Closing Gala “Awara Soup” - International Shorts
Spadina Theatre
24 Spadina Rd, Toronto, ON M5R 2S7, Canada
Ontario
43.6686938
-79.40525819999999
Description
This year, our international shorts program explores the theme of "food" in all its rich and varied forms. Food is intricately woven into the fabric of our lives, and our curated selection of films captures this essence in diverse and captivating ways. From the transformative power of storytelling in She Lives Close Enough to the journey of self-reliance in La Cosecha, from the treasured family recipes in Grandma's Food to the sense of community in Añay Kachi and in Food, Funk and Favela, this program is designed to engage your senses and offer new insights into the flavors and experiences that shape our world.
She Lives Close Enough
Rafael Rogante and Fabiano Tertuliano de Barros
2022 - Brazil - 16’ - Fiction
A humble street vendor of fried bananas from a city in the Amazon rainforest region has her routine changed when she meets a young reader on the bus on her way back home. From that moment on, she begins a new journey of discoveries, dreams, and the challenge of finding her child’s favorite book.
About the directors:
Rafael Rogante was born in Santo André - SP, is a theater producer, actor and filmmaker. Bachelor's degree in "Cinema and Screenwriting" from Anhembi Morumbi University (2009), acted in the series "Axogun" - ep.2 (2018) dir. Eduardo Kishimoto and Manuel Maruzzi, shown on TV Brasil, in short films such as "Só com Minhas Roupas e Livros" (2016) by Michele Saraiva, "Reexist" by Gabriela Lima (2017), editor and co-director of the short doc. "Festinaçu 10 anos" by the Oi Futuro project, he is also the screenwriter and actor of the short film "Vaga" (2021) directed by Talita Rebizzi, winner of the best actor and best screenplay award at the International KZ Film Festival (2021) ,screenwriter and Director in the short film "Ela Mora Logo Ali" (2022), winner of more than 30 awards, including 3 Kikitos at the 52nd Gramado Film Festival.
Screenwriter of the short film "O Tempo Não-Para" (in completion), Co-writer of the pilot project of the series "Amor de Mãe" (in production).
Fabiano Barros has a degree in Portuguese Literature and Literature, is a playwright and screenwriter, as well as a theater and art director, educator, and has worked in several curatorships in film festivals, such as the SESC FILM FESTIVAL, where he was coordinator of culture for fifteen years. He has written several adult and children's texts such as: The Dragon of Macaparana, The Secret of the Boss, Já Passa das Oito, Memory of the Flesh, Memory of the Soul, Biu, The Opera of Beradeiro, The Nine Moons, where the Birds Die and Bird of Arrival, having part of these texts mounted in theater formats in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Acre, Manaus, Paraíba, Recife and Rondônia, Currently the author locates his literary research in the most varied legends and myths from all over Brazil as a result of the documentary video "THE NINE MOONS" where he makes a parallel between the legend of the dolphin and abuses suffered by girls from riverside communities of the Madeira River.
La Cosecha
Samuel Díaz Fernández - USA - 13’ - documentary
Nolvia Castillo immigrated to the United States from a small village in Chiriqui, Guatemala, where she remembers eating fresh fruits and vegetables. In her new home in Austin, Texas, Nolvia finds her independence by learning how to drive and deliver produce to her neighbors as part of a food distribution program by local nonprofits Go Austin/Vamos Austin and Urban Roots Farm. As filmmaker Ai Vuong rides with Nolvia, she reflects on the significance of past meals with her parents. Together, through food, they navigate the roads of their shared immigrant experience: that we had, and thus hold on to, and that of what we create for the future.
About the director:
Samuel Diáz Fernández is a Colombian-born filmmaker, educator, and the co-founder of TÁPI Story and the School of Slow Media. He was named a National Geographic Explorer in 2022 for his upcoming short doc on Thermal Inequalities and Community perceptions of Heat in Austin, TX. The first of his Austin trilogy—an Asian-Latinx immigrant meditation on the meaning of food titled ”La Cosecha”—premiered at SXSW in 2023. In 2021, he received a Silver Telly for directing “Remember Love,” a short doc on the memories of children orphaned by the extrajudicial killings in the Philippines. His films have also been shown at CineFestival, the Austin Asian American Film Festival, and the Cambodia International Film Festival.
Luisa Macedo
2023 - Brazil - 16’ - Documentary
Canadian Premiere
In 2020, the director of the documentary gained access to the belongings of her recently deceased maternal grandmother, Zizi, who had passed away at the age of 95. Among Zizi’s possessions was a treasured notebook of recipes. Curious to see if her paternal grandmother, Lourdes, had a similar record, Luisa discovered she did not. To understand why, Luisa sets out on a journey to uncover Lourdes’s story. The film intertwines these two narrative threads, alternating between them as Luisa explores both the written and unwritten memories of her grandmothers.
About Luisa: Luisa Macedo holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Visual Arts, complemented by a background in gastronomy. Her debut short film as a director, Comida de Quintal (2022), explores women's lives and backyard gardens in the greater Belo Horizonte area. The film has been featured at Brazil, France, England, and Italy festivals, earning accolades at the UN World Food Forum Film Festival in Rome and the Cibo Corto Festival in Siracusa.
Macedo also developed the project O Cheiro do Gosto (The Smell of Taste), which encompasses a book and a website dedicated to backyards as sites of resistance (www.ocheirodogosto.com). Her latest short film, Comida de Vós (2023), was funded by SESC RJ. Additionally, she has created commissioned works for the Biennale Arts Actuels in France and the Moreira Salles Institute.
Añay Kachi
Cristóbal Ruiz
Chile / Chile
2019 - 12’- Documentary
Ona film festival CAI award best short film.
At 3,300 m above sea level in the Peruvian Andes, indigenous people have been harvesting salt by hand for over 600 years, before the Inca times. After many years of struggle and unfair working conditions, the salt workers became owners of the salt mine, creating a communal company.
Today, they proudly own and operate the salt business. Through the eyes of Laurita, a 65-year-old indigenous salt worker, this short film explores the cultural meaning that this place has for the people of Maras and how it is shaping the future of the next generations.
About the director:
Cristóbal Ruiz is a Vancouver-based film director originally from southern Chile. Immigrating to Canada at 19, he discovered his passion for filmmaking and used his multicultural background to craft compelling visual stories. Through his company, Pachamama Film, he collaborates with purpose-driven brands and organizations on projects involving athletes, adventure, remote communities, and resilience. His portfolio includes work with major brands like North Face and Adidas Terrex, as well as platforms such as Showtime and WaterBear Network. Known for his emotional depth and striking visuals, Cristóbal excels in filming challenging conditions, particularly in remote and mountainous areas, bringing a human-centered approach to his projects.
Food Funk and Favela
Food Funk and Favela
Cacau Rhoden
Brazil - 2023 - 13’ - Documentary
Food, Funk, and Favela portrays the story of the NGO project Cozinhas Solidárias Gastromotiva, and draws a direct parallel between three elements that are fundamental to building a new future: food, culture, and a focus on people living in marginalized areas, often neglected by public authorities.
About the director: Cacau Rhoden
Cacau Rhoden, a director and screenwriter from Curitiba, began his career in the entertainment industry at 15. He has worked on television, advertising films, and cinema, gaining experience as an assistant director. His directorial work includes short films like “A Cega” and “Food, Funk and Favela,” and feature films such as “Tarja Branca – A Revolução que Faltava,” which won Best Documentary at the BRAFFTV in Toronto. Recent projects include “Nunca Me Sonharam,” awarded Best Documentary at the Los Angeles Festival, and the documentary series “Corações & Mentes – escolas que transformam.” His latest feature, “Quantos dias. Quantas noites.,” premiered at the Rio Festival in October 2023.
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Start:
2024-10-19T20:00:00-04:00
End:
2024-10-19T23:00:00-04:00
Category
Film
Tickets
General Admission - students and seniors
15.0
CAD
25
General Admission
20.0
CAD
100
