Dear Cinephiles, I love a feel-good movie as much as anybody – but I prefer them to be nutritious. Let’s say I want my escapism to make me think as well as feel. Gurinder Chada’s exceptionally pleasing “Bend it Like Beckham” checks all the marks. It was that rare...

Dear Cinephiles, If you’re like me, attempting to stay optimistic and counting your blessings – any bit of positive news helps. Lo and behold I sat down to watch “The Vast of Night” this Saturday night – purely for distraction – and I got this rush of excitement –...

Dear Cinephiles, Today marks the anniversary of the Stonewall riots that took place in 1969. They are viewed as the catalyst for the gay liberation movement in the US and the world. Consequently, I sat to watch “Sunday Bloody Sunday” last night. Director John...

Dear SBIFF Family, For this week’s Family Fun Film we learn about inner-strength and honor in Mulan. With the activity guide in hand, watch Mulan take hold of her destiny as she risks everything to bring honor to her family and become one of the greatest warriors...

Dear Cinephiles, I was feeling a bit down last night. All the despairing news had gotten the best of me. So luckily, I decided to watch Stephan Elliott’s “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” – which I hadn’t seen since it was released in 1994. This...

Dear Cinephiles, It’s been 15 years since the release of “Brokeback Mountain.” It’s one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking romances I’ve seen. Just like Romeo and Juliet – and Jack and Rose – Ennis del Mar and Jack Twist are star-crossed lovers. Instead of...

Dear Cinephiles, “The Handmaiden” (2016) is a lush and erotic thriller from Korea – that deals with colonialism and its relationship to pornography and feminism. Did I catch your attention? We’re talking high art here – but yes the film is titillating and shocking at...

Dear Cinephiles, Recently I polled my colleagues at work about whether they knew the secret in “The Crying Game,” and I was surprised to find out how many of them had not seen this haunting film released in 1992. And because of that fact, I will not reveal it – for I...

Dear Cinephiles, 25 years ago, I couldn’t appreciate “Philadelphia.” I’d had too many close friends of mine die of AIDS – and there was so much homophobia and misinformation. As I watched the film, I appreciated the effort yet I had been wanting so much more. I was...