SCREEN

Passenger Side - Putting the odd in odyssey... The last thing Michael expected on his birthday was a telephone call from his estranged, drug-addicted brother, Tobey. But Tobey has not called with a celebratory birthday wish for Michael. Instead, as Michael discovers, Tobey’s car is broken, and he has called to beg that his brother drive him on various, apparently legitimate, vital errands. As Bruce Springsteen has astutely noted, “a man who turns his back on his family just ain’t no good,” and so Michael puts off his romantic birthday plans and, along with his brother, embarks on a sketchy, winding, day-long odyssey through Los Angeles County. But as the day wears on, it becomes clear that this drive will lead them to some very unexpected destinations. Touted by LA Weekly as “a thinking man’s Judd Apatow flick,” Passenger Side marks the festival return of director Matthew Bissonette (Who Loves the Sun, Cinequest 2007). A superb concoction of comedy and drama with an excellent cast, Passenger Side was noted in Canada’s Top Ten Films of 2009.

Friction - What if you were scripted…to behave badly? Taking unconventional storytelling to another level, filmmaker Cullen Hoback (Monster Camp, Cinequest 2007) travels to a private high school where he writes a script about a real couple and the student who comes between them. However, the scripted love triangle soon tangles with reality. In the face of teenage confusion and hormones, façades fall to true feelings, hidden truths are revealed and the thin line between fiction and reality starts to blur. Weaving the original “intended” film with rehearsals and documentary elements, Friction breaks the wall that separates fiction from reality, challenging the very real lives of everyone involved. What remains is a one-of-a-kind story that will leave you guessing long after its shattering conclusion.

Hell Is Other People - Meet Morty, master of the awkward moment. Single, unemployed and forever scrambling for money and love, Morty specializes in finding new ways to make his friends feel uncomfortable. Whether being talked into posing for an eccentric artist’s photo project or vainly trying to romance an ex-girlfriend with lines like, “You’re beautiful when you’re indignant,” he seems to have taken Sartre’s titular adage to heart. But is he really Chattanooga’s biggest loser, or a forlorn psychiatrist who just can’t seem to take his own advice? That’s the question at the heart of Jarrod Whaley’s deadpan treat. Charting the different relationships within a group of friends with lucid emotion and dry wit, the film manages to be both a wise comedy and a look at the characters’ often painful need for human connection. This film is preceded by the short film Parallels (Director: Frank Door, Country: USA, Film Info: 16 min) - Caught in the middle of her own psychotic rampage, Katie must come to grips with her own identity with the help of a stranger.

To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen's Journey - All she ever wanted to do was dance, but ended up getting so much more. Once one of the most coveted young stars in Hollywood and an immediate sex symbol, Nancy Kwan—the beautiful Eurasian actress who captured the hearts and minds of many in The World of Suzie Wong and The Flower Drum Song—takes us on a compelling and rousing journey through her life. Sharing her personal story, Kwan delves into the experiences that have molded her into who she was then and who she is today. From her relationship with her father to her on-screen debut, the many joys and struggles of Kwan's life come to life with vivid detail. Through highs and lows, triumph and heartache, Kwan perseveres and symbolizes hope for all. Crafting a celebration of Kwan’s life, director Brian Jamieson captivatingly portrays the progression of Asian-American actors in Hollywood and how Kwan inspired millions. Featuring interviews with Joan Chen, France Nuyen, Vivian Wu and Sandra Allen, To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen's Journey is sure to touch and inspire the heart of anyone watching.

Kill the Habit - A politically incorrect dark comedy about three chicks trying to get rid of a corpse. Director Laura Neri’s dark, offbeat comedy stars Lili Mirojnick (Cloverfield) as Galia, who only wants to pick up some drugs from Lyle and leave. But trouble ensues when Gaila inadvertently kills Lyle and finds a stash of drug money. After calling her best friend, Soti, (Katerina Moutsatsos of The Hangover) to help get her out of the jam, the two girls find themselves hiding in Lyle’s apartment when Lyle’s fiery ex-wife, Cardamosa, arrives. But as it turns out, Cardamosa hates Lyle and is glad to see him gone. The three women agree to split the bonanza once they dump the body. However, time is of the essence - Gaila needs to get home in time for her newborn brother’s circumcision. With caustic wit and superlative comedic performances, Neri artfully presents situations that spiral out of control up to the shocking end, keeping us simultaneously entertained and on edge.