ezra winton

Russian LGBT Film Fest pushes ahead despite attacks

Posted by in Art Threat, Festivals, Interviews

It is an extreme act of bravery and commitment to put on a queer film festival in many parts of the world, where the cultural politics of film festivals play out in ugly and often violent manifestations of hatred and ignorance. Homophobia is rampant the world over, but in countries like Russia the fear and hatred leveled against queer compatriots is often given state-sanctioned space to flourish and impinge on the rights of others. Gay pride parades in Russia and many locations throughout the former Soviet block have become battlegrounds…read more

Jul.14
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Love and death on the side of the road

Posted by in Art, Art Threat, Interviews

Kate Puxley is a visual artist whose work has drawn attention to the Harper government’s damaging policies toward art and culture as well as our relationship with animals and the natural environment. Arresting, breathtaking, and inimitable, her drawings, paintings, installations, and most recently her taxidermy sculptures, are provocations and interventions in the social, political and environmental landscapes. Art Threat got a chance to talk with her about some of her recent works and what it means to transform the dead into art. Ezra Winton: Your roadkill series is exceptional —…read more

Jul.12
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Apr.24
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Hot Docs 2012

Posted by in Art Threat, Doc Side, Festivals

This article was originally published on Art Threat. The 19th edition of North America’s largest documentary showcase and one of the world’s largest film festivals begins this week, running from April 26 to May 6 in Toronto. With Charlotte Cook replacing Sean Farnel as head programmer, new directions (fewer films, more focus is the official line), new initiatives (Hot Docs’s very own Kickstarter, Doc Ignite), new sponsors (Nescafé, Dundee Wealth and Sun Life Financial, to name a few of the more spurious corporate inductees) and a gorgeously renovated, and reinvigorated, venue…read more

Let’s Do This

Posted by in Art Threat

The optimism in David Gauntlett’s Making is Connecting (published by the fantastic UK outlet polity) is difficult to escape. Much like the plethora of networks, groups, clubs and civil society manifestations he describes, the book is largely held together with positive attitudes about culture and communication combined with a philosophy that triumphs creativity over consumption. In that he forms a very accessible and sound argument centered on creating and sharing as the cornerstones to individual happiness and healthy community in a society saturated with messages imploring and coercing us to…read more

Mar.03
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2012: The year I grew up

Posted by in Personal Travails

Many cultures imbue numbers with great significance and others engage in the mass psychological delusion of New Years resolutions each January 1st. For my part, I don’t have irrational faith in the potential for numeric interventions in the chaotic unfolding of my destiny but I do quietly partake in the renewal ritual of cleaning up one’s messy metaphorical room at the turning of each new year. Having said that, 2012 is a nice even number that will hopefully mark some much-needed balance and focus in my life and in these…read more

Jan.05
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Winter writing must begin

Posted by in Academix

Wow, two months since I posted here. Swamped as usual. Suffering from a total writer’s block and unable to really dive into my dissertation-writing. I keep reading and reading and when I sit down to write I feel like I don’t have anything worthwhile to say. But some things were working against me – summer, a big move to a new apartment (with my own office finally!), the ongoing distraction known as Cinema Politica, and most recently, teaching a fourth year undergraduate course at Carleton University on alternative media. With…read more

Dec.09
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A short doc on asylum seekers in Denmark

Posted by in Doc Side

A short 2009 documentary by Aage Rais-Nordentoft about the Iraqi asylum seekers who sought refuge in Brorson’s church, Copenhagen, to avoid being deported to Iraq – but were ultimately forcefully removed despite protestations from supporters. View the Vimeo page here.

Jul.10
0

Absolutely brilliant

Posted by in Art

Fabulous animation mixed with hilarious words from kids sorting out the world’s problems makes for one brilliant video. Enjoy.

Jun.21
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