Christian Petzold returns to TIFF with this follow-up to ‘Phoenix’ boldly based on Anna Seghers’ 1944 novel of the same name. Transit blurs time to create a puzzle piece of mistaken identities, a meditation on the specter of facism and of refugees unstuck from history.
RON MANN’S latest feature documentary CARMINE STREET GUITARS is an intimate portrait of the fabled Greenwich Village guitar shop. There, custom guitar maker RICK KELLY and his young apprentice CINDY HULEJ build handcrafted guitars out of salvaged wood from historic New York buildings. Nothing looks or sounds quite like a Rick Kelly guitar, which is the reason they are embraced by the likes of BOB DYLAN, LOU REED, PATTI SMITH, just to name a few.
Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood is the deliciously scandalous story of Scotty Bowers, a handsome ex-Marine who landed in Hollywood after World War II and became confidante, aide-de-camp and lover to many of Hollywood’s greatest male—and female—stars. In the 1940s and ‘50s, Scotty ran a gas station in the shadow of the studio lots where he would connect his friends with actors and actresses who had to hide their true sexual identities for fear of police raids at gay bars, societal shunning and career suicide. An unsung Hollywood legend, Bowers would cater to the sexual appetites of celebrities—straight and gay–for decades.
Belle de Jour tells the story of Séverine, a newlywed who is fearful towards intimacy with her husband. Séverine discovers that she has a friend who works at an upper class brothel. This leaves Séverine intrigued, and goes to see for herself what the brothel is like. There, she meets the owner Madame Anais, who hires Séverine immediately although she can only work in the afternoon, giving her the alter ego of Belle de Jour.
Director Vivian Qu draws from a previous encounter she had with a young girl whose parents were migrant workers. The girl had no friends and was clingy to Qu and her team, not wanting to see them go.This left Qu wondering if the young girl was okay. When creating the film, Qu often questioned the role of the women in society, notably “what kind of woman will I become?” inspiring answers within other female characters within the movie.
Sara Driver explores the pre-fame years of the celebrated American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, and how New York City, its people, and tectonically shifting arts culture of the late 1970s and '80s shaped his vision. Conveying Basquiat's personal magnetism, eccentricity and non-stop creativity without romanticizing him, the doc serves as another chapter in the ongoing effort to rescue Basquiat from his own hype.
In Ingrid Veninger’s Porcupine Lake, volatile desires and chaotic, messy emotional lives takes us into a world of anxious parenthood, deep secrets, and first love. Opens in Toronto - February 23 - Carlton Cinema.
Familiar to Toronto audiences for his signature droll humour and empathetic characters The Other Side of Hope is master Finnish auteur Aki Kaurismäki’s follow-up to his 2011 film Le Havre. In both films, Kaurismäki illuminates the plight of refugees, chance encounters, the kindness of strangers and the possibility of a brighter future. The Other Side of Hope opens in theatres in Canada, beginning Dec. 8 in Toronto after a successful run at TIFF and The New York Film Festival.
Films We Like is pleased to announce the acquisition of Sara Driver’s BOOM FOR REAL: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat, exploring the pre-fame years of the celebrated artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, and how New York City, its people, and tectonically shifting arts culture of the late 1970s and 1980s shaped his vision.
THE DIVINE ORDER: Opens Friday, Nov 3rd @ Cineplex Yonge + Dundas (Toronto, ON)
1971: Nora is a young housewife and mother, living in a quaint little village with her husband and their two sons. The Swiss countryside is untouched by the major social upheavals the movement of 1968 has brought about. Nora’s life is not affected either; she is a quiet person who is liked by everybody – until she starts to publicly fight for women’s suffrage, which the men are due to vote on in a ballot on February 7, 1971.
Films We Like is pleased to announce the acquisition of Canadian rights for NICO, 1988, Susanna Nicchiarelli’s biopic of Velvet Underground singer Nico, which made its debut at the 2017 Venice Film Festival.
Films We Like is pleased to announce the upcoming theatrical release of the MY FRIEND DAHMER, written and directed by Marc Meyers and based on the graphic novel by John "Derf" Backderf, about the haunting, sad, funny, true story of Jeffrey Dahmer in high school.
Familiar to TIFF audiences for his signature droll humour and empathetic characters The Other Side of Hope is master Finnish auteur Aki Kaurismäki’s follow-up to his 2011 film Le Havre. In both films, Kaurismäki illuminates the plight of refugees, chance encounters, the kindness of strangers and the possibility of a brighter future.
Films We Like is pleased to announce the acquisition of Petra Volpe’s THE DIVINE ORDER, a fearlessly feminist “feel-good drama” (Variety) and winner of the Tribeca 2017 Audience Award.
THE WEDDING PLAN, directed by critically acclaimed Rama Burshtein (Fill The Void) is making its Canadian theatrical debut in select cities across Canada on Friday, May 12th. The film stars Israel's biggest heartthrob Oz Zehavi, Ophir Award (Isreal's version of the Oscars®) winner Noa Kooler, and Israeli Television Award winner Amos Taman.
Films We Like is thrilled to announce the Canadian rights acquisition of LUCKY, the directorial debut of actor John Carroll Lynch.
A comedy drama about mortality and spirituality, LUCKY stars legendary actor, singer and musician Harry Dean Stanton with a stellar ensemble cast that includes: David Lynch, Ron Livingston, Ed Begley Jr., Tom Skerritt, Beth Grant, and James Darren.
Films We Like is pleased to announce the acquisition of 3 new documentary films for release in 2017: BECOMING BOND, LEANING INTO THE WIND, and QUEST.
Films We Like is pleased to partner with Jane’s Walk for an opening night event on Friday, April 21 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. Patrons have the opportunity to experience an exclusive Jane’s Walk before a screening of the film Citizen Jane: Battle for the City and post-screening discussion with special guests including Amanda Lewis (Charlie’s FreeWheels); Hibaq Gelle (Premier’s Council on Youth Opportunities) and a speaker from Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust (PNLT). Regular TIFF Bell Lightbox ticket prices apply and the distributor Films We Like will be donating proceeds from the evening to Jane’s Walk.
Films We Like is excited to announce that WEIRDOS won two Canadian Screen Awards at last night’s ceremony. Original Screenplay - Daniel MacIvor, Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role - Molly Parker.
Films We Like is pleased to announce that Kasper Collin’s new documentary I Called Him Morgan will open in Toronto at the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema on Friday, April 7, 2017.
Kasper Collin’s second feature-length documentary, I Called Him Morgan looks at one of the music world’s most shocking and talked-about murders.
