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The Magnificence of Water: Opening Night

  • Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema 506 Bloor Street West Toronto, ON, M5S 1Y3 Canada (map)

Opening Night

You’ve probably never seen water like this.

Don’t miss the stunning North American premiere of the feature film, plus an Ontario and a Canadian premiere:
Spring on the Strand | UK
Veer | Ontario Premiere | NORWAY
Elemental | THE NETHERLANDS
Aquarela | RUSSIA
Confluence | USA

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Emcee
: Dr. Stephen Scharper
Associate Professor, University of Toronto


Spring on the Strand
A D Cooper
UK | 2016 | 2 min

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SPRING ON THE STRAND is a poetic non-narrative film which chronicles the emergence of the spring season on the River Thames, in West London, over the span of two months in 2016.  It is a gorgeous experimental short that captures expansive skies and mesmerizing sunsets on nothing but an iPad, that is complemented by an original score befitting of the scenery.

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Veer
Mariama Slattoy & Sveinung Gjessing
NORWAY | 2017 | 7 min
Ontario Premiere

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VEER's filmmaker and dancer, Mariama Slåttøy, is intimate and expressive in both her movement and her capturing of that movement. In this powerful short about ruling and being ruled, viewers are consumed by compelling imagery, stunning cinematography, and a hypnotic score.  VEER is an experiment in movement that will have you immersed.

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Elemental
Armand Dijcks
NETHERLANDS | 2018 | 3.5 min

In this experimental short, filmmaker Armand Dijcks transforms the award-winning still photography of Ray Collins into cinemagraphs, to create movement and showcase the beautiful interplay of water and light. ELEMENTAL is a beautiful and mesmerizing piece of filmmaking that will leave audiences in pure wonder.

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Aquarela
Victor Kossakovsky
RUSSIA | 2018 | 89 min
North American Premiere

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Renowned Russian filmmaker, Victor Kossakovsky, showcases the magnificent power of water, in its many forms, and the fragility of humans living at the behest of that power.  The film spans the globe, from the freezing and thawing of Lake Baikal in Russia which swallows cars whole, to the enormous icebergs crashing into the ocean off Greenland, to the rushing surges of water which flood Miami, Florida during Hurricane Irma.  This film is a visual masterpiece that pushes viewers through awe, heartbreak, despair and joy. AQUARELA is a true recognition of the respect that water demands.

Q & A discussion to follow the screenings.

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Join us at the Opening Night Reception …

After the screening and our Q&A discussion, join us for our Opening Night Reception at CSI Annex, 720 Bathurst Street (a short walk south on the west side of Bathurst Street) from 9:00 pm onward.
Your Opening Night ticket is your entrance key.
Enjoy connecting with filmmakers and fellow Water Docs film enthusiasts over catered nibblies by Hey Lady! CATERING.

And for a respite from the maddening crowds, we invite you to enjoy the following film which will be playing in June's Room, at the back of the event space.

Confluence
Amy Marquis & Dana Romanoff
USA | 2018 | 55 min
Canadian Premiere

In 2016, an indie folk band, The Infamous Flapjack Affair, travelled the length of the Colorado River Basin, stopping along the way to write music, play gigs, work with local artists, and ultimately, hear stories by those who live in the Basin and are challenged by changes to the natural river system, such as from damming and climate change.  CONFLUENCE is a testament to the power of music to bring people together, to spark conversation and to unite us over shared interests and concerns.

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SWAG
Please support Ecologos initiatives by purchasing Water Docs T-Shirts ($25) and Water Bottles ($20) available at all Water Docs Film Festival screenings.

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Earlier Event: March 20
The Water Warriors