AIFF - Atlantic International Film Festival – Details, episodes & analysis

Mike Downie and Jake Gold are elated to share the story of Tragically Hip, focusing on their history, legacy, and the importance of telling their full story.

Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal is a project that began in 2020, with Prime in LA providing significant financial support and creative freedom. The documentary spans four episodes, each capturing different stages of the band's journey, including their rise, challenges, and the impact of Gord's illness and death. Mike and Jake emphasized the importance of honesty and accuracy, leveraging extensive archival footage and personal connections.

The documentary aims to connect with fans, both old and new, and to highlight the band's unique Canadian identity and legacy.

To learn more visit:
https://atlanticfilmfestival.ca/

Produced by Podstarter
https://www.podstarter.io/

Arianna Martinez presents Do I Know You From Somewhere? as her first feature film!

In this episode, Arianna discusses the emotional journey of releasing this film, that she co-wrote with her husband, which blends genres inspired by Korean cinema. The film explores non-linear storytelling, blending timelines to examine life choices and their consequences. The production emphasized a family-oriented approach, with shorter eight-hour shooting days to balance work and family life. The film's visual storytelling uses colour contrasts and personal touches, such as a handcrafted object dear to Arianna's son. Arianna hopes her film will inspire audiences to make choices that align with their true selves, rather than regretting missed opportunities.

Do I Know You From Somewhere? follows a committed couple as they find their lives slipping away as their history becomes unwritten.

To learn more visit:
https://atlanticfilmfestival.ca/

Produced by Podstarter
https://www.podstarter.io/

With Love and a Major Organ is set in an alternate world where hearts are made of objects and suppressing emotions is self-care, a lonely woman rips out her own heart for the man she loves, only to discover that he has run away with it. Whimsical, quirky, and wildly original, With Love and a Major Organ pushes on the ever-stranger phenomenon of physical human interaction in the age of technology. Why is it that we are ever more connected and yet we have never felt more alone?

I was joined by writer Julia Lederer, Director Kim Albright producer Madeleine Davis and lead, Anna Maguire.

Julia Lederer is an internationally-acclaimed writer, Julia's plays have been produced across North America and in Europe, and her films have been selections at major festivals, including TIFF,  Palm Springs, and SXSW. Kim Albright is a Canadian/British/Filipina writer/director. She began her career in the UK, directing short films, music videos, and commercials and is an alumna of the Canadian Film Centre Director's Lab (2018). Madeleine Davis is a Canadian writer and producer based between Canada and the UK, where she is currently completing a Masters in Creative Writing at Cambridge University. She has a decade of experience in narrative and commercial filmmaking. Anna Maguire is a British/Canadian writer, director and actress. As an actress, Anna recently performed in Kim Nguyen’s The Hummingbird Project alongside Salma Hayek, Jesse Eisenberg and Alexander Skarsgard and can be seen in the upcoming film Violation by Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli.

The 2023 Atlantic International Film Festival is just around the corner, and with it comes a new line-up of films across a fresh collection of streams. This podcast showcases the voices of filmmakers whose work will feature in the 2023 program, going deep behind the vision and motivation for each film.

Find out More:
https://atlanticfilmfestival.ca/

Produced by Podstarter
https://www.podstarter.io/

In this episode we talk to Ian Harnarine, the writer and director of Doubles. The story of a Trinidadian street vendor must travel to Toronto and decide if he will help save his estranged father from dying.

Ian was born in Toronto, Canada and is the son of immigrants from Trinidad & Tobago. He attended York University earning a Bachelor’s degree in Physics & Astronomy and a Master’s degree in Nuclear Physics from the University of Illinois and an MFA from NYU’s Graduate Film School. Harnarine’s film “Doubles With Slight Pepper” (Executive Produced by Spike Lee), won the Best Short Film Award at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Canadian Academy Award. “Caroni”, about a West Indian domestic worker in New York, premiered at TIFF and continues to screen at festivals worldwide. Harnarine has made dozens of films for Sesame Street, one of which garnered an Emmy nomination. “Party Done”, Harnarine’s feature documentary about controversial crime reporter Ian Alleyne, played theatrically in the Caribbean. “Doubles”, a feature film, is currently in post-production while Harnarine writes an adaptation of David Chariandy’s novel “Soucouyant”. Harnarine was selected by Filmmaker Magazine as one of the 25 New Faces of Independent Film, profiled in the New York Times and named one of Playback Magazine’s Ten to Watch.

The 2023 Atlantic International Film Festival is just around the corner, and with it comes a new line-up of films across a fresh collection of streams. This podcast showcases the voices of filmmakers whose work will feature in the 2023 program, going deep behind the vision and motivation for each film.

Find out More:
https://atlanticfilmfestival.ca/

Produced by Podstarter
https://www.podstarter.io/

The 2023 Atlantic International Film Festival is just around the corner, and with it comes a new line-up of films across a fresh collection of streams. This podcast showcases the voices of filmmakers whose work will feature in the 2023 program, going deep behind the vision and motivation for each film.

Find out More:
https://atlanticfilmfestival.ca/

Produced by Podstarter
https://www.podstarter.io/

Taylor Olson, a Canadian Screen Award & ACTRA Award nominee, joins us this episode to chat about making films in Atlantic Canada!

Taylor sits down with our host, Rhys Waters, to chat about the boundaries and potential of filmmaking in Atlantic Canada, highlighting the tight-knit community, resource availability, and need for balance between competition and collaboration. Taylor describes the current state of Nova Scotia's film industry, emphasizing growth, tax incentives, and mentorship opportunities.  He talks about the significance of the Atlantic International Film Festival, showcasing local talent and fostering a sense of community. 

Taylor has acted in numerous feature films such as Black Cop, Hopeless Romantic (Outstanding Performance - Atlantic Film Festival 2018), Halloween Party, Dawn Her Dad & the Tractor, and his own feature film directorial debut Bone Cage - for which he won Best Actor at a number of film festivals, as well as his first ACTRA award. Olson won his second ACTRA Award for appearing in the feature film Bystanders, which he co-wrote alongside partner Koumbie. He has appeared in re-occurring roles on TV series such as Sex & Violence, Diggstown, Pure, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, King & Pawn, and as Larry in the new Trailer Park Boy's: Jail series.

For television, Olson has directed for two seasons of This Hour Has 22 Minutes on CBC, three seasons of the documentary series Disrupt for AMI, and screened their AR series Alone Together at festivals such as the Reykjavik International Film Festival and the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. As a creator, Olson released his first two short-form comedy series King & Pawn and 2GETHER 4EVER for Bell Fibe TV1. King & Pawn shot its third season in a 6 x 22 minute format for the Trailer Park Boys streaming service Swearnet.

Taylor is the recipient of the 2020 Arts Nova Scotia Emerging Artist Award.

To learn more visit:
https://atlanticfilmfestival.ca/

Produced by Podstarter
https://www.podstarter.io/

Nick Sexton, Director and Writer has produced a love letter to St. John's Newfoundland, with his feature film, Skeet.

In this episode, Nik sits down with our host Rhys Waters to discuss his 6 years of production, as well as what it was like capturing themes of rehabilitation, fatherhood, immigration and drug use. Nik emphasizes the importance of collaboration, authenticity, and dedication to bringing a story to life. Nik chats more in-depth about the significance of conducting thorough research and consultation with real-life refugees to ensure authenticity. Other themes discussed include racism, love in the context of poverty, addiction, and the need for empathy and understanding in addressing the ongoing opioid crisis.

Skeet is a film that follows the main protagonist Billy Skinner after being released from prison. Billy returns to his low-income neighbourhood feeling like the area has changed dramatically, and what was once a predominantly white neighbourhood is now mostly occupied by refugee families.

To learn more visit:
https://atlanticfilmfestival.ca/

Produced by Podstarter
https://www.podstarter.io/

The Atlantic International Film Festival is taking off for 2024!

In this episode, we sit down with Martha Cooley as she shares her perspectives on programming, local and international films, and the importance of showcasing local talent.

Martha discusses the challenges of curating a program with over 900 films submitted each year while highlighting the festival's value in attracting industry excitement.

Martha mentions some upcoming film premieres in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, along with the timeliness and sensitivity of recent Halifax film productions.

To learn more visit:
https://atlanticfilmfestival.ca/

Produced by Podstarter
https://www.podstarter.io/

The Atlantic Film Festival is back for 2024!

On this episode we discuss a quirky, detective comedy romance from PEI.

Who's Yer Father? follows a small-town private investigator, played by Chris Locke, as he investigates the sale of black market lobster in Prince Edward Island. Along the way he gets help from an eccentric convenience store owner, played by Susan Kent, who has her own agenda. 

I was joined by the writer and director Jeremy Larter.

Jeremy is an actor, film director and screenwriter from Prince Edward Island. He is most noted for his 2018 film Pogey Beach, which won the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Feature Film at the 19th Canadian Comedy Awards in 2019. Larter also received nominations for Best Direction in a Feature Film and Best Writing in a Feature Film. Larter had a number of roles as an actor, most notably in the 2012 film S.I.N. Theory, before creating and starring in the web series Just Passing Through in 2013. Pogey Beach, his theatrical feature debut, expanded on the in-universe story of a fictional television show watched by the main characters in Just Passing Through.

The 2023 Atlantic International Film Festival is just around the corner, and with it comes a new line-up of films across a fresh collection of streams. This podcast showcases the voices of filmmakers whose work will feature in the 2023 program, going deep behind the vision and motivation for each film.

Find out More:
https://atlanticfilmfestival.ca/

Produced by Podstarter
https://www.podstarter.io/