FROM THE DIRECTOR'S CHAIR

Eleven Days of Memories, On Screen and Off

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the eleven days of the Festival whiz by. It is a whirlwind of new and familiar faces, bright lights, applause, minor crises and living on adrenaline, coffee and too few meals. It is an experience unlike any other and I wouldn't trade a minute of it... I only wish it lasted longer (an 18 day Festival, anyone?).

My favourite memories are always the ones that involve the amazing people who attend the Festival - both audience members and industry guests. After a year of planning the Festival with the staff, Board and committee members and months of sitting in solitude watching films at home on a dvd player, it is extremely gratifying to see our hard work come together and to have the opportunity to talk to everyone about their Festival experience - whether positive or negative. Every conversation helps us evaluate our decisions and provides vital feedback to help us move forward in planning for the future.

Local directors on stage at the sold-out Hogtown Homos screening

HOGTOWN HOMOS SCREENING & LOCAL HEROES PARTY: I can't even count how many people approached me after the Hogtown Homos Screening to tell me it was the strongest local program they have ever seen at the Festival. The roar of the sold-out crowd after each short was deafening and the energy continued after at the Local Heroes Party at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. The mix of music and performance was completely original and everyone was in fantastic spirits, thanks in part to bartender Patricia's generous pouring of shots! The highlight was local musicians performing inspired covers of popular songs. Kids on TV teamed up with Katie Stelmanis (who did the music in our Festival trailer) and covered Cloudbusting by my favourite artist, Kate Bush. The song started off a bit 'interesting' but suddenly the stage was filled with a choir whose voices filled the venue with ethereal sounds that captivated the room.

STUBBLEJUMPER: I've mentioned before that Doug Wilson, the subject of the film Stubblejumper, was one of my earliest mentors from the queer community and to have the opportunity to introduce the screening was very special. It was great having director David Geiss here for the screening and during the Q&A when he asked how many people in the audience personally knew Doug, it brought a tear to my eye to see almost every hand in the theatre go up. What made the afternoon even more memorable was having Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton and MP for Trinity-Spadina Olivia Chow speak of their memories of Doug.

Trinity-Spadina MP Olivia Chow, Scott Ferguson, activist Bob
Gallagher, Federal NDP leader Jack Layton, Stubblejumper director David Geiss

DROOL: Nothing makes me happier than sitting at the back of the theatre during a busy screening and hearing the audience burst into laughter. Drool was a definite Festival highlight in terms of audience reaction. I ended up watching almost the entire film again with the audience because the energy was so great and the laughter did not seem to ever stop. My favourite moment came after a particularly outrageous scene when over the laughter, someone screamed out, "That was f*cking hilarious".

The Festival experience invigorates me and provides the jolt of energy needed to encourage us to do it all again - to make the successes bigger and better and to learn from things that didn't go as well as planned. We'll keep all the feedback and comments at top of mind as we plan for the 20th anniversary in 2010. We want it to be bigger, better and have something for everyone. We promise it will be a Festival to remember.

Thanks once again to the Inside Out staff, Board of Directors, sponsors, funders, community supporters, members, donors and volunteers for their commitment, enthusiasm and hard work.

We'll see you soon as we unveil plans for next year and announce events throughout the fall and winter.

FESTIVAL NEWS

And the Winners Are:


On Sunday May 24 at our Closing Night Gala Party and Awards at Revival, this year's Award Winners were announced.

JURY AWARDS:

Fig Trees

Colin Campbell Award for Best Canadian Short
THE GOLDEN PIN (screened in Hogtown Homos)
By Cuong Ngo

Best Up-and-Coming Toronto Film or Video Maker Award presented by Charles Street Video
HER SPARKLY LOV (screened in Youth Out Loud, part of the Queer Youth Digital Video Project)
By Francesca Nocera

Entertainment Partners Canada Award for Best Canadian Feature
FIG TREES
By John Greyson

Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film and Video Festival Award for Best First Canadian Feature
TO EACH HER OWN
By Heather Tobin

Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film and Video Festival Award for Best Acting in a Canadian Feature
TIE: Angela Vint and Megan Fahlenbock
THE BABY FORMULA

AUDIENCE AWARDS:

The Baby Formula

Inside Out Award for Best Feature Film or Video:

Winner
THE BABY FORMULA
By Alison Reid, Canada

Second Place
An Englishman in New York
By Richard Laxton, UK

Third Place
Patrik, Age 1.5
By Ella Lemhagen, Sweden

Elle Flanders Documentary Award for Best Documentary Film or Video:

Winner
FERRON: GIRL ON A ROAD
By Gerry Rogers, Canada

Second Place
Bi the Way
By Brittany Blockman and Josephine Decker, USA

Third Place
Sex Positive
By Daryl Wein, USA

Mikey/Schmikey Award for Best Short Film or Video:

Winner
GET HAPPY (screened in the Fame Whore Program)
By Mark Payne, USA

Second Place
Awakening (screened in the Straight Shooter Program)
By Christian Tafdrup, Denmark

Third Place
Danny's Parade (screened with Stubblejumper)
By Anneke de Lind van Wijngaarden, Netherlands

A Huge Thank-you to Our Sponsors


This year was definitely a year of challenges for many of us, whether at home or in the workplace we have all heard phrases such as financial crisis or economic downturn. That is why this year I would like to issue a very heartfelt thanks to all the organizations, companies and corporations that sponsored Inside Out’s 19th annual Festival. Some have been with us from the start in 1991 and others came on board for the first time this year and without their support Inside Out would not be in the top ranking LGBT film festivals in the World.

I think it is very important to note that these businesses and institutions lend their support because they believe in the arts and in our community. So please take the time to go to the sponsor section of our website and give your support to our sponsors and funders.

2009 Sponsors

Founding Media
Xtra

Platinum
RBC
Navigator

Gold
NOW
Urbansource Catering
VIA Rail
PROUD FM
TD Bank Financial Group

Silver
Digital Fin
Steam Whistle
Charles Street Video
Town Inn Suites

Bronze
Nella Bella
Precision Transfer
Autoshare

Award
Charles Street Video
The Michaels
EP Canada

Funders
Canada Council for the Arts
Canadian Heritage
Ontario Arts Council
Community One Foundation
Mark S. Bonham Charitable Foundation
Ontario Ministry of Tourism
Toronto Arts Council

Congratulations to Cirque du Soleil OVO Tickets Winners

During this years Festival there were two easy ways to win tickets to the latest touring show OVO from Cirque Du Soleil.

The first was by filling out an audience award ballot to rate screenings during the Festival, and the winner of this pair of tickets to OVO in September is Frankie Little.

The second winner is Lily Mamid who wins a pair of OVO tickets for taking part in our online survey.

Thank you to everyone for your participation in both of these essential ways for us to receive your feedback and thanks also to our friends at Cirque du Soleil for the tickets.

AROUND TOWN

A Reason To Ride now on DVD

A Reason To Ride screened at this year’s Inside Out LGBT Film and Video Festival in the Training Rules program.

A Reason To Ride DVD is for sale for $10 to support the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation. Visit online to purchase your DVD. Click here for full details or call 416-506-1400 or visit www.bikerally.org.

Together Again for the First Time

Elvira Kurt & Gavin Crawford
ONE NIGHT ONLY!
Friday, June 12
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre

Gavin Crawford and Elvira Kurt join forces for this never-before-attempted comedy summit in support of Canada's oldest and largest queer theatre.

Part of Buddies' Pride 2009 Festival, a three-week, full-facility extravaganza of queer entertainment.

Stay tuned for a full line-up of events, shows and parties. Visit artsexy.ca for details.

Gavin Crawford is one of Canada's top character comedians. Fresh from another season of CBC's This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Gavin is thrilled to be back at Buddies. Award winning, twice Gemini nominated stand-up comic, Second City veteran and CBC darling Elvira Kurt, returns to the Buddies stage. Two of Canada's greatest comedic talents go head to head for one night only!

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
Canada's Home fro Queer Culture
12 Alexander Street, Toronto
Tickets $25
Box office 416-975-8555
www.artsexy.ca

Employment Opportunities

Buddies In Bad Times Theatre:

Artistic Director
Toronto, Canada

The Artistic Director serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, providing artistic and executive leadership, and is responsible for the effective administration of the theatre in accordance with the policies of its Board of Directors.

The Artistic Director provides full oversight of organization-wide strategies, including artistic and strategic planning, board governance, financial stability, community engagement, programming, and staff management.

Buddies in Bad Times Theatre is one of Toronto's premier theatre companies, and is North America's largest Queer theatre. In an average season, it produces between four and six mainstage productions, three festivals, and presents the work of local, national, and international performing arts companies. It runs a year-long Queer Youth Arts Programme, a Young Creators unit, a dramaturgy and play development unit, as well as numerous special events.

For full details and additional information about Buddies in Bad Times Theatre see: www.artsexy.ca

For questions about the AD position, write to: buddiesadsearch@gmail.com

LIFT:

The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) is a non-profit artist-run centre that provides affordable access to education, production equipment and post-production facilities. LIFT offers over 150 workshops and courses a year covering all elements of contemporary cinema production. LIFT provides information and networking resources to filmmakers and has several screenings, artist talks, and social events held throughout the year. www.LIFT.on.ca

Posting #1: Technical Coordinator
Deadline: Friday, June 12, 2009
LIFT requires a highly organized full-time film and digital technician to join the LIFT staff and to work in cooperation with members and the Board of Directors. The new technical staff person will work directly with our current Technical Coordinator on all aspects of LIFT's equipment maintenance, rentals, supply sales and supporting members access to and understanding of our resources. All LIFT staff report to the Executive Director and prepare monthly reports to the Board of Directors.

Posting #2: Summer Education Assistant
Deadline: Friday, June 19, 2009
LIFT requires a highly organized Educational and Outreach Assistant to join the LIFT staff and to work in cooperation with members and the community for an eight-week contract.

For full job descriptions and details on how to apply visit LIFT's web site.

IT'S A WRAP...

Final Word / Highlights

Kids claiming their red balloons after the screening of the Red Balloon at the Children's Program

My two most feared questions during the festival: What should I see? and What was you favourite moment? I'll answer the second question, since it's too late for the first.

The moment that still melts my heart is the Children's Screening during which we presented the French classic The Red Balloon. Following the screening, we made ourselves very popular with the kids by giving away, well, red balloons! For those of you who haven't had enough of red balloons, check out the recent Flight of the Red Balloon by Hou Hsiao-hsien starring Juliette Binoche.

Drag queen extraordinaire Mark Payne blew everyone's pants off at the opening night gala with his Liza impersonation, but he also walked away from thefestival with the audience award for best short with the uplifting and endearing documentary on his life as a child dragstar entitled Get Happy.

John Greyson, director of "Fig Trees" accepts his Entertainment Partners Canada Award for Best Canadian Feature

Although I wasn't there for the screening, I heard over and over again that Gerry Rogers' documentary on dyke icon Ferron brought the crowd to its feet and moved everyone to tears. Ferron's surprise appearance for the Q and A sure helped! Hailing from St. John's, GerryRogers was a constant and sunny-bright fixture at the festival and we were sad to see her go. However, imagine our delight when her worktook away the audience award for best doc! Not bad for an ex-nun. (These are the things you learn at filmmaker dinners...) If you don't know Ferron, here's your chance to discover a true trailblazer for lesbians everywhere.

And finally, my ultimate moment was getting kissed on the lips on stage by John Greyson at the screening of Fig Trees. Still haven't washed, which is causing some trouble on the home front...

Thanks so much to everyone who came out to support the festival in record numbers. Big, wet and sloppy kisses to all of you!

Jason St-Laurent
Director of Programming

Inside Out Festival photo credit:
Andrea Whitehouse and Ovesny/Navarro Photography