Watch the best of films now by signing up for the FREE 7 Day trial. New Festival Daily: https://www.wildsound.ca/todays-film-festival/
The SUPERMAN trailer was JUST dropped. Watch now:
| The new ‘Superman’ film has a brand new trailer and you can watch it below. The film, directed by James Gunn, sees David Corenswet take on the role of the iconic Superhero. |
An animated vignette built on dreams and visions for the nation of Canada.
https://twitter.com/attic_films
Review by Julie Sheppard:
Healing for the Nations is a captivating animated short that uses striking imagery to encapsulate the heartbeat of Canada. It does an excellent job contrasting Canada’s natural landscape with symbols of its industry: dynamic pencil drawings move across the screen at a rapid pace moving from frozen tundra and rocky shores to farming equipment, fishing boats, oil rigs and skyscrapers, kayak transportation in the north and a breathtaking caribou hunt.
The talent of the animator, Christopher Angus, is crystal clear. He deftly uses soft pencil crayon and watercolours and prominent black outlines to create a whole host of icons, often associated with Canada, as well as dizzying rotating maps. The sound scape is riveting, moving listeners everywhere, from freezing winds to sounds of city traffic.
The upbeat coastal fiddle music, indigenous percussion, and bagpipes reveal the many cultures in Canada. This is complemented by the sewing of a blanket of international flags supported by two courageous Indigenous chieftains. At times wistful, given the fact that Canada is indeed in need of healing, the film ends with a rather optimistic outlook. Perhaps the hope is that Canada’s heart will be sown together because of, and not in spite of, its multicultural nature.
Directed by Alexander Nonaka Galant
At a showing of a rental apartment, a young woman stumbles upon a gruesome mystery while taking pictures with her phone.
Review by Parker Jesse Chase:
The film opens with Natalie (Cynthia Galant) visiting an apartment that checks all the boxes for her dream rental, but this seemingly perfect scenario spirals into terror as her phone camera reveals a sinister mystery.
First & Last wastes no time immersing us in the action. Natalie’s excitement is palpable as she captures pictures of the apartment to share with a friend. It’s through this casual act she uncovers something chilling—a bloodstain visible only through her phone. This clever use of the camera as a window into a hidden reality drives the tension, offering a fresh spin on a classic horror trope.
Writer-director Alexander Nonaka Galant’s storytelling effectively layers suspense, from the trail of blood leading to a closed bathroom door to the climactic reveal behind the shower curtain. The gruesome discovery of the homeowner’s body, followed by a ghostly confrontation, feels both shocking and inevitable. Carmen Gillespie’s portrayal of Avira, the ghost unaware of her death, adds a haunting yet tragically human dimension. Her line, “It looks like you’ve seen a ghost,” punctuates the film with dark irony, cementing its eerie tone.
The foreshadowing in the film is subtle yet clever. The phone acts as a metaphorical mirror, reflecting the hidden truths of the crime scene. Everyday elements—a hopeful apartment hunt, casual photos, and the excitement of sharing a potential home with a friend—set the stage for the unfolding horror. Details like a restraining order buried among lease applications hint at the darker backstory, while the music composition intensifies the growing dread.
While First & Last effectively builds tension and delivers an intriguing premise, it doesn’t aim to break new ground. Its execution is solid, but it doesn’t reinvent the genre, its clever use of visual and narrative elements makes it a worthwhile watch. Still, in its brief runtime, the film manages to craft a satisfying story arc with strong pacing and atmosphere, leaving the audience to question, what exactly happened to Avira?
Directed by Ilya Noyabrev
A little boy, fascinated by the legend that the white keys on the old Steinway piano, which “lives” in his parents’ house, are made of elephant tusks, dreams every night of meeting the gray giants one day and never being separated from them…This desire grows from day to day along with the lullaby that his mother sings to him, because there are words in it: “You are special!”
Review by Andie Karvelis:
What an intriguing tale the filmmakers came up with, it really captures your attention and draws you in. We start with a little boy fascinated by the ivory keys on a Steinway piano in his home. He believes that the majestic elephants willingly shed their tusks to create the piano keys. A child’s innocence and imagination are second to none. HIs mother is a musician and she wants nothing more than her son to grow up and be a musician. So each night she sings to him a very special lullaby.
One of the things I really loved was how the filmmakers used a gaussian blur on the footage to give it that memory/dream feel. The colors were vibrant and yet everything was just slightly out of focus to simulate memories. The voice over was perfectly paced and had nice emotion and inflection. The music was beautiful but anytime you have dialogue being said over sung lyrics it’s going to pull your focus and make it hard to understand what to pay attention to.
As we transition into the present, the cinematographer gave us desaturated tones and a crisp picture. We meet the little boy, now an adult. He is not the musician his mother wanted him to be and he admits this to us. The areas where he addressed the camera and spoke directly to the audience was a fascinating choice and it worked. As the film progressed, it became less and less desaturated and more colors started to come in when he moved that Steinway piano to a local bar and played for them.
The story was very well told and engaging. The leading actor did a marvelous job in the voiceover and on camera. His performance was believable and organic. The choice to end the film on the lullaby was great because it had everything come full circle
Terrance needs to convince his fiancé, family and friends he does not have a drinking problem. But can he convince himself?
Review by Andie Karvelis:
In this short film we get to meet Terrance. Terrance has a lovely fiancee, nice friends and family who care about him and one big problem. A problem that everyone else can see except Terrance. Addiction. 18.7 million people suffer from alcohol addiction or alcohol use disorder. I’m not certain which is the politically correct term so I wanted to let you decide. Now, I know what you’re thinking ‘Oh, not another heavy, depressing film about the dangers of substance abuse’. Nope, this is not that film. Don’t get me wrong, substance abuse is a serious matter but this film handles it in such a way where you still take it seriously but have some lighthearted moments.
Written by Josh James, who also plays Terrance – this dramedy is part love story, part comedy and part cautionary tale. All without hitting you over the head with the message. I love and appreciate that. There is a nice on screen chemistry between Josh and Elizabeth Renyolds who portrays Terrance’s fiancee, Elsie. They both had some wonderfully funny as well as endearing moments.
Producer/Director Eric A. Eisenstein did a wonderful job finding that balance between humor and seriousness with the actors. Director of Photography Anh Nguyen did some amazing work making each shot look beautiful. The lighting and camera angles were just perfect and it had a very intimate feel without being invasive. I also need to commend everyone on the musical choices throughout the film, it fit the sections perfectly and let you know the more lighthearted segments. All in all, Blueberries leaves you with a great moral to the story and a yearning to receive a wedding invite from Terrance and Elsie.
Bolivia’s Madidi National Park is considered to be the most biodiverse place on planet earth. The Uchupiamonas people, who call the park home, are in a constant battle against forces eager to exploit the protected area for its hydroelectric potential, hardwoods and gold. In this documentary, we hear from of the eco-warriors at the front lines.
Review by Julie Sheppard:
The short documentary film, Voices For Madidi, highlights the striking beauty and biodiversity of Bolivia, notably the Madidi National Park. This piece is a feast for the eyes and ears as we are guided into this park of gorgeous foliage, shining waters and a multitude of creatures living there. We are privileged to hear from local people who serve in roles such as guides, lodge managers and nature experts.
There are impassioned speeches by those who want to keep the area protected from threats to its wonderful ecosystem, such as hydro dams that, in their making, destroy wildlife creatures and their forest homes, and mining companies that dump toxic mercury in the waters.
The cinematography is breathtaking with many extreme close ups — especially of a wide variety of colourful native birds. It also allows the viewer to see the lush expansiveness of the park with the use of drones, along with helpful CGI names that are superimposed over the footage of various landmarks.
This stunning place is described by a narrator whose voice is kindly and gentle, which serves this lovely film well. Voices For Madidi is a must see for anyone who cares about protecting our beautiful planet, including this biodiverse jewel in Bolivia.
A Double Life unveils the gripping true story of Stephen Bingham, a lawyer accused of passing a gun to prisoners’ rights leader George Jackson in 1971. Forced into a life on the run, Bingham spends 13 years underground, eluding capture while fiercely determined to clear his name.
https://www.doublelifemovie.com/
https://www.facebook.com/adoublelifemovie
Review by Julie Sheppard:
A Double Life is a tribute to a courageous hero working for the downtrodden. Basically linear in structure, we are guided through the many stages of Stephen Bingham’s life and legal story with a collection of photos, home movies, interviews, media offerings and court evidence for and against him. Throughout the film, you sense Stephen’s intelligence, gentleness and resilience leading the viewer to root for him. The footage divulging the horrible conditions of the US prisons in 1971 and those fighting for reform, made Stephen’s case even more compelling. Also touching are the scenes with Stephen’s parents over the years, as they waited to hear from him and met him briefly, all the while believing in his innocence.
The section of the film covering Stephen’s work on activist films in France under an assumed name showed his consistency of character — a fighter for the underdog regardless of his location. As for the film’s music, it is used sparingly yet appropriately, such as touches of French accordion or muted piano motifs. Both the narrations and candid interviews of Stephen and his wife and other friends, notably his lawyer colleagues, sealed his case.
Capturing the short-lived life of his activist daughter is another element that reveals Stephen’s big-hearted nature and his ability to deal with yet another tragedy he has had to endure. Stephen’s courage and determined spirit is a testament to him, which this film captures to the very end.
A shrewd merciless crime boss must investigate the scene of his brother’s assassination for answers, revenge, and to avoid the same fate.
https://www.facebook.com/turncoattheshortfilm
https://www.instagram.com/turncoattheshortfilm/
Review by Andie Karvelis:
The name Al Capone aka Scarface is infamous. You immediately picture a ruthless crime boss from the prohibition era. Turncoat delivers a modern day twist on the criminal underworld and crime bosses.
One of the things I really enjoyed was how this film began, it drops you right into a tense situation so you are glued to the screen. Jason Montgomery wrote and directed Turncoat and he really nailed that seedy criminal underworld vibe. Great cinematography from Will Leforestier and the creative way they moved between past and present events in the film. The story was well thought out and executed really wonderfully.
Maurice Turner Jr. is our protagonist and he gave a stellar performance that was nuanced and believable. The special effects makeup for the gunshot was perfect. You can’t have a gangster film without a dame singing on stage, and this musical performance is gorgeous.
My only complaint is that now I have to wait for the second episode to find out what happens.
Synopsis:
RecoverED is a compelling documentary that explores the journey of recovery from disordered eating through powerful personal stories of resilience. The film highlights the vital role of community support and the transformative power of hope in healing. It delves into the physical, emotional, and psychological challenges faced by individuals battling eating disorders, shedding light on the multifaceted nature of recovery. RecoverED aims to inspire those struggling and to raise awareness about the recovery process, underscoring that with the right support, perseverance, and resources, recovery is possible.
http://www.bridgepointcenter.ca/recovered
https://www.instagram.com/recoveredfilm
Review by Julie Sheppard:
This piece, RecoverED: A Documentary Film About Eating Disorder Recovery, is a true testament to the power of hope. It does an incredible job presenting a wide variety of people from all walks of life, coming together to feel understood and supported.
Honouring the affirming work done by BridgePoint Center For Eating Disorder Recovery in Saskatchewan, Canada, it is all the more intimate in that the young man who does the videography is also a participant in the program. The fact that he is already a talented photographer makes the film even more beautifully shot, with nature footage of the surrounding area, in addition to many well-chosen shots of BridgePoint from above and within. Being a participant himself, his footage possesses an acute sensitivity to the thoughts and feelings of others with an eating disorder.
The documentary aptly highlights the many facets of the program, such as group discussions about the physiology of eating disorders and the challenges of a diet culture, and interactive activities such as relating with animals and food preparation and ingredient analysis. Soft vocals and light instrumentals support the emotional nature of the topic.
The most endearing part of the film is how it highlights the experiences of several participants in a more in-depth manner. You really get a sense of their uniqueness and struggles and willingness for recovery — largely due to their stay at BridgePoint. Hope being their key to success resonates loud and clear.
Watch the best of NEW Films from around the world. Also, a new festival daily. Go to http://www.wildsound.ca and sign up for the 7 day FREE trial.
Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, stars Emmy, Grammy and Tony winning powerhouse Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Broadway’s The Color Purple) as Elphaba, a young woman, misunderstood because of her unusual green skin, who has yet to discover her true power, and Grammy-winning, multi-platinum recording artist and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, a popular young woman, gilded by privilege and ambition, who has yet to discover her true heart.
Directed by Jon M. Chiu
Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Marissa Bode, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum
TOP 5 REVIEWS:
Christy Lemire – RogerEbert.com
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/wicked-film-review
Katie Walsh – Tribune News Service
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-11-19/wicked-review-part-i-cynthia-erivo-ariana-grande-john-chu-musical
Sean Burns – WBUR
https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/11/21/wicked-gladiator-glicked-film-review
Richard Crouse – Richard Crouse
https://richardcrouse.ca/wicked-4-stars-pays-tribute-to-the-beloved-stage-show-but-brews-up-its-own-cinematic-vibe/
VIDEO REVIEW:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru6iJNZWMkc
Festival Reviews 