Hot Docs 2014: To Be Takei (Jennifer Kroot & Bill Weber)

I was lucky enough to catch a screening of this film last night at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, if you missed it, please find time to see it today at 6 at the same location! This is hands down my favorite film of the festival to date. And I can’t be the only one…

Hot Docs 2014: In Country (Mike Attie & Meghan O’Hara)

Screening for the second time of the festival today at 12:30pm at the Lightbox is this reality blurring documentary about a group of veterans as well as some everyday people, who reenact the Vietnam War. Weaving through the footage shot in Oregon with newsreels, sounds and images from the actual war, the line between what is…

Hot Docs 2014: Out of Mind, Out of Sight (John Kastner)

When I was a high school senior, each week we had an afternoon when we would do charitable works. It was a Catholic high school. We were given a number of options, and one of them was to help out at the local hospital in the psych ward. I thought I would be able to…

Hot Docs 2014: Doc of the Dead (Alexandre Philippe)

Zombies. The zombies are taking over tonight at 11:59pm at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema with the international premiere of Philippe’s highly enjoyable, and extremely entertaining look at the world of the undead. Starting with its cinematic roots, the film journeys back to White Zombie, where we are introduced to the voodoo zombie before George…

Hot Docs 2014: Giuseppe Makes a Movie (Adam Rifkin)

Having its World Premiere at 7pm this evening at the Scotiabank Theatre, this behind-the-scenes film focuses it’s objective eye on the filmmaking process of Giuseppe Andrews. One time, he was a young bit part actor, with roles in films like Independence Day and Detroit Rock City, as well as recurring roles on television series. But now, he’s…

Hot Docs 2014: Ai Weiwei – The Fake Case (Andreas Johnsen)

Having its North American premiere this afternoon at the Lightbox at 4:30 is this fascinating documentary that takes us into the monitored home and life of the famous Chinese artist, Ai Weiwei. The government, unhappy with his art, and his outspoken stance on rights and freedoms imprisoned him for 86 days, after that he was put on…

Hot Docs 2014: Living Stars (Gaston Duprat & Mariano Cohn)

Having its Canadian Premiere this afternoon at the Scotiabank Theatre at 1:45, this joyous mixtape celebrates life and music through that most intimate and revealing art… dance. Filmed on location in Buenos Aires, everyday folk cut loose before a static camera while family, friends and pets watch, go about their daily lives or join the party. (Sometimes…

Hot Docs 2014: 112 Weddings (Doug Block)

It’s tough for me to call a favorite this early in the Hot Docs schedule, but Doug Block’s incredible film, 112 Weddings, has won me over completely. If you are going to see it tonight at its international premiere at the Isabel Bader theatre at 7pm, I can only offer these three words to you:…

Hot Docs 2014

It’s that time again!! Hot Docs, alongside Toronto After Dark, is one of my favorite film festivals that Toronto hosts yearly, and I am so looking forward to seeing what’s in store for us this year. Yes, there are big titles I’m looking forward to seeing, the documentary about Community creator, Dan Harmon, Harmontown, George…

Tim’s Thirteen of 2013

So ends 2013, just like that! What a year! We have continued to grow and do so much here at The Mind Reels, and we’re hoping for an even bigger year next year! So I decided to throw together a list of the movies I most enjoyed this year, the ones that got to me,…