This is the last weekend to take in the thought-provoking programming at the 30th anniversary of the Rendezvous With Madness Festival. Attend an in-person screening or stream a film for FREE from the comfort of home. 

We’ve already highlighted a few of the hard-hitting documentaries at this year’s festival, including How To Save A Dead Friend, about widespread poverty and depression amongst Russian millennials; Midwaste, about heroin addiction and America’s devastating opioid crisis, and a Toronto filmmaker’s poignant and urgent film When We Reach Out, Who Should Respond?, which inspires vital discussion on how society can best respond to mental health emergencies. There’s so much great stuff to see, and now we want to draw your attention towards If You Ask Me, a cool and thoughtful programme that showcases short films by emerging filmmakers with lived mental health and/or addiction experiences. 

This year’s If You Ask Me programme runs 60 minutes and features shorts by GTA filmmakers Sameena Anis, Mikaela Cordero, Shian Grace, Corinne Langmuir, Gladys Lou, Sanskruti Marathe, Lee Nisar, Esteban Powell, Roberto Santaguida, and Agnes Wong. Films spotlighted at this year’s festival were developed from August – October 2022 under the guidance of Roberto Santaguida, along with If You Ask Me alumni Angela Feng, Maud Mostly and Vyom Malhotra.

Healing comes in many forms, and we are big believers in the power of storytelling and what happens when we share our lived experiences with others, from the bonds that are formed to the conversations that are inspired. We love that Workman Arts supports a programme that provides a platform for emerging filmmakers to be seen and heard. We also think it’s great that mentorship is provided by alumni, helping to nurture a warm and supportive community of creatives. 

The If You Ask Me in-person screening will take place Saturday, November 5th at 4 PM at the CAMH Auditorium (1025 Queen Street West). You can also stream for free and watch from home. Details on the Workman Arts site.