by allan tong for FILMbutton “There’s something in that mud,” says Bono about the Fame recording studios in this swampy hamlet in Alabama. Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, The Allman Brothers, The Rolling Stones and many others have recorded some of the best songs of the past 50 years here. Contemporary interviews and archival photos bring […]
by allan tong for FILMbutton It’s a surprise no one has made a major film about funk music until noted historian Nelson George with this one. He scores key interviews with bassist Bootsy Collins, George Clinton and the late, great James Brown, but the jewel in the crown is the reclusive and eccentric Sly Stone […]
by allan tong for FILMbutton In 2010 at the Seaworld amusement park in Orlando, Florida, trainer Dawn Brancheau was mauled and drowned by Tilikum, a 12,000-pound orca whale. That horrific moment was no mere accident, claims this terrifying film. In fact, Tilikum was long suspected to be a dangerous whale and likely killed another trainer […]
by allan tong for FILMbutton Downloaded could be called The Rise and Fall of Napster. In 1998, some teenage kid from Boston named Shawn Fanning created a software to share his favourite tunes easily over the internet. Fanning partnered with buddy Shaun Parker (who would later join the Facebook team) to create the Napster website. […]
by allan tong for FILMbutton Freda Kelly had a job in the sixties that millions of girls around the world would have killed for: she ran The Beatles’ fan club. A fan, but not a fanatic, Kelly was just 17 when she landed the coveted job right before The Fab Four launched into super stardom […]
from GAT (Toronto, Canada) – Indiecan Entertainment has acquired the Canadian distribution rights to the feature length documentary, THE GHOSTS IN OUR MACHINE, directed by Liz Marshall (Water On The Table) which had its much anticipated World Premiere last night to a standing ovation. Produced by Nina Beveridge and Liz Marshall, THE GHOSTS IN OUR […]
by John Davidson for FILMbutton Bottom Line: An age defying romp through some great musical standards, as seen through the eyes of those who have really seen it all. Set against the skyline of a very opulent, modern and polluted Shanghai, a group of octogenarians and lifelong friends make beautiful music together, all the while […]
by Lisa Santonato for FILMbutton 15 Reasons to Live is the most recent film by Toronto-based documentary filmmaker Alan Zweig, best known for his Genie-award winning documentary, A Hard Name. Based on Ray Robertson’s book entitled, Why Not? Fifteen Reasons to Live, the film is a collection of personal stories inspired by Robertson’s reasons including […]
from ampr White Pine Pictures is proud to present the Canadian premiere of FIGHT LIKE SOLDIERS DIE LIKE CHILDREN at the 2013 Hot Docs International Documentary Film Festival. This special presentation comes hot on the heels of its sold out screenings at the prestigious IDFA in Amsterdam and the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival in […]
Our biggest challenge was making a film about the Oil Sands that would find some common ground between bitterly divided groups. From the initial reactions to the film in both the environmental camp as well as the Oil & Gas sector we’re seeing enthusiasm and bi-partisan discussion. Hot Docs Film Festival says: “Home to one […]
