Dating S.O.S

 

Going to the movies is always a fun thing to do on a date, but how often do you get to see other people’s home movies on the big screen?

Well, today you can - and it’s free!

The 5th annual International Home Movie Day is hosted by Cinematheque Ontario and The Film Reference Library  (divisions of the Toronto International Film Festival Group). This worldwide celebration of amateur films will allow you to watch (previously approved and selected) home movies provided by local residents, as well as meet film archivists and learn something about film preservation.

As Martin Scorsese said, “Saving our film heritage should not be limited only to commercially produced films. Home movies do not just capture the important private moments of our family’s lives, but they are historical and cultural documents as well. … Home Movie Day is a celebration of these films and the people who shot them. I urge anyone with an interest in learning more about how to care for and preserve their own personal memories to join in the festivities being offered in their community on August 11th.”

And, according to writer/director/actor John Waters (Pink Flamingos, Hairspray, Cecil B. DeMented): “There’s no such thing as a bad home movie. These mini-underground opuses are revealing, scary, joyous, always flawed, filled with accidental art and shout out from attics and closets all over the world to be seen again. Home Movie Day is an orgy of self-discovery, a chance for family memories to suddenly become show business.”

You can see these awesome films today, between 12 and 5, at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), 317 Dundas Street W., Toronto.