Luminato, Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity unites with the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), this year to co-present an eclectic film programme that will enhance and enrich the entire Festival experience. With daily screenings throughout the ten days of the Festival, the series showcases films that relate to Luminato artists and productions, with a special focus on Philip Glass, Robert Wilson and Robert Lepage providing deeper context and insight.
The full line up for this film programme is as follows:
Friday, June 8
7:00 PM – Absolute Wilson – Dir: Katharina Otto-Bernstein
This film documents theatre director Robert Wilson’s life; from small-town Texas to the heights of his career, touching on projects that have reshaped the art landscape since the 1960s. With introduction by Jillian Keiley, Artistic Director, Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland; NAC, English Theatre.
9:30 PM – Einstein on the Beach: The Changing Image of Opera – Dir: Mark Obenhaus
In 1976, Philip Glass, Robert Wilson and company shook the opera world when they premiered Einstein on the Beach. The Changing Image of Opera dives into the creative process that brought us to this turning point for opera and both Wilson and Glass’ careers. With introduction by Lawrence Cherney, Artistic Director, Soundstreams.
Saturday, June 9
4:30 PM – Glass: A Portrait of Philip in Twelve Acts – Dir: Scott Hicks
A 12-part focused and thoughtful look at musician Philip Glass’s daily life, Glass weaves the artistic force and significance of his career in a larger context and includes interviews with Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen and Ravi Shankar. With introduction by Lee Pui Ming, composer and pianist.
9:00 PM – Flaming Creatures – Dir: Jack Smith
Famously seized by police at its 1963 premiere and determined obscene by the New York Criminal Court, Flaming Creatures influenced a spectrum of artists, including Andy Warhol and Robert Wilson. With introduction by Roy Mitchell, Executive Director, Trinity Square Video.
Flaming Creatures will be preceded by:
Danse Macabre – Dir: Pedro Pires
A Robert Lepage concept executed by Pedro Pires, Danse Macabre takes on choreography and performance art to explore the body of flesh and its significance.
***Danse Macabre is one of my favourite short films from the last five years. Beautifully executed. You can read my interview with director Pedro Pires from 2009 here.
Sunday, June 10
4:30 PM – Brokeback Mountain – Dir: Ang Lee
Adapted from Annie Proulx’s short story, Brokeback Mountain tells the story of two young ranchers in Wyoming who meet in 1963 and embark on a secret romance spanning nearly 20 years. It is considered one of the most important commercial films in history for its organic integration of gay content. With introduction by Brokeback Mountain author, Annie Proulx.
Monday, June 11
6:00 PM – Testimony – Dir: Tony Palmer
Testimony is the epic biographical account of Russia’s greatest and most famous composer, Dmitri Shostakovich. Actor Ben Kingsley offers one of the most interesting performances of his career as an artist under Stalin’s crushing pressures, bouncing between social praise and humiliation.
With introduction by Andrew Burashko, Artistic Director, Art of Time.
9:15 PM – Le Confessional – Dir: Robert Lepage
Boasting an international cast, including Kristin Scott Thomas, Lothaire Bluteau and Jean-Louis Millette, Le Confessional alternates between Quebec City in 1989 and to the year 1952, when Hitchcock was shooting
I Confess in the city.
With introduction by Magali Simard, TIFF Senior Coordinator, Film Programmes.
Tuesday, June 12
4:30 PM – Out of Focus – Dir: Tomer Heymann
A close-up documentary on Ohad Naharin, Out of Focus looks at Israel’s famed choreographer and artistic director of the Batsheva Dance Company, featured this year at Luminato.
With introduction by Christopher House, Artistic Director, Toronto Dance Theatre.
Wednesday, June 13
4:30 PM – Tectonic Plates – Dir: Peter Mettler
Robert Lepage’s mostly improvised play, Tectonic Plates uses the shifting of the Earth’s plates as a metaphor for human movement through time and space. Set in New York, Venice and Montreal, the two main characters are thrown in some of the most innovative physical settings, somewhere between cinema and theatre, inciting a discourse about temporality and space.
With introduction by Magali Simard, TIFF Senior Coordinator, Film Programmes.
9:00 PM - Sing Me The Songs That Say I Love You – Director: Lian Lunson
Shot at New York’s Town Hall Theatre in May 2011, Sing Me The Songs That Say I Love You is an all-star concert and tribute to one of folk music’s greatest artists, Kate McGarrigle. Hosted by McGarrigle’s famous musical offspring, Rufus and Martha Wainwright, they are joined onstage by Emmylou Harris, Norah Jones, Antony Hegarty, Teddy Thompson, and Canadian novelist Michael Ondaatje who pays a moving tribute to McGarrigle’s lyrical skills. The film will be followed by a Q&A with members of the McGarrigle and Wainwright families.
Thursday, June 14
5:15 PM – The Image Mill Revealed – Dirs: Marie Belzil, Mariano Franco
The Image Mill Revealed takes a close look at the three months leading up to the opening of a major installation to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Quebec City.
With introduction by Steve Lucas, set and lighting designer.
The Image Mill Revealed will be preceded by
Robert Lepage – Dir: Jeremy Peter Allen
A short, innovative portrait of artist Robert Lepage. Lepage discusses recurrent actors, themes and aspirations. Recurrent actors, the sense of origin, themes of travel, the future, the explosion of spatial settings – Robert Lepage is a quick and focused look at a relentless creative force.
Friday June 15
4:00 PM – Bright Angel – Dir: Michael Fields
Trailer provided by Video Detective
Set in 1980s Montana, Bright Angel shows what happens when a troubled teen teams up with a young runaway in an attempt to assist in her quest to get her brother out of prison. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Ford’s screenplay brings the reflective backbone that elevates this road thriller to a psychological exploration of characters in a crumbling western backdrop.
Saturday June 16
4:30 PM – La Belle et la Bête – Dir: Jean Cocteau
Adapted numerous times to the theatre stage and to the big screen, La Belle et la Bête has become the ultimate exploration of superficiality, class differences and physical beauty.
With introduction by Diane D’Aquila, La Dame in Lemieux Pilon 4D Art’s La Belle et la Bête: A Contemporary Retelling.
9:30 PM - Koyaanisqatsi – Dir: Godfrey Reggio
Also known as Life Out of Balance, Godfrey Reggio’s no-dialogue trippy, gorgeous and at times disturbing film garners a significant cult following. Scored by Philip Glass, Koyaanisqatsi is a haunting visual trip that should be seen on the big screen.
With introduction by Ingrid Veninger, filmmaker.
Sunday June 17
4:30 PM – The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari – Director: Robert Wiene
One of the greatest horror films in history, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari tells the tale of a mad carnival showman and his living-dead somnambulist Cesare, working together to terrorize a small provincial town. The film will be presented with live piano accompaniment by musician Laura Silberberg.
With introduction by David Ben, Artistic Director, Magicana.
7:00 PM – Mishima: A Life In Four Chapters – Dir: Paul Schrader
November 25th, 1970, was the last day in renowned Japanese author Yukio Mishima’s life. Mishima centres on the biography of the prolific author-turned political rebel who ultimately performed hara-kiri.
With introduction by John Gzowski, composer, sound designer and musician.
Lots to experience at this year’s Luminato. If you’ve yet to see some of these films or learn about Philip Glass, Robert Le Page, Robert Wilson and others, this is your chance!
All films will be screened at TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King Street West.
$5 tickets will be available at TIFF Bell Lightbox Box Office on day of film screening.
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