EUROPEAN UNION TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL from Saturday (November 15) to November 30 at the Royal Cinema (608 College). eutorontofilmfest.ca. Rating: NNNN
The EU Film Festival returns to the Royal for two weeks of free nightly screenings from the nations of the European Union. A wide assortment of genres, tones and styles all bang up against each other for the hell of it. Where else can you see a Belgian character study about two boys on a collision course with fate (The World Belongs To Us, Sunday, November 16, 8:30 pm) and then come back for a Luxembourg documentary about two brothers riding in the Tour de France (The Road Uphill, Tuesday, November 18, 6 pm)?
Not all the films are new: the Swedish entry, Jan Troell’s The Last Sentence (Wednesday, November 19, 8:30 pm), was shot in 2011. But this is likely the only time the film – a nicely tense drama starring Jesper Christensen as a newspaperman who pushed back against Nazism as his country tried to remain neutral – will screen here.
It’s fun to see Good Vibrations (November 21, 8:30 pm) resurface as the UK entry. The movie had a brief theatrical run in Toronto late last year, but you probably missed it – so now’s the perfect chance to catch Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn’s giddy period piece about Belfast music lover Terri Hooley (Richard Dormer), who opened a record shop in the 70s, discovered the Undertones and probably saved a few lives during the Troubles.
Other than Saturday night’s open-ing gala screening of Italy’s Fasten Your Seatbelts – whose $25 ticket price includes a pre-screening reception at the Mod Club – admission to all screenings is free. That said, if you don’t want to risk being turned away, you can reserve online for $10 per ticket.
Film Festivals
The Canadian International Television Festival A sneak peak at the new Corner Gas movie, a panel and screening for CBC’s new mini-series The Book of Negroes, vintage series screenings, celebrity appearances and more. All events free (RSVP to reserve tickets). See website for schedule. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King W. 416-599-8433, citf14.tv. Nov 14 to 23
CLIFF – Canadian Labour International Film Festival Movies about workers and their lives looking at issues like wages, working conditions, austerity, migrant labour and more. 1-6:30 pm. Free. Carlton Cinema, 20 Carlton. 416-598-2197, labourfilms.ca. Nov 15 to 16
European Union Film Festival Contemporary films from many countries reflecting the excellence, innovation and diversity of European cinema. Free ($10 adv), opening night film & reception $25. Royal Cinema, 608 College. eutorontofilmfest.ca. Nov 15 to 30
Reel Asian Film Festival Contemporary cinema by international and Canadian East Asian and Southeast Asian filmmakers. $10-$20. Royal Cinema, 608 College. reelasian.com. To Nov 16
Regent Park Film Festival Screenings, panel discussions, workshops and talkbacks that reflect inner-city communities like the Regent Park Community. Free. Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas E. regentparkfilmfestival.com. Nov 19 to 22
Rendezvous With Madness Film Festival Shorts and -features that focus on mental health, a multimedia installation, symposium on mental health in sports and more. $12-$20, some pwyc, festival pass $70. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King W. rendezvouswithmadness.com. To Nov 15
Toronto Silent Film Festival Restored Alfred Hitchcock films screened with live musical accompaniment. $15, festival pass $35-$40. Screenings at the Revue Cinema, 400 Roncesvalles and Fox Theatre, 2236 Queen E. torontosilentfilmfestival.com. To Nov 16
