The annual Ageless International Film Festival, dedicated to seniors’ stories and older filmmakers, is aging like fine wine – perhaps a nice cabernet sauvignon. For its third edition, the Toronto-based event pays particular attention to France. Highlights include Everything Went Fine (Franois Ozon’s deft meditation on assisted dying) and The Young Lovers (a delicate romantic drama from Cardine Tardieu that stars Fanny Ardant and Melvil Poupard).
The French titles are being screened with the support of the country’s consulate in Toronto. All festival screenings, whether virtual or in person.
A year ago, a Toronto-based film festival devoted to older filmmakers and the stories of seniors made its debut. It’s back, again in virtual form, but the name of the festival has changed.
What was Silver Scene is now the Ageless International Film Festival. Executive director Judy Gladstone spoke to The Globe and Mail about the new title, a garden party with actor Don McKellar and former governor-general Adrienne Clarkson’s aboveboard interest in a younger Daniel Craig. Why the name change from Silver Scene to Ageless?
I was at a socially distanced garden party this summer, sitting with Don McKellarand the developer David Daniels. Don told me that to him Silver Scene sounded like a film festival that focused on the golden era of Hollywood. I hadn’t thought of it that way, but once he said it, it made sense. A couple of days later, David suggested Ageless.
Everybody on the board loved it, so we changed the name With cinemas opening up why did you decide to stick with a virtual festival?
I actually wanted a hybrid festival this year. I wanted it to be part of an evolution.
The name has changed, we’ve doubled in size, and we now have filmmakers breaking down their films and having conversations with the audiences. But people are not showing up to cinemas, except for the blockbusters.
They’re scared to go. Still, I was hoping to have one screening at the University of Toronto. Their rooms are smaller. But once I found out they were closed until the new year, we decided to keep it virtual .Looking at this year’s program, I’m delighted not to see any feel-good films about over-the-hill gangs and their one-last capers.
At the virtual Ageless International Film Festival, seniors’ stories and older filmmakers are in the spotlight Right, the bucket list films. No, what we’re showing are meaningful films on the older person behind the camera and on the screen. Our opening night presentation is a sneak peek at parts of the feature documentary Dear Audrey, which hasn’t been released yet.
It’s about renowned director Martin Duckworth caring for his wife, who has Alzheimer’s. It’s directed by Jeremiah Hayes. Both Martin and Jeremiah will take part in a moderated discussion. There are riches of these types of films to choose from. I think there’s a desire now to portray the reality and the range of experiences of older adults.
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