SOMA, 10min., UK
Directed by Arturo Bandinelli
SOMA is an experimental film that uses movement and dance as its primary medium for story-telling. A contemporary myth on the genesis of the human body, the piece unfolds in two parallel dimensions: an infinite black hole where entities exist outside linear space and time; and a labyrinthine house where an uncanny gathering is taking place. As the free-associative, dreamlike narrative unfolds, different characters go through visceral experiences of pleasure, enchantment, pain and death.

http://www.kwamcollective.com/
https://instagram.com/kwamcollective

Get to know producer Klaudia Wittmann:
As a collective, we had been asking the question ‘What is a Body?’ for some time, since 2019. During that time, we wondered about the material of the body, the flesh, its relation to the psyche, emotional life, and the image of the body. This coincided with personal experiences of loss and illness which framed our creative questions about the body, and motivated us to create work around it and make the film.

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.

• Subscribe to the podcast via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

CREATURA, 13min., Canada
Directed by Ford Mckeown Larose, Phethsari Pathammavong
If the world were to recreate itself in an empty space, how would new forms of life appropriate this environment? How would they evolve? Through lights and movements, Creatura explores the concept of genesis and evolution in a post-apocalyptic universe.

https://www.facebook.com/ForwardMovements
https://www.instagram.com/fwdmovements

Get to know the filmmaker:
The film was inspired by the third season’s opening video of Westworld created by Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy. I was really inspired by the story, the aesthetic and the message and wanted to find a way to recreate that feeling. CREATURA is the story I was able to create through that feeling?

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.

Subscribe to the podcast via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

FIGURES, 20min., Canada, Action
Directed by Jamie Hegland, Jade Yurich
A Special Forces officer turned crime syndicate operative uncovers the site of a drop being conducted by one of the world’s most dangerous, underground criminal organizations. With his syndicate’s mission of eradicating this rival organization, he infiltrates the drop site in an attempt to recover a mysterious item and locate the group’s notorious leader. However, things go astray when he is unexpectedly forced to deal with one of their organization’s most reputable mercenaries. Under unforeseen circumstances, he must use his newly acquired skills and act quickly in order to accomplish his mission and survive this encounter.

https://instagram.com/figuresfilm

From the filmmakers:

Jamie: In my opinion the biggest obstacle we faced in completing this film was being able to effectively shoot the entire film in a short timeframe with the small amount of resources we had available to us. In total we had six days of filming but we could have easily taken ten days (if given the proper time/money/resources). There is one location in the film that accounts for more than half of the film’s runtime. Initially we planned to shoot it in one night, a task that proved to be too ambitious and as a result we had to plan a second day at that location to finish what needed to be filmed, and even reshoot several portions. Having to completely tear down the set and clean up the space only to come back months later and recreate the same set environment with differing materials proved to be a challenge but we were up to it.

Jade: Locking the final cut. There were so many scenes that ended up on the cutting room floor and this film could have easily run over 30 minutes. We knew we had to boil down on what the intention of this project was. A badass fight film with a story that keeps the audience engaged and in anticipation of what’s next. Cutting 11 minutes worth of story out did that in a more concise and impactful way.

Playing on the Film Festival Streaming service later this 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.

Subscribe to the podcast via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

THE TIME YOU LEFT is an award winning short film made at the Toronto Metropolitan University by Yvette Sin & Nikita Zhang.

https://www.facebook.com/The-Time-You-Left-110591541273026

https://www.instagram.com/thetimeyouleft/

Director Statement

The Time You Left is a story born from our experiences as East-Asian women, daughters of immigrants, female artists, and as families impacted by illness. Through this project, we hope to connect with those from similar intersections, and to play what part we can in diversifying the media landscape with thoughtful BIPOC stories.

If you’re like us, elementary school kids made fun of your exotic smelling lunches. Your mother relentlessly assured you nothing was wrong, even when you knew something was up. You didn’t see stories like yours on screen very often, so you thought they must be too mundane, too unimportant to share.

You want the permission to see yourself in the stories we tell, break generational cycles, and honour the strength of your family. Call it a form of activism, but to you, it’s as pure as storytelling.

Subscribe to the podcast via Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook