Richard Condie

Created in 1939, the National Film Board of Canada has produced and distributed literally thousands of films by and about Canadians, including hundreds of animated shorts. But despite the fact that these innovative cartoons received several Oscar wins and nominations, most were little-seen by Canada's neighbors to the south.

HEART LAND takes viewers from a raging white-water kayaking ride and the thundering heat of a chuckwagon race, to swooping over a field of magnificent sunflowers and the magic of a solar eclipse. There are landscapes of unparalleled beauty, the exquisite grace of Evelyn Hart and Andre Lewis dancing Norbert Vesak's award winning pas-de-deux, "Belong", a hilarious animated sequence by Richard Condie, and touching images, past and present, of the people who have dared to carve out a new life against a vast, and sometimes unforgiving landscape.

A couple has a fight over a game of Scrabble unaware that a full-scale nuclear war has started.

A whirlwind tour of first-class animated shorts, The World's Greatest Animation assembles, for the first time, an eye-popping assortment of Academy Award winners and nominees from the years 1978-90. From the Orwellian vision of zoo life Creature Comforts, to Crac!, a rocking chair's impressionistic view of the industrialization of Montréal, The World's Greatest Animation features some of the finest achievements in this unique art form.

The very short animation by Richard Condie is a lesson in how to make a fool of oneself easily and effectively. Two gentlemen are involved: one who wishes to read his newspaper and another who insists on performing acrobatic feats. Although the outcome is surprising, the message is clear: going to great lengths to impress one's neighbor is futile.

An elderly woman naps and has seven erotic dreams. Each dream sounds the same. "Dreamers" are Craig Bartlett, Alison Snowden and David Fine, Janet Perlman, Sara Petty, Stoyan Dukov, Paul Driessen and Marv Newland. Directed by Marv Newland.

A tale of a man who has everything he needs in his one little room, and the disasters that befall him when he succumbs to the temptation of the world outside his door. An Italian opera, with subtitles and some cows and fish.

A concert pianist prepares to begin his practising for a major concert coming up. Unfortunately, he has this procrastination problem that prevents him from getting any serious time done, even when his frustration with it literally driving him into a frenzy.

This animation film celebrates the creative process--its beauty, fury, and consequences. It is a highly stylized and impressionistic rendering; each scene corresponds to a step in the process. Black and white photographs, representing reality, are overlaid with animated colour drawings, representing fantasy. It illustrates the artist braving creative storms, indulging runaway imagination and learning, by trial and error, to take possession of his creative energy. Film without words.

This funny short animation was written and created by Tali and is inspired by the filmmaker's misadventures as a school bus driver in the Eastern Townships. Our protagonist dreams of becoming a bus driver in order to cruise down quiet country lanes and connect with nature, her young charges and their parents. But her idyllic view of her new job is sorely tested after she meets her surly boss, named Killer, and discovers that winding roads can prove treacherous in winter, especially with a faulty clutch. Through her cheeky humour and oblique look at the reality of people living in the Quebec countryside, Tali delivers a film that is unique, witty and touching.

A collection of extraordinary animated short films from around the world, curated by Don Hertzfeldt. Released exclusively to movie theaters to support independent animators, the program includes “Martyr’s Guidebook”, “Zoon”, “The Hill Farm”, “I Am Alone and My Head is On Fire”, “Wednesday with Goddard”, “Jesus 2”, “The Big Snit”, “Untitled Line Drawings” (never-before-seen work by Bruce Bickford), and more.

A pesky yellow cat becomes the bane of Mr. Johnson's life as it constantly outsmarts his increasingly desperate attempts to get rid of it.

A train runs into a cow on the tracks; with the captain nowhere to be found, the fireman is forced to desperately improvise in order to keep the train going.

Medieval times. A jester is heading to the castle, but can't help running into a fruit tree in his path. Again and again. After a while, he lands nose-down and when he gets up, his nose remains stuck in the ground. He gives up, and we see that "wise" people aren't faring much better. He returns to his master, who gives him a replacement nose and sets off on an easier path.

This documentary describes the unfortunate legacy of the lone house on the prairie, an example of a dwelling entirely unsuited for the harsh winter or summer. We meet some builders and homeowners experimenting with more energy-efficient designs, such as the dome, the underground house and a ranch with wind, solar energy and methane gas from animal waste.

Eight animated pieces by eight artists, from the studios of the National Film Board of Canada.

A man smuggles in an exotic animal, but discovers too late that it's infested with some rather nasty insects.

A short trip into daydream-like surrealism.

One of the most sensational get-rich-quick schemes that took place in France over 200 years ago with economist John Law at the helm.