Aug 17, 2018
Check out what’s playing at Cinematheque in the Now Playing section and purchase advance tickets. Download a PDF copy of the September/October program guide.
First and foremost I am very excited to see the highly anticipated Mr. Rogers documentary: Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, I have had countless friends and patrons ask me if we are going to show it and I’m so glad that we will be. I am also looking forward to seeing Studio 54 to help educate me and other young people about how it influenced the nightclub and fashion world. Finally I am excited to see the Ingmar Bergman films and check as many as I can off my list.
— Thomas Hanan, Cinematheque Box Office
There Will Be No Stay by Patty Dillon is an extremely important documentary about the realities of working as American executioners in our modern world. The director will also be visiting to introduce the film. The Twilight Room of the Soul program features several of the great Ingmar Bergman films, including Persona and a personal favorite of mine – Hour of the Wolf. Also look out for Shelagh Carter’s new film Before Anything You Say playing in October, featuring local actors Darcy Fehr & Kristen Harris.
— Dylan Baillie, Cinematheque Projectionist
While it may be the obvious choice, I must insist that you watch Won’t You Be My Neighbor?. Not only is Fred Rogers our iconic neighbour, mentor, and friend; the timeliness of this documentary is undeniable. Just as he was there for us in our youth or while we raised our children, Mr. Rogers returns to us for a sweet, nostalgic, and gently powerful 94 minutes. Bring a tissue and your favourite comfy sweater. And on the other end of the spectrum, I’m thrilled that we are showing the 4K restoration of The Hills Have Eyes. October is for being creeped out, after all.
— Jessica Seburn, Cinematheque Box Office
I always assumed Mr. Rogers was a sicko. My bad. I never actually watched his long-running TV show for kids. My assessment of the sweater-adorned, gentle-voiced host was based on the few clips I’d seen and all the parodies that filled the sketch-comedy airwaves. Not only does Morgan Neville’s beautifully crafted biographical documentary portrait, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, dispel all myths anyone could have about Fred Rogers, but presents a figure who towers above most TV personalities as a genuine visionary and the kind of human being most of us can
only dream of being.
— Greg Klymkiw, Executive Director
Every so often a tiny gem emerges out of the film distribution world — Fail to Appear is one such film. A moving portrayal of the people who fall through the cracks of the social welfare system. The heart stopping Let the Corpses Tan will blow the seat out from under you in with its editing finesse and onscreen visual dynamics. And don’t miss Shelagh Carter’s Before Anything You Say, a dramatic portrait of a husband and wife struggling to keep their marriage together. Finally, two fantastic curated series — the 20th Anniversary of send + receive and a touring retrospective of newly restored films by the legendary Ingmar Bergman.
— Dave Barber, Senior Cinematheque Programmer
Fall will be a busy time with a wide range of films like the stylish and violent fever dream Let the Corpses Tan to documentaries like Won’t You Be My Neighbor?. We will also be playing local filmmaker Shelagh Carter’s new film Before Anything You Say. On top of these is Twilight Room of the Soul a collection of newly restored classics by Ingmar Bergman that is currently touring North America, and the return of Secret Cinema during First Fridays in September.
— Eric Peterson, Cinematheque Projection
September is the return of Secret Cinema, where we dust off a 16mm film print from our vaults and share in the magic and wonder of celluloid. The first installment will be hosted by yours truly, and I can’t wait! Fail to Appear was a film that snuck up on me this year. Its studied look at the minutiae of a Toronto social worker and her charge is surprisingly affective. Kevin McDonald has done it again, programming two films we all must see! Steamboat Bill, Jr. is one of cinema’s perfect comedies and I’ve wanted to see Local Hero for awhile after enjoying director Bill Forsyth’s later film Housekeeping.
— David Knipe, Cinematheque Operations Manager
I’m stoked to re-launch our monthly expanded film series in our Black Lodge with the return of Secret Cinema, our celebration of all things celluloid where we invite artists and curators to select a secret 16mm film print from our own archive; and the premiere of Cream of the Crap, our new evening of all-VHS, all-nonsense brought to you by our team of VHexperts! Also, I can’t possibly overly recommend A Life in Waves, a beautiful portrait of artist Suzanne Ciani, who has devoted her life to doing what she loves most: making weird bleeps and bloops.
— Jaimz Asmundson, Cinematheque Programming Director
Sound all around! I can’t wait to be surrounded by it in A Life in Waves and experience Suzanne Ciani’s compositions. Ahead of her time, and truly a pioneer in her field, I’m looking forward to learning more about her practice, life and methods. I’m also excited to see Contralto a film that explores the interconnections between vocal sound and gender identity. Cassette: A Documentary Mixtape will be great too—unraveling the mystery of cassette technology and history will be beneficial for me as both my bands have released music on tapes.
— Samantha Sarty, Cinematheque Box Office & Projection
