#FIRSTLOOK: 2025 BLUE MOUNTAIN FILM + MEDIA FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT

Blue Mountain Film + Media Festival unveils this year’s dynamic lineup showcasing 32 feature films from 12 countries across the globe. Opening the festival with its Canadian Premiere is Racewalkers, a Grand Jury Prize Winner for Unstoppable Feature at the Slamdance Film Festival, directed by Kevin Claydon & Phil Moniz. Scott McGehee & David Siegel’s audience pleaser The Friend starring Naomi Watts and Bill Murray, screens on Saturday, May 31, 2025 as the evening Gala followed by an after-party.

This year’s selection offers something for everyone, spanning powerful political and art documentaries, compelling dramas and romances, as well as sports, crime and comedy films. Returning this year is the Buffer Festival, showcasing the work of innovative digital creators. These storytellers bring fresh and authentic voices to social platforms, which combines the worlds of social media and storytelling. Canadian Shorts will be highlighted at this year’s festival – a vibrant celebration of storytelling that showcases the remarkable talent of Canadian filmmakers. Spanning from 3 to 30 minutes, the dynamic collection of short films capture emerging voices shaping the future of cinema. The Canadian Shorts lineup will be announced in the coming weeks.

In addition to the rich programming, the Blue Mountain Film + Media Festival offers a variety of complimentary events throughout the village all weekend. Festival goers can enjoy live music, industry events, outdoor activities and parties. In order to provide a relaxing yet immersive experience, the Blue Mountain Film + Media Festival is offering an exclusive hotel package for attendees. For more information on this deal, please visit https://bluemtnfilmfest.ca/hotels/.

“My programming associates and I have scoured the world to bring the best of Canadian and world cinema to this beautiful region, and we couldn’t be more excited about what’s set to be screened at this year’s festival, ” said Jason Gorber, Director of Film Programming. “We are proud to present over 30 feature films from around the globe, including multiple award winners and Canadian premieres. From dog dramas to delightful documentaries, horse movies to sci-fi classics, crime thrillers and comedies and tasty films about cheese, there’s something for any movie lover to experience! Each screening will be a special event, with live and virtual Q&As as well as other fun surprises throughout, all to help celebrate the wonderful shared experience of watching films together.”

Image from Closing Night Film, The Friend. Credit: Courtesy of Mongrel Media

BLUE MOUNTAIN FILM + MEDIA 2025 LINEUP:

Anotas, directed by Damian McCann (Northern Ireland)
Canadian Premiere

Three women in Northern Ireland stage a bank robbery that goes awry in this thriller that unfolds in reverse.

Bad Shabbos, directed by Daniel Robbins (USA)
Audience Award Winner at Tribeca Film Festival
Canadian Premiere

A family gathering assumes increasingly tragic consequences on what should be a day of rest. Oy!

Beethoven’s Nine: Ode to Humanity, directed by Larry Weinstein (Canada)

The enduring power of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony inspires this universal ode to joy.

Best in Show, directed by Christopher Guest (USA)
Free Outdoor Screening

You’re merrier with terrier. Christopher Guest’s 2000 mockumentary about the high-stakes world of dog shows.

Black Dog, directed by Guan Hu (China)
Un Certan Regard Award Winner at Cannes Film Festival

Two strays forge an unlikely bond in China’s changing landscape.

Bonjour Tristesse, directed by Durga Chew-Bose (Canada)
Directors to Watch Award Winner at the Palm Springs International Film Festival

A classical novel gets a contemporary reimagining in this story of a young woman who intervenes in her father’s affair.

Come See Me in the Good Light, directed by Ryan White (USA)
Festival Favourite Award Winner at Sundance Film Festival

A terminal cancer diagnosis inspires spoken word artist Andrea Gibson to embrace the poetry of life.

The Cowboy and the Queen, directed by Andrea Nevins (USA)

A horse trainer finds a friend and ally in Queen Elizabeth II.

Eephus, directed by Carson Lund (France/USA)

Two local teams face off in what could be the final game on their beloved baseball diamond in this festival favourite.

Flow, directed by Gints Zilbalodis (Latvia)
Best Animated Feature Award Winner at the Academy Awards
Private Screening and School program

A cat, a capybara, and some dogs survive a flood in this animated Oscar winner.

Four Mothers, directed by Darren Thornton (Ireland)
Audience Award Winner at London Film Festival

A male nurse/aspiring author must deal with a quartet of grannies while his friends enjoy a Pride weekend.

The Friend, directed by Scott McGehee & David Siegel (USA)
Screening and Soiree

Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, and Bing the Great Dane prove that a dog really is a human’s best friend.

Front Row, directed by Miriam Guttmann (USA/Netherlands/Ukraine/UK)
Canadian Premiere

A war veteran who lost his legs in battle takes centre stage as the United Ukrainian Ballet Company’s guest of honour.

Gaucho Gaucho, directed by Michael Dwec & Gregory Kershaw (USA)
Special Jury Award for Sound at Sundance Film Festival

This handsome portrait of Argentine cowboys offers a stirring ode to a rugged way of life.

Holy Cow!, directed by Louise Courvoisier (France)
Un Certan Regard Award Winner at Cannes Film Festival

In rural France, a young man learns the arts of making cheese and making love.

Home Free, directed by Avi Federgreen (Canada)
Audience Award Int’l Narrative Feature Film – Gasparilla International Film Festival, Montreal Independent Film Festival: Best Canadian Indie

Three sisters reunite while visiting their terminally ill father, who has a few surprises in store.

Janis Ian: Breaking Silence , directed by Varda Bar-Kar (USA)

Breaking Silence lets a folk music icon tell her story in her own words after giving voice to so many others.

The Last Waltz, directed by Martin Scorsese (USA)
Free Outdoor Screening

Martin Scorsese turns it up to 11 with this classic concert doc celebrating the music of The Band and friends.

Little Jaffna, directed by Lawrence Valin (France)

A Tamil cop in Paris infiltrates a criminal network in his own community in this tense thriller.

Meet the Barbarians,directed by Julie Delpy (France)

Well-to-do French villagers sponsor a family of Ukrainians but get Syrians instead in this timely political farce.

Middletown, directed by Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss (USA)
Canadian Premiere

Students from a 1990s’ film class look back on the power of uncovering the truth through filmmaking.

Mistress Dispeller, directed by Elizabeth Lo (USA/China)

The economics of marriage in China go under the microscope as one woman infiltrates a marriage in order to save it.

The Mountain, directed by Rachel House (New Zealand)

Three kids embark on a quest to conquer a mountain and put old ghosts to rest.

The Penguin Lessons, directed by Peter Cattaneo (USA/Spain)

An English teacher at a Buenos Aires boarding school begrudgingly befriends a penguin in 1976 in this true story.

Racewalkers, directed by Kevin Claydon & Phil Moniz (Canada)
Opening Night Film & Canadian Premiere
Grand Jury Prize for the Best Unstoppable Feature at Slamdance Film Festival

An aspiring Olympian takes up the extreme sport of racewalking and puts one foot forward after another in pursuit of his dream.

Sad Jokes, directed by Fabian Stumm (Germany)
Best Director and FIPRESCI Prize Winner at Munich Film Festival

A film director deals with serious events in his personal life while finding the right comedic note for his new movie.

Shelf Life, directed by Ian Cheney (United States)
Best Cinematography Winner at Tribeca Film Festival

Cheese, glorious cheese! Gourmands around the world explore the many wonders of our favourite wine pairing.

Souleymane’s Story, directed by Boris Lojkine (France)
Un Certain Regard Best Actor Winner, Jury Prize Winner and FIPRESCI Prize Winner at Cannes Film Festival

A migrant in Paris works tirelessly as a food-delivery courier and must earn enough overnight to pay for documents that will assist his application for asylum.

So Surreal: Behind the Masks, directed by Neil Diamond & Joanne Robertson (Canada)

The hunt for Yup’ik masks leads to an unexpected connection to the artistic obsessions of the French Surrealists.

Star Wars (Anangong Miigaading), A New Hope, directed by George Lucas (USA)
Special Screening Free Access

A rare opportunity to see George Lucas’s 1977 sci-fi classic on the big screen, celebrating the film’s Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) dubbing.

Two Women, directed by Chloé Robichaud (Canada)
Special Jury Award for Writing at Sundance Film Festival

Two suburban Montréal moms make a pact to spice up their sex lives in this frisky Québécoise farce.

Universal Language, directed by Matthew Rankin (Canada)
Canada’s Selection for the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature Film

Director Matthew Rankin comes to BMFM to present his multiple award-winning surrealist comedy.

THE BUFFER FESTIVAL:
Sabrina Cruz and Melissa Fernandes from Answer in Progress to showcase why nobody knows what curry is, funded by the Canadian Media Fund.

Additional Buffer Festival creators to be announced.

#FIRSTLOOK: BLUE MOUNTAIN FILM + MEDIA FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES NEW INITIATIVES

The Blue Mountain Film + Media Festival (BMFM) now in its 4th year, returns with new programming leadership and a robust creative forum. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Blue Mountain, BMFM, known for creating intimate industry connections, has become a premier destination where filmmakers, buyers, and creatives come together to celebrate world-class cinema. The festival runs from May 29-June 1, 2025 with Early Bird Forum Passes now on sale. More details available on the BMFM website.

BMFM proudly welcomes Jason Gorber as its new Director of Film Programming. A respected film journalist and critic, Gorber brings deep expertise and a passion for cinema to the festival’s curation. He aims to bring the best in Canadian and world cinema to the festival, ensuring each screening is a special event that captivates audiences.

“It is my extreme honour to be joining the team at the Blue Mountain Film + Media Festival as the Director of Film Programming. I am proud to be working alongside my team of associate programmers, as well as my colleagues running the Forum and our world-class operations staff, in order to make this year’s event all the more extraordinary,” said Gorber. “As a lifelong film fan and festival goer, it’s an absolute dream to be able to share my passion for movies with this community. For those attending from out of town and locals alike, Blue Mountain provides a wonderful environment to experience many of the finest films of the year.”

Adding to its industry appeal, BMFM’s Creative Forum (May 29-31) provides exclusive opportunities for networking, discussions, and facilitated meetings. Top industry decision-makers—including Rachel Nelson (Corus), Jocelyn Hamilton (Lionsgate Canada), Virginia Rankin (Blink49 Studios), Mark Montefiore (New Metric Media), Sally Catto (CBC), Teza Lawrence (Amaze), Daniel Bekerman (Scythia Films) and Matt Orenstein (Vortex Media)—will be in attendance, with more names to be announced soon.

New initiatives this year include Live Pitch Competitions, where filmmakers can present feature film and programmatic projects to industry experts with prizing including contributions from FASKEN, Urban Post and Canadian Creator as well as expanded 1-on-1 meetings with executives and distributors, including the popular Gondola Meetings, where creatives can pitch projects while taking in the stunning mountain views. Creatives interested in applying for the pitch competition must submit applications by March 28th. Applications can be submitted by visiting the BMFM site.

BMFM also introduces Lunch & Breakfast with Decision-Makers, offering participants a rare chance to gain insights and advice from key industry leaders in an intimate setting. Further elevating this year’s industry programming is a behind-the-scenes session with Daniel Bekerman, producer of The Witch and The Apprentice, which has been nominated for two Academy Awards.

Beyond the industry forum, the festival boasts an exciting lineup of events, including the Filmmakers On Top Party (May 29), Buffer Festival Screening Event (May 31), exclusive screenings, and special networking opportunities. Attendees can also take advantage of Gondola Passes, curated breakfasts and lunches, and exclusive room rates at Blue Mountain Resorts.

Filmmakers are invited to submit their projects via FilmFreeway.

#FIRSTLOOK: 2024 BLUE MOUNTAIN FILM + MEDIA FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING LINEUP

Helen du Toit, Artistic Director for the Blue Mountain Film + Media Festival unveiled this year’s lineup which consists of 22 feature films stemming from 26 countries, and 9 shorts from some of Canada’s best emerging voices. With a blend of political dramas, documentaries and feel-good love stories, this year’s festival has something for every kind of film lover. New this year, BMFM will screen works from 10 digital creators in a unique partnership with Buffer Festival, who specialize in curating acclaimed creators and storytellers from across YouTube and TikTok.

In addition to serving the public with robust programming, the BMFM will also host a 3-day Creative Forum bringing together some of the industry’s brightest minds from film and TV as well as the digital space. Running from Thursday, May 30- Sunday, June 2, 2024, the festival goes beyond great cinema with events, parties, entertainment, outdoor adventures, and appearances from fan favourites from film, YouTube, TikTok, and more. For more information on the Festival and tickets visit bluemtnfilmfest.ca.

“This year’s festival promises to be our most exciting edition yet. Over the past few years, we have proven that Blue Mountain attracts festival lovers and industry leaders and we are excited to bring the best films and storytellers to our enthusiastic audiences,” said Helen du Toit, Artistic Director. “As we settle into our annual event, it has become more and more evident that there is a strong appetite for international cinema as well as Canadian stories, and this year we are incredibly honoured to showcase such a stellar lineup of films.”

BLUE MOUNTAIN FILM + MEDIA 2024 LINEUP:

ÀMA GLORIA, directed by Marie Amachoukell (France)

This may be the most precious love story you will see all year: On the one hand, Gloria, a middle-age caregiver from Cape Verde with a couple of kids back home. And then, Cléo, a chirpy Parisienne, all of six years old.

BANEL & ADAMA, directed by Ramata-Toulaye Sy (France, Senegal, Mali, Qatar)

Banel can scarcely stand to be separated from her lover, Adama, even for a few hours. But her passion and defiance alarm the elders, and the drought that consumes their village feels like a curse…

CALL ME DANCER, directed By Leslie Shampaine, Pip Gilmour (USA) ** Opening Night Film

Billy Elliot meets Slumdog Millionaire… for real. This “real life Billy Elliot” is the remarkable tale of a Mumbai taxi driver’s son who is determined to follow his dreams and become a dancer – even more so when his demanding teacher introduces him to ballet…

CHUCK CHUCK BABY, directed by Janis Pugh (UK)

This feelgood Welsh musical comedy turns the stuff of dreary social realism into a fabulous ode to love. Helen’s depressing life is transformed by the return of Joanne, an old flame from their far-distant school days.

CLOSE YOUR EYES, directed by Víctor Erice (Spain, Argentina)

Twenty years after his star disappeared without a trace mid-shoot, retired filmmaker Miguel agrees to reopen the mystery for a TV show… He needs the money, and he’s ready for a reckoning. A late masterpiece from Spirit of the Beehive director Victor Erice.

COPA 71, directed by James Erskine, Rachel Ramsay (UK, Mexico)

Interspersing contemporary interviews with copious archives of on-field soccer action and breathless news reports, this is the revelatory story of the tournament the world forgot, the first, unsanctioned, Women’s World Cup.

GIRLS WILL BE GIRLS, Shuchi Talati (India, France, Norway)

A prize-winner at Sundance, this sensitive debut feature is an unusual coming-of-age drama for its nuanced and sympathetic portrait of mother-daughter dynamics in a sexually repressive culture; it doesn’t go where you expect.

GREEN BORDER, directed by Agnieszka Holland (Poland, France, Czech Republic, Belarus)

Polish master Agnieszka Holland has made a ferocious, emotionally charged film about the brutal treatment of refugees arriving across the land border from Belarus. This is a vehement denunciation of resurgent fascism and utterly compelling cinema.

THE GULSPÅNG MIRACLE, directed by Maria Fredriksson (Sweden)

May and Kari are amazed to meet an older sister they understood had passed away decades

earlier. But this is just the first in a series of startling revelations and reversals in a jaw-dropping

doc which will leave audiences buzzing.

HAPPY CLOTHES: A FILM ABOUT PATRICIA FIELD, directed by Michael Selditch (USA)

A candid fly-on-the-wall glimpse into the creative process and the extraordinary life and career of Emmy-winning costume designer Patricia Field (Sex and the City; The Devil Wears Prada).

IF ONLY I COULD HIBERNATE, directed by Zoljargal Purevdash (France, Mongolia)

In freezing temperatures in an impoverished suburb of Mongolia’s capital, 15-year-old Ulzii provides for two younger siblings while studying for a science scholarship.

IN THE LAND OF BROTHERS, directed by Alireza Ghasemi, Raha Amirfazli (Iran, France, Netherlands)

This smartly-plotted film – a prize winner at Sundance – charts the history of an extended Afghani refugee family in Iran across three chapters, each set ten years apart, from 2001-2021.

LAST SUMMER, directed by Catherine Breillat (France)

The fearless Catherine Breillat (Fat Girl; The Last Mistress) returns with another highly-charged drama of lust and transgression. Anne, a lawyer with two young daughters, begins a reckless affair with her 17-year-old stepson.

MADAME LUNA, directed by Daniel Espinosa (Italy, Sweden)

In this gripping thriller set in a refugee detention centre in Calabria, Italy, Almaz (a riveting Meninet Abraha Teferi), an Ethiopian refugee, hopes to put her former role as an underworld operator behind her. No such luck.

THE MISSILE, directed by Miia Tervo (Finland, Estonia)

Lapland, 1984. Single mom Niina (Oona Airola) volunteers at the local paper to pay off a debt – but when she stumbles across a story with profound political implications she’s treated like a nuisance by everyone, even her editor.

THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS, directed by Fawzian Mirza (Canada, Pakistan)

Fawzia Mirza’s extravagant feast of a movie explores a fraught mother-daughter relationship across two different continents and three decades, filtered through the characters’ shared love for the 1969 Hindi musical, Aradhana.

SINGING BACK THE BUFFALO, directed by Tasha Hubbard (Canada)

Once on the verge of extinction, the buffalo is currently reclaiming its rightful place at the heart of the North American plains. Tasha Hubbard’s rhapsodic doc is the story of a remarkable ecological revival led by Indigenous peoples.

SONGS OF EARTH, directed by Margreth Olin (Norway)

This stunning, meditative documentary tracks a year in and around the breathtaking fjord where filmmaker Margreth Olin grew up, and where her 84-year-old father Jorgen has lived his entire life.

SUJO, directed by Astrid Rondero, Fernanda Valadez (Mexico, USA, France)

Grand Jury Prize-winner in the World Cinema competition at Sundance, the latest from IDENTIFYING FEATURES filmmakers Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez plots a fragile redemptive path for the son of a Mexican sicario.

THE TASTE OF THINGS, directed by Tran Anh Hung (France, Belgium) *** Closing Night Film

Set in France in 1885, and photographed like an Impressionist painting come to life, this sublime foodie film surveys the intuitive, intimate partnership between famed gourmand Dodin (Benoit Magimel) and his beloved cook Eugénie (Juliette Binoche).

THE TEACHER WHO PROMISED THE SEA, directed by Patricia Font (Spain)

Based on a true story, Patricia Font’s drama excavates a dark period in Spanish history. Antoni Benaiges takes up a village teaching position in 1935. But his new-fangled ideas about learning outrage the local priest.

THAT THEY MAY FACE THE RISING SUN, directed by Pat Collins (Ireland, UK)

John and Kate have moved from London to a farm in Ireland, to the bemusement of the locals. This lyrical Irish reverie taps deep wells of feeling in the stuff of everyday life.

CANADIAN SHORTS:

A GOOD DAY WILL COME, directed by Amir Zargara

A professional wrestler from a country in turmoil must decide between using his platform to stand up to tyranny, or put his head down and remain silent.

NIX’S SYMPHONY, directed by Karina Xiao Loerchner

At a tender age, Nix, an aspiring musician and inventor in her own right, is now burdened with the responsibility of upholding her mother’s remarkable legacy.

RETURN TO HAIRY HILL, directed by Daniel Gies

In an isolated prairie home, a young girl shoulders the burden of caring for her three siblings when her mother mysteriously transforms into a bird.

SAM’S TOWN, directed by Tessa Oxtoby

Following the death of an estranged childhood friend, Riley returns home to face those she’s left behind.

SIDE LAUNCH, directed by Finn McLean

In a walk down memory lane, witness Collingwood’s once busting tourist industry, history in shipbuilding and the passion of its beloved workers.

SMOKE BREAK, directed by Lisa Robertson

A mother’s uncomfortable reunion with her daughter exposes how their deep bond broke and why it may remain forever – in pieces.

THE COLOURS OF ONTARIO, directed by Terissa Hosein

Fall brings Ontario to life with a myriad of colours on display through stunning sunsets along Georgian Bay, and breathtaking views.

THE FABULOUS LIFE OF NANCY GREENE RAINE, directed by Andrea Wing

A playful tribute to one of Canada’s most beloved skiers.

THREE TREES, directed by Mathias Richard Horhager, Aaron Hong

As the seasons change, three little trees learn about themselves, friendship and their place in the world.

BUFFER FESTIVAL SCREENING:

*more films to be added

THE DELIVERY, directed by Tope Babalola (Canada)

A hard-boiled ace detective sets out to investigate the grisly murder of a millionaire tech magnate, but a slew of interjections by an unexpected visitor threaten to disrupt the case—and the detective’s sanity.

MISCARRY, directed by Julie Nolke (Canada)

A raw, unblinking look at the aftermath of losing a pregnancy. In this short film, Nolke explores the emotions and heartache that envelop a woman after loss.

HOW TO BUILD A RESTAURANT ON THE MOON, directed by Underknown (Canada)

While visiting the moon, Chase, a seasoned traveller and foodie, debates over a lengthy and costly delivery versus how to grow his own food. Why not try both? Could Chase recreate his favorite burger? And how could this kill him?

For more information visit BMFM website.

#FIRSTLOOK: BLUE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL RE-BRANDS TO “BLUE MOUNTAIN FILM + MEDIA FESTIVAL”

Blue Mountain Film + Media Festival (BMFM) today announced several new enhancements and additions for its 2024 edition, and welcomes leading industry executives and digital creators to its Creative Forum. Extended to four days, the Creative Forum now has two parts, each sold separately: the original Film & TV forum on May 30 and May 31, 2024 and a new Digital Media two day event, on June 1 and June 2, 2024. A combo pass is also available for all four days. The newly rebranded BMFM promises to deliver an immersive experience for industry professionals and digital creators alike, all set against the backdrop of the majestic Blue Mountains.

Thursday, May 30 and Friday, May 31 will be dedicated to fostering interactive dialogues tailored for film and television creators, allowing participants to delve into the latest industry trends and innovations. Staple events like the Mountain Hike with a Filmmaker, Location Tour, and Networking Party on the Mountain will return this year.

Building on two successful editions of the Creative Forum, this year, in addition to welcoming a crop of Canada’s most innovative digital creators, BMFM boasts the attendance of some of Canada’s top professionals in the screen-based industries, who are ready to network with attendees and discuss present and future projects, and outline what they are currently in the market for. Attendees can enjoy Breakfast and Lunch Roundtables with decision-makers, as well as unique Gondola Meetings set in an intimate and outdoor setting just a short trip from the Greater Toronto Area.

“We knew that if we built it, they would come, and this year, they are indeed coming! After a few short years since launching the festival and the Creative Forum we are delighted to welcome these esteemed industry executives to the Blue Mountain Film + Media Festival,” said Helen duToit, Artistic Director of BMFM. “Their presence underscores the festival’s significance as a premier platform for networking, collaboration, and innovation in the film and media industry and we can’t wait for this year’s event to unfold.”

Industry Executives confirmed to attend include:

Kerry Appleyard, SVP Creative Affairs, Boat Rocker

Adam Feigan, Development Executive, Series and Movies, Incendo Media

Jocelyn Hamilton, President, TV eOne/Lionsgate EntOne Group

Tom Hastings, Head of Original Programming, Paramount+ Canada

Rachel Nelson, VP Original Programming and Head of Corus Studios

Michelle McCree, Executive in Charge of Production, CBC The Passionate Eye + Limited Doc Series

Mark Montefiore, CEO, New Metric Media

Virginia Rankin, Executive Producer, Scripted TV, Blink 49

Tara Woodbury, Director, Content, Netflix Canada

In an exciting collaboration, BMFM has partnered with the highly popular Buffer Festival as part of its innovative growth. On Saturday, June 1 and Sunday, June 2, the Creative Forum will focus on Digital Media and will feature digital content panels, networking opportunities, and screenings, including a special Buffer Festival Screening, Buffer Talks and Live Creator Performances in the Village.

Digital Creators confirmed to attend include:

Tope Babalola, comedian, digital creator

Marie Stella, comedian, digital creator

Ryan Ng, documentarian, digital creator

Julie Nolke, actress, writer, digital creator

Neat Cool Okay, comedians, digital creators

“It was important to us a growing event to ensure we were inclusive of digital creators, and partnering with Buffer Festival to enhance the BMFM experience for our attendees was an easy decision,” said Patti Kendall, Managing Director, BMFM. “This collaboration brings together industry leaders and creators to inspire, educate, and entertain and they also know how to throw a party .”

BMFM aims to unveil unique networking and educational opportunities, allowing attendees to connect with senior decision-makers and producers in intimate settings that go beyond the ordinary. Early bird passes and special hotel rates starting from $179/night (plus applicable taxes) are now available for Creative Forum attendees.

For more information visit BMFM website.

#FIRSTLOOK: 2023 BLUE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES CREATIVE FORUM SESSIONS

Helen du Toit, Festival & Artistic Director for Blue Mountain Film Festival (BMFF) today announced six compelling sessions for the festival’s Creative Forum, June 1 and 2, 2023. Over two days, the Forum will break down the art of comedy and creative financing, as well as offer in-depth conversations with acclaimed Canadian creators. All sessions will feature industry-leading panelists and focus on maximizing creative potential across genres and platforms. There will be multiple opportunities to network with senior filmmakers and key decision makers through the sessions and intimate sidebar events – all set against the natural backdrop of the Niagara Escarpment.

“This year’s Creative Forum captures the reach and prestige of Canadian creative talent” said Helen du Toit, Festival & Artistic Director. “We are delighted to host some of the great successes of our industry as they share essential insights about their craft. These sessions are perfect opportunities for industry insiders and film enthusiasts to share knowledge and engage in meaningful conversations.”

Beloved comedic actors Paul Sun-Hyung Lee (Kim’s Convenience, Avatar: The Last Airbender), and Meredith MacNeill (Baroness Von Sketch Show, Pretty Hard Cases) join the Forum to break down the art of comedy in Crack Me Up: The Art of the Belly Laugh.

In Case Study: Navalny. Behind-the-scenes on the way to the Oscars, Academy-Award winning director Daniel Roher in conversation with Barry Hertz, Deputy Arts Editor and Film Editor at The Globe and Mail, will share how his documentary Nalvany came to life and how life changed on the heels of its stunning success.

In Quintessentially Canadian: The Making of Blackberry, director Matt Johnson and key crew join film journalist Jason Gorber (That Shelf, CBC), to discuss their acclaimed new feature Blackberry, and how they transformed a tragic national loss into an at turns hilarious, chaotic, and ultimately wild cinematic ride for the masses.

Creative Financing will feature top producers Dan Bekerman (The Witch, Falling), Paula Devonshire (Indian Horse), and Paul Barkin (Night Raiders) discussing their bold and creative approach to international film financing.

In Forum’s Next Gen Creators Predict the Future, some of Canada’s most talented voices including director Chandler Levack (I Like Movies) share their vision for the future of cinema.

Last festival beloved writer-director Patricia Rozema led Forum attendees on a magical hike Into the Forest and up the mountain, stopping periodically to share great behind the scenes stories and insider tips. This year a special guest will lead Filmmaker Hike and reveal their top tips and tricks gleaned from a distinguished career in cinema.

With Location Tips, Tour & Cider Sampling, top location manager John Rakich and Blue Mountain production liaison Marni Moreau will take guests on a special 90 min tour through the Blue Mountain region and reveal a staggering array of locations including chalet mansions, a century old countryside church, a converted barn straight out of The Dukes of Hazzard, private beach on South Georgian Bay, Clarksburg with Hindle’s, and more culminating with refreshing local cider samples at Spy Cider House.

BMFF’s Creative Forum will run during the first two of the festival, taking place June 1-4. Passes and special hotel rates for the Creative Forum are available for purchase. Individuals interested in attending are encouraged to book accommodations at Blue Mountain Resort early. Passes are available at Bluemtnfilmfest.ca.

#FIRSTLOOK: TITLES ANNOUNCED FOR 2023 BLUE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL

Helen du Toit, Festival & Artistic Director for Blue Mountain Film Festival (BMFF), today announced the programming for the second edition of the festival including the opening and closing presentations. Audiences will have a front-row seat to 24 films from 23 countries, including Canada, Chile, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Poland, Spain, Tunisia, Ukraine and the United States.  BMFF takes place June 1 to 4, 2023.

“Our goal for the second edition of the festival was to curate a lineup that delivers rich experiences and takes festival-goers on an inspired journey,” said Helen du Toit, Festival & Artistic Director. “We are incredibly fortunate to be able to share an abundance of outstanding and thought provoking films, each unique in its visual and narrative style that will delight and surprise audiences.” 

This year’s festival will open with the charming Spanish comedy Two Many Chefs directed by Joaquín Mazón. This delicious fine dining comedy follows a young superstar chef in hot pursuit of his third Michelin star when his father Juan, who he had believed to be long dead, shows up— suffering from amnesia. Juan believes he is still living in the 1990s and has his own very particular ideas about how a restaurant should be run. Perfect for foodies who enjoy a side serving of belly laughs.

The festival will close with Pamfir, the stunning feature debut from Ukrainian director Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk. Set in Western Ukraine and on the eve of a traditional carnival, Pamfir, a reformed smuggler, returns to his family after months of absence. But when his only son Nazar starts a fire in the local church, Pamfir has no other choice but to reconnect with his troubled past to pay his son’s debt. This breathtakingly raw, dynamic thriller is also a moving exploration of one man’s unwavering love for his family in the face of relentless corruption and violence.

The Festival will also offer a series of industry opportunities aimed at the Blue Mountain community, specifically for high school students, environmental thought leaders and enthusiasts, and local creatives in the screen-based industry. There will be a special screening of Nabil Ayouch’s Casablanca Beats with the lead actor Anas Basbousi in attendance for high school students, and a public screening of three-time Academy Award winner Oliver Stone’s Nuclear Now followed by a panel discussion with experts from the alternate energy sector.

The Festival’s lineup:

A Man by Kei Ishikawa

A mysterious, multi-layered drama centered around a quest to discover one man’s true identity.

Autobiography by Makbul Mubarak

A  young man torn between loyalty and justice confronting the truth of his father figure that may destroy them both.

The film had its world premiere at the 2022  Venice International Film Festival in the Horizons program, where it won the FIPRESCI Award for Best Film.  The film was selected for the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival. 

Blackberry by Matt Johnson 

Blackberry unravels the Canadian company’s chaotic rise to market dominance of the smartphone industry — before swiftly plummeting into obsolescence.

Blue Jean by Georgia Oakley

In 1988, Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government is about to pass a UK law stigmatizing gays and lesbians, forcing Jean (Rosy McEwen) a gym teacher, to live a double life. The arrival of a new student catalyzes a crisis that will challenge Jean to her core.

This BAFTA-nominated film won the Venice Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award, as well as four British Independent Film Awards.

Bones of Crows by Marie Clements

An epic account of the life of Cree matriarch Aline Spears that spans generations, Marie Clements’ Bones of Crows is a powerful indictment of the abuse of Indigenous peoples as well as a stirring story of resilience and resistance.

Chile ’76 by Manuela Martelli

Carmen leads a quiet, privileged life until a request from her family priest draws her into dangerous territory during the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile. A gripping thriller meets a complex character study.

This film has been selected for a number of international film festivals including Cannes Film Festival – Directors’ Fortnight, San Sebastián International Film Festival and BFI London Film Festival.

Dalíland by Mary Harron

In 1973, a young gallery assistant goes on a wild adventure behind the scenes as he helps the aging genius Salvador Dali (Ben Kingsley) prepare for a big show in New York.

Deep Rising by Matthieu Rytz

Narrated by Jason Momoa, Deep Rising illuminates the vital relationship between the deep ocean and sustaining life on Earth – and the corporations and governments racing to exploit or protect its riches.

Fashioned Reimagined by Becky Hunter

Raised by activists in rural England, fashion designer Amy Powney from cult label Mother of Pearl is determined to make her new collection sustainable – from field to finished garment. 

Fucking Bornholm by Anna Kazejak

A wickedly funny dark comedy about a vacation from hell critiques male insecurity and middle class entitlement. 

Lac-Megantic: This Is Not an Accident by Phillipe Falardeau

Philippe Falardeau’s devastating and utterly compelling 4-part series about the Lac-Mégantic catastrophe lifts the veil on the impunity of the railway companies and the laissez-faire of the authorities.

My Sailor, My Love by Klaus Härö

A retired sea captain’s strained relationship with his adult daughter is further tested when he embarks on a new romance with the widowed housekeeper she sent to care for him.

Pamfir by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk

A man must choose between his unwavering love for his family and returning to the life of crime he had escaped in this powerful thriller from Ukraine. A stunning directorial debut from Ukrainian director Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk.

This first feature premiered in The Directors Fortnight in Cannes.

Passages by Ira Sachs

A gay couple’s marriage is threatened when one of them sleeps with a woman in this erotic, beautifully shot drama with a stellar cast. 

Silence of the Tides by Pieter-Rim de Kroon 

A poetic film about the largest tidal wetland in the world, The Wadden Sea, Pieter-Rim De Kroon’s ‘Silence of the Tides’ is a hypnotizing big screen experience set against a backdrop of wind, water, mist and constantly changing light..

Smoke Sauna Sisterhood by Anna Hints

In the darkness of a smoke sauna, a group of Estonian women share their innermost secrets , washing off the shame trapped in their bodies to regain their strength.

Subtraction by Mani Haghighi

A married couple meet and proceed to have increasingly disturbing interactions with their doppelgängers in this Hitchcockian, Tehran-set thriller full of twists and turns. 

This film had its world premiere at The Toronto International Film Festival. 

The Beasts by Rodrigo Sorogoyen

Pitch perfect performances abound in this brilliant psychological thriller about a couple who become victims of a series of xenophobic attacks.

The Last Rider by Alex Holmes

The unbelievable story of cyclist Greg LeMond who came back from the brink of death after a hunting accident to win the closest race in the history of the Tour de France.

The Ordinaries by Sophie Linnenbaum

A whimsical satire follows Paula, a “supporting character” who must prove she deserves to be a lead.

The Quiet Migration by Malene Choi

An adopted Korean teenager struggles to find his place in rural Denmark in this tender exploration of otherness and belonging.  

Two Many Chefs By Joaquín Mazón

In this delicious fine dining comedy a father comes back into his son’s life 30 years after disappearing… and believes no time has passed. 

Under the Fig Trees by Erige Sehiri

In northwest Tunisia, workers pick the summer harvest. Throughout the day, the orchard becomes a theater of emotions in a beautifully observed portrait of a rural society. 

Tunisia’s Oscar submission, the film had its world premiere at Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes Film Festival and has been part of the official selection in over 20+ festivals around the world.

BMFF runs from June 1 to June 4 and will also host a Creative Forum during the first three days of the festival. Individuals interested in attending are encouraged to book accommodations at Blue Mountain Resort early. Passes are available at Bluemtnfilmfest.ca. 

#FIRSTLOOK: 2023 BLUE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL SET TO TAKE PLACE JUNE

Blue Mountain Village, Southern Ontario’s premier four-season destination announced Blue Mountain Film Festival (BMFF), led by Festival & Artistic Director, Helen du Toit, returns to the Blue Mountain Village Conference Centre from June 1-4, 2023. Once again, BMFF invites film-lovers and filmmakers to connect, be inspired and escape into the idyllic mountains to enjoy the very best in international and Canadian cinema. Early bird tickets are available by visiting the BMFF website.

Recently awarded the Best New Festival by Festival & Events Ontario, BMFF plans to showcase 25 feature films from around the world for its film-loving public, with a showcase on Ontario-based productions. Joining du Toit in the programming of this year’s lineup is veteran film curator Penelope Bartlett, most recently the Director of Programming for the Criterion Channel. Both du Toit and Bartlett previously worked together at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

“When the opportunity to work with Helen on BMFF came up, it was an immediate ‘yes!,” said Penelope Bartlett. “There are few events more special than an intimate film festival where people come together to bask in the best of cinema. Similar to Telluride, I love that BMFF is set in a locale which encourages community, discovery and that the patrons have a huge appetite and appreciation for international film. I am delighted to join the team this year.”

Additionally, BMFF welcomes back industry professionals for a second year of the Creative Forum, which includes 6 Industry Sessions over 2 days. The inaugural conference last year hosted some of the industry’s most sought-after leaders including Patricia Rozema, Jennifer Baichwal, Dan Bekerman, Shant Joshi, Jane Tattersall, Sheila Hockin, Karen Harnish, Phillip Barker, Elisa Sauvé, Nyla Innuksuk, Danny Iron, and Allison Black.

“Watching BMFF launch into the welcoming arms of the public and industry last year will always be a special highlight of my career. Penny and I are currently deep in programming to bring audiences a vibrant new edition and we can’t wait to share it with our patrons and peers,” said Helen du Toit, Festival & Artistic Director. “The locals and visitors who come to escape into the magic of the film festival are deeply curious about culture and storytelling from around the world. You don’t need to spend too much time in the Blue Mountain area before realizing what a majestic place it is, from the location to the community – we couldn’t ask for a more enthusiastic locale to showcase the BMFF 2nd edition.”

Working with the Blue Mountain Village team and Marni Moreau, Director of Partnerships, duToit plans to grow BMFF’s sponsorship and community support. This year’s sponsors include Blue Mountain Village, Blue Mountain Resort, Bruce Grey Simcoe, Town of The Blue Mountains, Directors Guild of Canada (Ontario), Telefilm Canada, Film Finances Canada, Sutton Entertainment, Urban Post, Grey County, Simcoe County, Tatham Engineering, Primont Homes, and Mountain Life Magazine.

About the Blue Mountain Village
Between the foot of the Niagara Escarpment’s scenic Blue Mountains and the rugged shores and crystal-clear waters of Georgian Bay, the picturesque Blue Mountain Village is Southern Ontario’s premier four-season destination. A cobblestoned pedestrian village framed by turn-of-the-century Ontario architecture, the Village offers a wide variety of family accommodations, award-winning festivals and events, over 50 unique shops and restaurants, Iwa Spa, and much more. For a complete listing of Village events, please visit www.bluemountainvillage.ca

About Blue Mountain Resort
Blue Mountain Resort is Ontario’s largest mountain resort. Winter at the Resort boasts 43 ski and snowboard trails across 365 skiable acres, enhanced by a world-class snowmaking system. Summer months offer a variety of activities including golfing at Monterra Golf, playing on the attractions in the Adventure Park, and hiking or biking in the 30km trail network in the Explore Park. At the base of the Mountain, guests can enjoy a stay in one of the 1,000 luxury accommodation units in the pedestrian Village. With 53,000 square feet of state-of-the-art conference space, Blue Mountain caters year-round to groups and special events. Blue Mountain is owned by Alterra Mountain Company. Visit www.bluemountain.ca for more information.

For more information on Blue Mountain Film Festival visit bluemtnfilmfest.ca.

#FIRSTLOOK: BLUE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL LINEUP ANNOUNCED

Running from June 1-5, 2022, the first ever BLUE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL have announced their programming lineup. The Festival will showcase 25 films from 25 countries, including Canada, China, Chile, Bolivia, Uruguay, Sweden, Israel, France, Saudi Arabia, Malta, Australia, Germany, and the United States.

The Film Festival will open with Aboriginal Horror SLASH/BACK and close with FIRE OF LOVE, a tale of of two people pursuing a life-long obsession. Sundance Award-winning Documentary NAVALNY also will surface at the Festival.

Complete line-up:

The Albanian Virgin by Bujar Alimani
Luana’s arranged marriage to the initially charming Flamur quickly sours when his Machiavellian nature is revealed. Defending his daughter’s honour, Erion ends up dead — leaving his daughter Luana in the midst of a blood-feud that forces a daunting choice.

Barakat by Amy Japhta
In this warm, funny South African family drama, Amy Jephta focuses on a Muslim widow gearing up to tell her four grown sons that she has fallen in love again, with a non-believer.

Blind Ambition by Warwick Ross & Robert Coe
Competing for their native Zimbabwe at the World Wine Blind Tasting Championship, four economic refugees show that opportunity is all.

Carmen by Valerie Buhagiar
Abruptly homeless after dedicating her life to looking after her brother, a Catholic priest, Maltese spinster Carmen (Natasha McElhone) assumes his place in the confessional box, dispensing subversive advice to the surprised supplicants in this whimsical feminist romance.

Casablanca Beats l Haut et Fort by Nabil Ayouch
Inspired by filmmaker Nabil Ayouch’s experience of opening a creative arts centre for youth in a Casablanca ghetto, this punchy, propulsive drama fuses music, drama and realism to potent effect.

Nominations include the Palme d’Or from Festival de Cannes 2021 and Best Foreign Language Film from Palm Springs International Film Festival 2022.

Costa Brava Lebanon by Mounia Akl
A family living in isolation off the grid is dismayed when the government annexes the adjoining land to put in a landfill. This impressively nuanced, novelistic drama subtly reveals the bonds and tensions within the family unit.

Notable awards include the NETPAC Award from TIFF 2021 and the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize from El Gouna Film Festival 2021.

Everybody Hates Johan l Alle Hater Johan by Hallvar Witzø
After years away in the US as a technician blaster, Johan returns to his rural childhood home in Norway in hopes of reconciling with Solovar, who still bears the scars from their old escapades. The entire town is set against him but the towering Johan is determined to build a life for himself.

Farha by Darin J. Sallam
A 14-year-old girl is swept up in the Israeli invasion of Palestine in 1948. Darin J Sallam’s memorable feature debut demonstrates how a narrow focus can still reveal deep truths.

Nominations include the New Voices/New Visions Grand Jury Prize from Palm Springs International Film Festival 2022 and the Dragon Award from Göteborg Film Festival 2022.

Fire of Love by Sara Dosa
French volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft share an all-consuming love for lava and the earth from which it spews. Sarah Dosa’s stunning doc memorializes two eccentric Alsatians traveling the planet in hot pursuit of their shared lifelong obsession: volcanoes.

Forest for the Trees by Rita Leistner
Canadian photographer-filmmaker Rita Leistner turns her lens on the denizens of a tree planting camp in BC to explore what it is that brings men and women such as herself to commit to this grueling, lonely and isolated work.

Gagarine by Fanny Liatard & Jérémy Trouilh
Inspired by the youth they met while interviewing the inhabitants of a condemned apartment block in the suburbs of Paris, Fanny Liatard and Jérémy Trouilh cook up an audacious magical realist fable about creative resistance – with a killer soundtrack.

The film was selected for the 2020 Cannes Film Festival and also won Best First Film from the Lumière Awards 2022.

Greener Pastures l שאיפה לחיים by Assaf Abiri & Matan Guggenheim
In this delightfully cranky Israeli comedy, 75-year-old Dov belatedly embarks on a life of crime, monetizing seniors’ medical marijuana supplies on the black market.

Nominated for 12 Israeli Academy Awards.

Into the Weeds by Jennifer Baichwal
The latest environmental documentary from Canadian director Jennifer Baichwal (Anthropocene; Manufactured Landscapes) is a lucid and damning courtroom drama detailing the case for damages brought by a school groundsman against agrochemical giant Monsanto.

This film opened this year’s Hot Docs Festival.

Last Film Show by Pan Nalin
When the magic of movies conquers nine-year young Samay’s heart; he moves heaven and earth in pursuit of his 35mm dreams unaware of heartbreaking times that await him. Set in India.

Navalny by Daniel Roher
Enthralling and intimate, NAVALNY unfolds with the pace of a thriller as it follows Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in his quest to identify the men who poisoned him in August 2020. Through Roher’s extraordinary access to the investigation, this fly-on-the-wall documentary is also a study of a man intent on reform who will not be cowed by anything, including his own poisoning.

Notable awards include both the 2022 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award in the U.S. Documentary competition and the fan-selected Festival Favorite Award.

Nelly & Nadine by Magnus Gertten
In this transfixing, beautifully crafted documentary Magnus Gertten gently reveals an exceptionally resonant love story between two remarkable women who met in a German concentration camp in 1944.

Official Competition l Competencia Oficial by Mariano Cohn and Gaston Dupart Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas and Oscar Martinez have a ball sending up the pretensions and hugely fragile egos of movie folk in this sharply funny film biz satire.

Slash/Back by Nyla Innuksuk
When a group of Inuk adolescent girls have a close encounter with an undead polar bear it’s the signal that their town is in desperate danger… Genuinely thrilling, Nyla Innuksuk’s endearing teen chiller is a ton of fun.

Our Home l Utama by Alejandro Loayza Grisi
High in the Bolivian Andes, a llama farmer confronts his own mortality and the impending death of an ancient way of life.

Phantom of the Open by Craig Roberts
Mark Rylance stars as cheeky underdog Maurice Flitcroft, who entered the British Open in 1976 despite never having played a full round of golf before. This cheerful comedy hits the sweet spot.

Plaza Catedral by Abner Benaim
This compelling Panamanian thriller zeroes in on an unhappy, middle-aged divorcee and the desperate street kid who shows up at her door bleeding from a bullet wound. In helping him, she opens herself up to a world of trouble.

SECRET SCREENING

With our inaugural secret screening we invite you to take a flier and trust our programmers to serve up something special. This movie could come from anywhere, but we promise it’s something we love. And just as we’re keeping you dark about this evening’s entertainment, we ask you to keep a secret. Yes, that’s right, there’s only one rule at the Secret Screening club… You don’t talk about the Secret Screening.

The Strong Ones l Los Fuertes by Omar Zúñiga Hidalgo
Visiting family in a foggy Chilean fishing village for a few days before his relocation to Montreal, Lucas meets Antonio. Flirtation quickly escalates into a full blown affair, but can these two men see a future together?

Notable awards include the Best Foreign Language Film from Florida Film Critics Circle Awards 2020 and Best Feature from OUTshine Film Festival 2020.

A Tale of Love and Desire l Une Histoire D’Amour et de Désir by Leyla Bouzid
Leyla Bouzid’s sensuous, sensitive film traces a lexicon of longing in the story of two classmates at the Sorbonne, Ahmed and Farah, who fall in love with each other and with the words of the ancient Arabic poets they’re studying.

Notable nominations include Best Screenplay from Lumières Awards 2022 and the Dragon Award from Göteborg Film Festival 2022.

We Are Living Things by Antonio Tibaldi
This defiantly unpredictable indie keeps us guessing as two illegal immigrants – one from Mexico, the other from China – bond over aliens of a different type entirely.

More here.

#FIRSTLOOK: FIRST EVER BLUE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL RUNS JUNE 1-5, 2022

Great news! Just announced today is a brand-new Film Festival in The Blue Mountains, just two hours outside Toronto! Blue Mountain Film Festival (BMFF) will be led by veteran film executive, Helen du Toit in the role of Executive & Artistic Director.

Toit for many years served as Artistic Director at the Palm Springs Film Festival.

Sponsored by all-seasons Blue Mountain Resort, BMFF invites film-lovers and filmmakers to connect, be inspired and escape into the mountains to enjoy the very best in international and Canadian cinema.

The Festival will take place June 1-5, 2022 at the Blue Mountain Village Conference Centre with programming details to come in the new year. For now, we know they plan to premiere 25 films from around the globe, with a focus on Ontario productions.

Details can be found at www.bluemtnfilmfest.ca.