In this quirky and sweet tale, HUGO, a socially awkward hermit, tries to break free from his loneliness by following the advice of a failed 90s self-help guru and stumbles his way towards connection. Brought to you by first-time director Elizabeth Fraser (Spinning Out, Tiny Pretty Things) and Executive Producer Sandra Cunningham (Kim's Convenience), The Help Desk is a nod to Nick Hornby-style nice-core, and a balm for complicated times.
Canadian Premiere
Bridge
"The Bridge" is a colorful canvas of an unusual struggle and empowerment of a teenage girl residing at the bank of a tributary of the river Brahmaputra. Without a small bridge over its tributary how troublesome and hard their lives become only they can feel & understand.
Based on true-life stories, Bridge is an eye-opener of a film for a system that turns away from the uncomfortable truth and reality
Farewell Symphony
After Yang Yang defies her family’s gender expectations, their conservative values and migrates to the United States, she lives a life as an accomplished musician in America. Decades later, however, when her longtime partner’s health condition worsens, it makes Yang Yang rethink her future career plans.
Lift, Spur
With rodeo in their blood, two brothers and and their best friends from rural Saskatchewan spend the summer on the competitive circuit, supporting each other through success and failure. But life will soon change as their group’s leader leaves for college. Lift, Spur explores the meaning of friendship in times of transition, and the sometimes excruciating process of growing up and into oneself in a changing world.
Fotdella
Fotdella follows Canadian street musician Ryan Baer – influenced by San Francisco one-man-band legend Jesse Fuller – as he constructs instruments from salvaged junk and performs in markets, beach towns and underground spaces. Drifting from Lake Huron to Berlin, the film captures the solitudes and celebrations of nostalgic touring musicians who recycle 20th century blues, jazz and folk cultures.
Lorni-the Flaneur
Shem (Adil Hussain), an out of work, self-styled detective with a sharp sense of the streets escapes the lethargy of small town Shillong when he is asked to investigate the disappearance of an object worthy of great cultural value. Navigating narrow streets and dark alleys, he embarks on an emotional and mental journey reflective of his reality and that of Shillong. Shem navigates the city of Shillong in the far flung North East India- an area rife with acute race tensions and an even more diver