16th Annual Hamilton Film Festival AWARDS
Announcing on Tues Nov 16th

FILM

BEST FEATURE - DRINKWATER
Honourable Mention - Lune

BEST SCREENPLAY - LUNE
Honourable Mention - Frankie

BEST SHORT - MISS FORTUNATE
Honourable Mentions - Freebird / Come Midnight

BEST DOCUMENTARY - SLEEPERS
Honourable Mention - Unearthing Ogawa

BEST PERFORMANCE in a FEATURE  - AVIVA ARMOUR-OSTROFF
Honourable Mention - Roy Depuis in Brain Freeze

BEST PERFORMANCE in a SHORT - MORGAN O'SULLIVAN
Honourable Mention - Paul Rivers in The Perfect Game

BEST EDITING - MIKE REISACHER for LIMINAL
Honourable Mention - The Perfect Game

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY - STEVEN LINDSAY for BONECRUSHER
Honourable Mention - Liminal

​BEST MUSIC - DANNY COLOMBY for FLEE THE LIGHT
Honourable Mention - Guiseppe Alfano for Exit Plan

​BEST SOUND - BRENNAN DeBURGER for LONE SIGNAL
Honourable Mention - Brain Freeze

BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS - BRAIN FREEZE
Honourable Mention - Red String of Fate

BEST EMERGING (Student or First Time Filmmaker) - RED STRING OF FATE
Honourable Mention - The Exit Plan

​SPARQUIE THE SQUIRELL - MY DINNER WITH CHUCK
Honourable Mention - Cucumber
(Sparquie The Squirrel goes to the most electrifying film, in honour of the squirrel that knocked out our power at our gala one year. Sparquie didn't make it but their legend lives on)
Picture
TRULY INDEPENDENT - BRENT PERNIAC
Brent Perniac is a professional photographer based in Hamilton, Ontario. Brent has become one of Canada’s most popular celebrity-event photographers. He has photographed a wide range of entertainment, sports, political, corporate, and royal icons such as Prince Charles, Luciano Pavarotti, Bruce Springsteen, Queen Elizabeth II, Bill Clinton, Madonna, Sir Richard Branson, Lady Gaga, Wayne Gretzky, Jack Nicklaus, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Robert DeNiro, Jennifer Lopez, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Oprah Winfrey.

For the past 6 years, Brent has taken the time to attend, and photograph, key events at the Hamilton Film Festival, boosting our profile , and never asking for anything in return. He is always spreading the word, and bringing friends to our event. This makes him totally worthy of the Truly Independent award! 

Brent attended high school with festival director Nathan Fleet, at Delta Secondary in Hamilton. 
(Photo: Brent Perniac with festival director Nathan Fleet photo by Saul )

Truly Independent is given to an organization or person who has championed the film festival. Past recipients include Eves Raja, Ket Turner, Craig F. Watkins, Robert Ezergailis, Sharon Borbill, The Staircase Theatre (Hugh, Kathy and Colette), Cher Obediah,  Marty Fleet and Erin Shields.  

HAMILTON FILM STUDIOS - RENTAL CERTIFICATE AWARD
Aviva Armour-Ostroff (Lune) - $1500 certificate
RYAN FURLING (Sleepers) - $1000 certificate
STEVEN LINDSAY (Bonecrusher)  - $500 certificate + Rosco Mix Book

SCREENPLAY

TOP 3 screenplay winners!
1 - Waves by Fateema Al-Hamaydeh Miller
​2 - Grey Duck Kevin Kautzman, Abbie Lucas
​3 - The Way of Beauty by Wyatt Lamoureux
Prize sponsored by INKTIP
Top 10 screenplay finalists (alphabetical by title )
Bracewater by Cynthia Crofoot
Fragile Seeds by Mia Golden
Grey Duck Kevin Kautzman, Abbie Lucas
Threshold Effect by Deric Olsen
MAC + BETH by Jaime Kawamoto
Mattress by Tracy Morse, Sophia Porter
​Nora by Emma L.R. Hogg
Power Move by Michael Ellis
Threshold Effect by Deric Olsen
Waves by Fateema Al-Hamaydeh Miller
The Way of Beauty by Wyatt Lamoureux
Top 3 will be announced on Nov 16th and win the prize pack by InkTip

Official poster SOLD OUT

As we turn 16, now we can drive, the theme this year is Coming of Age.
​Past themes have been Music, Darkness, Comedy and Variety.


Binge Watcher Passes​
​See everything!
SOLD OUT 

Flash your keychain at the door and you are in! 
​(with proof of double vaccination and ID, of coarse) 
FESTIVAL NOTICE
For all our in-person screenings, as per the government of Ontario regulations, you must show proof of double vaccination, and photo ID when entering our theatres. Our theatrical venues are allowed 100% capacity. Patrons must wear a mask or face covering unless eating or drinking.

All seating is general admission. It is advised to arrive 30 min prior to screening time. 

Tickets are digital only and we advise to buy online as we aim to be cashless.

All films are not rated. Please read the synopsis of the films, and view responsibly. 

Saturday  November 6

​Opening Night 
​Sweet 16 Event!
​7pm Doors Open

LUNE
​Saturday November 6th, 7pm, $16
112m, Drama, Coming of Age, Canada
Dir. Aviva Armour-Ostroff, Arturo Perez Torres
Westdale Theatre, 1014 King St W, Hamilton
Miriam is a South African born Jew raising her seventeen year 
old daughter Eliza in Canada. Nelson Mandela's upcoming election triggers a manic episode in the bipolar Miriam, who has spent years fighting apartheid. Fuelled by the introduction of Mike, Eliza's Black boyfriend, Miriam's mania escalates as she navigates politics, religion, the mental health care system, and parenting.

Doors open at 7pm + DJ Aerlie Wild + Feature + Q&A

Please see the Westdale Theatre safety protocols for this in-person screening
https://www.thewestdale.ca/safety-protocols/
DJ AERLIE WILD spinning vinyl and playing great soundtrack moments from the best coming-of-age films!

Sunday November 7th

Kids Can Film + Introducing Wild Child
Sunday November 7th, 10am, Free
Westdale Theatre, 1014 King St W, Hamilton
Kids Can Film

Wild Child Editing Sneak Peak!
Hamilton, 5m
See the new Hamilton-filmed TV series, WILD CHILD come to life in the editing suite.
This wilderness challenge show for kids will be coming soon to Bell Five TV1!

This Is Why I Dance, Hamilton, 12min, - Freedom Studios - The Creative Arts Centre
In 2021, this video was created as a time capsule
​to represent a moment in time where Freedom dancers found resilience, love, and passion
to keep dancing. 

The Device, Hamilton, 5m - Kids Can Film
​An evil villain captures a group of unknown superheroes and makes them retrieve a device.

62, Hamilton, 4m - Kids Can Film
Something is happening around town with the number 62
and kids with super powers investigate.

Panic Party, Hamilton, 5m - Kids Can Film
Things go wrong at a kids party when some of
the kids go missing.
Page Turner: Cinematic books
​Sunday November 7th, 1pm. Free with ticket
Westdale Theatre, 1014 King St W. 
Three local authors bring the big screen to the page.


Academy Award® winner Colin Chilvers returns in person!
Believing A Man Can Fly
Memories of a life in special effects and film
Superman: The Movie, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Smooth Criminal, XMen, K19 and many, many more. 

Aaron Lam
Composing Adventure: Conversations with Composers about Great Adventure Scores
A collection of interviews with the talented artists behind the scores for some of cinema's most celebrated adventure films.​ Through casual conversations with composers like Bill Conti, Bruce Broughton, Laurence Rosenthal, Lee Holdridge, Craig Safan and many more, you will learn about their experiences in the film industry as they created some of the most memorable music ever written for motion pictures.


​Stephen Hayes
When The Luck Runs Dry
Given up for dead, Patrick Farley returns home to pay a gambling debt to the Mob, but finds he’s been framed for murder. His luck’s run dry so he makes his own, and it becomes a dangerous game filled with sex, drugs, violence and betrayal. Can he hold on to the beauty he also finds waiting for him here in the heart of this broken- down city, and follow its path back home?
Based on his award winning film, Lucky 7
MOVING MUSIC
Sunday November 7th. 7pm - 10pm
STEVE DEEPS and the LOWDOWN
+ Chris Altmann
​$12

The Casbah, Hamilton
Panel Discussion + Live Music
​The Casbah
Learn how some local musicians, and entrepreneurs, are using moving images to 
get music seen, heard, and monetized!

​Rob McCann from Clearcable to reveal the process of streaming as it's happening.
 
Plus the debut of the new Deeps music video, Walking Out In The Rain
and live performances by Chris Altmann, and Steve Deeps and The Lowdown!
​
Guests: Alysha Main, Pop Engine Productions, Rob McCann from Clearcable

7pm - Panel 
8pm - Chris Altmann
8:45 - Steve Deeps and The Lowdown

Monday November 8th 

We used to start the festival on a Monday night in the historic Staircase so this night always brings great memories.
We hope it will for you this year! 
COMING OF AGE SHORTS
Monday November 8th, 7pm, 101m, $10
Staircase Theatre, 27 Dundurn St N
 Scutly, 15m, USA, Layne Marie Williams
The Matour is home to two forces of nature -- the spunky, bubbly Pastel Girls and Scutly, a quirky senior citizen facing Alzheimer’s. When these personalities collide, The Pastel Girls and Scutly find common ground in unexpected places.

Visible, 26m, Canada, Maryan Haye & Carol Liu
At Aginview Secondary School, Sharon, Mo, and Lee are in their final year of high school. When Mo’s brother, Abdi, is hurt in what seems to be a xenophobic attack, the seniors team up to seek justice from the school administration, but quickly realize that getting justice in their community isn’t as easy as it seems.

We Need To Talk, 13m, Canada, Nicole Hayward
We Need To Talk is a conversation starter for tween suicide and mental health in youth. When his best friend dies, 12 year old Keaton must cope with the loss of his best friend while his mother Carol struggles to tell him what really happened. When Keaton discovers that Liam's death was a suicide, he searches for answers and questions how he didn't see this coming.

Miss Fortunate, 15m, UK, Ella Jones
Scarlet’s mum has died, leaving her with two cats, a huge tax bill and a crush on a boy she can’t talk to. A comedy-drama about grief, in which a young woman loses her mother, and finds herself.

Break Any Spell, 13m, Canada, Anton  Jøsef
When April sets off to battle in the the world of live-action-role-playing, her mother's early-onset Alzheimer's reaches a breaking point.

God In The Sky, 19m, Australia, Sean Fox & Dan Fox
When a cosmic entity suddenly appears in the sky one day, sending everyone on Earth 'visions of the afterlife' - Dee, a teenage girl, suffers a crisis of faith when she doesn't receive any visions at all. As life begins to return to a new 'normal', Dee attempts to reconcile her complicated emotions with the world around her.
Shellfish, Hunter Hopewell (HFF Alumni)
82m, Coming of Age / Comedy, USA, 
Mon Nov 8th, 9:30pm, $10, Staircase Theatre, 27 Dundurn St. N
Instead of finding a ‘real’ job, as his parents lovingly put it, stop motion animator Keller attempts to produce a film in a week with his dumbstruck brother and longtime crush. When their shoot goes wrong, Keller must face his own selfishness and decide which is more important, his filmmaking or close relationships, in this coming-of-age comedy with a twist of stop motion animation.

Supported by friends and family, Hunter has won over 40 awards for the 20+ short films he has written, directed, edited, and scored, including a first place award at the United Nations for his anti-bullying short film, 'Numbskull.' Now, Hunter is a Video Producer at The Walt Disney Company and just wrapped writing and directing his debut feature film, 'Shellfish.' Looking ahead, Hunter plans to give back through filmmaking and Rock*Comedy*Film Festivals benefiting arts education programs.

Tuesday November 9th
Let's All Go To The Loooobby!
STARLITE DRIVE-In NIGHT

Funnies: Short Comedies
87m, Canada, 7pm, USA, UK, $26 Carload
Starlite Drive-In, 59 Green Mountan Road E
Worlds Best Dad, 2m, Canada, Johan Atkins
A short film about an artist working on his next masterpiece.

The Cinephiles, 4m, USA, Vanessa Jimenez (First Time Filmmaker)
Vanessa Jimenez is an art school grad born and raised in Dallas, TX. An award-winning visual storyteller, she has an extensive background in television, corporate productions and as of a few years back – short films. In her spare time she enjoys binging TV shows, listening to live music, photographing her travels and being outdoors with her husband and their three dogs.

The Kicked Dog, 14m, UK, Max Hemmings
Alan and Terry - feuding brothers, relics from a bygone cockney era, consumed with toxic male pride - have one last shot to bury the hatchet, before Terry's dementia takes hold. A black comedy starring Alan Ford (Snatch, Lock Stock) and Clive Russell (Game of Thrones, Ripper Street). 

The Perfect Game, 23m, Canada, David Cartwright
Canadian five pin bowling champion Jim Noggins strives to score a perfect game while trying to raise his daughter who he struggles to relate to.

Spidermama, 7m, Mike Trebilcock
A strange incident gives a nursing home resident (Lynne Griffin, Black Christmas) an escape from the usual routine.

Wedlock, 6m, UK, Stephen Ashwell (First Time Filmmaker)
Somewhere in the English countryside… one man drives as if his life depends on it, while one woman steps down the aisle on the biggest day of her life. Both speeding towards a future destined to collide.

The Robbery, 10m, Canada, Nike Bellanina
“The Robbery” is a comedic short film about two teams of gunmen who simultaneously stick-up the same convenience store. Awkwardness grows as one gunman recognizes his ex partner in the opposite team while they face a dilemma of splitting up the score. Should they do it democratically or consider historical gender and racial inequality? The film becomes a satire on modern identity politics that skewers how societal infighting becomes an obstacle to reaching goals.

The Bubble, 17m, Canada, Beth Evans (First Time Filmmaker)
When strict pandemic restrictions are relaxed to allow for the formation of 10 person social bubbles, Charlie's prayers are answered. But squeezing into a bubble proves more challenging than she expected.

The Hankerbox, 11m, UK, Abbie Lucas
A story about Kenneth: a man with many modest hopes for himself long since lost to complacency. When his wife, Janice, shows up at his work with a mysterious box, will Kenneth lose his dreams to a nefarious character - from eBay?
Canadian Genre Shorts
82m, 9pm, $26 Car load! 
Starlite Drive-In, 59 Green Mountain Road East
Good Morning. 6m, Ethan Cabral
Good Morning” takes place in the psyche of a compartmentalized hitman. We sit in as he explores his mind through the eyes of god. 
His love of death and hatred of himself spread like cracks in ice until he breaks through, sheds his cocoon, and is born anew.

Prequel, 12m, Justin E Beattie
A dramatic short film focusing on the mental health of Sarah a young women struggling with depression amidst the global pandemic.

The Uncanny Valley, 15m, Julia Beney
Desperate for a clue to a mysterious case, an Investigator pushes for a last minute interview with his only witness: an A.I. called ANDI-7291. There's only one problem, fearing the A.I. is corrupt, the scientists at Lang Industries made the suspicious decision to wipe her memory. Now The Investigator has about 10 minutes to find out if any memories remain before ANDI-7291 is dismantled by the scientists.

Hell in a Handbasket, 5m, Lee Chambers
Dale, a lonely research scientist in the Arctic struggles to maintain his solitary existence. With the world failing from a global pandemic, all hopes fall on Dale's shoulders as he represents the last stand for humanity.

Departure, 15m, Douglas Gibbens
An irresolute housewife is faced with news that her closest friends have decided to emigrate to Mars. She begins to 
challenge her husband's idealism about the decaying Earth and must ultimately decide what she is willing to leave behind.

Special Guest, 3m, David J Fernandes
Daniela Rendon and Andrew Ravindran star as Shazi and Sarjit, an urban exploring couple who get lost in a maze of underground tunnels.

Spidermama, 7m, Mike Trebilcock
A strange incident gives a nursing home resident (Lynne Griffin, Black Christmas) an escape from the usual routine.

My Dinner With Chuck, 20m, David M. James
During a terrible blind date and a low point in her life, Mallory begins talking to her crab dinner named Chuck - is she crazy or will she actually listen to what Chuck says?

The Phone Interview, 7m, Kassy Gascho & Melissa Jones
After being rejected from her dream sorority, a determined girl kidnaps a local cashier in hopes of achieving community by working at a boutique grocery store.

Sound of Space, 12m, Tyler Morgan
Captain Isa is on a solo mission to deliver desperately needed supplies to a Martian settlement. She has struggled with the isolation, the tedious meals and the heartbreak of leaving her son. When Isa loses her hearing, she is pushed to her limits to overcome the "Sound of Space".

Wednesday November 10th

The Revolution Generation
80m, Documentary,  USA, Josh Tickell, Rebecca Tickell
Staircase Theatre, 27 Dundurn St. N, $10, 7pm
Narrated and starring Michelle Rodriguez (Lost, Avatar, The Fast and Furious), THE REVOLUTION GENERATION is a manifesto for today's youth on the societal forces that have shaped and held back their generation, and how they can deploy their unique strengths to revolutionize the political system. Today half of the people on planet Earth are under the age of 40 - this is more people than were alive in 1950. Theirs is the most connected, educated and technologically savvy generation ever. Yet the hardships they face threaten to culminate in a perfect storm of economic, political and environmental crisis. This documentary explores the sweeping changes that lead to the world that young people are inheriting and paints a picture of how this generation is awakening to confront both the US political crisis and the global environmental crisis.

100% of the ticket sales will be donated to an indigenous organization.
Abducted, 110m, Canada, Daniel Foreman (HFF Alumni), Stephen McMichael
9:30pm
$10 and 100% of ticket sales will be donated to a local indigenous organization
Staircase Theatre, 27 Dundurn St. N
At the heart of our story is 17-year-old Derrick, a young man whose character arc begins with a boy who is fully dependent on his grandmother and his sister. Derrick's sister, Lakota, is living an at-risk lifestyle dealing drugs for an all-woman gang. When she suddenly disappears, Derrick sets out to find her. Along the way, he faces racism, police brutality and his own lack of confidence. With guidance from his spirit animal, he is able to continue his journey with renewed strength and resolve, eventually facing his sister's abductor in a thrilling fight to the death.

Thursday November 11th

EMERGING FILMMAKERS
Thursday November 11th, 7pm, $10
A collection of shorts from first time filmmakers, and students. 87m
Staircase Theatre, 27 Dundurn St. N
Red String of Fate, 10m, FTF, SciFi / Cyberpunk, Canada, Lovina Yavari
In the year 2090, a robotics engineer tries to bring her fallen lover back to life.

Liminal, 12m, FTF, Drama, Dan Abramovici
Steve lives both his past and present concurrently. As time is compressed and he flows through spirals of love and sexuality, Steve finds himself in a transition; stuck between a family life built on half measures, and a desire for a more authentic experience. 

OVERPLAY, 28m, FTF / Student, Drama, Thriller, Canada, Hamilton, Dane Cecchelli
Miles has the perfect plan: steal loads of cash from his drug dealer Brooks without him ever knowing who's involved. His broke friends are all for it. And it even seems like they pulled it off, at first. But one miss-step brings the whole plan crashing down. Will Miles manage to make off with the money? Or will this reckless scheme be the last mistake he ever makes?

The Exit Plan, 14m, UK / Australia, FTF, Angus Wilkinson
In an overpopulated future, an elderly woman is visited by a young government official to check she is complying with the "Exit Plan" policy. However, when the agent interrogates her further he soon realizes she has something 'planned' for him.

Matroschka, 8m, Germany, FTF, Jana Filzhuth
German with English Subtitles
During her birthday Hannah es recording video messages for her ex-boyfriend to whom she has no contact since the breakup. She finally wants to tell him all the things that never have been said. Longing for liberation out of years of imagined repression. While she is trying to find closure, she is struggeling with her conscience and needs. It follows an interaction of feelings out of sarcasm, anger, grief but also honesty and joy.

Middle of Nowhere, 15m, Canada, Molly Shears
After the sudden death of their older brother, Dezzy and Oscar move to Northern Canada to spend the summer with their chain-smoking grandma. When Oscar becomes preoccupied with trying to impress their overconfident cousin, Dezzy seeks refuge in a mysterious creature she sees in the woods.

We believe it is very important for emerging filmmakers to experience their movies in a theatre, with a new audience. Every year at the Hamilton Film Festival we dedicate a program to this to ensure the encouragement and growth of the future's filmmakers. 
International Shorts, 81m
Thursday November 11th, 9:30pm, $10
Staircase Theatre, 27 Dundurn St. N
Don vs Lightning, 13m, UK, Big Red Button
All Don wants is a quiet life in the Scottish Highlands. Unfortunately the universe has other plans.

Vis - a Vis. 17m, Luxembourg, Émile V. Schlesser
English Subtitles
While throwing a booze fueled party during the pandemic, a young man is haunted by the suspicion that something happened to the old lady across the street – and he might be responsible for it.

Standing Woman, 15m, UK, Tony Hipwell
Standing Woman is an award winning dystopian drama about a near future where the government, rather than imprisoning criminals or deporting immigrants, turns them into trees as part of an insidious environmental campaign. Based on the short story by internationally acclaimed writer, Yasutaka Tsutsui, author of Paprika and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Standing Woman is a cautionary tale of a world that has edged into bio-fascism. The story follows Tom, a propaganda filmmaker working for the government as he wrestles with the recent ‘planting’ of his wife Mari and embarks on an odyssey to say a final goodbye. On his journey he will encounter others affected by this regime whilst wrestling with the guilt he carries for his wife’s fate.

Consequences, 15m, Spain, Coming-of-Age Drama Diana Valero Ruiz
Spanish with English subtitles
'Consecuencias' tells the step to maturity of a Latin American adolescent living in Madrid, in the face of social and economic discrimination.

Vlada Goes to London, 21m, FTF / Student, Israel, Arti Savchenko
Hebrew and Russian with English subtitles
Vlada is a pizza delivery girl who lives in Haifa and dreams of becoming a famous DJ. Within a five-hour shift, we get a glimpse into her world full of pressure where she's willing to do whatever it takes to find the money for a flight to perform at a festival in London.

Friday November 12th

SHORT MIX
Friday November 12th, 7pm, $12
A mix of comedy and dramatic short films
Westdale Theatre, 1014 King St W
If you want to get a sense of the Hamilton Film Festival, this short mix is a good look at what we like to see on our screens! 
SHORT MIX, 90m

How To Do Sh!T With Guido Gagootz
Adriano Valentini, USA, (Hamiltonian) 1m x6, web episodes
Guido Gagootz teaches you how to do sh!t. 6 Short episodes shown throughout this program.  
​
Solitaire, 8m, Canada, Ryan Walker 
In March 2020, the government announces a brief lockdown to combat a growing pandemic. As weeks turn into months, a personal battle with boredom and ennui begins to emerge.

The Audition, 7m, USA, Catherine Dyer 
Struggling actress Zoe faces ambivalent casting directors, stiff competition and her own unpredictable emotions before the BIG audition.

Come Midnight, 13m, USA, Shira Rosenzweig 
A husband and wife's last goodbye on the brink of moral collapse. Come Midnight is a tale of love, loss, lives saved and lives taken. It defies expectations while foreshadowing a sociopolitical nightmare right around the corner.

Frankie, 10m, USA, James Kautz 
Frankie, a non-binary trans person, crashes their ex-partner’s men-only 12 step meeting, determined to be heard... no matter the cost.

She Keeps Me, 16m, Canada, Erica Orofino
The strained relationship between two sisters reaches a dangerous climax in this exploration of family ties, mental illness, and self-sacrifice.

400 Days Later, 10m, Canada, Stephen Bell 
When a global pandemic hits and theaters shut down nationwide, stage actress Natalie finds herself coping with isolation, dwindling options and redefining what really matters in the wake of a changed world.

Cucumber, 4m, Hamilton, Christian Corbett 
Ned is under investigation for murders he committed while putting together a close-up magic documentary.

Rent Do, 15m, Canada, Gavin Michael Booth 
Rent Do follows Rich, Winnie and Pete, roommates and reluctant best friends. When each one is unceremoniously fired on the same day, they’re forced to start job hunting. But after Winnifred takes matters into her own hands, all three are forced into hiding. Paying rent becomes the least of their concerns.
Brain Freeze 
​Friday November 12th, 9:30pm, $12
Action  / Comedy / Genre, Coming of Age
​92m, Montreal, Julien Knafo
French with English subtitles
Westdale Theatre, 1014 King St W
in partnership with Centre francophone Hamilton

Au début de l’hiver, dans une enclave huppée où le loisir et l’argent ne connaissent pas de limite, un club de golf donne le contrat à une multinationale sans morale de modifier génétiquement son gazon afin de rester ouvert à l’année. L’eau de l’Île-aux-Paons devient ainsi contaminée par un fertilisant « révolutionnaire » qui a l’avantage de faire fondre la neige, mais transforme ses habitants en mutants. Sous ses yeux, André, 13 ans, voit éclore l’épidémie foudroyante qui fait de lui un orphelin. Horrifié, il doit lutter pour sa survie et celle de sa sœur, bébé d’un an, quand il rencontre Dan, gardien de sécurité et piètre survivaliste de 50 ans. Devant l’urgence, André et Dan se lanceront dans une enquête qui les mènera au chalet du Club de Golf. Mais cela ne se passera pas sans avoir perdu quelques plumes au passage…

As winter approaches, an exclusive Golf Club hires a Multinational biotech whose “revolutionary” fertilizer melts the snow, contaminating the water and the residents of Peacock Island, transformed into mutants. 
André (15) watches as the infection spreads, leaving him orphaned and in charge of his baby sister Annie. He meets Dan, a wannabe survivalist who has taken refuge in a high-end grocery with his daughter, Patricia, not so lucky. 
They embark on an adventure that takes them to the source of the contamination. In a race against the clock, they fight peacocks and mad scientists and finally the army itself…

Iani Bédard, Roy Dupuis, Marianne Fortier 

Saturday November 13th

HAMILTON FILM SUMMIT
An entire day of panels, meets, talks and films. 
​10am - 9pm
​$15

SUMMIT PASS applies to all events in this section including the film screening at 7pm. 
Presented in partnership with the City of Hamilton
10am - Web and New Media Panel
ONLINE
Hamilton is a creative place and no matter if you are shooting in Hamilton, or are from Hamilton, there are no shortage of great stories! In this panel discussion we will talk to filmmakers who have taken their stories to the small screen.  

​Meet the people behind:
Pink Is In
How to do Sh!t with Guido Gagootz
Creepy Bits
​This Is The Thing
Links to these series will be provided to ticket holders. ​
11:30am - Film Studio Round Table
ONLINE
Local studios have a casual chat about working with the city, what activity has happened, what each studios capabilities are and where we think the future of filming is headed, in Hamilton.

Confirmed guests:

Zach Zohr, Hamilton Film Studios
Film makers all over the world are discovering Hamilton and its new full prestige service, Hamilton Film Studios.
We have everything you need for your next shoot.

Mike Bruce, Co-Founding Partner Hamilton Studios Ltd. Aeon Studio Group
Aeon Studio Group is a developer and operator of film, television and digital media studios and related places.
We are helping to build Hamilton, Ontario into an international production hub.
​
Heather Adele and Simon Winterson. Digital Canaries
Founded in 2007, Digital Canaries began as a film production company. In 2015, surrounded by the booming Youtube and streaming scenes, Digital Canaries pivoted. We stopped creating our own productions and started building unique worlds where creators can come & play. Focused on serving the needs of the film, TV, and indie media production industries, we now specialize in hard-to-find and harder-to-shoot locations.
​
Christoph Benfey, Content Creator / Community Builder, Evil Empire Studios
As we work toward our dream of building the space out to the vibrant community hub it will one day become, we are renting our unique spaces out as-is to productions of all sizes.

Ashley Sloggett, Studio Operations Coordinator, Skylight Steelworks

1pm - David Hamilton
The Most Famous Canadian Producer No One Knows
David Hamilton will be Interviewed by content producer Robert Wertheimer
IN PERSON
Westdale Theatre, 1014 King St W.
David Hamilton
Born at the General and lived on West avenue for the first 9 years of his life. He and his brother started selling the Hamilton Spectator on the street when he was about 6 and it was his first exposure to being embraced by a subculture.
​
Hamilton Mehta Productions is a Toronto-based independent film Production Company. Co-founded in 1996 by internationally acclaimed director Deepa Mehta and Producer David Hamilton, Hamilton-Mehta Productions has been international recognized for its powerful and politically charged films that explore the human condition. Both Deepa & David have been the recipients of many well-respected international awards including an Academy Award® Nomination for Best Foreign Film, WATER. ​

Robert Wertheimer
An award-winning writer/producer he has been involved in international projects ever since he crashed the Cannes Film Festival while still a broke undergraduate student from Montreal’s Concordia University. Early on, Robert’s specialty was production, serving as an Executive in Charge of Production for Paramount Studios, acting as a risk manager for Film Finances Completion Bond Company as well as a producer on a host of projects. Early on, he was a founding board member of the Academy of Canadian Film and Television as well as a national board member of the Director’s Guild of Canada.
3:30pm -  Reel City
​ONLINE
​Local organizations that are contributing to the growing film, television, and new media scene. 
Bill Custers / Cable 14
​Kristina Durka / Factory Media Centre
Matthew MacFadzean / Industry  
Dana Abraham / Red Hill Entertainment
Laura Ellis / Hamilton L.O.F.T. (Ladies of Film and Television)
Nathan Fleet / Lights Camera Hamilton / Hamilton Film Festival
​Max Francis / Hamilton Black Film Festival
Debbie Spence / Business Development Consultant, Creative Industries, City of Hamilton
7pm - Hamilton Shorts - 10 Short Films
​IN PERSON Westdale Theatre (details below)
This screening is included in your Hamilton Film Summit Pass
HAMILTON SHORTS!
96m, Various genres
Saturday November 13th, 7pm, $12
Westdale Theatre, 1014 King St W
Lone Signal, 8m, Sabrina Soto
Set in the 1990s, a determined Radio Broadcaster is investigating unknown signals coming from an old radio.

Huey, 18m, Shane Pennells
A man gets more than he bargained for when he discovers a drone he found in the trash has become sentient

Viewfinder, 5m, Tiffany Wice
During a night time photoshoot, a photographer encounters a mysterious entity.

Father, Camera, Daughter, 6m, Terrance Odette
Taken from footage shot in 2008 and tucked away in the “home Movie” bin until 2019, nostalgia and the generational evolution of a story are explored in this new short film by award-winning FilmmakerTerrance Odette. A father casts his 9-yr-old daughter in the lead of his short film, a minimalist adaptation of The Little Match Girl. When she innocently questions his intentions the story moves beyond both the original Anderson tale, and a parents interpretation, and in the hands of a child transforms from something bleak to something hopeful.

Bonecrusher, 13m, Jim Morrison
Filmed in Hamilton
A True Story.

1923: drunken Mariachi music reels across a smoke-filled Mexican boxing stadium as two aging fighters -- one white, one black -- meet in the centre of the ring. Jim “The Fireman” Flynn towers over his opponent, Sam “The Bonecrusher” Langford. It is a fight to the finish and one of them has a secret.

Junior, 5m, Abraham David
The day before he leaves for grad school, Junior gets a call from his estranged father who asks him to visit for the first time in years.

Promotion, 4m, Mike Regis
After witnessing a racial incident in the workplace, a soon to be father’s morality is put to the test.

Model Railroad, 13m, Nathan Powell
When no one shows up to his birthday party, a young man takes out his frustrations on the plastic figurines inside his model railroad kit.

Holdout, 12m, Adam Benish
Two lovers find themselves in a stalemate as the late-night booty call starts to get old. Can a fresh cup of coffee infuse new life into their relationship, or will it kill it once and for all?

Stroke of Fate, 12m, Aharon Jinjihashvili
In a hospital waiting room, family wounds are exposed as a mother and son wait for news of their loved one's prognosis. Starring Sheila McCarthy (Agnes in Umbrella Academy).
I'm Sorry If I Took A Toll On You
84m, Horror / Triller, St. Catherines, Jake Burgess
​Saturday November 13th, 7pm, $10
Staircase Theatre, 27 Dundurn St. N
After her parents death, newly orphaned Cath travels up north to her recently inherited lake house where she meets Ryan, a likeable man happy to fill the void her parents left.​​
Fragile Seeds
90m, Drama / Thriller, BC, Canada, dir. Joseph Boutillier, wr. Mia Golden
Saturday November 13th, 9:30pm, $10
Westdale Theatre. 1014 King St W
(please note this is a change of venue - we will still honour the $10 ticket
​previously at Staircase but it sold out instantly so we're moving to
a larger venue)
A therapist working with sex offenders uncovers haunting secrets from her family’s past through the disturbed men she counsels every day.
Flee The Light
75m, Alexandra Senza
Saturday November 13th, 9:30pm, $10
Staircase Theatre. 27 Dundurn St. N
A mystical horror-thriller where reincarnation, demons and sorceresses intertwine to tell the story of a spiritual search gone wrong.
A psychology student (ANNIE TUMA) delves into her sister’s (ARIANA MARQUIS) psychosis, exposing herself to an ancient predator who hunts souls. Also stars Jane Siberry.

Sunday November 14th

HAMILTON L.O.F.T.  and The Factory Media Centre present
Short films and a panel discussion. 
All films made by womxn filmmakers
Including the debut film from from Hamilton L.O.F.T.
Sunday November 14th, 1pm, $12
Playhouse Cinema, 177 Sherman Ave. N
Donations will be collected at this screening for SACHA
Minor Chords, USA, 3m, Natalia Gomez
Ballet dancer realizing a tough reality after an accident.

Forgotten, 4m, Canada, Mawrgan Shaw
Forgotten is an animated short film that offers a window into the isolation the elderly face when living alone. Drawn using traditional and digital media, it is a timely exploration of loneliness.

The Help Desk, 15m, Canada, Elizabeth Fraser
In this quirky and sweet tale, HUGO, a socially awkward hermit, tries to break free from his loneliness by following the advice of a failed 90s self-help guru and stumbles his way towards connection.

Brought to you by first-time director Elizabeth Fraser and Executive Producer Sandra Cunningham (Kim's Convenience), The Help Desk is a nod to Nick Hornby-style nice-core, and a balm for complicated emotions.

The Shadow Project, 5m, Teresa D'Elia
he Shadow Project has taken place in over 250 cities worldwide. The event commemorates the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan and aims to raise awareness about the ongoing threat from nuclear proliferation. In Hamilton, Ontario, The Shadow Project is hosted each year by artist Bryce Kanbara (You Me Gallery). This film presents footage from the 2019 event and archival material, set to a poem by celebrated writer Ellen S. Jaffe. The piece is performed by poet Nisha Patel (2019 Canadian Individual Slam Champion and Poet Laureate, City of Edmonton).

Flower Boy, 16m, Anya Chirkova
As August creeps in, Nav forms an intimate bond with an audacious painter and a middle-aged laser tag owner. Just as he begins to find himself, summer inescapably comes to an end.

Lunachicks, 12m, Jess Joy
Reclusive Marla Strange longs for a friend, but her infamous father has other ideas.

Why Didn't I Leave?, 18m, Emily Schooley
Created by a crew of 19 womxn, "Why Didn't I Leave?" is Hamilton LOFT's inaugural project. This short documentary challenges the stigma behind that very question - one which places blame on victims of abuse, rather than holding perpetrators accountable. The film explores some of the less recognizable forms of abuse and the overwhelming barriers many survivors face when trying to escape, while highlighting the local organizations working to support survivors.

HAMILTON LADIES OF FILM & TELEVISION (L.O.F.T.) 
The Hamilton Ladies of Film & Television (L.O.F.T.) is excited to partner with the Hamilton Film Festival for their 2021 season as they support our mandate to achieve gender parity within our city and the Canadian film industry.
The Hamilton Ladies of Film & Television (L.O.F.T) is a Hamilton based collective founded and co-created by local artists Laura Ellis, Alysha Main, and Cher Obediah. The Hamilton L.O.F.T seeks to bring together womxn* working in all disciplines of filmmaking. 
To create/support content that is predominantly female-driven with a focus on overcoming issues/barriers within the film industry affecting womxn and underrepresented minorities
Assist in building the skills and confidence of womxn by working in cross-disciplinary and supportive teams while providing affordable training opportunities with mentors in the film community
Demonstrate that a local all-female identified production team is achievable
Showcase the achievements of womxn in Hamilton’s film industry 
Partner with local organizations to provide mutual support and opportunities for womxn by sharing knowledge, tools, and holding networking events
*The Hamilton L.O.F.T. uses an all-emcompassing definition of “womxn/woman/female/lady” which includes but is not limited to cis, trans-identifying, non-binary, and other.
We are excited to officially launch in spring of 2021 and look forward to working with many of the talented womxn in Hamilton that we know, that we love, and those we have yet to meet.
Drinkwater
Sunday November 14, 1pm
Comedy, Coming-of-Age
​112m. Canada, Stephen Campanelli
Westdale Theatre, 1014 King St. W

Dir. Stephen Campanelli, Prod. Graham Fraser, Mike Drinkwater in attendance for Q&A
Drinkwater is a quirky homage to 80’s teen coming-of-age films about friendship, parental mishaps, and trying your best to survive high school. In small-town British Columbia, Canada, awkward teen Mike Drinkwater has trouble fitting in. Hank, his offbeat father, spends more time living in his own delusional world than paying attention to his son. Mike's lack of direction takes a turn when he meets Wallace, a new girl from the US. Over the course of Mike's final semester, Wallace helps Mike train for an annual cross-country race, while Mike guides Wallace through an unfamiliar, Canadian experience. The film is filled with a balance of humour and emotional moments that mirror our main characters' friendship. Drinkwater is a love letter to small-town life and quirky family moments that have resonated with audiences for decades. Although the film is set in 2020, it harks back to simpler times and captures the nostalgia of 80’s small-town Canada. Eric McCormack, Daniel Doheny and Lourza Tronco

Stephen Campanelli, was the first to combine "A" Camera operating and steadicam, and in doing so unlocked an entirely new filmmaking perspective that quickly peaked the interests of some of Hollywood's top directors, including Stephen's boyhood idol, Clint Eastwood. Stephen first joined Clint on the Oscar nominated BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY and has remained Clint's most trusted "camera eye" ever since, including Oscar-winning films, MILLION DOLLAR BABY and MYSTIC RIVER, and the Oscar-nominated LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA, GRAN TORINO, AMERICAN SNIPER, THE MULE, and RICHARD JEWELL. Stephen's talent has been recognized by winning several prestigious awards throughout his career, including an SOC Lifetime Achievement Award, and has witnessed six Oscar-winning performances with Clint, and also on THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI. Stephen is following in the footsteps of a great storytelling director, who has shared with him his vast knowledge, and now with Clint Eastwood's blessing and the admiration of every cast and crew he has worked with, Stephen Campanelli has made the natural leap to the director's chair, having already helmed 4 feature films: DRINKWATER, MOMENTUM, GRAND ISLE, and the #1 box office Canadian film, INDIAN HORSE, which went on to win over 15 international film festival awards. Stephen has also directed a pilot for Fox, PARADISE INC., and a nationwide Nissan Titan Commercial, and is now ready to breathe life into his next project.
SLEEPERS, 66m, Documentary, Hamilton, Ryan Furlong
Sunday November 14th, 3:30pm, $12
Playhouse Cinema, 177 Sherman Ave N
Survivors of addiction recount their darkest moments and unlikely comebacks told using candid interviews and whimsical animation.

EPISODE 1
Stewart Pollock shares his humbling and cautionary life story as a heroin addict while managing bands like Teenage Head, teaching art in China, and founding SPIN Gallery, a cultural institution that helped revitalize Toronto’s, Queen West.

EPISODE 2
Tom Wilson is a renowned indigenous musician, author, and artist who never felt as though he belonged. Tom found identity through music and in the drug culture that came with it. Recounting his fall from grace and successful battle with addiction, Tom faces a secret that has haunted him for his entire life.

EPISODE 3
Emily O’Brien is an ambitious, middle-class, social media entrepreneur turned-drug smuggler. After attempting to transport two kilos of cocaine from St. Lucia to Canada with her former boyfriend, Emily landed herself in federal prison where she discovered a greater mission.

Creator/Director: Ryan Furlong
Ryan Furlong is a Canadian writer-director and creative producer from Hamilton, Ontario. His docuseries STREET SPIRITS is currently streaming on Apple TV and Amazon Prime. Ryan began his career directing award-winning music videos, shorts, and national advertising campaigns for leading brands. Projects in development for 2022 include his debut feature FOR THE LOVE OF ROSE (crime-thriller) staring Grace Dove (THE REVENANT).  Television series in development include the dramatic adaptation of BEAUTIFUL SCARS a national bestseller by indigenous artist Tom Wilson and music docuseries DARK HORSE with Scott Brothers Entertainment (PROPERTY BROTHERS) for which he is co-creator and executive producer.
COMING OF AGE - Program 2
Sunday November 14th, 7pm, 78m, $10
Staircase Theatre, 27 Dundurn St. N
Freebird, 5m, Animated, Montreal, Michael Joseph McDonald, Joe Bluhm
Freebird is the coming-of-age story of a boy with Down Syndrome who learns to navigate the world with a loving mother, an absent father, a classroom bully, and a life-long crush.

Girls Are Strong Here. 16m, USA, Scott Burkhardt
When a mother and daughter arrive at his service station with a broken down car and no where to sleep that night, a Syrian immigrant must decide how trusting he can be in his new country.

Valeria, 15m, Spain, Alejandro San Martín
Valeria, a 17 year old girl, in the face of bullying and the lack of help from the school and family, faces the decision to continue or not.

Maeve In The Dark, 15m, Kasia Kaczmarek
Sexuality and gender norms are explored when a chronically ill teen meets her new A.I. nurse, LEM.

Run, 13m, UK, Emma Miranda Moore
Charlie dreams of being a big man, strong enough to squash his bullying brother. He forms an unlikely friendship with Lisa, an intimidating neighbour. Their bond empowers them both, leaving Charlie and Lisa in control of their own destiny.

Growing Pains, 14m, UK, Jack Curtis
Rhea, 13 years old, is the primary carer for her father Martin who self medicates with cannabis. When school bullies find out that Martin’s medicine is home-grown, Rhea quickly learns that sharing is not always caring.

CABLE 14 and ONLINE  SELECTIONS
​Schedule and streaming details here:
https://cable14.com/14995446/tv-shows/hamilton-film-festival

MON NOV 8 (53m)
Unearthing Ogawa, 53m, Documentary, USA, Steve Meixell

TUES NOV 9 (57m)
A Year In Exile, 19m, Documentary, Turkey, Malaz Usta
Falling In, 13m, Theo Kim
Hope, 25m, Aaron Huggett

THURS NOV 11(56m) - All Local
Out Of Touch, 3m, animated, Henry he
Writing In Red, 10m, David Cartwright, Jack Hall
The Hauntings of Century Manor, 6m, Zachary Viola
Thanks For Nothing, 26m, Taras Hemon
In Tents, 11m, Stephanie Nakashima, Scott Morris

FRI NOV 12 (54m)
Al Qamar (The Moon), 36m, Canada, Yasmina Ramzy
The Scarecrows, 18m  OR 37m, UK, Dan Hodgson

STREAMING ONLY ON CABLE14 NOW Nov 6-14
Long Distance, 28, Canada, Kiana Rawji (streaming only)