communicating with the victims of an unsolved murder 8 years earlier.

A college professor connects with a guide dog trainer after losing his eyesight and adopting a seeing eye dog.

When a 'love advice' author crosses paths with a dating columnist, an attraction begins to blossom into more. As both use strategies from their own playbooks to win the other over, is it possible that they’ve both met their match?

Copy editor Lea and pragmatic reporter Mark head to France to learn about a mysterious artist behind a romantic Christmas painting.

David King is an art thief who has retired to devote his time to his daughter on whom he dotes. He hasn't counted, however, on a mysterious gang who don't believe he is ready for retirement and who kidnap his daughter Gillian. If he doesn't do one more heist for them Gillian will be murdered.

Wedding photographer Lindsey gets her big opportunity when a New York mogul’s son, Josh, asks her to shoot his sister’s wedding. Sparks fly as Josh and Lindsey prepare for ceremony, and the pair begin to fall for each other. But as the big day arrives and the project finishes, do they go back their old, separate lives or will they follow their hearts?

Samantha Stewart is a successful public defender whose life gets turned upside-down one night when a prostitute named Vicki gets thrown out of a limo at Samantha's feet. Vicki slips a brooch into Sam's hand before disappering, then turns up the next day, dead. Sam soon finds herself the target of an international conspiracy who will stop at nothing to get back the brooch and silence Sam for good. To get to the bottom of the mystery (as well as to save her own skin), Sam makes the natural decision to disguise herself as a prostitute, but will it be enough?

A feminine take on a Cassavetes drama, the film focuses on a group of women who have gathered for a surprise baby shower. However, as the female guests arrive (the household males having adjourned to an afternoon football game), the off-screen mother-to-be goes into premature labour, leaving the bored invitees to sip spiked punch and discuss the dearth of available men until the drunken boys return home, thus setting the stage for male/female confrontations, confessions and clumsy acts of copulation-notably while standing under a shower. An exploration of the contemporary trappings of male/female sexual politics.

During a brief stay in Florence, Camille believes she's victim of an enormous flood. Urgently taken to a psychiatric hospital, she is diagnosed with the Stendhal Syndrome: a temporary psychological disorder well known to affect tourists who are too vulnerable to the beauty of art work. This disorder which is considered benign doesn't worry the medical staff who asks that she be sent back to her country. Back home, she has to come to terms with a tragedy she has wanted to flee: her mom had gone missing right before her departure. Convinced that she has to move on with her life for her mental sanity, Camille decides that it is time to accept the fact that her mother will never come back. But when she goes to Matane, the last place where her mother had been seen alive, Camille comes across many clues that will propel her into an emotional roller coaster.

A drifter passing through a small town is drugged by three masked psychopaths and forced into a bizarre game of cat and mouse. He is chased through a series of more and more bizarre events until, in the end, he finds that this evening of terror has lasting consequences. It’s a feel bad film, nasty and brutish, red in tooth and claw.

Dead Rush is the end of the world, as we know it. Seen through the eyes of one man - David - As he takes us through his journey: before, during and after the zombie outbreak.

On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, six people become suspicious about a stranger in their neighborhood.

A mysterious comedy about love, lust, art and the power of the "charged image", Dark Arc follows the eccentric love triangle between an artist, a graphic designer and their inspiring muse

On the SCTV Foreign Film Festival, Angelo loses control of his fantasies.

When a diabolical English lord is murdered, Sherlock Holmes and Watson must unexpectedly exchange roles in order to solve "the perfect locked room mystery.

Drama set in the Second World War, focused on Jean Moulin, hero, martyr and symbol of the French resistance and the patriotism during the dark years of Nazi occupation.

After years of requests, Nardwuar the Human Serviette has finally entered the digital age with a compilation of over 60 of his favourite video interviews. Based around his two MuchMusic Specials, Nard Wars I and Nard Wars II and clocking in at over 5.5 hrs on 2 DVDs, "Doot Doola Doot Doo .... Doot Doo!" encompasses everything from former Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev to Snoop Doggy Dogg to your mother!

The battle between loggers and environmentalists is defining, dividing, and destroying communities in Canada and around the world. The Green Chain is a powerful, funny, and thought-provoking film about the people who love trees.

Two rivals are out to recover a cache of stolen jewels. The thief who originally stole them has just gotten out of prison, however, and he is looking for his twin brother, who knows where the jewels are hidden. Complications ensue.

A trio of brainboxes create a cell phone chip that allows telepathic communication. But when the experiment goes wrong and power falls into the wrong hands, the results are terrifying.

From the song he refuses to perform to his admiration for Drake, a songwriting legend reflects on his lyrics and longevity with candour and humour. At 80 years young (and currently recording another album), Gordon Lightfoot continues to entertain and enlighten. Personal archive materials and studio sessions paint an intimate picture of an artist in his element, candidly revisiting his idealistic years in Yorkville's coffeehouses, up through stadium tours and the hedonistic '70s.

Focuses on the love life of a Vancouver-based female DJ who is having a very hard time finding the right person to connect with.

Summer. 1994. Emily is cast as the youngest member of an avant garde theatre production. She is immediately entranced by the bohemian lives of her fellow actors and feels like she has found a surrogate family, but as the lines between artistic and personal relationships blur, Emily becomes trapped in the complex power dynamics within the group.

Seven hundred and seventy one words from Orwell, Chomsky, Shakespeare and others. Seven hundred and seventy one people off the street. A 15 minute meditation on Capitalism, Thought Control and the "Freedom" of Speech.

The owner of a historic inn decides to enter a prestigious cooking contest to win funds for renovations and get free publicity, but she is a horrible cook. She recruits a renowned chef to help but the kitchen isn't the only thing heating up.

To save the life of fellow cop kidnapped by a biker gang, a father and a son who cannot stand the sight of each other infiltrate an outdoor adventure group-therapy for fathers and sons. Their biggest challenge is to survive the therapy without killing each other.

Satellite dish salesman Gus experiences some life-altering changes when he meets performance artist Lucy in this visually poetic fantasy. After Lucy vanishes, leaving a puzzling note, Gus goes on a quest for the mysterious woman. Moving from his meticulous life in a technologically advanced world into the spontaneity of nature, Gus learns some important lessons and begins to trust his own instincts.

A restaurant critic stumbles upon a threatening object inside her dish.

A company man struggles to save his career, his romantic relationship and his friendship with his colleagues in this corporate comedy.

After the death of their abusive and tyrannic father, three children – now adults – and their aging mother return to their long-abandoned summer cottage. They will have to partake in a strange competition that tore their family apart 30 years prior – a nightmarish return to the past for the family's children.

In 1953 the Canadian government relocated Inuit families from Northern Québec to the High Arctic, promising an abundance of game and fish and assuring them they could return home after two years if things didn't work out. They would not see their ancestral lands for 30 years. Abandoned in flimsy tents, the Inuit were left to fend for themselves in the desolate settlements of Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord, where the sea was nearly always frozen and darkness reigned for months on end.