When it comes to local content you’re spoiled for choice this year!
From short films to retrospectives to an Oscar-nominated Queen’s alumnus, there’s loads of YGK at KCFF24.
KCVI and Queen’s alum Audrey Cummings’ PLACE OF BONES stars Heather Graham as a ranch owner attempting to protect her daughter and home from outlaws escaping a failed robbery. From the vaults, we have Queen’s prof emeritus Clarke Mackey’s 1987 film TAKING CARE. Loosely based on the case of cardiac nurse Susan Nelles, it features a Genie Award nominated performance by Kate Lynch and a supporting cast of stellar Canadian actors.
Queen’s alumnus (and former KCFF intern!) Zarrar Kahn blends stark social realism with horror and fantasy in his feature debut IN FLAMES. Montreal-born Queen’s alum Molly McGlynn brings a comedic touch to the gynecological woes of her protagonist (Maddie Ziegler) in FITTING IN. And if you didn’t get around to checking out PAST LIVES before the Oscar nomination, now is your chance! Writer/director Celine Song was inspired to pursue writing while studying psychology at Queen’s.
Melissa d’Agostino’s mental musical variety show MOTHER OF ALL SHOWS was filmed just down the road in Stirling, while Robin Dunne’s twisty, sly KILL VICTORIA was shot in Kingston with a local crew. And viewers of THE MOVIE MAN will also get to check out I FOUND IT AT CLASSIC VIDEO, a documentary short chronicling the demise of the iconic Kingston rental shop.
On Thursday night in the Baby Grand, we have the world premiere of Anna Jane Edmonds’ documentary DARK HIGHWAY, a harrowing look at human trafficking along the 401. Also in the Baby Grand, on Friday we’ve got a retrospective of the work of artist, filmmaker and environmental advocate Kim Ondaatje.
Looking for shorts programs? This year we’ve got two local shorts collections, THE LOCAL MOTION and LET’S GET LOCAL, as well as our YOUTH SHORTS collection and the first films from our youth filmmaking program THE 18 MM PROGRAM. There’s also the return of the SLAIGHT MUSIC VIDEO SHOWCASE, featuring new music videos shot by local production crews with local musicians.
And finally on the Sunday at 2pm we’ve got a live table read of STILL ALIVE IN KINGSTON, the follow-up to Jay Middaugh’s 2017 LIVE IN KINGSTON. Come by the Broom to catch Bill Welychka, Anna Sudac, and the rest of the cast run through the script.
