Opening Night - Frames in Motion

danielle Mackenzie Long

Duration: 1:32

A ribcage embodies a dance, refusing to allow its movement to be constrained by a diaphragm made of bubble wrap.

Using animation software and motion capture data from a non-binary dance artist’s movement a dance is presented through non-gendered means of performance. opaqueREFUSALS is the first volume of a work-in-progress interdisciplinary project combining movement, digital media, installation, online game design and live performance. The work aims to empower genderqueer dance artists to exist in a world where gender is neither binary, nor defined.

Director, Animator, Dancer, Editor: danielle Mackenzie Long
Sound Designer: Miya Kosowick Mawatari
New Media Support: Freya Björg Olafson, Casey Koyczan

Kat Castro

Duration: 5:17

Humans are like existential onions. There are many layers to uncover, hence the title name, Undertones. The project is an experimental movement film that focuses on the relationship between the underlying layers of architecture, music & sound, and the movement artists. It plays with themes of curiosity, tension, connection, and release. Through movement, it explores how personal experiences and emotions are not only affected by other individuals, but also by the elements in the environment that surrounds us. The relationship is cyclical in nature and as the cycle repeats, we gain more awareness within and outside ourselves.

Director, Editor: Kat Castro
Movement Artists: Jayson Collantes, Kosi Eze, Frances Antoinette Honoridez
Music Producer: Doomgurl / Mandy Sanchez Cruz
Colourist: Jerick Collantes

Ella Saini

Duration: 7:16

This poetic documentary explores the impact of gentrification in Scarborough. It features three Scarborough residents who share their personal memories and reflect on the changes they have witnessed over the last 5-10 years in their neighbourhoods. Through their stories and scrapbook imagery, UNHOME explores the pain of nostalgia in the face of a lost community.

Director: Ella Saini
Producer: Reese Barrow
Cinematographer: Tarneem Allati
1st AC: Emma Kutlesa
Sound Recordist: Gwen Farbridge
Picture Editors: Vanessa Fajek and Justin Cao
Sound Designer: Gwen Farbridge
VFX: Vanessa Solivio and Ella Saini
Colourist: Tarneem Allati
Composer: Daniel Little

Axel Robin

Duration: 9:38

A film crew is preparing to shoot a scene in a colourful studio. As the filming goes, their gestures gradually slip into dancing, revealing the beautiful choreography of film sets.

Director: Axel Robin
Choreographer: Laurence Wells
Music composer: Louis Parent
Cinematographer: Léa Barsalou
Production designer: Éloïse Carpintero
Production manager: Louis-Emmanuel Gagné-Brochu

Niya Abdullahi

Duration: 4:48

IN THE WHITENESS is a poetic exploration of identity through the eyes of a Harari woman, displaced via war, now living in "Canada". She uses poetry and movement as a meditative method of reconnecting with her roots and in doing so, establishes a magical bond with her ancestors.

Director, Writer, Producer: Niya Ahmed Abdullahi
Editor: Sonya Mwambu
Cinematographer: Riv Mendis

Andreas Antonopulos

Duration: 12:00

Fragments is a collaboration project between filmmaker Andreas Antonopoulos and choreographer Deboleena Paul. The film explores the movement and architecture of Trinidad and Tobago in a historical context.

Director: Andreas Antonopoulos, Depoleena Paul
Choreographer: Deboleena Paul
Cinematographer, Editor: Andreas Antonopoulos
Music: Khion De Laz
Dancers: Christie Millette, Giselle Pascall, Kdissa Davis, Marquise Brow, Natalia Williams, Okia Brathwaite, Quisha Christopher Davis, Steve Ghany

Dédé Chen

Duration: 10:53

A Sino-Canadian adoptee breaks the silence of incest by responding to her family archives through dance. In the ritual sacrifice of a papaya, she reenacts her traumatic past to emancipate her adult self.

Director: Dédé Chen
Productor: Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival
Dancer: Meihan Carrier-Brisson
Director of Photography: Laurence Ly
Director of Animation: Fanny Lord-Bourcier
Director of Sound: Chittakone Baccam Thirakul
Set Designer: Gong Li
Art Designer: Emmanuelle GP
Cinematography collaborator: Corinne Jiao-Yuntao Beaumier
Voice collaborator: Cynthia Wu-Maheux
Photographer: Ange Guo

Eric Cheung (Canada) EMERGING

World Premiere

Duration: 4:26

Set in a neo-noir-inspired landscape, the narrative follows Eric's never-ending journey and obsession with the infinite as a source of meaning. Eric portrays his internal conflict through choreographic distorted, repetitive, and looping movements. As he progresses through the real world, he gradually transforms and merges with the environment around him until he reaches a perceived infinity. At this point, Eric transcends into a 3D virtual world. A vacuum of space where time does not exist, where he sees glimpses from his past, present, and future. Eric then leaves this virtual space back to reality, beginning a new cycle. Ultimately leading to the end of the film's beginning - an infinite loop.

Film Director, Editor: Alim Sabir
Choreographer, Dance Artist: Eric Cheung
Creative Director: Sebastian Palencia
Director of Photography: Brad Stuckel
Producer: Pique Production
Music Composer: Mathew Tomkinson
Assistant Director: Michael Falco
Gaffer: Artur Vetstein
Steadicam: Miha Matevzik
1st AC: Teo Weyman
2nd AC: Ben Smallz
VFX: Luke Bellissimo
Swing(s): Carson Lower, Brian Gregory, Kurtis Watson
DMT: Ben Smallz
PA: David Falco, Catrina Chen, Jack Peros
Production Designer: Sam Sziget
Costume: Acronym

Hadi Moussally

Duration: 4:55

Hadi’s birthday landed on the 3rd of April, 2020, during lockdown, and for the first time he celebrated it all by himself.

Film shot in lockdown.

Director: Hadi Moussally
Music: "Bellydance Vogue" by Hadi Zeidan
Producer: h7o7
Director of Photography, Post-Production: Olivier Pagny

Gabriella Engdahl

Duration: 2:58

SILK PAPER AND BRUISES is an experimental dance film exploring norms, expectations, and body ideals within the contemporary dance industry. The film, made in stop motion, takes the audience on a poetic journey among colourful changing rooms, untouched sandwiches, and broken bodies. Through Barbie dolls in the lead roles, the film depicts how women's bodies are represented, presented, and talked about.

Director, Cinematographer, Designer, Writer: Gabriella Engdahl
Composer: Maria Rojas Gomez
Voice Actress: Ciara Amas
Camera assistant: Peter Lundhall Ortiz

Dustin Chok

Duration: 8:56

House music is widely recognized in popular culture, though its roots tend to be overlooked. Legendary House dancer Future shares stories of his decades-long experience in the sub-culture. His journey from dancer to teacher is achieved through his mentorship with Edmonton House dancer Sekou Sonko-Boisclair. Together, they weave a wonderful mosaic of body movements alongside thumping house beats. The pair, tagging in and out during the invigorating dance sequences, is a sight to behold.

A beautiful and poetic sharing of House dance knowledge between generations, almost a passing of the torch to ensure that the culture lives on.

Directory: Dustin Chok
Primary Dancer: Daniel E "Future" Kelley III
Primary Dancer: Sekou Sonko-Boisclair
Cinematographer: Colin Waugh
Editor: Dustin Chok
Music: Oveous + Don Kamares

Jessie Huggett

Duration: 13:22

Insight Out is a choreopoem about identities—it was a collaborative process in words and movement and the music is our voices and silence. A collaborative creation in words and movement choreographed by Jess Huggett with Robert Chartier, Elizabeth Emond-Stevenson, Rachel Gray, Moni Hoffman, Dylan Phillips, Maureen Shea, Renata Soutter, Shara Weaver, Elizabeth Winkelaar, and Russell Winkelaar. Creative consultants: Rachel Gray (text), Maureen Shea (movement), Bryce Morison (smudging music), and Elizabeth Emond-Stevenson (rehearsal director and support). Audio editing by Rachel Gray. Video editing and closed captioning by Matthieu Hallé. Insight Out was created through Propeller Dance’s Emerging Choreographers Program under the mentorship of Shara Weaver. Jess Huggett gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the City of Ottawa.

A collaborative creation in words and movement choreographed by Jessie Huggett through Propeller Dance’s Emerging Choreographers Program under the mentorship of Shara Weaver and with financial support from the City of Ottawa.

Choreographer, Director: Jess Huggett
Dancers, Collaborators: Robert Chartier, Elizabeth Emond-Stevenson, Rachel Gray, Moni Hoffman, Dylan Phillips, Maureen Shea, Renata Soutter, Shara Weaver, Elizabeth Winkelaar, and Russell Winkelaar
Creative Consultants: Rachel Gray (text), Maureen Shea (movement), Bryce Morison (smudging music), and Elizabeth Emond-Stevenson (rehearsal director and support)
Audio Editor: Rachel Gray
Video Editor, Closed Captioning: Matthieu Hallé

Rosie Choo Pidcock

Duration: 3:51

Five Chinese Canadians return to their elementary school to reclaim their names through dance.

Starring: Kallie Hu 胡家贤, Jennifer Tong 唐沛玲, Johnny Wu 吳光翔, Katrina Teitz 嘉敏, Alger Liang 梁家傑
Writer, Director: Rosie Choo Pidcock 朱薇颖
Producer: Jasmin Wanzheng Lyu 呂宛錚
Director of Photography: Belen Garcia
Editor: Evelyn Starks
Composer: Eimear MacCarrick
Sound Designer: Kyle Cashen
Colourist: Cam McCutcheon