Now entering its fifth year, the ReelHeART International Film Festival (June 22-27) continues its mandate of organizing Toronto’s "most open" festival. In addition to accepting films “of all genres, countries and lengths,” ReelHeART makes a proud point of not segregating industry VIPs from regular ticket-buyers, instead making sponsors, filmmakers, industry professionals, and the general public stand together in the same long and sometimes rainy lines.
Maybe ReelHeART’s aggressively democratic approach is the reason it is one of the lowest-profile of our fair city’s 75-plus film festivals. Still, ReelHeART’s 129 entries certainly aren’t lacking variety. Animated short subjects like Flora’s Fancy Free and Larry and Roz (featuring an Up-like “three and a half minute glimpse into one couple’s six decade relationship”) offer unique and beautiful visual styles. Lovers in a Dangerous Time (winner of Best Canadian Film at the 2009 Okanagan Film Festival) promises Little Miss Sunshine-style indie quirk as two childhood friends are reunited at their high school anniversary. The documentary Art in the Face of War chronicles how WWII vets used art for journalistic purposes and psychological comfort. Oh, and there’s also something called A Good Whack: The Making of Tonya and Nancy — The Opera. The poster features a bloody skate and advertises a guest appearance by Tonya Harding herself. Wow.
“It’s been a very organic, grassroots Canadian production,” says director Mike Babiarz of his ReelHeART feature, the gritty, small-town crime drama Play With Fire. “We made this film with no budget and all odds against us because we love the art of storytelling, filmmaking, and we wanted to do something different... and we did it. This is true independent filmmaking.”
The ReelHeART Film Festival may lack star wattage, but with its emphasis on low-budget and independent filmmakers. at least has its HeART in the right place.
The ReelHeART International Film Festival runs June 22-27. For complete festival information and schedule, go to www.reelheart.com/2009/festival/.