Breast Fest Film Fest 2010

Rethink Breast Cancer in Canada is again marking Breast Cancer Action Month (October) with an online campaign associated with the Breast Fest Film Fest in Toronto. The film festival, on November 19-21, will be screening seven short films from Japan, USA, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Canada and Singapore (see below). Eight short films are available on the Breast Fest site, including PSAs, comedy, dance pieces, photo treatments, with one piece earning the filmmaker $1500, a trip to Toronto and the Amazing Grace Award. The Breast Fest site entry page itself is a visual statement on the impact of breast cancer. Try to play each of the YouTube videos on the page…

April Bride tells the story of a Japanese companion, Chie (Nana Eikura), a young woman hired to speak in a public-relations role at corporate events, who ends up in the wrong auditorium. There she encounters a young salaryman, Taro (Eita). Filmed in 2009 by director Ryuichi Hiroki.

Busting Out explores the history and politics of America’s obsession with the female breast and how attitudes affect health, happiness and the corporate bottom line. Filmed in 2005 by Francine Strickwerda and Laurel Spellman Smith via Stir it Up Productions in 2009.

Glowing Stars / I taket lyser stjärnorna tells the story of fourteen-year-old Swedish teenager Jenna who shares many of the same concerns as other young women her age, such as wondering when her breasts will finally grow and trying to figure out how to get the guy she has a crush on to notice her. However, Jenna has one worry that she doesn’t share with her peers: her mother is dying of cancer. Filmed by Lisa Siwe via Filmlance in 2009.

Healing and Hope is a documentary about breast cancer survivors in the United Arab Emirates. Filmed by Jessie Deeter via Starbox Films in 2009.

I Want to Live Don’t I (Ich will ja leben, oder?) is the true story of Kathrin Spielvogel in Germany. Kathrin’s worst nightmare came true when she was just 34. Diagnosed with breast cancer, she needed to have her right breast removed, and due to the fact that the cancer had begun to spread, also had to go through an intensive course of chemotherapy. Filmed by Nicholas Feustel via Georgetown Media in 2009.

Living Downstream is based on the acclaimed book by ecologist and cancer survivor Dr. Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D., Living Downstream is an eloquent and cinematic feature-length documentary. Filmed by director Chanda Chevannes via The People’s Picture Company in 2010.

Pink Paddlers tells the story of Singapore’s first breast cancer survivors dragonboat team in 2006. Filmed by Jasmine Ng Kin Kia via Green Mango Productions in 2006.