300 years of a remarkable musical instrument. Crafted by the Italian master Bussotti (Cecchi) in 1681, the red violin has traveled through Austria, England, China, and Canada, leaving both beauty and tragedy in its wake. In Montreal, Samuel L Jackson plays an appraiser going over its complex history.

Mark Hunter, a lonely high school student, uses his shortwave radio to moonlight as the popular pirate DJ "Hard Harry." When his show gets blamed for a teen committing suicide, the students clash with high school faculty and the authorities.

Bruce Macdonald follows punk bank Hard Core Logo on a harrowing last-gasp reunion tour throughout Western Canada. As magnetic lead-singer Joe Dick holds the whole magilla together through sheer force of will, all the tensions and pitfalls of life on the road come bubbling to the surface.

The ghost of "patient zero", who allegedly first brought AIDS to North America - materialises and tries to contact old friends. Meanwhile, the Victorian explorer Sir Richard Burton, who drank from the Fountain of Youth and now works as Chief Taxidermist at the Toronto Natural history Museum, is trying to organise an exhibition about the disease for the museum's "Hall of Contagion".

As the waters of the river Seine overflow their banks and surround a Parisian café, composer Erik Satie nurtures bittersweet memories of his one-time lover Suzanne Valadon.

This riveting music documentary traces the history of Jazz piano legend Oscar Peterson, from his early days as Montreal's teenage Boogie-Woogie sensation through his meteoric rise to international celebrity with Norman Granz and the ground-breaking Jazz at the Philharmonic and beyond. In this award-winning autobiographical portrait, legendary jazz pianist Oscar Peterson narrates his story, from his beginnings in smoke-filled Montreal clubs to hallmark performances with jazz greats. Concert footage includes an unforgettable combo -- Nat King Cole with Jazz at the Philharmonic and the Oscar Peterson Trio Wall reunion. Quincy Jones, Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzy Gillespie are interviewed, among others.

The film explores the relationships that a limousine driver, a doctor, and a real estate agent have amongst each other and with Yo-Yo Ma as he travels to Canada to perform Bach's Cello Suites.

Nine-year old Reliana witnesses Rossini's efforts to salvage his seemingly cursed new opera, the Barber of Seville.

A shy young man with a passion for opera has his world turned upside down by a con artist who really does have a heart of gold.

Filmmaker Larry Weinstein stages a wide range of performances in tribute to the compositions of Kurt Weill.

Jean and her sister, played by Macha Grenon, have a life long infatuation with the Japanese Pianist who once lived across the street from them during their high school years. The film is set during the family's reunion on Vancouver Island and flashes back and forth over the last 10 years. By coincidence, Yoshi who is now a world famous Pianist is giving a concert in Vancouver and Amy is anxious to see him again but her sister curiously is not at all interested. The girls explore old passions, stalking, sibling rivalry and wrong life choice based on the fantasies of their youth.

In an isolated, snow-covered country known as the Water Land, the town of Shandrilan remains the quietest place in the world because its "Hush Law" prohibits noise of any kind, including music. Enter the exiled gypsy Zantalalia (Patti LuPone), who returns determined to pass her singing secrets on to ten-year-old Aurora (Meredith Henderson), an action that will get the girl in trouble with Captain Nizzle of the dreaded Noise Police. John Neville completes the cast of this colorful family fantasy.

A collection of vignettes highlighting different aspects of the life, work, and character of the acclaimed Canadian classical pianist.

A tribute to the screen work of Joe Dallesandro set to the music of Judy Garland.

A young surveyer, new to Ontario, encounters the blackflies. Over and over again, he encounters those blackflies.

Biographical story of rock idol and TV star, Ricky Nelson is recalled from the view of Ricky in a discussion with a fan just hours before his death in a plane crash in 1985.

This documentary explores and celebrates the all-too-short, heartbreaking but triumphant life and unworldly talent of Lenny Breau, considered by many to have been the greatest guitar player of all time. Long before the term "fusion" was coined, Lenny was melting musical boundaries to produce original pieces that borrowed from styles as diverse as jazz, classical and flamenco. Through a combination of never-before-seen archival footage and interviews with family and colleagues, viewers are offered a close-up look at a sensitive, selfless but flawed musical genius who redefined what the guitar could do. - Telefilm Canada

This was the video that was played in the background during live Skinny Puppy shows on the Last Rights tour. Was circulated on both VHS and DVD.

Inspired by Bach presents cellist Yo-Yo Ma performing the six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello by J.S. Bach in collaboration with artists from different disciplines, in a set of six films.

Following up on her 2000 opus Suspicious River, Lynne Stopkewich directs this documentary about the final Lilith Fair. Launched in 1997 by Sarah McLachlan and a host of other female singer/songwriters, the concert series quickly became one of the most popular, and profitable, tours of the late '90s. Stopkewich, along with her crew, tagged along during the 2000 tour, traveling to 42 shows across the continent. Rising early and crashing late -- often in the bus as it drives to the next destination, Stopkewich's crew quickly gets a taste of the rigors of life on the road. Along the way, they interview fans, crew, tech staff, and the stars. Apart from such documentary footage, Lilith also features performances from McLachlan, Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders, Sheryl Crow, the Dixie Chicks, and sundry other.

Red Riding Hood is tried for the murder of The Wolf.

This was the video that was played in the background during live Skinny Puppy shows on the Too Dark Park tour. Was circulated on both VHS and DVD.

As the film opens, the career of George Frideric Handel is in tatters. Invited to Dublin to present the premiere of a new choral work, The Messiah, he can't find singers adequate for the job. A boy who steals a chicken runs into Mr. Handel. The boy's Mother was NOT an employee at the Cathedral, she cleaned and ironed shirts, so the mother "bribes" Mr. Handel with non-starched shirts to save her boy from being in jail. The choir sucks until the washer lady's son is discovered by Handel.

Written and directed by Gregory Wild, the film follows the misadventures of Wynona-Sue Turnpike (Barbara Chamberlin, who also wrote the film’s score) on a raucous and unlikely road to Nashville superstardom. Backed up by a pair of transvestite guardian angels (played by The Big Wigs), Wynona-Sue faces a variety of indignities including an abusive husband, the threat of life imprisonment and venereal disease.

Six composers work on a composition to be performed in a shopping mall.

This video companion to the Canadian singer-songwriter's triumphant live album confirms in sight what that recording advanced in sound--Sarah McLachlan and her fine, flexible stage band have evolved into a superb live performing unit, breathing added fire and nuance into McLachlan songs that were already stunning in their original studio versions. Always a strong, charismatic singer, McLachlan now conjures a rare balance of delicacy and power, measured here in performances of signature songs that add a new, more muscular edge matching her band's rock firepower. Thus, "Possession" expands beyond its already sensual promise to touch on truly erotic abandon, while "Building a Mystery" focuses its portrait of a narcissistic poseur with a harder edge and a newly amended, R-rated lyric that's entirely appropriate.

About Daniel Lanois, the Canadian musician and producer, during one of his most productive years in life, living and recording in New Orleans, LA. Daniel Lanois was born in Hull, Quebec. Sept. 19, 1951. His family moved to Hamilton, Ont. in 1963. In 1974 he and his brother Bob built and operated the Grant Avenue Studio, where he produced records by acts such as Martha and the Muffins, Parachute Club, Raffi, and Ian Tyson. In 1989 he released his first solo album, "Acadie". He also produced "Oh Mercy" by Bob Dylan and "Yellow Moon" by The Neville Bros. during the same year.

Songs include "Vox" (Canadian and U.S. versions), "Steaming," "Ben's Song," "The Path of Thorns," "Into the Fire," "Possession" (Canadian and U.S. versions), "Hold On," "Good Enough," "I Will Remember You," "Building A Mystery," "Sweet Surrender," and "Adia."

Mark is a concert pianist who has lost his lover, David to AIDS. When he starts to see visions of David, he finally realizes that it's okay to move on.

This documentary presents two young women from Halifax who are organizing rock concerts to raise money for the group Eastcoast Against Racism. Bronwen and Yaffa believe that the universal language of music will help unite the community. At the same time, they struggle to renew their friendship with Scott, a former Ku Klux Klan member. This moving film is set against a vibrant soundtrack of punk and rap music.

In this musical comedy set to 1950's rock 'n' roll, three women are working in a burlesque club. They are more than content with their jobs but things start to change when the management starts to make demands. Their sleazy manager, who seems to have a wandering eye for the hard working girls, tries to convince them to show more flesh. Although he assures them that it will bring in more business and thus create more money for them, they refuse. What will happen when the pressure is on for them to "take it off"?

In a poor eastern quarter of Montreal, a restaurant is dedicated for the poors only: le Chic Resto Pop. It used the surplus of some merchants to offer cheap meals. The young people who work there for free get a lot of satisfaction in their work in spite of the difficulties. The movie is build around six songs written by them.

A musical documentary that travels across Canada and looks at four extraordinary Black Canadian families.

A documentary covering the life and death of Jamaican reggae musician and cultural icon Peter Tosh. Drawn both from Tosh's "Red X" series of autobiographical tapes that he was recording at the time of his murder and from interviews with other figures in his life.

You Are the Only Song is a live concert video from Hamilton Place, Ontario previously released as "The Final Concert". The program is a remarkable tribute to an artist who averaged 200 shows a year, half of them for charity.

A lush, evocative dance video, featuring Alvin Erasga Tolentino. Light/dark, simple/complex, birth/death.

The urban on-line dictionary defines queercore as “Gay-themed, underground, independent music; usually punk rock (Team Dresch, Pansy Division, The Butchies, The Need, etc.)”. See for yourself.

With lush visual effects and evocative soundscape, this movement tape is a poetic exploration of one man's fall from grace, as he becomes disillusioned with gay ideals of beauty.

In this short animation, a girl is so carried away by her love of music that she forgets about her household chores. Her father tells her to finish the dishes. Instead of washing them, she turns them into musical instruments, and he finally recognizes her talent. Based on Article 29 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, this film illustrates children's right to develop their talents and abilities to their fullest potential.

The Lara Fabian special, Pure delves into the Belgian singer’s second major concert in Quebec. On stage, this singer-songwriter sings the hits from her album, Pure, named popular album of the year at the ADISQ Gala in 1997. Lara Fabian also offers up a selection of titles from her previous album, Carpe Diem. An evening that tugs on the heartstrings through the beautiful voice and ballads of Lara Fabian.

Reflecting on the premature death of a young dancer and artist, Heaven or Montréal points to unfinished ideas, creating "outlines" of lost energy and imagination. As a finale, it summons all its desperation and asks for silence to speak and stillness to dance. Ian Middleton, its co-author, died in 1993 of AIDS related causes.

A rather liberal and pictorial interpretation of a number of Western musical forms with a considerable homosexual bias. Playing largely off the mood of different musical genres, it is a humorous commentary on musical association, and a celebration and critique of "gay identity."

A video designed to challenge existing models of AIDS treatment in our society. Using a collage of elements as well as techniques from video and performance, the themes of mourning, urgency and healing are explored in a poetic and highly charged video. Got Away in the Dying Moments suggests natural alternatives to the current treatments and attitudes that constrain our hearts and minds with respect to the AIDS crisis.

Different Stages is a live album by Canadian rock band Rush, released in 1998. The bulk of the first and second discs were recorded at the World Music Theatre in Tinley Park, Illinois, during the 1997 Test for Echo tour.

Colorful, musical experimental film, recently restored.

Hoolboom takes the music video for Madonna's "Justify My Love" and runs it alongside a transgressive letter to Madonna from her schoolmate, Jason.

Jason returns with another letter to Madonna, thanking her for letting him be her "mistress".

Visually luscious and aurally-fixated, this short narrative tape offers a poetic and funky celebration of the Bisexual Queendom. A sequel to Bristol's title "videobut", it's her first tape that you can dance to.

Richard Locke was the star of the Gage Trilogy, ground-breaking feature length gay porn films made in the late seventies. This tape is a document of an erotic performance intercut with statistics of HIV transmission in North America.

The crew of the Enterprise defeat the Borg invasion with the irresistible power of disco! A fast-paced spoof of space opera music videos, featuring stop action animation and a great retro soundtrack.

A choreographed interpretation to the music of Henry Purcell's opera.

Through Ukrainian songs and dances, a Canadian woman who came to Ukraine learns about her family history.

A chubby girl tries to find the perfect outfit for the big concert. Trouble is, nothing fits.

Based on controversial play, a former Nazi and a madam meet 50 years after the Second World War to find Hitler's progeny.

"The bridge built in 'Blakk wi Blak...k...k' takes its audience back and forth between Jamaica and Toronto in a rapid-fire commute that soon blurs the two places into one. At the centre of this swirl is world renowned dub poet Mutabaruka, possessed of one of the most trenchant tongues in Jamaica. In this fast-paced portrait co-directed by Canadian poet Lillian Allen, he brings his wit and sharp intelligence to some of his favourite subjects-tourism, Marcus Garvey, true Rastafari, and fast food as chemical warfare. Both in performance and interview, his liberation lessons, comic asides and dubwise Rastafarian philosophy cut hard to the bone." - Cameron Bailey

A lesson in love and a duel ‘til death set to Elizabethan music.

Shot and edited in a Super 8 camera, this bittersweet tale of breakup is told through the lyrics of Karen Carpenter's unforgettable tune.

An LGBT parody of The Sound of Music's "Do, Re, Mi".

In this queer Asian spoof of karaoke, a new boy in town discovers the dark side of the big city. The story follows his adventures to an underground club where sex and murder are in store.

Trailer Song is about the human need for self-sufficiency and autonomy. Absolute independence from the culture that keeps us warm and fed is a fantasy, and Trailer Song is a musically rendered version of that fantasy. The office worker buys a trailer and gives up urban life. She sings: "....With fresh butter I churn and bread that I bake, Taste it, try it. Do you see a mistake? Dandelion tea, It's so easy to brew, If you care to come here, I'd give some to you..."