The 2012 Images Festival programming showcases vanguard contemporary media-based artworks. Located in 20+ venues across Toronto, the festival presents screenings, live performances, online projects, gallery exhibitions as well as artist talks, gallery tours and parties.
The Images Festival crosses international boundaries again this year with 120+ works by artists from 26 countries, as well as local and national artists, students and accomplished artists. The Images Festival screens and exhibits a wide range of works from many disciplines – everything from formal materialist experiments to innovative documentaries, from film with live performance to works which address a range of issues from the political to the personal and everything in between!
SPECIAL PRE-FESTIVAL LAUNCH: Carolee Schneemann in person April 4!
The Images Festival is pleased to present a special gala preview screening of a documentary on internationally renowned feminist artist Carolee Schneemann entitled Breaking the Frame directed by Montreal-based Marielle Nitoslawska Wednesday April 4, 2012, 7 PM at The Royal located at 608 College Street in Toronto. This special evening will allow Toronto audiences a chance to get a sneak peek at Nitoslawska's much anticipated documentary, and to see the Director and subject Carolee Schneemann in in person. In addition to the screening and Q&A, Images will be offering tickets for a pre-screening VIP reception, where guests will enjoy reserved seating, refreshments, gift bags and hear remarks from the filmmaker.
Breaking the Frame (with the Director and Carolee Schneemann in person!) Directed by Marielle Nitoslawska (Canada, 2012, HDCAM video, 100 minutes)
Wednesday April 4, 7 PM $15 advance | $18 door | $50 VIP reserved seating, giftbag and reception with the artist (limited tickets) The Royal, 608 College Street
Join us for an intimate dinner with Carolee Schneemann, filmmaker Marielle Nitoslawska and Chef Nathan Isberg at The Atlantic Restaurant! Images is thrilled to have Carolee join us for an intimate and enlightening evening on Tuesday April 3. All proceeds from this fundraising event support the 25th anniversary Images Festival, running April 12-21.
Chef Nathan Isberg "is in the vanguard of an evolution of creative thinking that fuses the science of cuisine with the ethnic cultural flavours available through experience all married with his refined personal taste." His latest restaurant the Atlantic has made waves in Toronto foodie circles since its opening in 2010. Nathan has graciously made the Atlantic available for this private dinner event.
Our thanks includes: $100 charitable tax receipt 2 tickets to Breaking the Frame screening the following night.
Other details: Tuesday April 3, 2012 Arrival 7 PM. Dinner 7:30 PM
Location: The Atlantic, 1597 Dundas Street West (between Brock and Sheridan)
PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS
ON SCREEN, OFF SCREEN AND LIVE IMAGES:
OPENING NIGHT GALA: Renowned Ghanian/UK filmmaker John Akomfrah (in person!), co-founder of London's seminal Black Audio Film Collective presents his latest feature The Nine Muses, a documentary meditation on migration and landscape. With stunning shots of Alaskan shores and audio filled with moving readings, from Homer to Dante to T.S. Eliot; and the music of Arvo Pärt and India's Gundecha Brothers, Akomfrah has created a haunting journey through myth and landscape, a self-described "Proustian attempt" to suggest the idea of migration.The Nine Muses (*still above) opens the 25th festival with its Canadian premiere (Thursday April 12, 6:45 PM @ The Royal);
CLOSING NIGHT GALA: Live Images presents internationally renowned Hoboken band Yo La Tengo playing an original soundtrack to short films by Jean Painlevé (1902-89) in the Canadian premiere of The Sounds of Science. These classic vintage science films by Painlevé will be presented in gorgeous 35mm archival prints alongside Yo La Tengo's score exploring ambient post-rock territory reminiscent of Tortoise and the Chicago scene - with occasional forays into funked-up free-jazz - that beautifully transport the viewer and listener into the alien world beneath the waves. Opening the evening will be a performance by Toronto-based soul-pop singer/songwriter and film curator, Chris Cummings a.k.a. Mantler, and The tide goes, in the tide goes out by Larissa Fan, a black and white film ode to the secret world of moon jellyfish. (Saturday April 21, 8 PM, Toronto Underground Cinema);
ON SCREEN: Ten nights including over one hundred films + videos! This is the longest-running part of the Images Festival, featuring 17 screenings of films from 20+ countries around the globe. For the second year in a row, our main screening venue is Jackman Hall at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Right Ascension features works by ten Toronto artists, while UK filmmaker Ben Rivers returns to the festival with his stunning new 35mm cinemascope feature Two Years at Sea, a cinematic portrait of man set adrift in a post-apocalyptic future, a radical past, or an alternative present. A Place in the World, is a program of four films that reflect on distinct structures and environments: from a methadone clinic in Vancouver¹s Downtown East Side to a live-in care facility in the English countryside for adults with learning disabilities. Includes films by Robert Beavers, James Benning, Antoine Bourges, Simone Rapisarda Casanova, Lav Diaz, Jacqueline Goss, Alexandre Larose, Elke Marhofer, Monique Moumblow, Lucy Parker, Chu-Li Shewring + Adam Gutch and Rizki Resa Utama -- these films and many more will be presented at our main venue Jackman Hall at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
CANADIAN ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Takes a new turn this year with a focus on our founding year, 1988! We've invited instigators of the Images Festival to select their most memorable film or video, 7 of which will be presented over 2 programs and alongside a new commissioned essay by Toronto's venerable Andrew James Paterson commemorating our silver anniversary. Images '88 program one screens Friday April 13, 8 PM, Jackman Hall with guests Cameron Bailey, Annette Mangaard and Ross Turnbull presenting works by Richard Kerr, Jan Peacock and Frances Leeming. Images '88 program two screens Thursday April 19, 7 PM, Images at 204 Spadina with guests Richard Fung, Marc Glassman, Janine Marchessault and Kim Tomczak presenting works by Fumiko Kiyooka + Scott Haynes, Vera Frenkel, Marc Paradis and Wendy Geller.
SPOTLIGHT TO THE iFpod: We're also showcasing MOST of the films + videos presented in 1988 in our online video player, the iFpod for streaming starting April 12. For one month you can take a history lesson watching works by Canadian artists including Michael Snow, Diane Poitras, Laura Sky, Ann Marie Fleming, Colin Brunton, Paul Wong, Phil Hoffman and R. Bruce Elder and dozens of others! OFF SCREEN: The fastest growing section of the Festival and for good reason! 26 Installations by Canadian and international artists are presented at 16 local galleries, artist-run centres and public locations, engaging many sites throughout the GTA, Off Screen stretches from Bloor and Lansdowne to Harbourfront Centre to Oakville to Chinatown including our NEW "POP-UP" GALLERY at 204 Spadina hosting 3 installations and our nightly post-screening lounge. Opening receptions, free bus + walking tours and artist talks are scheduled throughout the festival. Artists participating in exhibitions running throughout April include: Joshua Bonnetta, Deanna Bowen, Marc Boulos, Duncan Campbell, Keren Cytter, Oliver Husain, Abishek Hazra, Gary Kibbins, Silvia Kolbowski, Annie MacDonell, Julieta María, Naeem Mohaiemen, Antoni Muntadas, Alexandra Navratil, Tristan Perich, Sara Rara, Yashas Shetty, Deborah Stratman, Angélica Teuta, Kerry Tribe and others!
LIVE IMAGES: One of the most popular series at the festival, featuring film, video and audio artists, musicians and other performers live and in person with spectacular media-based performances. Highlights include: Closing Gala Yo La Tengo with archival films by Jean Painlevé, the performance piece I Eat Pickles at Your Funeral by Keren Cytter, Sound Objects show with music + video + circuit bending from Abstract Random, Lucky Dragons and Tristan Perich, Critical Mass by Kerry Tribe, a triple-play event featuring performances from Erik Bünger, Steve Kado and Jodie Mack and more!
WEBSITE + iPhone app! Check out our updated website courtesy of Twig Design: www.imagesfestival.com
AND download the free AKIMBO app for easy access to our calendar, venues and store!
FESTIVAL MEMBERSHIPS: NEW IN 2012! HALF PRICE TICKETS with a $25 membership! Become a member of The Images Festival and get access to the programming listed above.
Save money and support Toronto's longest-running alternative film festival. Images turns 25 in 2012 and we couldn't have made it to the quarter century club without the support of dedicated festivalgoers just like you.
New for 2012: Images is offering HALF-PRICE MEMBER TICKETS! $5 screenings for all On Screen presentations!
Super 8 Membership – $25 • Half-price tickets to ALL festival presentations (50% off full regular door price) Preferred box office privileges (seats reserved for members until 15 minutes before curtain), Festival catalogue in the mail
16mm Membership – $75 • All-Access Festival Pass – see everything at the fest! Preferred box office privileges (seats reserved for members until 15 minutes before curtain) Festival catalogue in the mail
35mm Membership – $250 Ideal for members who want to share the festival with a friend • DOUBLE All-Access Festival Pass! Two limited edition Images Festival bags, Preferred box office privileges, Festival catalogue in the mail, A charitable donation tax receipt for $100
You can also order your membership over the phone (416 971 8405), in person at the Advance Box Office during the festival, or via email: membership@imagesfestival.com
You Don't Have to Join To Donate! Support our annual Artist Travel Fundraising Campaign to help bring featured artists to Toronto for the festival. We will be presenting lectures, panels and artist's talks that will help to contextualize the films and enhance the viewing experience. Please donate today to support Images in bringing artists to the festival to celebrate our 25th Anniversary, as well as other key programs!
Benefits for you: A charitable tax receipt + acknowledgement in a pre-screening slideshow during the festival; Invitation to opening night and special pre-festival VIP receptions.
Giving is easy. To donate by credit card: find us on Canada Helps or call Executive Director, Scott Miller Berry at 416.971.8405 To donate by cheque: please send to The Images Festival, 401 Richmond Street West, Suite 448, Toronto, Ontario M5V 3A8 Canada Thanks in advance for your donation!
TICKETS FOR THE FESTIVAL NOW AVAILABLE Advance tickets are now available through our online store for all ticketed events! To purchase advance tickets online with a credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express PayPal account -- no service charges!) please visit:
Tickets for our Pre Festival screening, Opening & Closing Night Galas and Live Images presentations are available at Soundscapes (572 College Street) and Queen Video (412 Queen Street West) and Rotate This (601 Queen Street West)
Image Credit: still from The Nine Muses, John Akomfrah, 2011, courtesy Icarus Films.
THE IMAGES FESTIVAL is made possible thanks to our gracious public sector supporters: The Canada Council for the Arts, the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council, Telefilm Canada, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, the Hal Jackman Foundation, the Harpo Foundation, the Goethe Institut Toronto, the Mondriaan Fund and the Consulate General of France in Toronto.
Special thanks to our 2012 corporate partners: Partners in Art, Steam Whistle Brewing, VIA Rail Canada, The Globe and Mail, Entertainment One, BlogTO, Deluxe, Westbury National Show Systems, the Super 8 Hotel Downtown Toronto, AutoShare, Toronto Film and Television Office, Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCADU), DHL Express Canada, CIUT FM, Kodak Canada, the Office of Gilbert Li, Twig Design, Frame Discreet, Niagara Custom Lab and Exclaim!
Thanks to our 25th Anniversary Sponsors: Partners in Art, the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund, the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre (CFMDC) and Vtape.
Thanks to all of our gallery and community partners, our dedicated volunteers and our enthusiastic membership.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Donate to the Images Festival: The Images Festival is a non-profit charitable organization that relies on individual support as well as our public and private funders. To donate, contact us at 416.971.8405 or you can donate online and receive a tax receipt through Charity Helps:
