We are very excited to announce SpectrumFest 2020!!
We’ve got exciting news this year! We will be partnering with ReelAbilities Film Festival Toronto to open our festival to more submissions and at the same time widen the communities that have access to showcasing their amazing work. In previous years, we have shown only films from the Autism spectrum produced at Spectrum, but this year we are planning to open the festival to submissions and accept films from many surrounding communities that face barriers to getting their work shown or recognized on a professional level.
Like always we will be hosting a few screenings, showcasing the amazing work submitted and are working on getting some exciting talks to accompanying.
We will be announcing all the events shortly
APRIL 9TH
ONLINE
6PM - 7PM
One Last Bowl - Online Premiere
In partnership with Reelabilities Toronto and Wagar Center we will be presenting a screening of wonderful animations and live action shorts, showcasing the amazing talent that can be found in the communities that often face barriers to being seen as an artist. Our collective goals is to present real world examples of work created by said communities in order to promote and inspire more individuals to pursue creative endeavours whether that be for a career or just to express themselves in unique ways.
APRIL 23rd
Online
12:30pm - 1:30pm
Animations from the Autism Spectrum
Curated by our nuerodiverse panel we will be showcasing a selection of amazing animations. Ranging from refined, complex work to abstract creative expression, nothing is off limits. We will be exploring the power of creativity on the spectrum and how animation can be a great avenue for that.
1:45PM - 2:30PM
A conversation with Steven Woloshen
Steven Woloshen was born in Laval, Canada in 1960. For more than 30 years, he has passionately created over 50 award-winning, abstract films and time-based installations for festivals, galleries and museums. Twice nominated for Canada’s Governor General’s award, he has received numerous research and creation grants and, most recently, was awarded the 2016 René Jodoin lifetime achievement award, 2015 Wiesbaden Lifetime Achievement Award. Woloshen is a teacher, film conservationist, animator, craftsman and the author of two books, Recipes for Reconstruction: The Cookbook for the Frugal Filmmaker (2010), a hands-on manual for decay, renewal and other handmade, analogue film techniques, and Scratch, Crackle & Pop! A Whole Grains Approach to Making Films without a Camera (2015). Under his own banner, Scratchatopia, Woloshen has hosted solo retrospectives and taught handmade filmmaking techniques at workshops and master classes in Argentina, Morocco, USA, Slovenia, Australia, France, Great Britain, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Slovakia, Poland, Mexico as well as across Canada.
APRIL 16th
ONLINE
6PM - 7PM
Behind the Wizards Curtain - CMLO live event
In partnership with Reelabilities Toronto and Wagar Center we will be presenting a screening of wonderful animations and live action shorts, showcasing the amazing talent that can be found in the communities that often face barriers to being seen as an artist. Our collective goals is to present real world examples of work created by said communities in order to promote and inspire more individuals to pursue creative endeavours whether that be for a career or just to express themselves in unique ways.
APRIL 24th
Online
3pm - 4:10pm
Code of the Freaks
Co-presented by REELABILITIES toronto AND SPECTRUM PRODUCTIONS
FOR MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY - CONTAINS SOME NUDITY AND MINIMAL VIOLENCE
Code of Freaks is a feature-length documentary that critiques Hollywood representations of disabled characters by giving the mic to some of Hollywood’s most incensed and ignored critics – actual disabled people.
In previous years, we have shown only films from the Autism spectrum produced at Spectrum, but this year we are planning to open the festival to submissions and accept films from many surrounding communities that face barriers to getting their work shown or recognized on a professional level.
We thought it would be a great opportunity to co-present a film that focuses on the importance of correct representation. History would show that Hollywood loves a story of challenge especially those that face barriers like the disabled community does, while these films exist, they very rarely present an honest depiction of the disabled people that their stories so heavily rely on. Hear from self advocates and what it means to them to feel represented in the right way.
5pm - 6pm
Discussion on Representation in film
Code of Freaks is a feature-length documentary that critiques Hollywood representations of disabled characters by giving the mic to some of Hollywood’s most incensed and ignored critics – actual disabled people.
In previous years, we have shown only films from the Autism spectrum produced at Spectrum, but this year we are planning to open the festival to submissions and accept films from many surrounding communities that face barriers to getting their work shown or recognized on a professional level.
We thought it would be a great opportunity to co-present a film that focuses on the importance of correct representation. History would show that Hollywood loves a story of challenge especially those that face barriers like the disabled community does, while these films exist, they very rarely present an honest depiction of the disabled people that their stories so heavily rely on. Hear from self advocates and what it means to them to feel represented in the right way.