The Windsor International Film Festival has served as a gateway to Canadian film. The 2019 version has incredible momentum and the future was inspiring.
The 2020 and 2021 versions were lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has played havoc over the last couple of years.
Film festivals offer dilemmas over which film to see. None of them were a real-life Sophie's Choice. You make a good or fair best decision 8 or 9 times out of 10. You roll the dice that you will find a film later on. Sometimes, a film slips through your fingers.
We thought showing some of those choices would be a fun way to celebrate the spirit of the Windsor International Film Festival. This is not an exercise in sour grapes. Film festivals are full of these decisions, each with an art and science to them.
A look back to past years of the Windsor International Film Festival
Windsor International Film Festival cancels the 2021 festival
Windsor International Film Festival cancels the 2020 festival
2010
A late night slot in the Windsor International Film Festival had 2 promising films, each of them only playing once: Daydream Nation or We're The Weakerthans, We're From Winnipeg
Your humble narrator had never heard of the Weakerthans. Kat Dennings had some name recognition with the 2008 film Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist with Michael Cera (Canadian).
Picked Daydream Nation. That film was more likely to show up elsewhere. I did see that film outside the festival as well. I eventually found We're The Weakerthans, We're From Winnipeg on YouTube.
Film festivals allow us to know of films such as the Weakerthans documentary that we otherwise would not know. This way, I eventually saw both films and enjoyed them on different levels.
2019 WIFF Canadian films in review
2019
"There were a number of films that we could not cover during the film festival. Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and The Band was the most prominent film. We will cover the film in a separate film review. Lie Exposed and For Those Who Don't Read Me were fiction films that we really wanted to cover. Hope is not high to find either film but we hope for hope."
You would think a 10-day film festival would have enough room.
Genese (Philippe Lesage) instead of For Those Who Don't Read Me (Yan Giroux)
There was a chance to find Genese though by the time of the 2019 festival, the film had been out for a year. There was no chance of finding For Those Who Don't Read Me. I met Yan Giroux when he was out with 1:54.
Picked Genese for its reputation. I have had chances to see Genese since then but no shot at seeing For Those Who Don't Read Me.
Sometimes, the safe decision becomes the de facto call.
We Are Gold (Eric Morin) instead of Lie Exposed (Jerry Ciccoritti)
I saw We Are Gold alone in an 800-seat theatre. While the story might have been enough, glad I picked We Are Gold. Lie Exposed seemed cheesy and more likely to be found later. Still haven't seen Lie Exposed. I might find the film for rent online.
Far Shore (David Uloth) via Antigone (Sophie Deraspe) instead of Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band (Daniel Roher)
A 3-way decision is highly rare in film festival circles. I could guarantee 2 of the 3 films. Antigone was an obvious choice since that was the nomination for the Academy Awards. Far Shore would be difficult to find while Once Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson and the Band had an excellent chance of showing up later. While there was FOMO anxiety in waiting to see the Band documentary, this was a good decision.
Far Shore was a good film, not great. I've seen all 3 films, which is the ideal goal.
2018 WIFF Canadian films in review
2018
Just A Breath Away starred one of my favourite French actors. I did eventually see Just A Breath Away. Not a very good film and Canadian in name only. I didn't pick a magical film in that timeslot. I likely had dinner or a walk.
Sometimes, food and exhaustion win out in a film festival.
2014 Windsor International Film Festival wrapup
2014
I would go back and watch In Her Place if I had known Albert Shin would be so prominent. as he has become, I would have been more interested. Haven't found a way to watch this film yet.
CanadianCrossing.com film coverage
The Windsor International Film Festival has given me the chance to see so many Canadian film titles that have been informative, entertaining, and both. Angry Inuk will stay with me. Trigger is a treasured film for me. The impact of Meditation Park forced me to go outside and get tears out before going back in for another film.
Giant Little Ones; Level 16; Cas and Dylan; And The Birds Rained Down; Window Horses; Empire of Dirt; Starbuck; My Internship in Canada; All the Wrong Reasons; Mommy; Tu Dors Nicole; Picture Day.
Please let this be the last year I write such a story, mourning the loss of what has been the best week of my life. The 2022 Windsor International Film Festival will be a glorious time.
logo credit: Windsor International Film Festival
photo credit: Daydream Nation film; me
video credit: YouTube/Film Movement
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