In The Seats with...

Achieving the pinnacle of your chosen sport can have costs you don't always anticipate....

It's more non-fiction for your minds as we've got even more from the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival that runs through the weekend.  Up next, it's time for 'Constant Battles'.

This is the story of a young woman determined to become the first Iranian born female boxer who has to confront her own self doubt and anxiety as well as her mother's past trauma to understand how true strength can ultimately transcend winning.

While a lean 38 min, this was so much more then your standard sports documentary as it really got us into the mindset of being an athlete at this level,

We talked with director Mackenzie Stannard about all this and so much in advance of his premiere here at Hot Docs.

In this business, we all end up doing double duty....

Well we got laid up for a couple of days, but luckily the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival is still running strong and we've got plenty of non-fiction still to talk about.

In the spirit of double duty we got to talk with programmer Aisha Jamal about working as a programmer for the festival for a decade+, the evolution of documentary cinema, the importance of festivals like this and so very much more...

AS WELL AS...

Talking with her about her new film which just debuted on TVO, is available on the TVO Docs YouTube Channel and app which is called 'The Theft'.

'The Theft' is set in the backdrop of Afghanistan as the film traces a series of 12th century marble panels looted from the country over the decades of political upheaval and rampant looting in recent memory.  The film tackles the consequences of the cultural looting of a country like Afghanistan and the complexities in getting these artifacts back to their home countries while they currently sit in many Western museums.

It was a fascinating conversation on both fronts, and yet another testament to the importance of documentary film.

Support documentary film, support Hot Docs, support the art form of cinema as it is such a vital cog in our collective consciousness and culture.

Love stories just have a different energy...

In theatres this coming Friday is a quiet charm of a love story that is just grounded enough to actually feel real.  It's time for 'Erupcja'.

In a film that evokes memories of the French New Wave, 'Erupcja' is the story of the combustible chemistry between a Polish florist and a British tourist in this charming postcard of sapphic synchronicity.

There's a minimalist yet still joyful vibe to 'Erupcja' as it takes us into one of those moments of emotional eruption that can happen in all of our lives.  It's a gorgeous piece of cinema starring the enigmatic Charlie XCX in perhaps her most genuine performance in a film to date.

We had the pleasure of sitting down with co-writer/director Pete Ohs about the origins of the story, developing this story with Charlie, the nature of his filmmaking, shooting on a tight schedule, having collaborators willing to go on a quick creative journey with him (he prides himself in short shooting schedules) and the art of being willing to try something just a little different.

Check your local listings this coming Friday Apr 24th for 'Erupcja'

It's important to pay attention....

On this very special episode we dive into one of the more unique horror movies in recent Japanese and might actually be the best video game adaptation to grace the big screen.  It's time for 'Exit 8'.

Based on the global hit eponymous video game created by Kotake Create, the movie follows a man (Kazunari Ninomiya) trapped in an endless sterile subway passageway as he sets out to find Exit 8. The rules of his quest are simple: do not overlook anything out of the ordinary. If you discover an anomaly, turn back immediately. If you don’t, carry on. Then leave from Exit 8. But even a single oversight will send him back to the beginning. Will he ever reach his goal and escape this infinite corridor?

If you like cinema that screws with your head and puts you on a bent ride, then 'Exit 8' is for you and from a very distinct cinematic voice.  Back at TIFF we had the pleasure to sit down with co-writer/director Genki Kawamura (via a translator) talk about the origins of it all and wondering if he's ever found himself giving a second guess walking through the subway.

Audio is a little rough, but it's still worth a listen for one of our favourite movies of the year.

'Exit 8' is in theatres now.

Gotta love it when fresh talent brings the funny...

On this special episode we are diving into a brand new film from the Happy Madison crew with Canada's own Chandler Levack at the helm.  It's time for 'Roommates'.

When a hopeful, naive college freshman, Devon (Sadie Sandler), asks the cool and confident Celeste (Chloe East) to be her roommate, a blossoming friendship spirals into a war of passive aggression.

While it's the coming of age comedy that you'd except, it's exceptionally well executed and a hell of a lot of fun.  We had the pleasure of sitting down with one of the film stars; Aidan Langford to talk about getting the part, working with Sadie and Chandler as well as the joys of getting to be funny for a living.

'Roommates' is on Netflix everywhere now.

Sometimes you've gotta dial it back....

On this very special episode we go all the way back to TIFF 2025 for an interview on a fantastic film that we almost forgot about.  It's time for more excellent Canadian cinema and 'Little Lorraine'.

Directed by Grammy-nominated Andy Hines (feature film debut), based on a true story and Adam Baldwin's song "Lighthouse in Little Lorraine".  

Between 1986 and 1990, Little Lorraine (Cape Breton) became embroiled in an international cocaine smuggling operation under the noses of multiple governments and federal agencies, distributing drugs and money in coffins driven around in hearses by a network of funeral homes.  Experienced through the eyes of three entrapped best friends (Stephen Amell, Joshua Close, Steve Lund), this film tells the gripping true tale of how this unlikely story was born, thrived ultimately fell apart in this unassuming little town.
 
There's nothing like a little true crime in our own backyard.  'Little Lorraine' had it's world premiere back at TIFF last year and now after having travelled the world, it's coming home for the masses to enjoy.  

Back at the fest we had the pleasure of sitting down with Co-Writer and Director Andy Hines as well as star Auden Thornton to find all about everything that made Little Lorraine tick.

Check your local listings, 'Little Lorraine' is in theatres now...

Why talk about a movie once....when we could talk about it twice?

We're doubling down on one of our favourite Canadian films in recent memory, 'Blue Heron' which is rolling out across North America beginning this Friday after it's exclusive Toronto preview a few weeks back.

'Blue Heron' is the story of a family of six settles that into their new home on Vancouver Island as internal dynamics are slowly revealed through the eyes of the youngest child.

Very much a personal story on how we experience our memories, we had the chance to sit down Sophy to talk about the origins of the story, the perspectives in how they all shot it, being picked up for North American distribution and most importantly getting to raid the Criterion Closet.

'Blue Heron' is rolling out across North America now....

It truly takes a village to get these movies that we love made....

On this very special episode we dive into the world of producing as we talk with Ryan Bobkin about helping to bring the work of Sophie Romvari and her debut feature 'Blue Heron' to light.

'Blue Heron' is the story of a family of six that settles into their new home on Vancouver Island as internal dynamics are slowly revealed through the eyes of the youngest child.

We talked with Ryan about the dynamics of producing, connecting with Sophie, how producers get creative, the ride the film has been on and so very much more....

'Blue Heron' is rolling out across North America now....

Hate the game....always hate the game....

On this very special episode we dive into the heart of a national scandal for us Canadians....and in Canadian fashion, we're not afraid to poke a little fun at ourselves either...

Available on GameTV and Paramount+; 'Hate The Player': The Ben Johnson Story is a satirical look back at a time of national pride when Ben Johnson won the Gold Medal for the 100 m Dash at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.

It almost felt too soon to laugh at this, but show runner Anthony Q Farrell has tackled this in such an unabashedly funny way, that you just can't help to laugh your ass off at this show.

We had the pleasure of sitting down with one of the stars of it all, friend of the show the one and only Andrew Phung to talk about getting on board for this ride, along with our usual obsessions like Physical Media and Vintage Wrestling Action Figures.

'Hate The Player': The Ben Johnson Story is on GameTV and Paramount+ now!

It's a national holiday as far as we're concerned....

It's the most wonderful time of the year for Canadian Film Nerds.  Every April 15th we celebrate National Canadian Film Day and it's gone international.  With events and screenings all across the globe, there's never been a better time to celebrate our stories.

In celebration of this day, I had the chance to sit down with a Canadian icon who loves this day as much as we do and has been a big part of it's success.  We had a few minutes to talk with Colm Feore to ask him about the evolution of this event, how we can celebrate our stories and so very much more.

Visit the National Canadian Film Day site right here for info on free screenings and so very much more all happening as we speak.