2020 fESTIVAL LINEUP
OCTOBER 1 - DRIFF DAY 1 - true NORTH!
All that is truly Canadian. Stories that get to the heart of who we are as a country and explore Canadian identity.
Two programs were available to stream online.
true NORTH! (76 minutes)
EMPTY, (Canada) dir Tristan Laughton (1:46 minute) short film: A portrait of the effect the pandemic has on the city shown from the perspective of a man calling a loved one.
BIG WHEELS, (Canada) dir Andrew Simpson (22 minutes) short film: Two men fueled by alcohol and rage force a mechanic into giving their car a last minute inspection. As the process continues, shifts in power emerge and tensions start to run dangerously high.
COMPANY TOWN, (Canada) dir Peter Findlay (52 minutes) Opening Night Film: On the anniversary of General Motors' 100th year of manufacturing vehicles in Oshawa, Canada, the union is forced into a life-and-death fight to save members' jobs when the company announces it will be shuttering the plant at the end of the next year.
Second Line-up (Feature Film)
PERCY, (Canada) dir Clark Johnson (100 minutes): How can you patent something that’s alive? Percy is the true story of an independent Canola farmer’s decade long crusade against global corporate monolith, Monsanto. Accused of growing the company's genetically modified organisms (GMOs) without a license and forced to risk losing his land, 70-year-old Percy Schmeiser (Christopher Walken) takes his fight to the highest court, challenging the multinational’s right to own organic life. Cast includes: Christopher Walken, Christina Ricci, Zach Braff and Adam Beach.
OCTOBER 2 - DRIFF DAY 2 - International Screenings, Global Discussion
DRIFF DAY 2 is our International Showcase. Featuring work from Italy, Jamaica, Austria, Egypt and Canada.
Two programs were available to stream online.
This selection of films reminds us to never underestimate people. People can show up and show you who they are if you give them a chance.
DRIFF DAY 2 served up a virtual platter of films to stream from around the world and the opportunity to participate in a global conversation with select filmmakers. In partnership with Durham College and hosted in their Global Classroom, a moderator will remotely connect filmmakers for a livestream discussion about their work.
INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE (Shorts Program) 92 minutes in length.
Presented by Durham College – a global classroom event
NIGHTSHIFT, (Egypt) dir Karim Shaaban (14 minutes): Zein, a young man in his mid-20s, seems content with his job as a customer service representative. During one of his late-night shifts, he receives a call from a customer which exposes him to the drudgery of his work, his powerlessness, and the ugliness of his life.
AMATEUR, (Italy) dir Simone Bozzelli (15 minutes): Serena helps Christopher study German but he would rather record her with his cell phone. Serena doesn't want him to record her, but through this game she makes him laugh. The two grow closer and discover an unexpected intimacy.
THE BEST ORCHESTRA IN THE WORLD, (Austria) dir Henning Backhaus (14 minutes): Ingbert, the sock, attempts to assert himself against existing systems by auditioning as double bass player at the Vienna State Orchestra.
YOUR DAY IS TOMORROW, (Jamaica) dir Rickroy Williams & Wentworth Kelly (33 minutes): A homeless child who is capable of foreseeing murders must escape his Svengali to stop the murder of a dear friend within 24 hours.
IL VESTITO, (Italy) dir Maurizio Ravallese (16 minutes): A laundry attendant is found stealing a suit from a sick groom who has just been left at the altar. To atone for his sins, he will have to avenge the robbed man.
Second Line-up (FEATURE FILM)
THE WHALE AND THE RAVEN, (Canada) dir Mirjam Leuze (101 minutes): The Whale and The Raven illuminates the many issues that have drawn whale researchers, the Gitga’at First Nation, and the Government of British Columbia into a complex conflict. As the people in the Great Bear Rainforest struggle to protect their territory against the pressure and promise of the gas industry, caught in between are the countless beings that call this place home.
OCTOBER 3 - DRIFF DAY 3 - Homegrown
Virtual Screenings
Two programs were available to stream online.
1. Homegrown. A program featuring Ontario and Durham Region talent and stories that speak to the theme of Community Re-imagined.
2. Student film showcase made up of six amazing shorts. 65 minutes in length. DRIFF Director of Programming, Kirk Cooper, shares that 2020 has proven the strongest year for quality and experience demonstrated by the student submissions received. This spotlight showcased the next generation of creators who will one day be seen in larger cinemas. These people are the directors and producers of tomorrow.
Closing Night Drive-in Screening and Awards
Homegrown. A program of selected films featuring Ontario and Durham Region talent and stories that speak to the theme of Community Re-imagined.
Our first fall drive-in experience showcased a selection of narrative shorts and a documentary short, followed by the presentation of DRIFF 2020 Awards for Best Student, Best Feature, Best Short and Best Regional Film.
HOMEGROWN (Shorts Program) 92 minutes in length.
THE BEACH RAIDERS, dir Tyson Breuer (8 minutes): Mel and James try to keep their shenanigans alive for one more night knowing that summer is coming to an end and their carefree life won't last.
A TWISTED HISTORY OF THE BROKEN HEART, dir Willie Frickelton (19 minutes): How do you let go of someone you thought you'd be with forever? “A Twisted History of the Broken Heart” is an experimental short film that explores the themes and feelings of having a broken heart and the helplessness that comes with it.
THIS GARDEN IS YOURS, dir Jessie Posthumus (14 minutes): Two urban farmers bring together their neighbours in an effort to construct a community greenhouse from scratch in "This Garden is Yours," a dreamy mixed-medium portrait exploring sustainability and safe spaces in cities.
ELEGY, dir Justin Mezzapelli & Brigitte Sampogna (9 minutes): A young violin student experiences unwarranted infatuation with someone unfamiliar.
STANDSTILL, dir Katia Shannon (12 minutes): A fight to get through the gridlock becomes a fight for survival for Amanda as her body comes to a standstill.
DOWN DELORO RIVER, dir Josh Wood (13 minutes): On the run after looting a prospector, William makes his way down a river to Deloro, Ontario where a man will trade gold for cash. William takes cover in the man's cabin, but soon realizes he is interested in something much more valuable than the mysterious man’s gold.
LIMBO, dir Anthony von Seck (17 minutes): Raymond, a high-profile intelligence operative tries to retrieve his personal handbook filled with top-secret information from Charley, a conspiracy theorist. A simple exchange of property becomes a shocking re-evaluation of Ray's destructive occupation.
Second Line-up (STUDENT SHOWCASE) (Shorts Program) 65 minutes in length.
THE RIVER, dir Benjamin Hargreaves (17 minutes): "The River" is a short documentary that follows the hardship and creativity of a contributor of The River Magazine -- a publication showcasing the art, words and stories of people who identify as living in poverty in Peterborough, Ontario.
NOWHERE, ONTARIO, dir Kurtis Watson (14 minutes): Two small-town best friends form a band fostered by boredom and become international rock stars in the process.
MORE THAN JUST WATER, dir Winnifred Murphy & Chris Davy (6 minutes): Patrick Murphy has earned his living from the bounty of Lake Erie his entire working life, but his livelihood is now threatened with the decline of the fishing industry. He and his community are faced with a loss of identity due to this transformation and forced to adapt.
ON THE FENCE, dir Paula Ner Dormiendo (7 minutes): “On the Fence” follows a group of multicultural individuals and their intertwined struggle with identity.
BEHIND THE HANDLE, dir Sydney Facey & Mitchell Kennedy (17 minutes): Take a personal look into the lives of four social media influencers and find out what it really takes to go viral. Influencers share their strategies and the highs and lows of what it means to be considered a social media “celebrity.”
NUMB, dir Liv McNeil (4 minutes): “Numb” chronicles a high school student’s soul-crushing routine as she faces online learning in isolation while yearning for pre-pandemic structure and human connection.
