Following my passion for the deeper understanding of how movies are made I decided to get more involved in the festival, says TIFF volunteer Ella Karia
By Dr Ella Karia
TORONTO: I rediscovered the magic of film when this September I volunteered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
I have attended TIFF for 10 year, watching a film or two. Generally, the mainstream film world was what I originally viewed but ever since TIFF foreign films sparked my interest.
As a TIFF volunteer during this year, seeing Ford vs Ferrari, Joker and Blackbird were wonderful to get a glimpse at, but it was the time I took to explore the non-mainstream films that resonated deeper with me. As a Dance and Drama Teacher with the public school board, I have believed it is through creativity and the arts that meaningful messages can be conveyed. The deeper rooted truths expressed in a creative way add value to the message delivered if we could just take more time to express, listen and understand the value of film.
Film-making allows space for voice for both emerging, young, veteran, storytellers to champion their work and bring their stories to the screen.
WHY I BECAME TIFF VOLUNTEER
The journey behind the scenes has always fascinated me and in the past I even worked as a background actor in shows such as Suits, Designated Survivor, Magnesium, Mercury, Wayne and Canada the Story of Us.
Following my passion for the deeper understanding of how movies are made I decided to get more involved. This year I got first hand opportunities to celebrate cinema with filmmakers, creators, and exceptional contributors of film, women in film both internationally and nationally provided a platform to see the world through a unique lens each time I entered the theatre.
I had the pleasure of meeting female film directors from India, Shonali Bose, Director of The Sky is Pink and Geetu Mohandas, Director of The Elder One. Engaging in dialogue with them gave me a deeper understanding of why they made the film.
Listening to them speak during the Q&A was an experience as they shared their journey in film direction. As Geetu mentioned it is “the sense of identity and the crises within” that ventures us to uncharted zones. Watching Lucy in the Sky and I am Woman shed light on the unique perspectives and the struggles of woman in the past, both based on true stories.
Hearing ambitious Unjoo Moon, Director of I am Woman with her cultivated and pioneered a path continued to reverberate – the MeToo movement. Meeting the parents of the young girl portrayed in The Sky is Pink moved me. Hearing the challenges, pain and realities from a mother’s perspective. Priyanka Chopra beautifully portrays the emotional role of the mother in the film and seeing her and cheering for her acting talents was an honour while she was in Toronto.
Film entertains and engages audiences of all backgrounds highlighting diversities, new perspectives, new places where different countries and cultural experiences are shared at a global level reflecting who we are at home and abroad. The chaos, the stir of emotion, the childhood experiences that continue to layer our being and subconscious mind. Opening my mind, my thoughts, increasing learning to read between the blurred lines brilliantly engaged and intellectually challenged my thinking.
REINVENTED MY UNDERSTANDING OF CINEMA AS TIFF VOLUNTEER
When meeting Ashok Rane, a professor of film studies for over 35 years, I unravelled and reinvented my understanding of cinema. I began looking deeper at the creative process from story to script, to design, screenwriting, shooting, sound recording, production, photography, editing, screening and distribution. For our younger generation I see film as a platform in educational arena to express themselves and blend curriculum expectations.
As a volunteer while helping with directing lines, ticket scanning, ushering, green room, red carpet and crowd control I met many wonderful people from all over the world and it was very nostalgic.
TIFF pushed me to see more films in ten days than I would all year long. I can say TIFF is one of the biggest recognized film festivals in the world. At the People’s Choice Award viewing, I saw Jo Jo Rabbit and had the pleasure of meeting TIFF Artistic Director and Co-Head Cameron Bailey. I am grateful for my TIFF opportunity. Thank you, TIFF!
(Dr. Ella Karia, Ed.D, O.C.T Post-doctoral Fellow, OISE, U of Toronto)
