Toronto Lift-Off Film Festival 2021 - Network Round Features

Thursday 2nd September - Thursday 9th September

1.

All In
Producers. Sarah Wylie, Richard Reiner
USA
Logline: ALL IN is a character study, buddy movie, and courthouse crime drama all wrapped up in one. There's been a lot of movies about alcohol and drug addiction, but never really about gambling addiction. We see so many stories about casinos and the thrill of the win, but never about the aftermath of how it affects aspects of those gambler's lives. What is so unique about ALL IN is that it has a cast largely made up of recovered gambling addicts, all of whom met through Gamblers Anonymous. This is a movie made by addicts, for addicts, and for those who can relate to the struggle and believe that we can prevail.

2.

Every Child Matters
Producers. Lindsay Cox, John Brunton, Ry Moran, Stephaine Scott, Rose Marra
Canada
Logline: Every Child Matters: Reconciliation Through Education is a powerful 90-minute special created by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) produced in collaboration with Insight Productions and supported by Canadian Heritage. The special, airing on APTN and CBC, honours Residential School Survivors and their families through storytelling and performance by Youth, Leaders, Knowledge Keepers, and Elders from a diverse group of Indigenous Nations, communities, and cultures.

3.

I'M DETERMINED
Dir. Mohammad Faizan
United Arab Emirates
Logline: A documentary that delves into the lives of children and young adults of determination and observes some of the positive aspects related to people of determination and at the same time raises a few questions that needs to be addressed.

4.

I'm Sorry If I Took a Toll on You
Dir. Jake Burgess
Canada
Logline: After her parents death, newly orphaned Cath travels up north to her recently inherited lake house where she meets Ryan, a likeable man happy to fill the void her parents left.

5.

The Piano Man- Johnny D'Angelo
Dir. Christopher W. Hurst
USA
Logline: On January 20, 2018 I had an unrehearsed & unannounced interview with a musical legend from the Atlantic City circuit. This is the story of Johnny D'Angelo who performed with Frank Sinatra and other legends in the game.

6.

The Price of Cheap
Dir. Barry Stevens
Canada
Logline: The Price of Cheap tells the stories of modern slaves in textiles manufacturing supply chains and the brave individuals fighting on the ground against immeasurable odds to help them. We follow a man named Joseph Raj, who runs an organization called T.E.S.T. (Trust for Education and Social Transformation) in Tamil Nadu, India as he goes on raids to rescue underage children from unsafe and labour intensive factories. We hear from the survivors he has helped rescue, hear of their horrific experiences, and desire for education and change. Academics and social justice workers weigh in on why the issue of forced labour persists.