Only in its second year, the Reel Indie Film Festival (or RIFF for short) is kicking things off with a nice selection of music videos, shorts and features for audiences in Toronto. RIFF is a recent offshoot of Indie Week, an independent music festival showcasing hundreds of acts over five days. The film festival naturally focuses on films dealing with, or about, music from around the world. Simply put, lovers of music and film will have plenty to enjoy at RIFF.

With 9 documentary features playing, the festival kicks things off with their opening night film Johnny Winter: Down & Dirty. The documentary premiered earlier this year, only months before Winter’s death in July. Director Greg Olliver follows Winter around his hometown of Beaumont, Texas, as well as on tour around the world. Interviews with Winter, his family, friends and admirers (including Aerosmith’s Joe Perry), Johnny Winter: Down & Dirty provides an entertaining and informative portrait of the legendary blues musician’s life.

Earlier this year we caught Alive Inside, the sleeper hit documentary wowing audiences and reducing them to tears. We were fans of the film, calling it “an emotional triumph”, so be sure to check out this huge crowd pleaser at the festival.

What might be considered the most cinematic film in the line-up, and also a must-see considering its lack of a release date, is The Possibilities are Endless. Edward Lovelace and James Hall’s gorgeous and unconventional doc looks at Edwyn Collins, most famously known for his hit song “A Girl Like You.” Collins suffered two major strokes in 2005, and the film tries to represent Collins’ experience, from losing his ability to speak or move to slowly regaining his strength to perform again. The film starts out jumping all over the place, representing Collins’ state of mind after suffering his first stroke, before slowly turning into a more familiar documentary format as Collins, through narration, describes his recovery. It’s bold filmmaking, and with the help of amazing cinematography and music (the score was composed by Collins himself), The Possibilities are Endless demands to be seen in theatres.

Depending on your interests musically, RIFF has plenty of other films to offer as well. Like heavy metal? Go see March of the Gods: Botswana Metalheads, a documentary following the band Wrust as well as the heavy metal scene in Botswana. It’s the kind of documentary that helps illuminate a little-known, fascinating story. And if you can’t make it to the screening but still want to see it, you can purchase the film.

Other films playing include: Folk, following three musicians as they try to succeed in a genre that’s seen a bit of a resurgence over the recent years; No Land’s Song, the audience award winner for Best Documentary at the Montreal World Film Festival; and the North American premiere of A Curious Life, a look at the band The Levellers and their surprisingly large following.

There are plenty more films, shorts and music videos playing at RIFF over the coming week, so head on down to Toronto’s Royal Cinema if you can and enjoy what’s playing. If you want to see the full line-up, as well as buy tickets, go to http://www.reelindiefilmfest.com/

After a great inaugural year, the Reel Indie Film Festival (RiFF) is getting ready for its second anniversary. Founded in 2013 as a companion to Indie Week, an independent music festival launched in 2003, RiFF screens independent films that are inspired by music.

The deadline for submissions is June 30, with an early bird deadline of April 30. If you’re an indie filmmaker wanting to submit, go to www.reelindiefilmfest.com/submissions for more information.

The Reel Indie Film Festival will take place October 14-19, 2014 in Toronto, Ontario. Their web site is www.reelindiefilmfest.com and you can read the full press release below.

Reel Indie Film Festival

OPEN CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

EARLY BIRD DEADLINE: April 30, 2014
FINAL DEADLINE: June 30, 2014

(TORONTO, March 26, 2014) – Indie Week’s companion film program, the R­­eel Indie Film Festival (RiFF) is pleased to announce that submissions for the 2014 edition are now open. Filmmakers are invited to submit their films at www.reelindiefilmfest.com/submissions.

RiFF offers filmmakers and musicians a one of a kind place to screen their films and network with industry professionals. “Selected films will capture music’s cultural and emotional impact,” says acclaimed producer and RiFF Executive Director, Avi Federgreen (One Week, Still Mine, Moon Point). “Last year we were fortunate enough to receive amazing films, which showcased a variety of musical tales both narrative and documentary. We are thrilled to see what filmmakers have in store for us this year.”

Successful submissions will be showcased before public and industry audiences October 14 – 19, 2014 in Toronto, a filmmaker’s mecca and media launch pad for some of the industry’s brightest young talent. RiFF is seeking films inspired by music in all its forms, films showcasing music and music makers and the rock and roll lifestyle.

Filmmakers are invited to submit independent short films, music videos, feature films or documentaries that are related to music, and were completed between January 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014.

Submission qualifications:

• Films must have been completed between January 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014
• Short Films must have a running time of no longer than 30 minutes
• Music Videos must have a running time of no more than 5 minutes
• Feature Films must have a runtime of 70 minutes or longer
• Documentary Films must have a running time of 50 minutes or longer
• Films in a language other than English must be subtitled in English
• All submissions must be music themed films

Forward all submissions to https://www.withoutabox.com/login/12694 or www.reelindiefilmfest.com/submissions, no later than June 30, 2014.

For more information about RiFF, visit http://reelindiefilmfest.com

About REEL INDIE FILM FESTIVAL
Reel Indie Film Festival (RiFF) is an independent film festival with a focus on music-related content. Launched in 2013 as part of the 10^th anniversary of Indie Week.  RiFF seeks to cover the gamut of musical inspiration, and to support filmmakers’ music-oriented stories, using music as a platform for one’s thoughts and beliefs.  Films that capture the essence of a band or song.  www.reelindiefilmfest.com

 

About Indie Week Indie Week is an independent music festival founded in Toronto in 2003. Since its inception, Indie Week has grown to support 200+ bands from all over the world. The festival expanded to international waters with Indie Week Ireland in 2007. www.indieweek.com.