The Toronto Fantasy Worldwide Film Festival

“Our aim is to showcase fantasy films that are inspiring, enlightening and entertaining,” says Johanna Kern, executive director of Fantasy Worldwide Film Festival.

Highlighted Feature films include:

• Sidekick, Canada -- a comic book obsessed computer geek discovers that his friend has telekinetic abilities. He endeavors to turn him into a superhero, with the hope of becoming his trusty sidekick, but learns that not all people with extraordinary abilities are meant to be superheroes. Director: Blake Van De Graaf. Winner of ‘People’s Pick for Best Flick’ Award 2006 Canadian Filmmakers Festival.
• Mee-Shee, UK -- A fun-loving nine-year old has the adventure of a lifetime when he uncovers the world’s biggest secret: Mee-Shee, a loveable water giant. Incredible monsters and amazing special effects from Academy Award winning Jim Henson’s Creature shop. Starring: Tom Jackson, Bruce Greenwood, Daniel Magder, Joel Tobeck, Rena Owen. Director: John Henderson
• Gamerz, Scotland / UK -- An off-beat comedy with a love triangle set in the fantasy, role-playing society of Glasgow University. The hero is the Game Keeper, a geeky genius who builds an imaginary world – and has a fatal weakness for the sexy goth girl who thinks she’s an elf. Director: Robbie Frazer.
• Spectres, USA -- Some of Sci-Fi’s most famous faces. Marina Sirtis, co-star of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” meets up with “X-Files” regular Dean Haglund, Tucker Smallwood of “Space: Above and Beyond, Linda Park of “Star Trek: Enterprise;” and Alexis Cruz of “Stargate,” to create a dark and eerie tale of a supernatural phenomenon. Director: Phil Leirness
• Laura's Star, Germany / Animated Feature -- Laura is new to the neighborhood, and a little homesick. Then she rescues a fallen star who is homesick too - and shares a friendship that makes her new surroundings feel like home. Directors: Piet De Rycker, Thilo. Co-producers and distributors: Warner Bros.
• Short Order, Ireland / UK / Germany -- Fifi has an uncontrollable talent for culinary seduction. Over one busy night in the culinary underbelly, boredom will become fantasy as a little bit of love and wisdom come together where life is a buffet and everything is Short Order. Starring: Emma de Caunes, John Hurt, Cosma Shiva Hagen, Jack Dee, and Vanessa Redgrave. Director: Anthony Byrne. Short Order was nominated for 8 Irish Film and Television Awards and won in the Production Design category.

Highlighted Documentaries include:

• The Gathering: Return of the Whale Dreamers, Australia -- by producers Julian Lennon and Kim Kindersley. The wisdom of Indigenous Elders from around the world permeates this film, offering up the familiar warnings of where humanity seems to be going, but it also reflects back to us that we collectively can come back from the edge of extinction. For the first time on film, Aboriginal Whale Calling ceremonies are shared. Guest Appearances: Jack Thompson, John Hurt, Julian Lennon, Pierce Brosnan, Geoffrey Rush. Director: Kim Kindersley. Best Film Award, Byron Bay Film Festival.
• The Secret, Australia -- Leading scientists, authors and philosophers reveal the secret that has transformed the lives of those who lived it: Plato, Newton, Carnegie, Beethoven, Shakespeare and Einstein. This is the secret to everything – joy, health, relationships, money, love and happiness. Directors: Drew Heriot, Damien McLindon, Sean Byrne.
• Huldufolk 102, USA/Iceland -- Beneath the quiet veneer of Iceland is an invisible nation of Hidden People. Tales of these beings challenge human perceptual limitations and reveal the mysteries of the natural world. Director: Nisha Inalsingh.

You can learn more about this great festival on their official website www.fantasyworldwide.com