What a pleasure! In a fog today, not capable of much, so my great treat was to sit in my kitchen chair and watch the Cabbagetown Short Film Festival. Produced by my friend and neighbour Gina, of line-dancing fame, this feast of films under 20 minutes long been going on for decades and I've rarely missed it. She started it on a shoe-string; now she gets submissions from around the world.
This year, of course, no film festival - no festival at all, as this is usually the weekend of the Cabbagetown Festival, when Parliament Street is closed down and lined with stalls and outdoor dining, and every street is clogged with garage sales and events and thousands of people. Not this year. But Gina found a way for her festival to continue - online.
Fifteen short films, and almost every one of them brilliant. I had tears several times, laughed out loud as well, and that's sitting alone in my kitchen. Especially one about a man in a Muslim country who loses his burqa-clad wife, indistinguishable among all the other women covered in black cloth; Distances, about an encounter we all recognize with an angry mentally ill man on the subway, and how one woman opens to him and affects everyone around - just a stunning little film, my favourite among many favourites; Era Yo, about a teenaged bully who learns a lesson; Polter - amazing special effects, hilarious; Los Bengalos, about Alzheimer's and music. Today You, Tomorrow Me - haunting and beautiful. Two French boys running away and summoning the rain. People filming tragedies on their phones - a comedy.
It's like a banquet of Alice Munro short stories, rich and expertly crafted and full of feeling.
I cannot recommend this online event highly enough. You only have tomorrow to buy your online pass and see these films - and you don't even have to leave your chair. Don't miss them.
https://cabbagetown2020.eventive.org/welcome
Thursday, September 10, 2020
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I am thrilled that you loved the films as much as I do! Selecting the line-up from hundreds of submissions was truly challenging, each one feels like part of my family. Your are so right, like writing a short story, capturing a full story in a short film is so very difficult! Many thanks for sharing your enthusiasm for the festival. Gina
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Gina. I know it's a lot of work for you - but so worthwhile for us!
DeleteBeth, please tell your friend, Gina, that I enthusiastically logged on to watch the short films, but unfortunately they're not available in France!
ReplyDeleteJuliet
Oh that's too bad, Juliet, I didn't know that. I'll tell her. Maybe next year! Thank you for trying.
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