Filmi 21! Virtual Edition
Filmi Toronto’s South Asian Film Festival Celebrating 21 Years!
December 27th, 2020
21st Filmi: Toronto’s South Asian film festival
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Category: Movies
0 Brown Guys Do – Pirates
Toronto Premiere
Brown Guys Do – Pirates
Directed By Maninder Chana
Length: 6:44
Country:
Synopsis:
Back in the early 2000s, there was a comedy troupe named Mixed Nuts. It played sold out shows and garnered rave reviews. What was unique about the troupe was that it featured a very multicultural cast that did every accent or character under the sun. The goal was to push minorities (South Asian) into the mainstream. It’s obviously happened in the interim, but one thing that has remained missing is showcasing the ability to do voices beyond East Indian, Arabic (thanks for all the wonderful terrorist roles btw) or regular North American. That’s where “Brown Guys Do” steps in. It shows that people of colour have a range of talent to do accents and characters beyond those typically associated with their race or background.
Directors Bio:
An award-winning writer, director, producer and actor, Maninder Chana was the driving force behind the Comedy Troupe Mixed Nuts. The comedy troupe sold out shows and garnered accolades for its cutting edge humor. His career quickly moved to television and film. Maninder Chana is the writer of the feature film ‘Cell 213’ and Director and Writer ‘Little Terrors’. Maninder latest work ‘Brown Guys Do’ is a series on the web in which he Directed, Wrote and Acted.
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0 Filmi Shorts : Brown Guys Do – 1.05 Simon & Garfunkel – World Premiere
Friday, September 27th, 2013
World Premiere
Brown Guys Do – 1.05 Simon & Garfunkel (Web Series)
Directed By Maninder Chana
Length: 4:22
Country: Canada
Synopsis:
Back in the early 2000s, there was a comedy troupe named Mixed Nuts. It played sold out shows and garnered rave reviews. What was unique about the troupe was that it featured a very multicultural cast that did every accent or character under the sun. The goal was to push minorities (South Asian) into the mainstream. It’s obviously happened in the interim, but one thing that has remained missing is showcasing the ability to do voices beyond East Indian, Arabic (thanks for all the wonderful terrorist roles btw) or regular North American. That’s where “Brown Guys Do” steps in. It shows that people of colour have a range of talent to do accents and characters beyond those typically associated with their race or background.
Directors Bio:
An award-winning writer, director, producer and actor, Maninder Chana was the driving force behind the Comedy Troupe Mixed Nuts. The comedy troupe sold out shows and garnered accolades for its cutting edge humor. His career quickly moved to television and film. Maninder Chana is the writer of the feature film ‘Cell 213’ and Director and Writer ‘Little Terrors’. Maninder latest work ‘Brown Guys Do’ is a series on the web in which he Directed, Wrote and Acted.
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Filmi Doc – Thani Nayagam: Ambassador of Tamil
Sunday, September 29th, 2013 @ 6:30
WORLD PREMIERE
Thani Nayagam: Ambassador of Tamil
Directed by Senthil Vinu
Canada
As a learned scholar, Thani Nayagam Adigal served as a roving cultural ambassador for the Tamil language and devoted his life to propagate the greatness of Tamil to the whole world. He launched the historic International Association of Tamil Research to popularize the richness of the Tamil language and it’s culture. He attempted to create a worldwide community of Tamil scholars and pioneered the establishment of the International Institute of Tamil Studies. He founded the World Tamil Conference and was the Publisher of Tamil Culture (A Quarterly Journal) from 1952 to 1966. The contribution of his wisdom and experience for the Tamil Language is of immense value.
Documenting and archiving the work of Thani Nayagam Adigal is of paramount importance to the perseverance of the Tamil language.
Trailer:
Director’s Bio:
Senthil Vinu is an award winning Director/Producer. He has produced several short films, documentaries and feature films. His first feature film, ‘Waiting For Summer’ was shown in six International film festivals and has won “Best Picture award” at Film-North Huntsville International Film Festival and Hamilton Film Festival. ‘Waiting for Summer’ is currently available on Channel 100 on Rogers On-DemanD. He recently worked as Line Producer for the film ‘A Gun and A Ring’ which has played in Shanghai International Film Festival and plays in Montreal World Film Fest in August 2013. Senthil is very happy to be involved in making a documentary film on a great scholar like Thani Nayagam Adigal.
FaceBook : http://www.facebook.com/waitingforsummerfilm
Feature Trailer : http://youtu.be/dLN9Q9pl-II
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Filmi Docs – MOM
FILMI DOC SERIES: Sunday, September 29th, 2013, 6:30PM
MOM
Written and Directed by Ryan Singh
Length: 7 MInutes
Country: Canada
Year: 2013
Director will be available for Q&A after screening
Synopsis:
MOM is a short documentary about a man who reflects on the tradition of absent fathers in his family and how he wants to break that trend as he prepares to be a father
http://www.ryansinghenterprises.com/apps/blog/mom-debuts-at-reelworld-film-festival
Director’s Bio:
Ryan Singh is a Photograher, Filmmaking, Actor and Producer.
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Filmi Docs – Daadi the Movie
Sunday, September 29th, 2013 @ 6:30PM
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Cast:
Laj Bedi, Rizwan Manji, Purva Bedi, Nana Mensah, Shelle Davis, Chuk Obasi, Yehuda Hyman
Synopsis:
She was a star during Bollywood’s Golden Age; now, she’s an 87-year-old grandmother living in a senior home in Harlem. Daadi is the true story of magic and memory, and the difference between living and being alive.
Purva Bedi Bio:
Purva Bedi is an actress of film, television and theater and also a producer of independent film and not-for-profit theater.
As an actress, Purva is best known for her starring role in the cult classic,American Desi, for which she received an Ammy-Award nomination for Best Actress in a Feature Film. Purva’s other films include the award winning, Cosmopolitan, which was critically acclaimed at numerous film festivals and premiered on the PBS Independent Lens series. Purva’s other feature films include Green Card Fever, The Emperor’s Club, Wings of Hope, Ball & Chain,Love ‘N Dancing, Adjustment Bureau and Goat.
Purva has worked extensively in television drama and comedy. Her television guest and recurring appearances include Gossip Girl, Cashmere Mafia, House, Boston Legal, Alias, Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Drew Carey Show, ER, Strong Medicine, and The West Wing.
In theatre, Purva is an Associate Artist of Target Margin Theatre and has acted in numerous roles regionally and in New York City. With Target Margin:Second Language, 10 Blocks on the Camino Real, Old Comedy From Aristophanes’ Frogs (Classic Stage Company), These Very Serious Jokes, Sonoma, 5 Hysterical Girls Theorem, Family Affair, The Seagull. Other theater includes: There or Here (Hypothetical Theatre), As You Like It (Colonial Theatre, RI), Frida Kahlo in Rise of Dorothy Hale (St Luke’s), My Wandering Boy (South Coast Rep), East is East (Manhattan Theatre Club & New Group), Kingdom of Lost Songs (Lincoln Center Dir. Lab), Rice Boy (Mark Taper),Merchant on Venice (Mark Taper, EWP, Cornerstone, Lark), Bad Women(Talking Band).
As a producer, Purva was Associate Producer and appeared in Kumare which premiered in March 2011 at SXSW and won the Audience Award for Best Documentary. She is Producer on Sameer Butt’s feature Off Duty and Executive Produced the short film Kosu. Purva is Artistic Director and Co-Founder of the not-for-profit New York-based South Asian theatre company Disha Theatre which was started in 2000.
Purva’s education and training includes Williams College, The British American Drama Academy in London, and The Public Theatre Shakespeare Lab in New York.
Purva lives in New York with her husband, the novelist and screenwriter David Andrew Stoler.
http://www.purvabedi.com/
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Filmi Docs – The Lion’s Cage
FILMI DOC SERIES: Sunday, September 29th, 2013, 6:30PM
The Lion’s Cage
Directed by Tandy Tatter
Length: 14:00
Country: Canada/UK
Synopsis:
The award winning MadTatter Films travelled to the world famous TriStar Gym in Montreal to capture a rising star within the MMA world, Gary ‘Saint Lion’ Mangat. Along with The Glass Museum, we delved into the mind of such a focused individual on his journey to the top.
Directors Bio:
Tandy Tatter
He is a photographer/director/producer/editor and if needs be an actor. No project is too big or too small. From films to music videos to short promotion work, each will have the full time and attention of The MadTatter.
http://www.madtatterfilms.com/
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Filmi Docs – A Sacred Journey
FILMI DOC SERIES: Sunday, September 29th, 2013, 6:30PM
A Sacred Journey
Directed by Ash Varma
Length: 8 Minutes
Country: Canada
Director will be available for Q&A after screening
Synopsis of the film:
Journey of a miniature Guru Granth Sahib Ji (1 inch cubed), created in the early 1900s on the request of the British High Commission, finds its way to Canada.
Director’s Bio:
Ash Varma
Born in India, Ashish arrived in Canada at the age of 7 and currently resides with his family in Oakville.
In the last 5 years, he has taken the lead on various projects including short films, documentaries, music videos and corporate work. Stories close to his heart are the ones which engage the fusion of Indian and Western cultures & values.
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Short Film: Calcutta Taxi
Saturday, September 28th, 2013 @ 6:30
“CALCUTTA TAXI”
Directed and Written by Vikram Dasgupta
Length: 20 Minutes
Country: Canada/India
Year: 2013
Cast: Anand Rajaram, Vipin Sharma, Sunnie D’souza
Calcutta Taxi is set in the grimy backdrop of a city going
through a political crisis, unraveling the story of three
lives that coincide and affect each other. Each one having
lost and found some things in this chance encounter of
life.
AWARDS
Aspen Winner/Best Drama “Oscar Qualifier”
Winner Rhode Island International Film Festival
Official Selection Clermont Ferrand
Winner Audience Choice Award River to River Florence
Winner Best Short/Runner Up Anchorage Internation Film Festival
Offical Selection Austin Film Festival
Synopsis:
A young Art College student Aditya Chaterji finds his
backpack and belongings stolen on the day of a political
strike called by the infamous political party of Calcutta.
Meanwhile Bakul Bihari faces the opportunity of a lifetime
to win big for his glorious though covetous efforts to help
a poor boy in distress.
Cab driver Rasul Ahmed discovers a bomb in his backseat at
a congested traffic signal in an extremely unpredictable
and sensitive slum area of Calcutta.
Set in the grimy backdrop of a city going through a
political crisis, Calcutta Taxi unravels the story of three
lives that coincide and affect each other. Each one having
lost and found some things in this chance encounter of
life.
Director’s Biography: Vikram Dasgupta was born in New Delhi, India in 1977 into a
family of artists and musicians. After finishing his high school in New Delhi, he got
accepted into one of the oldest and most prestigious colleges of it’s kind-The
Government College of Arts, Calcutta (est.1864). He graduated from his five year Fine
Arts Degree with honors scholarship and was awarded the Gold Medal for outstanding
achievement in the field of art and design. While still in Art School he made a short
docudrama ‘inSANITY’ about a homeless artist on the streets of Calcutta. Submitting this
short film as a portfolio enabled him to get accepted into The Advanced Film and
Television program at Sheridan College, Canada in 2001. He has been living in Canada
ever since and has been working in Film and TV at various creative capacities, including
having worked for Indian musical genius AR Rahman of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ fame on
multiple occasions
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Feature Film: Simple Superstar
TORONTO PREMIERE
Simple Superstar
Written and Stars Wilbur Sargunaraj
Length: 92 Minutes
Country: Canada/India
Year: 2013
Synopsis:
“A champion for the common person” Wilbur Sargunaraj, the simple man known for his Eastern Latrine educational video and popular Love Marriage Music Video, has been called “India’s First YouTube Star” by The Times of India. He is now coming to the big screen with a semi-biographical story of Wilbur Sargunaraj in the musical “Simple Superstar” – a comical, philosophical look at the man who has encouraged people to climb down the ladder and celebrate the common!
Made entirely by the support of Wilbur Sargunaraj’s fan base and the wilbur world wide community, this movie was created using the help of social media. Cast and crew were hand picked by Wilbur Sargunaraj from the fan base on Facebook and Twitter. The Film will be released in various cities around the world through the 2013 film festival circuit. We are looking for you to help us make the common extraordinary! Spread the word!
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Filmi Music Video: Des Mera Pardes Hua by Anuj Rastogi
Friday, September 27th, 2013 @ 6:30
World Premiere
“Des Mera Pardes Hua” (Official Music Video)
Directed By: Ozmosys Productions
Producers: Anuj Rastogi & Falitaa Chhabra
Length: 5:30
Country: Canada
Synopsis:
The film’s title track “Des Mera Pardes Hua” is a high-energy Rock-infused take on the film’s journey. Directed and edited by Ozmosys Productions, run by Falitaa Chhabra & Anuj Rastogi, the music video features a montage of well timed footage from the motion picture, and original ‘behind the scenes’ footage. This approach provides a look into the process of making of this wonderful score and title song. The video includes vocalist, Shirsha Chakraborty, and guitarist, Vivek Nankissoor, along with studio footage during Anuj Rastogi’s writing, recording, and mixing sessions. Moreover, the dynamic city of Toronto plays a significant role in the music video, as it does in the film.
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Filmi Shorts: Baggage
Friday, September 27th, 2013 @ 6:30
Baggage
Directed by Harminder Phull
Length: 5:00 Minutes
Country: Canada
Year: 2013
Synopsis:
After making the difficult decision to immigrate to Canada from Punjab, Kuldeep finds
himself working long hours as a transport truck driver to support his young family and
parents back home. With the weight of paying for his daughters school, medical bills for his
parents and spending money he comes to a crossroad and makes a difficult decision. A
decision that many truck drivers are faced with and one which will affect both his future
and that of his family
Cast & Crew:
Story and Screenplay
Harminder Phull & Sachin Mahashi
Cast
Sachin Mahashi, Priya Mahashi,
Executive Producer -Sachin Mahashi
Music – Moby
Editing – Harminder Phull
Sound Design – Imran Ansari
DOP – Vik Moudgill
Director’s Bio:
Baggage is Harminder Phull’s first film.
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Filmi Shorts : Haircut
Friday, September 27th, 2013
Haircut
Directed by: Carrie Adelstein
Length: 10 Minutes
Country: Canada
Year: 2013
Cast: Loretta Yu, Gabe Grey
Synopsis:
“The Haircut”, a poignant tale of one man’s unexpected encounter in a Chinatown hair salon. When a young Muslim man, Ali, enters a Chinatown salon, he becomes captivated by the reflection of the delicate Chinese hairdresser as she works. This surprising connection shakes them both, confronting them with the expectations of the separate worlds in which they live.
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Filmi Shorts : Just A Prayer
Friday, September 27th, 2013 @ 6:30
World Premiere
JUST A PRAYER
Directed by Caris Reid
Length: 12:55 Minutes
Canada
‘Just A Prayer’ follows the story of Anita, a Muslim woman who seems to have everything, but who is deeply dissatisfied with her life and the path she sees ahead of herself. She makes a major decision that she believes will bring her happiness and opportunity, but that only brings her unexpected regret. Anita finds solace through a Catholic group, and a few years later, we find her living in a convent as a novice nun. The film is grounded in the present, but flows between her life now as a novice, and the events of five years ago.
Despite the controversial themes the story engages with, ‘Just A Prayer’ is not an examination of any particular issue or religion, but more a study of one woman who is stuck living in a pattern of discontent; who lets her need to escape fuel her decisions; who despite all the faith and structure and community she surrounds herself with, is always trying to find a way not to feel so alone.
The Team
Writer, Executive Producer and Lead Actor, Farah Merani has teamed up with an incredible roster of talent for Just A Prayer.
Director Caris Reid has a background in Camera Operating, Assistant Producing and Assistant Directing. Reid is an avid screenwriter and storyteller, having had a short script, Be There, selected as part of the development series ‘Writing Women’ where she met Merani and Producer, Lauren MacKinlay. Be There will be Reid’s 2nd piece of produced writing. Reid also wrote, directed and produced her first short film last year, The Personality of Numbers. Just A Prayer is Caris’ 2ndShort film as a Director.
Producer Lauren MacKinlay studied at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London UK, where she received an MA in Acting For Screen. Recently, MacKinlay served as Lead Producer with Merani for the Writing Women Screenplay Development Series, an extension of the Blue Flame Collective dedicated to female-focused films. MacKinlay is an Associate Artist of the Blue Flame Collective and a professional actress, working on the stage and screen in Toronto since 2009. She has also enjoyed producing 6 short films to date, including Kiss, for which she wrote, executive produced and served as lead actress.
Producer Kirsten Dahlin Nolan enjoys moving through mediums looking for the best way to tell stories. She grew up a dancer and musician, and later found strengths in acting and writing. Dahlin Nolan balances her creative roles with behind-the-scenes work as a Casting Associate in film and television, and a First AD on the award-winning web-series Gay Nerds. Kirsten is proud to play Producer for the first time on Just A Prayer.
The Cast
Farah Merani – Anita
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4011678/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Huse Madhavji – Aleem
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1455113/
Karen Ivany – Sister Claudette
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1350696/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Janice Giles – Tamara
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3310170/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Kirsten Dahlin Nolan – Novice Gabrielle
Lauren MacKinlay – Novice Katherine
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4930671/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
Writer, Executive Producer and Lead Actor, Farah Merani
Farah Merani is a graduate of the Drama Centre London, London UK and holds a degree from Trinity College, University of Toronto. Upon returning to Canada in 2012, she joined the Blue Flame Collective and was the Lead Producer on the 2013 Slate entitled Village Global. She is also presently developing her first feature film, Goodnight, Amherst, slated for production in 2014 under her production company, Lifeguard Productions, as well as several other short film projects. As a professional actress, she has performed on stage and screen on both sides of the Atlantic, including at Shakespeare’s Globe, The Barbican, The Old Vic Tunnels, and the Arcola Theatre in London. Her TV credits include: BBC’s That’s English, The Listener, Lost Girl, Nikita, and Covert Affairs.
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Filmi Shorts: We Each Have Our Armies by Bobby Del Rio
Friday, September 27th, 2013 @ 6:30
World Premiere
WE EACH HAVE OUR ARMIES
Director/Writer : Bobby Del Rio
Length: 7 MInutes
Country: Canada
CAST : Evert Houston, Farah Merani
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY : Andrew Hunter
Synopsis:
A white man and his Indian girlfriend have their relationship torn apart by their families. They have one night to decide if they will be together forever, or never see each other again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoyYGTcMOO0&feature=player_embedded#t=13
Directors Bio:
Bobby Del Rio is an actor, writer, filmmaker and producer. He is a graduate of the University of Toronto/Sheridan College ‘Theatre and Drama Studies’ program.
He is the Founder/President of INCLUDE – Canada’s largest multicultural network in theatre/film/television. He has also been the Canadian Feature Film Programmer at ReelWorld Film Festival since 2010.
In the entertainment industry, Bobby started as an actor. But he is perhaps best known as a playwright. Titles of his plays include: The Market, Porn Life, in 40 years, Child Hood, Christian Values, When Children Fall, Professionally Ethnic and Half-Chinx Taking Over the World.
The Blue Flame Collective
The Village Global… The Blue Flame Collective is going international, right here at home. We’re going to truthfully celebrate our city and its inhabitants. To do this, special attention will be placed upon work that focuses on the culturally diverse cityscape that is Toronto. We’re looking to draw attention to our greatest unifying strength, our differences. Harmonic and disharmonic, it’s all included. Unabashedly set against the backdrop of our unique city and its urban eccentricities… we’re looking to capture and coin our own kind of Canadiana. More than this… we’re looking to influence and sway the independent cinema scene with what is singularly our city. We have witnessed our French filmmaking counterparts from Quebec, currently defining their own potent international filmmaking voice, and we are inspired. We feel it’s time for Toronto to make full use of its eclectic resources by defining its own distinctive claim to Canadian culture, and then amplifying those stories nationally and abroad. We’re looking to show the world our city and that starts with its people. We believe this city to be an abundant untapped supply of multicultural history and mythology rich with cinematic storytelling potential. We are the village global. We are all a part of what defines this city and we intend to celebrate its many voices. We believe we are at our very best when open and influenced by a wide variety of methods, meditations and motivations. We believe the practical application of best practices from a diverse base of composition, may be the key element to an artistic expression, quintessentially Canadian, and truly Toronto.
Blue Flame Collective’s 2013 Slate: Village Global with Production Stills from ‘We Each Have Our Armies’ written and directed by Bobby Del Rio, starring Farah Merani & Evert Houston.
From Associate Producers Farah Merani & Andre Sills And Executive Producers Oliver Ward & Evert Houston
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Filmi Shorts: Audition Day
FILMI SHORTS: Friday, September 27th, 2013, 6:30PM
Audition Day
Directed by Spencer Idenouye
Length: 3:18 Minutes
Country: Canada
Year: 2013
If there’s one thing that Canadian South Asian actors Richard Young and Huse Madhavji love just as much as making you laugh, it’s working together. And you’ll see that camaraderie when the flashy entertainment show “Media Entertainment Show” interviews them. That is, until they find out they’re auditioning for the same part. Then the actors turn into “actors”…
CREW:
Writer: Richard Young with Huse Madhavji
Produced by: Richard Young and Huse Madhavji
CAST:
Richard Young, Huse Madhavji, Rob Baker, Ashley Botting, Clara Pasieka, Ryan Fisher
Director:
Spencer Idenouye
After receiving a BFA in Media Arts & Digital Technologies from Alberta College of Art + Design, Spencer Idenouye was accepted into Sheridan College where he earned two post-graduate diplomas; one for directing and editing from the Advanced Television & Film program, and the other for Computer Animation Digital Visual Effects. Idenouye currently holds a research position at the Screen Industries Research and Training (SIRT) Center at Pinewood Toronto Studios exploring the art and practice of pre-visualization and virtual moviemaking, using cutting edge post- production and motion capture technologies. Idenouye is also one-third of the film production company Capture Scratch.
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Filmi Shorts : I Think I Know You
Friday, September 27th, 2013 @ 6:30PM
I Think I Know You
Directed by Jeff Hanley
Length: 6:14 Minutes
Country: Canada
Year: 2013
Synopsis:
You’ve been there before. You’re hitting on this beautiful girl, but you have absolutely no idea where you know her from, let alone what her name is. Awkward indeed. So you could fake it until you remember, or you could just be honest and risk completely offending her. Huse Madhavji shows us what not to do.
CREW:
Writer: Huse Madhavji
Producers: Richard Young & Huse Madhavji
CAST:
Huse Madhavji, Andrea Drepaul, Richard Young, Adam Cawley
Director’s Bio:
Jeff Hanley is a graduate of the Toronto Film Schools, earning the school’s Producer’s Award in 2001. As an Assistant Director, Hanley’s credits include the features “Killer God”, “The Chester Kids” and “The Chair”. As a cinematographer, his credits include “Love, Sam”, “A Very Candid Game” and the feature “Grace”.
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Filmi Shorts: The Meter Man of Le Moutrechon
Friday, September 27th, 2013 @ 6:30
CANADIAN PREMIERE
The Meter Man of Le Moutrechon
Directed by Ronnie Khalil
Length: 17:41 Minutes
Country: USA
Year: 2013
Cast: Supinder Wraich, Clayton Farris
Synopsis:
“The Meter Man of Le Moutrechon,” is a short film about a parking authority officer who’s an absolute stickler for rules and regulations. Soon, however, he comes across the face that launched a thousand parking tickets. She’s cute, she’s cool, she’s funny…but she’s a rule breaker! She always has loose change on her, but she doesn’t feed the meter, and she certainly doesn’t pay her parking tickets. Can she crack the armor that shields the meter man from fun and uncertainty? Or will the meter man’s discipline and devotion to law and order rule the day? Who will pay the ultimate price for all those parking tickets?
Director’s Bio: Ronnie Khalil is a producer, writer and director. He recently co-directed and co-wrote the feature film, You Can’t Kill Stephen King! a campy horror comedy set in Maine, which has garnered international attention, with numerous offers including the U.S., U.K., Germany, Japan, Australia and South Korea.Ronnie was also commissioned to write the new feature film, “A to B,” set in Abu Dhabi and directed by the region’s premiere director, Ali F. Mostafa.
His film script Seducing Leyla was accepted to both the Cairo Film Festival and Dubai Film Festival as part of their film connections, as well as EAVE, one of the premiere European producer’s film workshop. Ronnie also served as a guest panelist at the Dubai Film Festival to discuss, “Comedy Across Cultures.”
He has been featured on ABC News, BBC, CNN, The World, NPR, FOX, the European News Channel, Air America, and Al Jazeera (in a good way), and has written articles for CNN.com and CollegeHumor.com.
In addition to his film accomplishments, Ronnie is co-Founder of The Middle Eastern Comedy Festival in Los Angeles and garnered national attention as the first comedian to perform in Cairo after Egypt’s revolution, joking about taboo subjects such as politics and sexual harassment.
Ronnie has performed with the Axis of Evil, Arabs Gone Wild, Sultans of Satire and taped two Friday Night Live Showtime Comedy specials in Dubai, including Minorities Rule and New World Order, as well as a stand-up show on Australia’s Comedy Channel and the new Sirius XM special, “Ronnie Khalil, Unveiled in Lebanon.”
In addition to stand-up, Ronnie earned his M.B.A. from the University of Miami, and lectured in colleges throughout the United States regarding success and motivation. His most popular lectures are Success through C.O.M.E.D.Y.and Networking: How to Avoid Really Hard Work. Prior to comedy, Ronnie worked as an account executive at one of South Florida’s largest public relations firms.
visit imdb
visit website at http://metermanmovie.wix.com/meterman
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Filmi Shorts: Shiva by Julie Brar
Friday, September 27th, 2013 @ 6:30
Toronto Premiere
SHIVA
Directed by Tony Dean Smith
Length: 5:00 Minutes
Year: 2013
Written by Julie Brar and Tony Dean Smith
Synopsis:
Based on Gandhi’s notion that an eye for an eye will leave the whole world blind, SHIVA explores the destructive cycle of violence in politics, religion and relationships. On the surface, Senator Gainsworth and Chantal Gainsworth are a picture perfect power couple. Yet underneath the successful facade, dark obsessions threaten to destroy their “happy”
marriage – culminating in a twist that brings new insight into Gandhi’s prophetic words.
Artist’s Bio:
Julie Brar was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. After high school she attended the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute to immerse herself into acting.After theatre school Ms. Brar made her home in Vancouver for several years. Her television credits include roles on Smallville, Search and Rescue and Fringe. Julie made her film debut in Chris Columbus’ Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. Currently she can be seen in the highly successful Showtime/SyFy series Lost Girl. Besides acting Julie also enjoys producing and writing. She believes that there are many stories that have yet to make it to the stage or the screen. To that end she is doing her part to bring those stories to life. On the producing side Julie’s credits include John Patrick Shanley’s Danny and the Deep Blue Sea last fall here in Toronto. She has written several projects up to this point – Shiva (short film), Om Sweet Om (web series) and her first successful one woman play in the Toronto Fringe this past summer – The Very Very Girl. Currently Julie is writing two new projects geared towards television- a half hour sitcom of Om Sweet Om and Jade- an original science fiction drama. She is also currently writing her first book.
When Julie is not dreaming up her next creative venture she can be found on her yoga mat, meditating in the woods or kicking butt in Muay Thai (her latest passion).
Currently Julie lives in Toronto with her vegan cat and roommate. Follow Julie on
Twitter @juliebrar.
Director’s Bio:
Director Tony Dean Smith
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Tony Dean Smith first fell in love with the camera at age 10, when he realized his love of drawing and storytelling could be twisted and turned into a motion picture sequence. At 19, he wrote and directed his first feature film, “The Other Side of Being.” Two days after wrapping he enrolled in film school where he turned heads with
his visual style, earning top grades as a cinematographer, editor, writer and director.
Tony’s passion for story and the moving image then brought him to the attention of the Directors’ Guild of Canada, where he received a “Kickstart” grant for what turned into his first 35mm short film, “Reflection.” The sensitive, thought provoking subject matter along his signature visual style allowed the film to play in festivals around the world. It earned 5 Leo
nominations for best picture, best director, best cinematography, and best performances.
Based on “Reflection’s” heart and style Tony was hired by multi-talented writer/director Jacob Medjuck to co-direct the coming of age comedy “Summerhood.” During this period Tony was also hired to direct his first national television show, CTV’s hit comedy series “Robson Arms.” After the success of his first episode, he was brought back for two more
episodes the following season. As a screenwriter Tony is the recipient of the Super Catalyst Screenwriter
Award for “The Sensational,” which he co-wrote with his frequent collaborator and creative partner Ryan W. Smith. Tony and Ryan have written on projects with Matt Salsberg, Sepia Films and Paperny Films. They have a number of projects in active development. As an editor Tonyhas cut his teeth on many television movies, features and music videosgarnering several awards.
Directed by Tony Dean Smith
Written by Julie Brar and Tony Dean Smith
Produced by Julie Brar and Ryan W. Smith
Cinematography by Lux
Music by John J. Kongos with original song by Mark Hildreth
Starring Frank Cassini, Lisa Stadnykova, and Julie Brar
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Filmi Short: The Change
Friday, September 27th, 2013 @ 6:30
THE CHANGE
Director: Sam Coyle
Length: 9:36 Minutes
Country: Canada
Year: 2013
Cast:
Supinder Wraich – http://www.swraich.com
Andy McQueen – http://vimeo.com/andymcqueen
Synopsis:
The Canadian Government is creating a perfect country. They have kicked out everyone who they believe doesn’t feed the economy, social norm, or can conform to their demands.
People from generation Y (20-30 year olds) have been resilient. They have created an underground society that the above world does not know about. They have been living under ground for the last year trying to devise a plan to uprise the Government. The film “The Change” takes place 10 minutes before they go above.
Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zr3qdXpm3A
Directors Bio:
Sam Coyle is a theatre trained actress. She studied in New York at the HB Studio. She has been producing films with her company FOUND Productions for thelast 3 years. This is Sam’s first debut as a director.
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Filmi Short: FILMI SHORT: FINDING TALIB BY SHAWN AHMED AND SCOTT LEAVER
Friday, September 27th, 2013
World Premiere
FINDING TALIB BY SHAWN AHMED AND SCOTT LEAVER
Finding Talib is the first of a series of comedic, ten minute shorts that explore the origins of religious extremism in a Western, middle-class man. Talib is a twenty-two-year-old, Caucasian man. As a baby he was adopted by parents who immigrated to Canada from Pakistan. Moderate Muslims, Talib’s parents have become worried that their adopted son’s beliefs are becoming too extreme and ask him to explore his past, hoping he will find new perspectives on religion and life. With his adopted brother Sid at his side,Talib sets off on a journey of self-discovery as he seeks out the family that gave him up for adoption and explores other faiths and lifestyles.
Shawn Ahmed (Director/Actor/Writer)
Finding Talib is Shawn Ahmed’s first crack at directing! He has been Acting, Writing and Producing in Toronto for over a decade. He was the co-creator of the popular sketch comedy troupe Fade to Brown. Within four years the troupe made it’s way onto dozens of stages across the GTA, including a sold out production of their sketch comedy musical, Brown Side Story, at The Panasonic Theatre. The comedy troupe went on to create a half-hour T.V. special that continues to air on OMNI TV. Shawn has received rave reviews for his supporting roles in the horror film Saw VI and the Emmy Award winning docu-drama,Flight 93. Shawn teamed up with his good friend Scott Leaver two years ago to form Crazy Shirt Productions. Their first project, a TV pilot titled Paranormal Investigators, is currently in development for a series.
Film and Television credits include: Saw VI, Flight 93, The Tracey Fragments, The Ron James Show, The Line, Unbury the Biscuit, Fade to Brown, Secret Miracle, Drone, The Method, Soul Food.
Follow him on twitter @actinghockey or view imdb
Scott Leaver (Actor/Writer)
A Dora Mavor Moore Award nominated actor, Scott has been working as an actor and writer across Ontario for the past six years. Scott’s most recent film work has included Murdoch Mysteries (CBC), Omni on the television and web seriesTeam Epic (PLP / BiteTV), appearances for SPACE CHANNEL, and on the series Ghostly Encounters. As a playwright,Scott has worked with several Canadian organizations including Next Stage Festival, Playwrights Workshop Montreal, Scriptlab of Canada and the Canadian Musical Theatre Festival. Scott is a graduate of Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts where he received his College Diploma in the Performing Arts. Scott co-founded Crazy Shirt Productions with Shawn Ahmed two years ago. Their first television pilot, a half-hour comedy titled Paranormal Investigators, is currently in development for a series.
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Filmi Shorts : COLD by Wasim Sheik
Friday, September 27th, 2013 @ 6:30
WORLD PREMIERE
COLD
Directed by Waseem Shaikh
People in Toronto just don’t smile at each other.
Yet, in a city notorious for being cold to strangers, several lives intersect one night, oblivious to the loneliness that connects them all.
On the surface, these disparate lives would never interact. Tonight, they will set each other’s lives in unexpected directions
Waseem Shaikh’s career has spanned the gamut across Theater, Radio, Television and Film. Born in Dubai, U.A.E, raised in South Africa, and settled in Toronto, Waseem’s mixed bag of experiences is what fuels his creativity. He’s currently the Multicultural Creative at MacLaren McCann, working on campaigns for the likes of General Motors and Coca Cola.
You’re most likely to remember him for his antics on his weekday show on Naach Radio, which amassed a weekly audience of over 40, 000 listeners from 2011 to 2013.
COLD is Waseem’s first film. He describes it as his bittersweet love letter to Toronto.
21st Filmi: Toronto's South Asian Film Festival 2021 
