2011 TUF Film Festival

The newest attraction at this years 15th annual Bloor West Village Toronto Ukraininan Festival is the addition of a Film Festival celebrating Ukrainian film talent. The Film Festival runs Sat, Sept 17 and Sun, Sept 18 at various locations throughout Bloor West Village.

Click on image above to open the Film Festival Schedule

Films Playing at the 2011 TUF Film Festival

New Home in the West: Produced in 1942, New Home in the West commemorates 50 years of hope and hard work, from clearing the land to Golden Jubilee festivities in this charming retrospective of Ukrainian settlement in the West.

Ukrainian Winter Holidays: This delightful archival film focuses on the songs and rituals of a traditional Ukrainian Christmas and New Year on the Prairies.

Ted Baryluk’s Grocery: Ukrainian-Canadian Ted Baryluk's grocery store has been a fixture in Winnipeg's North End for over 20 years. In this photo study, Ted talks about his store, the customers who have come and gone and the social changes his multicultural neighbourhood has seen. But most of all he wonders what will become of his store after he retires. He hopes his daughter will take over, but she wants to move away. The film is a wistful rendering of a shopkeeper's relationship with his daughter and a fascinating portrait of a neighbourhood and its inhabitants.

Kurelek: A documentary about the self-taught painter William Kurelek, told through his paintings. There are scenes of village life in Ukraine and the early days of struggle on a prairie homestead and the growing comfort of family life. In Ontario, Kurelek paints the present life of Canada with the same pleasure he painted the old.

Laughter in My Soul: Travel to a bygone era and meet Jacob Maydanyk, Ukrainian immigrant, artist, humourist, publisher, teacher and creator of comic strip character and folk hero "Shteef Tabachniuk."

The Fullness of Time: Ukrainian Stories from Alberta: Harvey Spak is a third generation Ukrainian-Canadian from Two Hills, Alberta. He is also a filmmaker and writer. In this film, Spak recounts the stories of his grandfather Aleksandr Spak and the first wave of immigrants to settle in north-eastern, Alberta, at the turn of the century. (Originally shown on History Television).

The Strongest Man in the World: Narrated by Hollywood veteran Jack Palance, this film won the "Genie" award for "Best Theatrical Short" in 1980. This is the bittersweet story of the legendary Mike Swistun (1900-1981), a Ukrainian farm boy from Olha, Manitoba, who became a strongman with Ringling Bros. Barnum and Bailey Circus. Swistun was also a magician and friend of Harry Houdini's.

One Perogy at a Time: By selling perogies in Saskatchewan the Charitable organization Nashi builds a safe house in Ukraine giving local orphans a chance at avoiding a life of forced prostitution and crime.

Leo Mol in Light and Shadow: For almost 50 years, sculptor Leo Mol hid his past behind a veil of half-truth and deliberate misdirection. Torn from home and family by Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union, Mol found himself adrift with only his art to save him. This emotional documentary sets the public story of his artistic success against a private drama of loss, exile and guilt.

Wanda Koop: In Her Eyes: In 1919, Erika Koop is born on a wealthy estate in southern Ukraine, but her family's idyllic life comes to an end when bandits raid their home. They kill Erika's parents and confiscate the family home in the name of the Russian Revolution. Soon after, Erika and her family flee to Canada. In 1997 Erika and her daughter, internationally acclaimed painter and video artist Wanda Koop, make an emotionally searing journey back to Ukraine. They search for their heritage, find the cemetery where so many relatives are buried and visit the elegant estate that was once theirs. From its dreamlike opening to a stunning presentation of the paintings created from her pilgrimage, Wanda Koop: In Her Eyes takes us into the heart of the artistic process. It shows one of Canada's finest visual artists at the height of her skills, as she transforms the images and emotions of her journey into an unforgettable work of art.

Teach Me to Dance: In this drama, Lesia convinces her English-Canadian friend Sarah to perform a Ukrainian dance with her as part of their school's Christmas pageant. Sarah's father, angry at the growing number of Ukrainian settlers, won't allow his daughter to participate. Despite the prejudices of their parents, the girls' friendship remains strong, and they meet in Sarah's barn to celebrate Christmas Day together.

"Folk!" is a comedic journey through the world of Ukrainian folk dance in North America as told through the eyes of director/producer Roxy Toporowych.  This feature length documentary has screened at over 40 film festivals, museums, and universities since 2009. Click here for more info.

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