Blog | Toronto Human Rights Watch Film Festival

The Hidden Face of Gold

January 7 | News | julie

marcus bleasdale

Photographer Marcus Bleasdale was recently in town to attend a Human Rights Watch sponsored exhibit of his photographs from The Democratic Republic of Congo entitled “The Hidden Face of Gold”.

Bleasdale partnered with Human Rights Watch to expose and document human rights abuses committed by soldiers and armed groups in the northeastern part of the Congo. He is the recipient of several international awards, including the 2006 Overseas Press Club Olivier Reboot Award and the 2006 World Photo Press Award for Daily Life Singles.

While in Toronto, Bleasdale sat down with Sarah Hampson for this interview in The Globe & Mail.

Tagged congo, human rights watch, marcus bleasdale

Hana Makhmalbaf Wins “Woman & Equality” Award at TIFF (Greece)

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January 6 | Buddha Collapsed Out Of Shame | julie

hana makhmalbaf

Hana Makhmalbaf, the 20-year-old director of “Buddha Collapsed Out Of Shame” has won the “Woman & Equality” Award at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, which took place this past November in Greece. This is the fifth award for the film in the last two months.

Tagged hana makhmalbaf

Video: Chop Shop

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January 5 | Chop Shop | julie

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Onv_w3KKijk[/youtube]

Young and charming Alejandro hustles, steals and scams his way to becoming his own boss, and provides us with a glimpse into the lives of children surviving the streets in the Iron Triangle of Queens in New York City. Adept at survival, he takes on the care of his teenage sister, who is in great sexual peril at all times.

“Chop Shop” screens March 4, 2008, 7:30 PM at Jackman Hall, Art Gallery of Ontario.

Tagged iron triangle, ramin bahrani

Chop Shop: A Definition

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January 5 | Chop Shop | julie

chop shop poster

From Wikipedia … a chop shop is a slang phrase for a location or business which disassembles stolen automobiles for the purpose of selling them as parts.

A chop shop must be able to take apart a car without damaging the parts and keep them organized. Time is of the essence: more cars processed equals higher profits. Too many cars waiting to be processed require larger buildings which are often located in higher traffic areas. Larger buildings are more expensive and are not as easily rented without giving out more personal information and large deposits. Huge rooms full of cars waiting to be “chopped”, as seen in the movies, is not realistic. There is no advantage to a large inventory, as it can be done more efficiently in a “JIT” (Just In Time) manner by asking a thief only when cars are needed.

Ramin Bahrani’s film “Chop Shop” plays the Toronto Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, March 4, 2008, 7:30 PM.

Tagged ramin bahrani

Chop Shop

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January 5 | Chop Shop | julie

chop shop

Chop Shop (USA)
Director: Ramin Bahrani
Year: 2007
Runtime: 84 minutes
Cast: Alejandro Polanco, Isamar Gonzales
Screening Times: March 4, 2008, 7:30 PM
Screens at Jackman Hall, Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas Street West

Synopsis:
Young and charming Alejandro hustles, steals and scams his way to becoming his own boss, providing us with a glimpse into the lives of children surviving the streets in the “Iron Triangle” of Queen’s in New York City. Adept at survival, he takes on the care of his teenage sister, who is in great sexual peril.

Director’s Biography:
Born and raised in America, Ramin Bahrani received his BA from Columbia University in New York City before moving to his parents’ homeland of Iran for three years where he made his student thesis film, “Strangers” (2000). Bahrani then lived in Paris before returning to the states to begin work on his first feature film, “Man Push Cart” (2005). The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival (2005) and screened at The Sundance Film Festival (2006) before being released theatrically world-wide to critical acclaim. Winning over ten international prizes, “Man Push Cart” was also nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards (2007).

Bahrani’s second feature film “Chop Shop” (2007) premiered at The Cannes Film Festival (2007) where Le Monde declared it: “The major revelation of the Director’s Fortnight.” “Chop Shop” next screened at The Toronto Film Festival (2007), and it will be released in America in early 2008. Bahrani is currently in post-production on his third feature film, “Solo.”

Interview with director Rahmin Bahrani on Cinematical.

Reviews:
cinema scope
scanners :: blog
Slant Magazine
Toronto Life

Overview by Julie Giles

Tagged ramin bahrani, united states