Female Eye Film Festival in Toronto

The Female Eye Film Festival showcasing films directed by women runs in Toronto from Wednesday, March 24 to Sunday, March 28. Catch Canadian feature documentaries including Amy Miller's Myths For Profit, Nancy Schwartzman's The Line, Nicole Brook's A Linc in Time and Alison Rose's Love at the Twilight Motel.

Established in 2001, the Female Eye Film Festival (FEFF) is Ontario’s one and only annual international independent film Festival showcasing films directed by women. The Female Eye is a juried competitive film festival and presents films by debut, emerging and internationally recognized directors.

DOCUMENTARY HIGHLIGHTS (venue - Rainbow Cinemas Market Square, 80 Front Street East)

FRIDAY, MARCH 26:

10:30am – 1pm: DIRECTORS ROUND TABLE: FEMALE FILMMAKERS AND SUCCESS

Novotel Toronto Centre – Alsace Room, 45 The Esplanade. Facilitated by FEFF Founder and Director, Leslie Ann Coles, and Creative Women Workshops Association President and CEO, / WIDC Producer, Carol Whiteman, with Producers; Exec. Producers, Sascha Schneider and Richard Wilson (“Nothing Special”); Producer/Writer/Director, Gail Harvey; Executive Producer, Cher Hawrysh (Phenomenal Films) and Marina Cordoni (Breakthrough Films and TV).

1PM - 2:30 PM CANADIAN AND INTERNATIONAL SHORTS at the Rainbow Cinemas Market Square. Q & A with all the directors following the screenings.
The Line dir Nancy Schwartzman. A documentary film examining boundaries and sexual consent.A one night stand far from home turns into a sexual nightmare. As the filmmaker unravels her experience, she decides to confront her attacker. (CP, Doc, 24:00, Israel/USA)

3pm – 5:15pm - SHORT FILM PROGRAM & CANADIAN DOCUMENTARY – Rainbow Cinemas Market Square, 80 Front Street East

Myths For Profit: Canada’s Role in Industries of War and Peace, dir Amy Miller. This dramatic, exposé explores ‘Canada’s role in Industries of War and Peace’. Through diverse interviews and case studies this documentary unveils the specific interests and profits that are made by certain corporation, individuals and agency within Canada. (TP, Doc/Animation, 58:00, Montreal, CAN).

5:30pm – 6:30pm – FOREIGN SHORT & DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM – Rainbow Cinemas Market Square, 80 Front Street East

Mall Girls, written and directed Katarzyna Roslaniec. Shopping Malls – contemporary temples of consumerism, colorful shops windows, shiny jewelry, expensive cosmetics, and the newest fashion. Here Milena and her friends spend their free time. Rich men who give them presents for sex pay for their shopping. Alicja joins the group of girls. At first she feels alienated, but soon Alicja and Milena start to bond. Michał, Alicja’s peer, falls in love with her and becomes a rival for Milena. (NAP, Drama, 82:00, Poland)

SATURDAY, MARCH 27:

11am – 1pm: CANADIAN SHORTS & DOCUMENTARIES at the Rainbow Cinemas Market Square Cinemas Market Square followed by a Q & A.

The Real Matriarch, directed by Rhonda Buckley. The Real Matriarch takes a look at the politics, life and professions of four prominent women from Newfoundland and Labrador: Lois Brown, Barbara Doran, Edythe Goodridge, and Mrs. Sara Sexton. They are entertaining, shocking at times, and ultimately great storytellers. Always leaving a boardroom or a dining room in laughter. (WP, Doc. 45:00, NFLD, CAN)

A Linc In Time, directed by Nicole Brooks. A revealing portrait of the great Lincoln Alexander, the first black Member of Parliament in Canada elected during the turbulent American civil rights era and the first black Lieutenant Governor of Ontario. (FP, Doc, 48:00, CAN)

3pm – 4:30pm: FOREIGN DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM at the Rainbow Cinemas Market Square followed by a Q & A.

The Seven Ages of Love, directed by Zara Hayes. A film that tells the story of love at different stages of life through a combination of documentary and specially penned poetry that is performed by the contributors (CP, Doc. 24:00, UK)

Plan B, Single Women Choosing Motherhood, directed by Beth Cramer. Romance, love, marriage, what every girl thinks of as Plan A for their lives. Reality is women are staying single longer, pursuing careers and playing the field. These women now face the tough question of how to start a family without a partner. (CP, Doc, 70:00, NY, USA)

5pm – 6:30pm: SHORT & MUSICAL DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM at the Rainbow Cinemas Market Square followed by a Q & A.

Till You’re Told To Stop, directed by Ruth Somalo. Till You’re Told To Stop is a unique independent film that follows the career of singer British songwriter James Blunt. (CP, Doc., 82:00, NY, USA)

SUNDAY, MARCH 28:

1pm – 3pm: CANADIAN SHORTS (TORONTO) & FOREIGN DOCUMENTARY at the Rainbow Cinemas Market Square followed by a Q & A.

Ein Weites Feld / Expansive Grounds, directed by Gerburg Rohde- Dahl. A personal discussion about the film-maker’s identity as German caused by the Berlin Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. (TP, Doc, 66:00, Germany)

3:30pm – 5pm: FOREIGN SHORT & CANADIAN FEATURE DOCUMENTARY at the Rainbow Cinemas Market Square followed by a Q & A .

Love at the Twghlight Motel, directed by by Alison Rose, weaves seven confessional interviews with guests of an hourly motel. Sex, infidelity and the allure of the fast lane propel their stories. The filmmaker doesn’t comment or judge as she peals back the layers of their stories. In the privacy of the bedroom, men and women become candidly revealing, dark and funny, transcending the limits of their circumstances, and redeeming themselves with their story telling. (Doc, 82:00, Toronto, CAN)

For full list of fiction and documentary films in each program, plus info about panels/workshops visit www.femaleeyefilmfestival.com.

Photo: Love at the Twilight Motel, Dir. Alison Rose, courtesy NFB.