F-O-R-M’s Commissioning Fund is an exciting program offered by the festival for emerging artists. This year, we are delighted to have commissioned 6 new movement films from artists across Canada between the ages of 19-31. Each artist received up to $2000, equipment credit and access to the facility at Cineworks in Vancouver and Charles St. Video in Toronto. These resources all went towards the creation of brand new movement films to be screened and premiered on Saturday, September 15th.
This years artists are working towards some very exciting movement ideas and concepts that involve seeing movement through music, fashion and mirrors and speak to issues of race, gender, identity, age and decolonization.
We are thrilled to present these six new films to you. Thank you and congratulations to everyone for making these films a reality, and for being a part of our third F-O-R-M Commissioning Fund Program!
Please join us after the screening for a talk back with the artists.
TRIANGULATE
A PatternNation Collaborative Film | Vancouver, Canada
PatternNation welcomes you on the journey that is TRIANGULATE. Filmed within three cities: Durban South Africa, Vancouver and Nanaimo Canada this film brought together 21 diverse artists between the two countries. The journey begins with the introverted self, the part of us that experiences solitude, intimacy and self-reflection. In the first scene vocalist Nipho Hurd brings us into nature with her track while dancers Lorin SoKool, Marisa Gold and Jason Bempong express and explore with PatternNation’s interactive soft blob sculptures. Our creative compass takes us next to the extroverted self, the part of us that experiences social stimulation, attention and excitement. The extroverted self is expressed by Lex Lafoy’s track Sibaningi’la (Zulu) There are many of us (English). We celebrate community connection with the full Durban cast and Vancouver dance company Immigrant Lessons. This voyage ends in exploring the creative self, the part of us that experiences innovation, exploration and originality. Set amidst PatternNation Murals CostaBesta’s experimental track is danced by TJ Jali and choreographer Lorin SoKool in Durban, Marisa Gold and Jason Bempong (Immigrant Lessons) in Nanaiamo and performed by CostaBesta in both cities. The introverted self, the extroverted self and the creative self complete the triangle that is TRIANGULATE. Thank you for joining us on this colourful trip as we explore connecting the Mind, Body and Soul through dance, visual art, self-expression and cross-cultural exchange.
*All music in the film has been produced by Missu and respective artists for this project.
E_GO
Eric Cheung and Alimzhan Sabir | Calgary, Canada
“E_GO” is an analysis of the dualistic nature of the ego mind and its role in shaping one's identity and perspective on oneself. Exploring the extremes, and character attributes such as the superiority and inferiority complexes. In addition, the introduction of the interiority complex a term coined by Caroline Mchugh in her TEDxTalk, “The art of being yourself.” A disposition in which describes the equilibrium between the two extremes of ego, a state of mind where you can truly be yourself. Pulling from Eric’s experiences in dealing with his own personal struggles in finding his own self-identity and ultimately as a dance artist. The film utilizes mirrors as a visual representation of the different aspects of Eric's ego. This will further the idea of self-reflection and create a medium for Eric to eventually find balance and interiority within himself.
ALL THINGS GROW
Francesca Chudnoff | Toronto, Canada
ALL THINGS GROW is the assemblage of found parts, that seem somewhat arbitrary, collaged together as a way to create a new whole. A half truth. This film embraces the aesthetics of millennial tropes, the novelty of how we communicate, and why we are terribly nostalgic. How do we translate what we feel in our bodies? Into a material? Into a colour? A pattern? A sound? What does that look like online and “IRL"? Your influence is larger than a 640px X 640px square. HOW DO YOU PERFORM YOURSELF?
powdered sugar
Roxanne Nesbitt | Vancouver, Canada
powdered sugar is a video exploration of the sound of movement and the movement of sound. What does it mean to see sound? What artifacts does it leave? Can movement induce sound memories? Can we dream in sound without image?
Foreign Ghost
Elizabeth Armitage and Aidan Chin | Vancouver, Canada
Foreign Ghost is the experience of being neither, both, one or the other. Based on the experiences of Chinese-Canadians, Foreign Ghost attempts to give the community an understanding of biculturalism and biracism. The journey is followed throughout Vancouver, exploring the different cultures in space and how that influences identity. Water can influence the movement of a fish if it is not strong enough to swim in the direction it wants to go.
Wave Hands Like Clouds
Jennifer Su | Toronto, Canada
As sunlight fills Grange Park on a weekday morning, building cranes cut across the sky while young professionals speed through the park’s paths on their way to work. A small boombox projects the peaceful sounds of Tai Chi music, setting the pace for a group of lively seniors who meet for both exercise and friendship, always followed by breakfast together. At another corner, a young artist concentrates on moving chi throughout their body, demonstrating the knowledge passed down to them by their shifu, a Chinese medicine doctor. In the afternoon, a class in Scarborough works to improve their sword Tai Chi practice, the walls of their headquarters proudly displaying tournaments they have competed in. Back in Chinatown, a Taoist temple nestled on a residential street hosts evening classes where young volunteers lead participants from all walks of life. As outsiders, we are given a glimpse into how Tai Chi, as a spiritual and physical activity, takes form in different environments, among different bodies—all with their own unique interpretations. The powerful notion that Tai Chi can be done anywhere, by anyone, is embodied by the diverse community of practitioners featured in the film.