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ReFrame 2024 VIRTUAL FILMs

These selected films will be available to watch on demand in our Virtual Theatre from January 29th to February 4th

For a complete listing of all In Person films & events, Visit the 2024 Film & Events Guide

A lone white plastic chair sits on a small, narrow balcony with green railings. The balcony is part of a building with a facade of large, beige stone tiles. The viewpoint is from an adjacent building, capturing the scene at a slight angle, which gives a voyeuristic glimpse into this quiet urban space.

A Short Film About a Chair

  • Ibrahim Handal
  • Palestine, State of
  • 2023
  • 10 mins

A lonely chair on an abandoned balcony, a photographer watching it days and nights, a strange thing happens that will change the life of the chair for ever.

  • Arabic, English, French
  • Partially Captioned in English
An abstract artwork featuring a mix of textures and patterns. The central figure resembles a dark silhouette of a human profile against a background that includes elements of text, possibly from a map, overlaid with splatters, drips, and strokes of paint.

Ajjigiingiluktaaqtugut (We Are All Different)

  • Lindsay McIntyre
  • Canada
  • 2021
  • 17 mins

What does it mean to be Inuk? Historically depicted as welcoming and friendly people in remote snowy landscapes, in reality, Inuit live across the globe. Using antique wind-up bears, layered animation, and analogue techniques, McIntyre constructs an animated documentary in an exploration of identity and belonging by Inuit, both in and outside of community.

  • English, Inuktut
  • Captioned in Inuktut
  • Visually Striking
A person's hand is gently touching the cheek of a large, unfinished sculpted head and shoulders. The sculpture is highly detailed, with lifelike facial features, and it is mounted on a stand. In the background, there is an assortment of artistic materials and another bust sculpture, indicating that the setting is likely an artist's studio.

Alive in Bronze

  • A.K. Sandhu
  • USA
  • 2023
  • 19 mins

Sculptor Dana King’s hands and activist Fredrika Newton’s memories come together to build a new monument—a bust of Black Panther Party leader Huey P. Newton for the Oakland community that he loved and shaped. As the sculpture takes form, more than just a face is revealed.

  • English
  • No Captions
  • Inspiring
A group of soccer players are huddled together, celebrating near the edge of the field. They are surrounded by vibrant flares and smoke, mostly in red, adding to the dramatic atmosphere. In the background, the crowd is animated, with some fans waving flags energetically. The scene is at night, under artificial lighting, and captures the energy and excitement typical of a soccer match.

Allihopa: The Dalkurd Story

  • Kordo Doski
  • Canada, Iraq, Sweden, USA
  • 2023
  • 90 mins

The inspirational story of The Dalkurd Football Club, a scrappy group of Kurdish refugees in Sweden who defy all odds to climb the ranks of Sweden’s soccer leagues in hopes of becoming champions, and bringing glory and attention to the plight of their stateless people.

Register for the virtual Q&A | Wednesday, Jan 31 at 5:30PM EST

  • English, Kurdish, Swedish
  • Captioned in English
  • Uplifting
Two puppet-like figures with painted faces and exaggerated makeup are positioned close together against a bokeh background with purple and blue hues. The figure on the left has black hair and pink makeup, while the one on the right has bright green hair and darker makeup around the eyes. The facial expressions are fixed and stylized, with a handmade quality to the crafting of their features.

Blush – An Extraordinary Voyage

  • Iiti Yli-Harja
  • Finland
  • 2022
  • 15 mins

For 18-year-old Finnish–Kosovan Fatu, a simple visit to the grocery store feels as nerve-racking as a lunar expedition. For the first time in his life, he’s wearing makeup in public. Luckily his best friend Rai, a young woman on the spectrum of autism, is there to ferociously support him through the voyage.

  • Finnish
  • Captioned in English
  • Quirky
Close-up of the left side of a person's face, focusing on a clear blue eye. The image captures detailed textures such as skin and eyelashes, with the rest of the face softly out of focus. The background is indistinct, providing a neutral setting that highlights the eye.

Clean

  • Miranda Stern
  • United Kingdom
  • 2022
  • 19 mins

One woman’s love letter and final goodbye to heroin, as she attempts to come off the synthetic opiates that have kept her clean for the past six years. This short documentary attempts to reframe some of the stigmas of addiction, and poses the following question: what does it mean to be ‘clean’?

  • English
  • Captioned in English
An individual with a beard and a receding hairline is sitting on a yellow couch, wearing a denim jacket over a yellow shirt. They are raising their right hand with an open palm towards the camera in a greeting or waving gesture. The person is smiling and looking directly at the camera. In the background, there's a bookshelf filled with books and a painting of a forest scene, suggesting a cozy, lived-in space. The lighting is bright and even, indicative of an indoor setting.

Dear Ani

  • Micah B Levin
  • USA
  • 2021
  • 38 mins

For twenty-five years Keith Wasserman has made and delivered elaborate art mail packages - all in the hopes of befriending his muse. Dear Ani explores what can happen when you present your truest self, and risk total failure. It is an intimate account of psychotic mania, personal mastery, and creative triumph.

  • English
  • No Captions
  • Quirky
Four individuals are seated around a dining table in a dimly lit room that suggests a vintage or historical setting. The warm glow from the windows, adorned with patterned stained glass, provides natural light. The room is decorated with patterned wallpaper, and there are traditional furnishings and decorations, including a cabinet and a clock on the wall, which contribute to the room's old-fashioned ambiance. The scene has a calm and intimate feel, with the focus on the people at the table, possibly engaged in conversation over a meal.

Demon Box

  • Sean Wainsteim
  • Canada
  • 2023
  • 14 mins

After festival rejections, a director revises his intensely personal short film about trauma, suicide, and the Holocaust. He transforms the film into a painful, blunt and funny dissection of itself, and of his own life. Ten years in the making.

Guests in attendance, Q&A with Sean Wainsteim

  • English
  • Captioned in English
  • Quirky
A person is standing in the center of a street with one fist raised high. The individual is wearing a dark beanie, a t-shirt, and jeans, and has a serious expression. The street is lined with various commercial buildings and cars are visible in both directions. The context of the raised fist, a symbol often associated with solidarity and support for a cause, suggests a moment of protest or statement. The image captures a sense of defiance or activism.

Detroit Will Breathe

  • Kate Levy
  • USA
  • 2021
  • 22 mins

In the summer of 2020, Detroiters faced unprecedented police violence as they took to the streets to protest the killings of Black people across the country. Detroit Will Breathe provides an unprecedented look into the actions of the police and examines what it means to be part of an integrated movement fighting for Black lives.

  • English
  • No Captions
  • Depictions of violence
An individual, likely a mature adult given the visible gray beard and wrinkles, is aiming a laser gun. The device is held up to their face, and their focused gaze is directed towards the target. They are wearing a gray beanie and a dark jacket, and the background is softly blurred with a clear sky, indicating an outdoor setting during the day. The device’s detailed mechanics are visible, emphasizing a the advanced technology.

Eco-Hack!

  • Josh Izenberg, Brett Marty
  • USA
  • 2021
  • 17 mins

Deep in the Mojave desert, an unconventional field biologist wages a high-tech war against ravens - laser cannons, drones, exploding turtle shells - in a last ditch effort to save the last few desert tortoises from extinction.

  • English
  • Captioned in English
  • Hopeful
A collage with a silhouette of a person with their head in their hands, suggesting despair or anxiety. Their body is filled with various images against a pixelated, digital background. The silhouette's head contains an image of a melting glacier, and in their eye glasses, a forest fire rages. The torso contains a turbulent tornado. The legs of the silhouette are filled with an image of a landfill showing scattered debris and a piece of machinery. The overall composition has a surreal or abstract quality, blending human form with environmental imagery.

Feeling the Apocalypse

  • Chen Sing Yap
  • Canada
  • 2022
  • 7 mins

From the disappearing wildlife in his hometown of Owen Sound to the news stories about the melting of Greenland, psychotherapist Anderson Todd tells us how fragmenting ecosystems around the world have affected his psyche and his relationships. Do the realities of collapse necessarily spell paralyzing despair, or is there something positive we can take from this?

Guest in attendance, Q&A with Chen Sing Yap

  • English
  • Captioned in English
  • Hopeful
The photo shows the lower half of an individual walking with the aid of a prosthetic leg. The person is wearing shorts, a single black sock, and black shoes. The flooring is a smooth, reflective surface, and there are handrails alongside, suggesting a rehabilitation facility or a space designed for physical therapy. The focus on the prosthetic leg highlights themes of mobility, recovery, and adaptive technology.

Fitting

  • Caitlin McMullan
  • United Kingdom
  • 2022
  • 11 mins

Fitting explores the relationship between the director, an amputee, and her prosthetist during the making of a prosthetic leg. It demystifies an unfamiliar space and asks what it means to create an extension to someone else’s body, questioning prejudice widely seen within our society's consideration of body image.

  • English
  • Captioned in English
  • Uplifting
A sunset over a desert cityscape with the sun low in the sky, casting a warm glow and creating a silhouette of the mountains in the background. There are outlines of buildings and palm trees against the light, and the foreground shows arid terrain with sparse vegetation typical of a desert. In the lower left corner, there's text that reads "HOW TO POWER A CITY," suggesting the image may be related to a documentary or educational content focusing on urban energy topics. The sky above is clear with minimal clouds, allowing the sunlight to dominate the scene.

How To Power A City

  • Melanie La Rosa
  • USA
  • 2023
  • 73 mins

How to Power A City provides a front-row seat to communities battling fossil fuel dependence by bringing solar and wind projects to their hometowns. Filmed in six locations, the stories reveal how a diverse cast prevailed against myriad obstacles such as indifferent politicians, technical impasses, public ignorance, cost, and natural and manmade disasters. It is a solutions-focused climate story.

Guest in attendance, Q&A with Melanie La Rosa

  • English, Spanish
  • Captioned in English
  • Hopeful
A person wearing glasses and a baseball cap is standing outside, arms crossed, with a slight smile on their face. They are looking off to the side, possibly at something out of the frame. The setting seems to be residential, as they are standing in front of a house with siding and a window reflecting the sky. It appears to be dusk, as the light is soft and a lamp next to the house is illuminated.

Kirby’s House

  • Rob Viscardis
  • Canada
  • 2023
  • 18 mins

For twenty years now, Kirby, who has an intellectual disability, has been living on his own and is thriving in his quaint little house on a colourful small-town street. He is surrounded by helpful neighbours and a unique support network that understands the power of community and belonging.

Guest in attendance, Q&A with Rob Viscardis

  • English
  • Captioned in English
  • Uplifting
A swimmer is resting at the edge of a swimming pool, wearing a white swim cap with "R.O.T. MARDINI" printed on it alongside the Olympic rings and a logo for the brand "arena". The swimmer is leaning their arms on the poolside and has their face turned to one side, looking thoughtful or focused. Water droplets are visible on the swimmer's cap, indicating recent activity in the pool. The pool water has a bright blue color, which suggests an indoor setting with good lighting.

Long Distance Swimmer – Sara Mardini

  • Charly W. Feldman
  • Germany
  • 2023
  • 88 mins

Sara Mardini, once a competitive swimmer in Syria, became Europe’s most celebrated refugee after saving 18 people’s lives. After working as a rescue volunteer in the Mediterranean, she is accused of people smuggling and faces a 25-year prison sentence. We follow her fight for justice and journey of self-discovery against the backdrop of Europe’s refugee ‘crisis’.

  • English
  • Captioned in English
An aerial image that captures a striking natural contrast between a turquoise blue body of water and a greyish, textured landscape possibly of sand or silt. In the water, a small figure in a kayak, provides a sense of scale, emphasizing the vastness of the surroundings. The water's vibrant hue suggests it may be rich in minerals or glacially fed, while the sinuous patterns in the grey area indicate the movement of water over time. The scene is serene and appears remote.

Losing Blue

  • Leanne Allison
  • Canada
  • 2023
  • 15 mins

What does it mean to lose a colour? Losing Blue is a cinematic poem about what it means to lose the otherworldly blues of ancient mountain lakes, now fading due to climate change. This short documentary gently asks what it might mean to forget that the ethereal blues of these lakes ever existed.

  • English
  • Captioned in English
  • Visually Striking
Two individuals are sitting close together on a high ledge, looking out over a desert-like landscape with sand dunes stretching towards the horizon. The sky is a warm, hazy orange, possibly indicating either sunrise or sunset. The companionship between the two figures is emphasized by one person's arm around the other, suggesting a moment of shared experience or reflection in a vast and tranquil environment.

Madeleine

  • Raquel Sancinetti
  • Canada
  • 2023
  • 15 mins

Each week, two friends born 67 years apart share their life stories in the living room of a seniors' residence. When Raquel finds a way to bring Madeleine with her on a road trip to the sea, the result is a journey that plays with reality and fiction and brings a reflection on life, death and the certainty that there is always something to learn along the way.

  • French
  • Captioned in English
  • Quirky, Uplifting
A close-up image of a goose with its beak open, revealing the unique structure of its mouth and tongue. The serrated edges inside the beak are visible. The goose's black head with white markings is distinctive, and the texture of its feathers can be seen in detail. The background is blurred.

Modern Goose

  • Karsten Wall
  • Canada
  • 2023
  • 22 mins

Able to navigate by reading the Earth’s magnetic field, at home on land, air and water, geese straddle the territory between ancient instincts and the contemporary world. Combining beauty, humour and profound empathy, director Karsten Wall’s exquisitely observed film essay follows the daily life of these iconic animals to reveal a deeper message of continuity and connection.

  • Captioned in English
In a dimly lit pub, a group of people are gathered, some sitting and some standing. The focus is on a person playing a banjo in the center, surrounded by onlookers who are attentively listening or waiting their turn to perform. The mood is casual and communal, typical of an informal music session. The image is monochromatic, which adds a timeless and candid feel to the scene.

North Circular

  • Luke McManus
  • Ireland
  • 2022
  • 99 mins

Those in power write the history. Those who struggle write the songs. North Circular is a documentary musical that travels the length of Dublin’s North Circular Road, from the Phoenix Park to Dublin Port, exploring the history, music and streetscapes of a street that links some of the country’s most beloved and infamous places.

  • English
  • Captioned in English
  • Inspiring, Visually Striking
A woman stands outside a brick building, holding a box of Playtex tampons and a long printed receipt. They are smiling at the camera, dressed in a cozy, textured beige jacket with a navy blue top visible underneath. Their curly hair is pulled back from their face, and they wear round earrings.

Periodical

  • Lina Lyte Plioplyte
  • USA
  • 2022
  • 95 mins

Periodical tells the unexpected story of the human body by exploring the marvel and mystery of the menstrual cycle, from first period to last. Lina Lyte Plioplyte’s innovative documentary uncovers shocking truths, challenges taboos, and celebrates the end of centuries of societal stigma.

Related VIRTUAL WORKSHOP: Period Poverty & Advocacy | Tuesday, Jan 30 at 7:00PM EST - Pre-register now!

  • English
  • Captioned in English
  • Uplifting
A dog stands atop a vast landscape of debris under a hazy sky, with the sun low on the horizon casting a warm glow over the scene. The landfill is littered with varied waste, and the dog's silhouette is outlined against the bright backdrop of the sun. The atmosphere appears calm yet somber, with the desolation of the waste and the solitary figure of the dog creating a poignant contrast.

Plastic Fantastic

  • Isa Willinger
  • Germany
  • 2023
  • 102 mins

Our planet is permeated with plastic particles. This film follows several people who deal with the disposal of plastic, as well as its production. In the process, the system that causes the mountains of plastic to grow becomes apparent.

Register for the Virtual Q&A | Wednesday, Jan 31 at 10AM EST

  • English, German, Swahili
  • Captioned in English
An adult and a child are walking hand in hand down a dusty rural path. The adult is wearing a white t-shirt with a logo, khaki pants, a cap, and sunglasses, and is carrying a backpack and a camera. The child is dressed in a striped school uniform and carrying a lollipop. In the background, there is a vehicle driving behind them. Beyond the vehicle stretches a landscape of rolling hills and sparse vegetation under a clear sky suggesting a warm, dry climate.

Sarura. The future is an unknown place

  • Nicola Zambelli
  • Italy
  • 2022
  • 80 mins

At the gates of the Negev desert, a group of young Palestinians fight against the Israeli military occupation. The "Youth of Sumud” - youth of steadfast perseverance - try to return to their people the land that was taken from their families, restructuring the ancient cave village of Sarura. They face aggression with nonviolent action, defending themselves from rifles with their video cameras.

Guest in attendance, Q&A with Nicola Zambelli

  • Arabic, English, Hebrew
  • Captioned in English
Three people are working in a garden during what appears to be the early morning, given the soft sunlight. They are all dressed in the same white garments while tending to the plants, which are in neat rows and supported by a wire structure. The lush greenery in the background suggests a fertile, well-maintained agricultural environment.

Seeds of Change

  • Maximilian Armstrong
  • USA
  • 2023
  • 27 mins

An organic farmer in Maine sets out to transform the prison food system. Filmed over the course of two years, Seeds of Change chronicles the intersecting stories of lifelong farmer Mark McBrine and several incarcerated men as they grow their own food from a five acre prison garden unlike any other.

  • English
  • No Captions
  • Hopeful
A group of people dressed in casual attire is gathered outdoors holding a banner that reads, "Women for Life on Earth Peace March '81". The banner features symbols of peace and the Earth. The setting is a sunny day with trees and open skies in the background.

Sew to Say

  • Rakel Aguirre
  • United Kingdom
  • 2022
  • 69 mins

Thalia is an artist, banner-maker, and one of the original marchers and founders of a women-only peace camp against nuclear weapons. In this film, Thalia shares the untold story of the longest feminist protest in British history, and reflects on how collective action changed the lives of the women of Greenham Common and inspired several generations.

  • English
  • Captioned in English
  • Uplifting
A person stands on a balcony with their arms crossed, surrounded by graffiti-covered walls. Behind them, a cityscape with various buildings in different states of construction and maintenance is visible. The contrast between the neglected foreground and the bustling city background highlights a narrative of urban resilience and perhaps social issues. The sunlight casts shadows, adding to the gritty ambiance of the setting.

The Cities I Live In

  • Rabie Mustapha
  • United Kingdom
  • 2022
  • 11 mins

Newly settled in Belfast, a filmmaker tells his infant twins about his life journey. They see him leaving one violent place for another, longing for places that he will never see again, and hoping they will not carry his curse.

  • English
  • Captioned in English
A hand with the palm facing forward and fingers slightly apart, set against a backdrop of a rock surface with natural lines and crevices. The lighting is soft and dim, suggesting either early morning or late afternoon, with warm tones that give the skin a reddish hue, contrasting with the cooler tones of the rock. The focus is on the hand, which is centered in the frame, while the rock surface in the background is slightly blurred. The composition is simple and evocative.

There’s Not Much We Can Do

  • Erica Monde
  • United Kingdom
  • 2022
  • 19 mins

In this personal essay documentary, the director reflects on getting diagnosed with endometriosis through observing the invasive Japanese Knotweed. While the plant is treated with urgency, the disease is met with inaction, prompting us to question the very things we consider “natural” in the first place.

  • English
  • Captioned in English
A person with shoulder-length bright red hair stands in the foreground, smiling slightly, with a blurred city skyline in the background. They are wearing a black top, and the overcast sky suggests a muted daylight setting. Below the skyline, there's a glimpse of a highway with moving vehicles, bordered by greenery. The focus on the individual with the cityscape backdrop creates a juxtaposition between the person and the urban environment.

Winn

  • Erica Tanamachi, Joseph East
  • USA
  • 2022
  • 17 mins

After miscarrying her baby in prison due to shackling, Pamela Winn becomes an activist, leading thousands to support – and pass – the 2019 Georgia Dignity Act, which outlawed shackling of pregnant and postpartum inmates. Winn follows Pamela’s journey from prison to the halls of the state Capitol, from incarcerated person to outspoken law-changer, from powerless to empowered.

  • English
  • Captioned in English
  • Inspiring
  • Concerned with miscarriage

Virtual Events & Workshops

A group of twenty-two individuals of various attire are seated and standing on a fallen tree trunk over a body of frozen water, likely a lake or pond. The setting appears to be a cold day, as many individuals are wearing jackets, hats, and gloves. Bare trees and evergreens are visible in the background, suggesting a winter or late autumn season. The lighting suggests either early morning or late afternoon. There is no visible snow, but the ice on the water indicates freezing temperatures.

INSTALLATION: Imagine: The City We Want

  • Downtown Peterborough
Watch Now (until Feb 4th)

In connection with Nogojiwanong/Peterborough’s current Climate Action Plan update, Kawartha Pine Ridge’s Youth Leadership in Sustainability (YLS) class has created a series of 2 minute video vignettes describing the fabulous city they live in, in 2044. These videos are available via QR code in several downtown locations leading up to and during the festival: Art Gallery of Peterborough, Artspace, GreenUP, Market Hall, Peterborough Public Library and Showplace. Encounter these acts of civic imagination and see how 20 years of ambitious and creative action by the city, initiated by the progressive Plan update work of 2024, have created an attractive and livable city that has embraced climate justice.

These films will also be available online from Jan 29th-February 4th

PeriodPurse-logo-colour-150x150-02 (1).jpeg

WORKSHOP: Period Poverty & Advocacy

  • Tue Jan 30
  • 7:00 PM
  • Virtual Theatre
Watch Now (until Feb 4th)

Periods are political! Learn how you can be an advocate for menstrual equity.

At The Period Purse, we believe in educating all ages and all genders in order to reduce the stigma around periods. Join this inclusive, period-positive presentations delivered virtually by trained facilitators for adults, Grade 12 and above.

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Schedule of Films & Events

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ReFrame Film Festival