THE FACE BEHIND THE RAT played at the February 2022 Toronto Documentary Film Festival.

Performance Artist, Jonothon Lyons, tells his story behind the face of his Tik Tok famous character, Buddy the Rat. https://www.tiktok.com/@jonothonlyons

Conversation with NYU Student filmmaker Emma Keatley on the making of the film.

Film also playing at the WILDsound TV app next month. You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

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March 12, 2022 - Filmmaker Emma Keatley (THE FACE BEHIND THE RAT)

Matthew Toffolo

MY FATHER’S JOURNEY is a feature documentary that played to rave reviews at the February 2022 Toronto Documentary Film Festival.

A film about the filmmaker’s father, Chongren He, travelling to the city he was born, Li Jiang, a small town close to the border of Tibet. He is a descendent of the Naxi, one of the fifty-six Chinese minorities which has a population of 300,000. What makes the Naxi unique is their ancient Dongba culture preserved through the millenary pictographic writing.

Xiaodan He, is a Montreal based Chinese-Canadian filmmaker, who studied film production at the Beijing Film Academy of China. Her main work include The Dance of the Star (doc-fiction, 80 min), Cairo Calling (fiction, 9 min), The Fall of Womenland (documentary, 48 min), A Touch of Spring (feature fiction) and My Father's Journey (feature documentary).

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March 5, 2022 - FIlmmaker Xiaodan He (My Father's Journey)

Matthew Toffolo

THE RACE EPIDEMIC played to rave reviews at the February 2022 DOCUMENTARY Film Festival.

https://theracedocumentary.org/

Winner of the best documentary award of the Chinese American film festival, The Race Epidemic is about another outbreak caused by Covid-19 - An epidemic of racism against Asian Americans. With a politicized pandemic sweeping through the country and a president calling it the Chinese Virus, the rise of attacks and hate against Asian Americans is not surprising.

Conversation with filmmaker Tony Shyu on the making of the documentary feature.

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March 4, 2022 - Filmmaker Tony Shyu (THE RACE EPIDEMIC)

Matthew Toffolo

NO SMALL DREAMS was the winner of BEST FILM at the February 2022 DOCUMENTARY Short Film Festival.

http://www.newstorycharity.org/

”After a trip to Haiti, where he saw thousands living in unimaginable conditions, young entrepreneur Brett was shaken. Upon his return, Brett met Alexandria, an inner-city educator recovering from a devastating loss, and Matthew, a tech-savvy social impact advocate. The three bonded over a belief that the shelter crisis needed new solutions, and despite their qualifications, they set out to change the narrative for thousands of families in need.”

Conversation with director Nathan Bach on the making of the film.

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March 1, 2022 - Filmmaker Nathan Bach (NO SMALL DREAMS)

Matthew Toffolo

“Velcro A Study In Polyvagal Equine” played to rave reviews at the January 2022 WILDsound Film Festival.

”The story of an amazing horse who was abused as a foal, but now uses her unique abilities to help those in need.”

Film also playing at the WILDsound TV app next month.. You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

Conversation with director Ted Tomas on the making of the film.

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February 16, 2022 - Filmmaker Ted Thomas (Velcro A Study In Polyvagal Equine)

Matthew Toffolo

BITTERSWEET played at the January 2022 DOCUMENTARY Film Festival.

Film also playing at the WILDsound TV app next month. You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

Conversation with producer Jesse James and director Christopher Paik-Swan on the making of the film.

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February 15, 2022 - Filmmakers Christopher Paik-Swan & Jesse James (BITTERSWEET)

Matthew Toffolo

“Do You Remember Your Mothers Hands” was the winner of BEST FILM at the January 2022 DOCUMENTARY Film Festival.

Film also playing at the WILDsound TV app next month. You can sign up for the 7 day free trial at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS). There is a DAILY film festival to watch, plus a selection of award winning films on the platform. Then it’s only $3.99 per month.

“A poetic and strong documentary about our mothers. About the threads of life that are tied and woven, and about carrying the weight of our own lives for better or worse.”

Conversation with filmmaker Barbra Coco Laurre on the idea and then the execution making the film.

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February 11, 2022 - Filmmaker Barbra Coco Laurre (Do You Remember Your Mothers Hands)

Matthew Toffolo

“STAND UP, SPEAK OUT” is a documentary short film that played at the December 2021 FEMALE Filmmakers Festival. There is a 2nd screening on the WILDsound APP in February. You can watch for free and sign up at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS).

Conversation with Executive Producer Katherine Brewster & Director Elisabeth Harris, from BC Voices, Inc. https://www.standupspeakout.org/

This Episode, "200+ Years: American Women Fight & Rise," serves as the introduction to the online DocuSeries "Stand UP, Speak OUT: The Personal Politics of Women's Rights" about the impact of the mid-20th century expansion in women's rights, and the hard-won freedom, independence, and opportunities at risk today. The Series continues with two more episodes: "Equal Pay for Equal Work" released May 2020 and "Voting Rights: From no vote to suffrage in 1920 to voter suppression in 2020, and why we still must fight for our right to vote," released November 2020. Reproductive Rights, currently in production, will be launched March 2022. Future episodes to be released in 2023/2024 will address such topics as: To Marry Whom We Love, or Not at All, Freedom from Sexual Harassment and Affirmative Action.

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January 27, 2022 - Film Team of STAND UP, SPEAK OUT: THE PERSONAL POLITICS OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Matthew Toffolo

ELEVATE was the winner of BEST SPORTS DOCUMENTARY at the December 2021 Documentary Film Festival. There is a 2nd screening on the WILDsound APP in February. You can watch for free and sign up at www.wildsound.ca (available on your streaming services and APPS).

”Elevate tells the story of Matteo Manfron’s attempt on the Genoa – Mont Blanc record, a gruelling ~300km challenge that brings you from Genoa to Courmayeur by bicycle, and by foot for the rest of the climb to the top of Mont Blanc.”

Conversation with documentary filmmaker Robert Bean on the making of the film.

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January 19, 2022 - Filmmaker Robert Bean (ELEVATE)

Matthew Toffolo

AMERICA BOXED IN is the 2022 Documentary Festival feature film winner. A story that examines a world where globalization reigns supreme. It explores the consequences of the “heart of the global economy”—the freight container.

Conversation with filmmaker Casey G. Williams on the 7 year journey making this film.

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January 11, 2022 - Filmmaker Casey G. Williams (AMERICA BOXED IN)

Matthew Toffolo

ELIZABETH BLAU played at the November 2021 DOCUMENTARY Short Film Festival. You can watch the film & festival today for FREE all day HERE.

“The story behind Las Vegas hospitality entrepreneur Elizabeth Blau.”

November 12, 2021 - Filmmaker Stephen Helstad (Steelite International | Elizabeth Blau)

Matthew Toffolo

Conversation with filmmaker Stephen Helstad on the making of the film.

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OPEN ALL NIGHT was the winner of BEST FILM at the November 2021 DOCUMENTARY Film Festival. You can watch the film & festival this Friday for FREE all day HERE.

“In a city renowned for its nocturnal energy, there are many who work at all hours of the night. In interviews with veteran Broadway star LaChanze (Tony Award winner for The Color Purple), the night supervisor at the Office of Emergency Management, a night manager at the printing plant of The New York Times, and more, Open All Night offers a glimpse of what it’s like to work the “other shift.””

Conversation with directors Jim Bradley and Ben Wolf on the making of the film.

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November 11, 2021 - Filmmakers Jim Bradley & Ben Wolf (OPEN ALL NIGHT)

Matthew Toffolo

November 18, 2021 - Filmmaker Drew Petrimoulx (CARVING A NEW LIFE)

Matthew Toffolo

Download

CARVING A NEW LIFE is an award winning short film about a recovering addict named Daniel Bugna as he went through the process of making a classic chair from a whole piece of wood. Playing at the DOCUMENTARY Short Film Festival - WATCH for FREE NOW

Conversation with Drew Petrimoulx on the amazing story of how this film can to life.

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October 17, 2021 - Filmmaker Jean Chapiro (HAMBRE: HUNGRY FOR LIFE)

Matthew Toffolo

HAMBRE: HUNGRY FOR LIFE is a personal and poetic documentary that explores the journey to overcome anorexia by coming to terms with all that being hungry for life implies. By approaching this concept from a physical, emotional, and spiritual perspective, viewers are invited to partake in this transformative journey. Playing at the DOCUMENTARY Short Film Festival - WATCH for FREE NOW

Conversation with filmmaker Jean Chapiro on the making of the film and this personal journey.

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September 30, 2021 - Filmmaker Pam Hervey (MENDING WALLS)

Matthew Toffolo

MENDING WALLS is the winning feature documentary film of 2021. Playing at the Documentary Film Festival all day Friday. You can bookmark the page and WATCH HERE.

Conversation with co-director Pam Hervey on how and why the film got made.

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September 28, 2021 - Filmmaker Suzan Satterfield (RETURN OF THE BUFFALO)

Matthew Toffolo

RETURN OF THE BUFFALO is the winner of BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY at the September 2021 ENVIRONMENTAL Film Festival.

Conversation with the documentary filmmaker Suzan Satterfield on the making of this very important film and her new connection with Buffalos.

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September 24, 2021 - Filmmaker Laura O’Grady (UNDECTABLE)

Matthew Toffolo

UNDETECTABLE was the winner of BEST SHORT DOC at the LGBTQ+ Toronto Film Festival. “Undetectable| breaks down the roadblocks and exposes the gatekeepers that have stopped the world from becoming HIV/AIDS free. the documentary is a deep dive into the hysteria, misinformation, stigma, and prejudice that has surrounded the HIV virus since it was identified in the early 80s.

You can watch the festival playing online all day today HERE

Conversation with filmmaker Laura O’Grady on the process making this exceptional documentary.

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"TETHERED" is an award winning short documentary about digital addiction and our need to always be on our smart phone. https://consciouscontent.org/films/tethered/

September 22, 2021 - Producers Kimberly Resch & Brian Ross (TETHERED, ARE WE THE EXPERIMENT?)

Matthew Toffolo

Digital addiction is a hidden illness among us, and it has our society in a vice grip.

Conversation with the producers of the film and the making of "TETHERED". Go to their website to learn all about their films and mission: https://consciouscontent.org/

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September 19, 2021 - Filmmaker Keeley Gould (POWWOW)

Matthew Toffolo

“POWOW” documents a central event in Native American cultural that allows tribes to gather and reclaim indigenous rites and expresses the sacred and spiritual. You can watch the festival and film HERE starting at midnight EST on September 18th.

Conversation with filmmaker Keeley Gould on the process making the film.

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September 18, 2021 - Filmmaker Roger Sorkin (NATION IN TRANSITION)

Matthew Toffolo

NATION IN TRANSTION is a multiple award winning film made by the American Resilience Project (www.amresproject.org), and is an exploration of the energy transition in the Southwest, where power and water systems are increasingly stressed due to more frequent extreme heat and drought.

You can watch the festival and film HERE starting at midnight EST on September 18th.

Conversation with filmmaker Roger Sorkin on the making of the film.

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