Canadian Music Week Film Fest 13: An Overview

By Less Lee Moore

You’ve probably heard of Canadian Music Week, but did you know that films are part of the festivities? Much like South by Southwest and North by Northeast, where there is music, there are films. If you have music, films will come (or something like that).

This year marks the sixth annual CMW Film Fest (as it’s called ’round these parts). It takes place over three days, from March 21 – 23. Conveniently, all movies will be screened at the TIFF Bell Lightbox on King Street West in Toronto.

I’ll be reviewing every film in the festival over the next week or so, but in the meantime, here’s some short previews of what to expect.

Thursday, March 21
Ain’t In It For My Health: A Film About Levon Helm: Canadian Premiere, 7:00 p.m.
This profile of legendary member of The Band Levon Helm was filmed during the final years of his life and shows him “forced to confront the dark times.”

Spring Breakers: Sneak Preview, 9:15 p.m.
Starring several bikini-clad Disney movie ingénues committing crimes and James Franco as a gold-toothed, tattooed, cornrowed dude named “Alien,” this latest feature from Harmony Korine looks completely insane.

Friday, March 22
Who the F**ck is Arthur Fogel?: World Premiere, 7:00 p.m.
If you don’t know who the f**k Arthur Fogel is, he’s the “most successful international tour producer in the world.” And he’s Canadian. This documentary promises to be “raw, uncensored, and revealing.”

The History of Future Folk: Toronto Premiere, 9:15 p.m.
The summary of the film from the CMW website says it best: “A crowd-pleasing sci-fi musical comedy about two alien soldiers sent to Earth to wipe out the human race, but have a difficult time completing their missions after they hear the Earth creation, ‘Music’.” I’m sold.

Saturday, March 23
The Last Pogo Jumps Again: World Premiere, 12:30 p.m.
This four-hour document of the “history of the first wave of Toronto punk rock and new wave music” spans from 1976 to 1978. It also sounds amazing, sort of like a precursor to Have Not Been The Same on celluloid.

Apocalypse: A Bill Callahan Tour Film: Toronto Premiere, 5:15 p.m.
Smog’s Bill Callahan is the subject of this film including interviews and performances from his 2011 tour.

Bad Brains: A Band in DC: Canadian Premiere, 7:00 p.m.
If you had the infamous Alternative Tentacles comp Let Them Eat Jellybeans in the ’80s, you’ve heard (of) Bad Brains. But there’s more to the influential band than “Pay To Cum,” as this examination of their 30-year career will attest.

Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me: Canadian Premiere, 9:15 p.m.
CMW’s synopsis is succinct and enticing: “the incredible story of the dismal commercial failure, subsequent massive critical acclaim, and enduring legacy of pop music’s greatest cult phenomenon, Big Star.”

All screenings are $10 each. Advance tickets are available at Ticketfly. Day of screening tickets will be available at the TIFF Bell Lightbox box office.

For more on the festival, visit the website and stay tuned for my reviews next week.