Christian Zyp interview Tim Folkmann about an event designed to look back at the creative history of one of Edmonton's most creative space. It's called AN AFFECTIONATE SALUTE TO THE ORTONA ARMOURY ARTS BUILDING. It begins at 5:30 pm on Thursday June 26th, 2025. Tickets are by donation at the door.

ORTONA DIASPORA celebrates a dispersed arts community. The Ortona Artists’ Reach Society (OARS) is proud to present artists of the Ortona Armoury—a unique arts community in flux—from past and present.

An Affectionate Salute to the Mighty Ortona Armoury Arts Bldg. starts the evening with the Ortona Diaspora Group exhibit reception in the theatre lobby followed by Reel Ortona, a retrospective of short films from local filmmakers sprung from the Ortona and a music performance by the Trincan Steel Orchestra. The evening wraps up with “Edmonton Tonight”; join host Tom Bernier for laughs, music and tips for living in a late night talk show format featuring a who’s who of Edmonton’s art & cultural scene with musical guest Danielle George of Trincan.

Filmmakers include: aAron Munson, Adolfo Ruiz, Alex Vizmeg, Conor McNally, Dave Morgan, Eva Colmers, Helen Folkmann, John Osborne, Ken Berry, Kyle Armstrong, Patrick Higgins, Lindsay McIntyre, Matthew Rankin, Mike McLaughlin, Tim Folkmann, Tom Bernier, and Trevor Anderson.

https://metrocinema.org/production/an-affectionate-salute-to-the-mighty-ortona-armoury-arts-bldg/

Christian Zyp interviews Simon Ennis (director) and Elizabeth Hargrave (Tabletop Game Creator) about the documentary THE HOBBY: TALES FROM THE TABLETOP. It screens Friday June 20th at 6:45 at Metro CInema. Simon and Elizabeth will be in attendance at the screening for a Q&A following the film.

From the World Series of Board Games on the Vegas Strip and dating back to ancient Mesopotamia, THE HOBBY: TALES FROM THE tABLETOP is an affectionate, character-driven portrait of the massive and diverse subculture of board games. With a fascinating cast of charming subjects, including the “Roger Ebert of board games,” a rock-climbing board game philosopher, and a birdwatcher who created an unlikely smash hit, players share personal stories of competition, compulsion, creativity, and connection throughout the film. More than just a movie about board games, THE HOBBY explores the value of leisure time and uncovers the deep meaning found in “meaningless” pursuits.

THE HOBBY: TALES FROM THE TABLETOP Website: https://www.sepiafilms.com/films/the-hobby
@sepia_films

ELIZABETH HARGRAVE Website: https://www.elizhargrave.com/

METRO CINEMA Tickets: https://ticketing.uswest.veezi.com/purchase/9334?siteToken=bfsmvs00k2v5xfayv313wkqpkw

Christian Zyp interviews Melanie Kinnaman and Tiffany Helm about the 40th Anniversary screening of FRIDAY THE 13th Pt V: A NEW BEGINNING. It's presented by CUFF (Calgary Underground FIlm Festival) on Fri June 13th at the Globe Cinema at 7pm. Special guests at the screening include: Melanie Kinnaman, Dick Wieand, Ron Sloan, Tom Morga & Tiffany Helm for a Q&A following the screening! This film is presented in partnership with the Calgary Horror-Con.

Tickets: www.calgaryundergroundfilm.org/year-roun…iversary/

www.horror-con.ca/

Melanie Kinnaman Instagram @screensiren5

Christian Zyp interviews Lucas Frison (director) about his 6 docu-series WE WERE BRONCOS. It revolves around Ryan Straschnitzki's journey to try and make the National Team for Canada's wheelchair basketball game and a potential trip to Los Angels for the 2028 Paralympics. The former member of the Humboldt Broncos was paralyzed from the chest down in 2018, when a semi-trailer ran a stop sign and barrelled into the path of the junior hockey team's bus in rural Saskatchewan.

Sixteen people died and 13 were hurt.

Lucas Frison and his film crew with Regina-based Prairie Cat Productions followed Straschnitzki for eight months to create the series WE WERE BRONCOS. It airs on AMI, or Accessible Media Inc., beginning May 26, 2025.

AMI PLus Link: https://www.amiplus.ca/?app-config=ami-tv

INSTAGRAM: @accessiblemediainc
@rstraz_
@prarie.cat.productions

Lindsey Campbell interviews Julia Berman (producer) about the feature film GRIFFIN IN SUMMER. See it as part of Rainbow Visions Film Festival on Sat May 17th at 7:15 pm at the Metro Cinema.

In GRIFFIN IN SUMMER an aspiring young playwright Griffin Nafly, summer break means it's time to stage another dramatic new play, this time an ambitious cross between "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf" and "American Beauty." However, his producer and cast members are starting to get distracted by more trivial (aka: fun) teen pursuits, so Griffin's attention shifts toward the hunky handyman (Owen Teague) his mom has hired to do some light renos around the house. Finding himself utterly smitten, but also seeing Brad as a peer and kindred creative spirit, Griffin embarks on a potentially life-changing summer.

Lucas Anders interviews Sandi Dubowski (director/producer) about the documentary SABBATH QUEEN. See it as part of Rainbow Visions Film Festival Sunday May 18th at 3:00pm at the Metro Cinema.

Filmed over 21 years, SABBATH QUEEN follows Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie's epic journey as the dynastic heir of 38 generations of Orthodox rabbis, including the Chief Rabbis of Israel. Torn between rejecting and embracing his destiny, he becomes a drag-queen rebel, a queer bio-dad, and the founder of Lab/Shul—an everybody-friendly, God-optional, artist-driven, pop-up experimental congregation. SABBATH QUEEN joins Amichai on a lifelong quest to creatively and radically reinvent religion and ritual, challenge patriarchy and supremacy, champion interfaith love, and stand up for peace. This invigorating powerhouse of a film interrogates what Jewish survival means in a difficult, rapidly changing 21st century.

https://www.sabbathqueen.com/

INSTAGRAM: @sabbathqueendocumentary

Christian Zyp interviews Peter Hays (director) about the documentary FLASHBACK about the legendary club from the 80's nightlife scene in Edmonton. Catch a screening of FLASHBACK at the Metro Cinema on May or at the Royal Alberta Museum on Oct 17th.

FLASHBACK is the story of a defiant disco dance culture of sweat and sex and drugs and fashion in Edmonton. It became a sensation on the international club circuit despite police raids, threats of violence and the scourge of AIDS. Even though the club is no more, it comes alive again in the memories of the people who were there and the legends they left behind.

https://www.flashbackdocumentary.ca/

INSTAGRAM: @flashbackdocumentary

Christian Zyp interviews Deborah Craig (director) about her documentary SALLY! You can see it Sunday May 18th, 2025 at 1:00 pm at Metro Cinema as part of the Rainbow Visions Film Fest.

SALLY! focuses on Sally Gearhart: lesbian, feminist, professor, and fantasy author who helped transform the world for gay people —but too few folks know of this hidden figure. (Did you know how much of an influence she was on Harvey Milk?) It's borderline criminal how unknown this firebrand of a woman is, and this phenomenal new documentary celebrates Sally's dynamism and complexity, as well as the collective (if chaotic) nature of revolutionary movements and their icons.

https://www.sallygearhartfilm.com/

FACEBOOK: SALLY! Feature Documentary