Mar 19, 2019
Danielle Sturk’s exquisite new film El Toro will be unveiled to the world. It has been invited to participate in the Canadian Spectrum series at the prestigious 2019 edition of the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival in Toronto. Programmer Aisha Jamal offers the following in the newly unveiled festival program guide:
“Through a wild and imaginative mix of animation, photography and live action, the filmmaker brings to life the often hilarious and sometimes tragic memories of her family’s time working at their mom-and-pop restaurant, El Toro. For the eight DeGagné siblings, their truck stop diner on the outskirts of Winnipeg dictated all aspects of life, including school, family and eventually romance. In nine chapters, the film explores the memories of what it was like to serve as the hub of the local community, including during the 1966 blizzard, which left customers and family members stranded overnight at the diner. Rich in nostalgia, playful in narration and joyous in tone, El Toro is a masterfully crafted ode to the ties that bind.”
El Toro is screening with a short film from the WFG’s distribution collection: Tyler Funk and Carmen Ponto’s From the Dirt, a moving portrait of a rural Manitoban couple navigating the seasons of their garden and their marriage.
From the Dirt and El Toro have prime dates/times and venues during the coveted opening week programming slots at the festival on Sunday, April 28, 5;45pm at the Innis Town Hall (on the UofT campus) and Monday, April 29, 6:30 at the Scotiabank Theatre (at Richmond and John).
Congratulations to Danielle, Tyler and Carmen, and their entire teams on this great honour!
