Daniel Garber talks with Jeff Harris about #TIFF25!
Hi, this is Daniel Garber at the Movies for culturalmining.com and CIUT 89.5 FM.
TIFF is the most important film festival in this hemisphere, that gives us hints about the upcoming Awards season, what movies we should look out for, and where contemporary cinema is going. It ended three weeks ago, so it’s a good time to take a look at what TIFF brought us — the hits, flops, changes and sleepers, and just about the TIFF vibe itself. Jeff Harris is a professional photog who has covered TIFF for more than two decades, in photos and features for Macleans, The Walrus, and culturalmining.com among other outlets.
I spoke with Jeff Harris in Toronto, in person.
TIFF 25 RECAP – PART 1
Films discussed include:
- I Swear
- Bad Apples
- Hamlet
- Hamnet
- Scarlet
- Orphan
- Dust Bunny
- The Last Viking
TIFF 25 RECAP – PART 2
Films discussed include:
- Degrassi: Whatever It Takes
- Lilith Fair: Building A Mystery
- You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution…
- John Candy: I Like Me
- Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie
- EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert
- Orwell: 2+2=5
- The Smashing Machine
- Peak Everything
TIFF 25 RECAP – PART 3
Films discussed include:
- Mile End Kicks
- Lovely Day
- Little Lorraine
- A Useful Ghost
- Rental Family
- No Other Choice
- Renoir
Video Highlights from #TIFF25!
Videos and text by Jeff Harris
EPiC: Elvis Presley In Concert
Director Baz Luhrmann explains about the years it took to piece together various pieces of rare Elvis footage, even resorting to lip-reading footage that lacked audio. Fortunately for fans he plans to share everything once the film is released.
Ballad Of A Small Player
Actor Colin Ferrel explains how difficult it is to get over your vices. A memorable scene in the film involves him gorging out on an incredible spread of food.
You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution…
Actors Eugene Levy and Victor Garber, along with musician Paul Shaffer revisit the stage that they once performed on fifty years earlier.
Blue Moon
A rare sighting of Ethan Hawke walking on Festival Street without a mob of people hounding for selfies.
Christy
Sydney Sweeney explains her training regimen to prepare for her boxing role… including the fast food and other sweets that helped get her up to fighting weight.
The Fence
Tom Blyth (far right) explains the real reason he thinks Claire Denis (far left) hired him for The Fence… the fact that he comes from Nottingham, the same place as her favorite band Tindersticks. (Actors Matt Dillion and Mia McKenna-Bruce sit in between).
Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie
Actor/Director Matt Johnson explains how Taylor Swift played a role in getting a complicated scene completed for their film, without interference from the police.
Easy’s Waltz
Having grown up in the rougher 1970s decade, Vince Vaughan secretly wishes to be part of the softer millennial generation.
Sentimental Value
Director Joachim Trier (far right) explains about casting the house in his film… The house is essentially a character that bears witness to all the lives that live within it. (Actors Elle Fanning, Stellan Skarsgård, and Renate Reinsve sit to his left)
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Actress Rose Byrne explains how Conan O’Brien ranks as a therapist.
Maddie’s Secret
Actor/Director John Early’s retro 80’s inspired film is peppered with plenty of modern anachronisms, like “Hulu” and “Chili Oil”.
Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie
Actor / director Matt Johnson and co-star / screenwriter Jay McCarrol explain the challenges filming at the CN Tower with a prop that looks suspiciously like a giant pipe bomb.
Easy’s Waltz
Director Nic Pizzolatto (far right) explains the challenging task of getting Shania Twain in his movie. (with Actors Vince Vaughan and Simon Rex)
Christy
Despite Sydney Sweeney’s presence on stage, Champ – the dog of real life boxer Christy Martin, stole the show at the premiere of Christy.
Maddie’s Secret
Actor/Director John Early shares his obsession for the 1986 made-for-TV movie Kate’s Secret (starring Meredith Baster Birney as a seemingly perfect suburban housewife secretly suffering from bulimia).
IMDB
IMDB Founder Col Needham explains his role (actually six roles) in 28 Years Later, and reveals the everyday camera that director Danny Boyle used to make the film.
Hamnet
Hamnet, Chloé Zhao’s beautiful film about Shakespeare’s family tragedy, won TIFF’s prestigious People’s Choice Award. The Director’s acceptance speech appeared to be beamed in from Down Under, much to the embarrassment of TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey.
Daniel Garber talks with Jeff Harris about #TIFF24!
Hi, this is Daniel Garber at the Movies for culturalmining.com and CIUT 89.5 FM.
TIFF is the most important film festival in this hemisphere, that gives us hints about the upcoming Awards season, what movies we should look out for, and where contemporary cinema is going. It ended six weeks ago, so it’s a good time to take a look at what TIFF brought us — the hits, flops, changes and sleepers, and just about the TIFF vibe itself. Jeff Harris is a professional photog who has covered TIFF for more than two decades, in photos and features for Macleans, The Walrus, and culturalmining among other outlets. So I’m very pleased have friend of the show Jeff Harris, here, in person, for a spirited discussion about this year’s TIFF.
TIFF 24 RECAP – PART 1
Films discussed include:
- The Substance
- The Assessment
- Bird
- Heretic
- Emilia Pérez
- The End
- Fanatical: The Catfishing of Tegan and Sara
- Elton John: Never Too Late
- The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal
- Piece By Piece
- Better Man
TIFF 24 RECAP – PART 2
Films discussed include:
- Paul Anka: His Way
- The Luckiest Man in America
- The Last Republican
- The Order
- The Seed of the Sacred Fig
- The Girl with the Needle
- Kill the Jockey
- Nightbitch
TIFF 24 RECAP – PART 3
Films discussed include:
- The Life Of Chuck
- The Wild Robot
- Mother Mother
- Pepe
- Dahomey
- The Brutalist
- Riff Raff
- Nutcrackers
Video Highlights from #TIFF24!
Videos and text by Jeff Harris
The Life Of Chuck
Mark Hamill explains why director Mike Flanagan cast him for the role of grandfather Albie in The Life Of Chuck.
The Life Of Chuck
Tom Hiddleston explains the elaborate and stellar seven minute dance sequence he does with co-star Annalise Basso (to the phenomenal drummer Taylor Gordon).
Hard Truths
Legendary director Mike Leigh explains what he thinks of directors who introduce their own films.
Hard Truths
Marianne Jean-Baptiste gives an Academy Award-worthy performance as Pansy, a socially abrasive woman woman with colourful language yet ultimately difficult to have affection for.
Hard Truths
Michele Austin discusses sibling rivalry, as Pansy’s grounded and supportive sister in Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths.
The Last Republican
Steve Pink, director of Hot Tub Time Machine (and politically left leaning), explains what compelled him to create the documentary The Last Republican on right wing Congressman Adam Kinzinger.
The Last Republican
Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger explains how dismayed he is by what his party has become over the past eight years. The Last Republican documents his last year on Capitol Hill.
The Last Republican
Adam Kinzinger explains the security threats that have impacted his family as a result of his criticism of the Trump administration.
Daniel Garber talks with Jeff Harris about #TIFF23!
PART 1
(13m 51s)
Films discussed include: Woman of the Hour, Poolman, Gonzo Girl, Dream Scenario, Dicks the Musical, Zone of Interest, The Holdovers, and more…
PART 2
(15m 04s)
Films discussed include: Fingernails, Hitman, Green Border, Wicked Little Letters, Breaking Ice, Perfect Days, and more…
Hi, this is Daniel Garber at the Movies for culturalmining.com and CIUT 89.5 FM.
#TIFF23 brought us a different festival than any we’ve seen before. Hollywood actors and writers were on strike, with release dates still uncertain. Geopolitics cut many countries off the usual lists. And some filmmakers who usually send movies were still recovering from the lethargy of COVID. But the movies — and I mean lots of them — were there, including tons of great ones.
So, to help me with a post- TIFF roundup and analysis, I’m very pleased to welcome back friend-of-the-show Jeff Harris. Jeff has covered TIFF for more than two decades, in photos and features for publications like
Macleans, The Walrus, and culturalmining. Jeff is also known for his photographic art — including an ongoing series of others taking pictures of him — which have won many prestigious awards.
We cover films we love, indies, turkeys, and some films that just aren’t getting enough coverage… plus noticeable changes at this year’s festival, and the whole TIFF experience.
I spoke with Jeff in person.
Photographs from TIFF 2023 by Jeff Harris
Daniel Garber talks with Jeff Harris about #Oscars 2023!
Hi, this is Daniel Garber at the Movies for culturalmining.com and CIUT 89.5 FM.
It’s post-pandemic Oscar time, when they roll out the red carpets for the stars, choose some issue to temporarily weep about, and pay homage to some of the best, (and not-so-best) movies from the past year. And always a surprise. Will this year be a punch or a slap? A photobomb? Or maybe a misread best picture award? Stay tuned tomorrow to find out.
And to help us understand the movies in competition at this 
year’s academy awards — what to see, what to avoid, what’s great, what’s terrible, who should win, and who we think will win — I’m going to speak with cinephile Jeff Harris. Jeff is a Toronto-based photographer, former photo editor at Maclean’s, and who is continuing a twenty five year art project of self-portraits taken each day. You may recognize his he takes the pics that go with my interviews each year at Hot Docs and TIFF (which he has been covering since 2002). And now he’s the one producing my segments on this show.
I spoke with Jeff Harris in person, in Toronto.
The Academy Awards will be televised on Sunday, March 12th.
Daniel Garber talks with Jeff Harris about #TIFF22
Hi, this is Daniel Garber at the Movies for Cultural Mining and CIUT 89.5 FM.
Photos by Jeff Harris.
TIFF is now finished, and the stars are long gone, but the movies live on. I spoke with Jeff Harris about this year’s festival: the changes — good and bad — the movies, the celebrities and their fans, audience reactions, standing ovations, prize winners, Oscar bait, sleepers, clunkers, and more.
A massive crowd turned up for the premiere of My Policeman starring Harry Styles. A sea of cell phones tried to catch a glimpse of rock star.
In Part One, we talk about these movies:
- In Conversation With Taylor Swift
- Gutsy (TV series)
- Sidney
- My Policeman (pictured)
- Triangle Of Sadness
Some Weird Al super-fans showed up to the Midnight Madness premiere of Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. One arrived with a homemade puppet of Al – who has become perhaps the most recognizable (or funniest) accordion player in the world.
In Part Two, we discuss:
- Catherine Called Birdy
- The Son
- The Fabelmans
- Aristotle & Dante Discover Secrets…
- Good Night Oppy
- Brother
- Bones Of Crows
- The Colour Of Ink
- Ever Deadly
- Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (pictured)
- Bros
- The Whale
- The Banshees Of Inisherin
I spoke with Jeff Harris in person after TIFF22.
Daniel Garber talks with Jeff Harris about Oscars 22!
Oscar interview
(Interview continued)
Hi, this is Daniel Garber at the Movies for culturalmining.com and CIUT 89.5 FM.
Photo of Jeff Harris by Jeff Harris.
Yes, it’s Oscar time again, but are you ready for more pomp circumstance, the swimming pools and movie stars, the red carpets and fancy clothes?
Or are you just going to give it a miss?
Either way, you’ll hear all about after this year’s awards this weekend, on Sunday, March 27th.
Did you notice anything different this year? Have you seen any of the movies yet? Do you want to see them? How many could be considered Oscar Bait?
Well to answer some of these questions, to look at the nominations, and to give you a taste of what’s to come, I’m going to join today’s guest in a discussion about the Oscars. Jeff Harris is a Toronto-based photographer, former photo editor at Maclean’s, and is continuing a twenty five year art project of self portraits taken each day. You may also know him for taking the pics that accompany my interviews each year at Hot Docs and TIFF (which he has been covering since 2002).
Jeff Harris is back again for the fifth year as resident cinephile to add his voice to our annual Oscar rundown.
I spoke with Jeff via Zoom.
The Oscars air on March 27, 2022.
Daniel Garber talks with Jeff Harris about #TIFF21!
(Short version)
(Extended version)
Hi, this is Daniel Garber at the Movies for culturalmining.com and CIUT 89.5 FM.
Photo by Jeff Harris.
TIFF is the one of the world’s biggest film festivals, where independent filmmakers from around the world show their latest work young actors give breakaway performances, and forgotten names try for their come-backs. Celebrities, publicist, the press and autograph seekers live in a weird symbiotic relationship. And movie lovers have a chance to see the best new movies of the year before they are released. But what’s it like during a pandemic when people are still tiptoeing around? How is TIFF right now? What is working, what isn’t? What’s surprising, and what movies are good, bad, or indifferent?
Well to answer some of these questions — and many more — I’m discussing this year’s festival with a long-time collaborator, marking his fifth time on this show.
Jeff Harris is an award-winning photographer and a freelance journalist who for 20 years has been covering TIFF for Macleans and The Walrus.
I spoke with Jeff in Toronto, in person.
Daniel Garber speaks with Jeff Harris about the Oscars
Hi, this is Daniel Garber at the Movies for culturalmining.com and CIUT 89.5 FM.
Photo by Jeff Harris.
Yes, it’s Oscar time again, albeit a few months late, and selected from a much smaller pool since most movie theatres have been closed for a year now, and distributors are sitting on their big-ticket blockbusters.
But hey, however you slice it, it’s still the Oscars. What are the biggest changes this year? Are the Oscars a tired warhorse that should be put out pasture? Or is it an always fresh and always surprising look at the past year’s best movies?
Well to answer some of these questions, to look at the nominations, and to give you a taste of what’s to come, I’m going to join today’s guest in a discussion about the Oscars. Jeff Harris is a Toronto-based photographer, former Photo editor at Maclean’s, and is continuing a twenty-year long art project of self portraits taken each day. You may also know him since he takes the photos that accompany my interviews at Hot Docs and TIFF. Most recently he completed a music video for Toronto musician Regina Gently released later this month.
I spoke with Jeff Harris on April 13th, 2021 via Zoom.
The Academy Awards will be broadcast on April 25th.
My predictions:
Best Picture: Nomadland ✓
Best Director: Chloe Zhao ✓
Best Actress: Frances McDormand ✓
Best Actor: Riz Ahmed Anthony Hopkins X
Best Supporting Actress: Youn Yuh-jung ✓
Best Supporting Actor: Daniel Kaluuya ✓
Best International Film: Quo Vadis, Aida? Another Round X
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