Film Festival takes on musical theme
Hamilton festival will screen about 150 short and feature length films
Nathan Fleet has become so much a part of the Hamilton Film Festival over the past 12 years that it’s easy to forget that he started out as a musician. But Fleet is bringing his two passions — music and film — together this weekend when he kicks off the 2017 edition of the festival.
Fleet is combining the film fest’s opening gala Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Zoetic Theatre, 526 Concession St., with a release party for his new hardrock CD “Love Hate City.” He and his band will perform the songs from the 12-track album after a screening of a few short films, including “Air Knob,” Fleet’s own hilarious account of a front-porch air-guitar duel.
For eight days following the launch party until Nov. 12, the Hamilton Film Fest (not to be confused with the Art Gallery’s World Film Festival) will screen about 150 short and feature length films — foreign and local, documentary and drama, horror and animated, comedy and crime — at the six participating venues.
Few, if any, of the titles, you’ve heard before. Many you will never hear again.
There will also be workshops, panels and schmooze sessions, all designed for aspiring filmmakers and lovers of the off-beat.
Fleet has been involved with the festival since its inception in 2004, taking over as director in 2008 and at the helm ever since.
Interestingly enough, the theme Fleet has chosen for this year’s film fest is music. And, believe it or not, he chose the theme before he decided to release “Love Hate City.”
“It was really the music theme of the festival that kicked me in the butt to actually set a release date,” Fleet said. “I started recording the album 10 years ago with no release date set. It was this year’s festival that prompted me to finally finish it.”
Fleet grew up in east Hamilton during the ’80s listening to British heavy metal music — Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden and Motorhead — and has played in a succession of metal and prog-rock bands with names like Slayed Angels and Madman Symphony.
In recent years, however, he put his rock music aside focusing his attention on running the film festival and teaching music through the Royal Conservatory’s Learning Through the Arts program. Fleet now hopes to use “Love Hate City” in instructional videos through his Blue Pick Media website.
The album is very much in line with the vintage metal sound Fleet grew up with, big guitar riffs, with an over-thetop Tenacious D-like swagger.
It’s the sort of music you may find in “Scream For Me Sarajevo,” a documentary about Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson’s trip to Sarajevo with his solo band during the siege of 1994 to play an underground concert. The film will be screened as part of the festival Saturday, Nov. 11, 7 p.m. at the Zoetic, followed by a live performance with local metal band Prismind.
Other musically themed features include —
“When They Awake,” a documentary by Canadian directors P.J. Marcellino and Hermon Farahi exploring the current Canadian Indigenous music scene with a focus on artists such as Juno-winning electronic dance trio A Tribe Called Red, Inuk throat singer Tanya Tagaq and Cree electro-pop sensation IskWé. Monday, Nov. 6, 8 p.m., Staircase Theatre.
“I Go Back Home — Jimmy Scott,” a documentary celebrating the life of American jazz singer Jimmy Scott and composer Ralf Kemper’s dream of producing a final album with him, with onscreen appearances by Quincy Jones and Joe Pesci. Friday, Nov. 10, 9:30 p.m., Elaine Mae Theatre (at the Staircase).
“3 Dead Trick or Treaters,” a silent horror film by Canadian director Torin Langen. The film contains no dialogue, allowing the musical soundtrack to become a main player in the plot. Friday, Nov. 10, 7 p.m., Staircase Theatre. Friday, Nov. 10, 7 p.m., Staircase Theatre.
“Sherlock Jr.,” a classic 1924 silent Buster Keaton comedy with an original score by Hamilton composer Robert Bruce, who will perform it live at the screening. Thursday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m., Staircase Theatre.