United Skates: Cocktail Reception and Screening

by Regent Park Film Festival

Event Information

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Date and Time

Thu, 18 October 2018

6:30 PM – 10:30 PM EDT

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Location

Daniels Spectrum

585 Dundas Street East

Toronto, ON M5A 2B7

Canada

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Event description

Description

Come roll with us on October 18th for this year's annual fundraising screening of United Skates.

We'll start the night off with a cocktail reception with bites courtesy of Cinq Foods, grab a beer from Steamwhistle Brewery and take part in our silent auction. Be the first to hear about our 2018 film program before the movie at 8pm. The evening will be hosted by Aliya Pabani and we'll have a panel discussion after the film with Ravyn Wngz and Mark-Che Devonish.

Cocktail Reception & Silent Auction: 6:30 - 8:30pm

Film and Panel: 8:30 - 10:30pm

THE FILM

Directors:
Dyana Winkler & Tina Brown

Synopsis:
When America’s last standing roller rinks are threatened with closure, a community of thousands battle in a racially charged environment to save an underground subculture –– one that has remained undiscovered by the mainstream for generations, yet has given rise to some of the world’s greatest musical talent.

PANEL

After the film stay for our panel moderated by the evening's host Aliya Pabani, featuring Mark-Che Devonish and Ravyn Wngz. The conversation will speak to the film’s larger thematic concerns regarding gentrification and access to community-led spaces, this conversation will draw upon the local DIY/DIWO (“do it yourself”/“do it with others”) subcultures, fostering safer spaces for racialized and marginalized youth to celebrate and participate in.

Aliya Pabani is an artist and podcaster. Most recently, she was host/producer of CANADALAND’s arts and culture podcast The Imposter, a show that covered everything from interviews with groundbreaking artists like Tanya Tagaq, to the story of an early synthesizer pioneer from the Maritimes who scored the Apollo 11 moon landing. Season two explored the poetics and politics of comedy through Aliya’s attempt to become a successful comedian.

The Imposter was featured as one of the best podcasts of 2017 by CBC’s Podcast Playlist, and Ben Cannon of the AV Club called it "one of the finest, most compulsively listenable shows in the world of podcasts today.

Mark-Che Devonish is a queer, poly, Trinidadian man who has lived in Canada for 5 years. He is the founder and one of the head coordinators at The Rude Collective- a queer community-based arts collective based in Toronto, focused on curating work by marginalised artists of colour and creating hybrid art showcases and dance party events in unconventional venues in the city. He uses this platform to amplify the voices of artists of colour in the city.

He was a research and policy analyst for one of Canada’s only LGBTQI2S human rights organization where he specialised in Legal Issues, Justice and International Development- viewed through an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, trauma informed lens. Whether it be curating Rude’s signature art showcase and dance party events, hosting a queer soca fete or creating space for club and ballroom music lovers he always finds himself busy dancing, cooking, biking or liming around the city.

Ravyn Wngz is an African, Bermudian, Mohawk, 2Spirit, queer and transcendent individual. Ravyn aims to challenge mainstream arts and dance spaces by Sharing her stories while continuing to create opportunities and platforms for marginalized LGBTTIQQ2S people with a focus on African/black communities. Ravyn is a co-founder of ILL NANA/DiverseCity Dance Company- a queer multiracial dance company that aims to change the landscape of dance and provide accessible affirming dance education to the LGBTTIQQ2S community. Ravyn is the artistic director of OVA- Outrageous Victorious Africans Collective a Dance/Theatre collective that share the contemporary voices of African/Black and Queer/Self Identified storytellers.

Ravyn is part of Black Live Matter Toronto Steering committee, A group who are committed to eradicating all forms of anti-Black racism, supporting Black healing and liberating Black communities.

THE VENUE

The Daniels Spectrum is an accessible venue.

All washrooms and drinking fountains are accessible
Barrier-free access to the building via the Dundas Street entrance
Signage throughout the building in braille

FAQs

What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event?

Daniels Spectrum is accessible from either the 505 Dundas Streetcar or the 65 Bus from Castle Frank Station.

505 Streetcar

Sackville St is the closest stop for both Westbound and Eastbound Streetcars.

65 Castle Frank Bus

Take the bus from Castle Frank Station southbound to Dundas and Parliament. Daniels Spectrum is located east of Parliament on the south side of Dundas St E.

Driving

Street parking is available nearby and there is paid-underground parking below the Daniels Spectrum accessible entrance from Sackville St.

How can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Contact info@regentparkfilmfestival.com or give us a call at 416-599-7733

www.regentparkfilmfestival.com