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Picture of Ian Merkel

Ian Merkel

View All Posts By Author: Ian Merkel
New Film Reviews

Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight

Movie Title: Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight Year: 2024 Country: South Africa, Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) Language: In English and Shona with English Subtitles Director and Screenplay : Embeth Davidtz Script:  based on Alexandra Fullers book Awards: 1 win & 3 nominations Trailer: I was still in South Africa in 1965 during the white minority government’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) in 1965 that led to a lengthy conflict

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Ian Merkel July 16, 2025
VIFF2024 Reviews

Julie Keeps Quiet Feature VIFF2024-31

Having received a recommendation on “Julie Keeps Quiet” for one of our society’s sponsored films, I did some research to find out how realistic a film like this could be. I was intrigued and cautious about the subject matter. I am an avid tennis player and have played tournaments both in my birth country (South Africa) and across Canada. There have been several cases in both the amateur and professional

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Ian Merkel June 13, 2025
Reviews-Other Festivals

SAFFCANADA-2024 Review of George Bizos Icon

George Bizos 1927-2020
Having left South Africa in 1975, I knew of George Bizos. I knew that he was Nelson Mandela’s Lawyer and involved in working with Bram Fischer in the Rivonia Trials in 1963, but I was not aware of his closeness with the Mandela family, looking after the family needs, and the children, while Nelson was in prison.
In 1950 he completed his law degree at

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Ian Merkel November 14, 2024
Reviews-Other Festivals

SAFFCANADA-2024 Review The Umbrella Men

If you have never been to Cape Town, South Africa, you are in for a treat. The Umbrella Men is filmed in an area previously called District 6, a mixed residential area close to the city centre. The area was once known for its lively community, many cultures, and music. It changed because of segregation and became dilapidated, but today it is once again a thriving community revitalized with multi

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Ian Merkel November 14, 2024
Archived Other Festivals Reviews

SAFFCANADA-2024 Review Death OF A Whistleblower

As our sponsored film, I was pleasantly surprised with the script, the quality of the acting and the background to the story of Death of a Whistleblower. Having watched the trailer, I was interested in finding an interview with TIFF and Director Ian Gabriel, and some of the cast. I think Ian has created a remarkable film, exposing where South Africa is today in terms of post-Apartheid and the outcome

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Ian Merkel November 13, 2024
Archived VIFF Promos

Promo Code For $5 Off VIFF Connect On-Line For “The Beasts” Open Post To Subscribe To Our Society’s Emails And Get The Promo Code

VIFF Promotions of International / Foreign films to our subscribers Our society  offers promo codes for ticket discounts to a Foreign / International film to our subscribers on our mail list.  The selected film will be part of the year round films programmed by the VIFF team August VIFF Feature Promo “The Beasts” $5 off with Ticket Promo Code Sat Aug 19 to Fri Aug 25  (Check Dates and Times to

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Ian Merkel August 19, 2023
Archived VIFF CO-Presented Films

Past Sunday Morning Movie “The Man in the Basement” (L’Homme de la cave) Co-Presented with VIFF

  “The Man in the Basement” (L’homme de la cave) !Vancouver Premiere! Screening Again May 31  VIFF Vancity  Studio Theatre at 8:10 pm    Director Philippe Le GuayWriters: Philippe Le Guay | Gilles Taurand | Marc WeitzmannCast: François Cluzet |  Jérémie Renier | Bérénice BejoSee Full Cast and crew!Country of Origin: FranceLanguage; French with Eng Subs             Year :2021 Age:  19+ Buy Tickets online. Trailer Awards Review Synopsis When a retired history teacher (François Cluzet) agrees to rent

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Ian Merkel May 15, 2023
Archived VIFF CO-Presented Films

Past Monthly Sunday Morning Movie Co-Presentation with complimentary Bagels/Coffee “The Last Bus” April 23rd 11am

Our Next Sunday Movie with Complimentary Bagels and Coffee Screening Sunday April 23rd VIFF Vancity Theatre at 11:00 am. Bagels served from 10:30 am. “The Last Bus” !Vancouver Premiere! 7.2 on IMDB Director Gillies MacKinnonWriter: Joe AinsworthCast: Timothy Spall |  Phyllis Logan | Natalie MitsonSee Full Cast Country of Origin: UK and UAELanguage; English     Year :2021                        Drama               Runtime 83 minutes      Age:  19+ Buy Tickets

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Ian Merkel March 22, 2023
Archived Other Sponsored Festivals and Films

Discount Passes Offered on a New International Virtual Film Festival

We are pleased to promote and offer discount passes to a new INTERNATIONAL FEATURE VIRTUAL FILM FESTIVALScreening on-line through Eventive April 6 – April 23 CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS (individual  tickets are US$14) CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE DISCOUNT PASSES DISCOUNT CODES for PASSES  (applies to all our subscribers / members and followers on social media and meetup) 50% discount of the US$100 pass (12 films) = US$50Code is 16XSH14T3DOKBAX 40% discount of the US$70

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Ian Merkel March 21, 2023
Archived Other Sponsored Festivals and Films

Pleased to once again be community partner  with the RENDEZVOUS Film Festival Feb.21-26, 2023

  Link to Online Screenings and blogs of in- theatre Films at SFU  29th RENDEZVOUS Film Festival  Feb.21-26, 2023 In Theatre and Virtual Link to the Festival   Visions Ouest Productions offers a full live-screening program complemented by online offerings. The 29th Rendez-vous Franch Film Festival will be presented from February 21st to 26, and more films during Printemps de la Francophonie in March. The in-person screenings will be held

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Ian Merkel February 10, 2023
Archived VIFF Promos

Promo Code For $5 Off VIFF Connect On-Line For “One Fine Morning” Open Post To Subscribe To Our Society’s Emails And Get The Promo Code

VIFF Promotions of International / Foreign films to our subscribers Our society  offers promo codes for ticket discounts to a Foreign / International film to our subscribers on our mail list.  The selected film will be part of the year round films programmed by the VIFF team February VIFF Feature Promo “One Fine Morning” $5 off with Ticket Promo Code  Friday 10th :7:30 screening to February 16th   Subscribe  here to our mail

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Ian Merkel February 10, 2023
Archived VIFF CO-Presented Films

Past Monthly Sunday Morning Co-Presentation with Bagels/Coffee “Madeleine Collins” March 5th 11am

Our Next Sunday Bagels, Cream Cheese, Coffee & a Movie “Madeleine Collins” !Vancouver Premiere! Efira puts in a terrific performance in Antoine Barraud’s taut relationship pic that veers into thriller territory. Anna SmithDeadline Hollywood Daily “she is the best current actress that you have probably never heard of” – Ottawa Life “Want your mind blown? Then Madeleine Collins in select theatres including TIFF Bell Lightbox is this week’s go-to. Antoine

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Ian Merkel February 10, 2023
Archived VIFF CO-Presented Films

Past Monthly Sunday Morning Co-Presentation of Dolce Fine Giornata”with complimentary Bagels/Coffee “

We are excited to finally  Co-Present  Sunday Morning Films  with complimentary bagels and coffee at VIFF Vancity On April 5th 2020, we were about to start Sunday morning Co-Presentations screenings with VIFF when COVID 19 forced the newly renovated Vancity Theatre to shut down. ————————–The film we had chosen was DOLCE FINE GIORNATA which had played at the International Film Festival in 2019.  We had this idea: to offer complimentary

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Ian Merkel January 15, 2023
Archived VIFF Promos

Promo Code for $5 off VIFF Connect on-line for “No Bears” Open Post to Subscribe to our society’s emails and get the Promo Code –

VIFF Promotions of International / Foreign films to our subscribers — our society offers a monthly promo code for ticket discounts to a Foreign / International film to our subscribers on our mail list. The selected film will be part of the year round films programmed by the VIFF team Our Dec Foreign Feature Promo  No Bears (link to VIFF) $5 off with Ticket Promo Code——— Subscribe  here to our mail list for

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Ian Merkel December 20, 2022
Archived Other Festivals Reviews

WFF: Review of Mountain

Whistler Film Festival 2022 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) Awards 2018 Winner AACTA Award Best Cinematography in a Documentary Renan Ozturk Best Sound in a Documentary David White Robert Mackenzie Best Original Music Score in a Documentary Richard Tognetti Nominee AACTA Award Best Feature Length Documentary Jennifer Peedom Jo-Anne McGowan Best Editing in a Documentary Christian Gazal Scott Gray Accompanied by a classical music score that is so

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Ian Merkel November 27, 2022
Archived Other Festivals Reviews

WFF:Review of Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths 

Whistler Film Festival 2022 Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths  Venice Film Festival 2022 WinnerUNIMED Award Alejandro G. Iñárritu NomineeGolden Lion Best FilmAlejandro G. Iñárritu A Visual Experience not to be missed :- Especially on the Big Screen .An incredible creation of extravaganza and outrageous images , from Director Alejandro G. Iñárritu who brought us Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel and more recently Birdman. He has more or less

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Ian Merkel November 24, 2022
Archived Other Festivals Reviews

Pleased to be a Media Sponsor (International / Foreign Films) for the Whistler Film Festival Nov 30 – Dec 4 2022 (online to Jan 2 2023)

We are pleased to participate as a media sponsor for the Whistler Film Festival for the first time! We will focus on International / Foreign Features and Shorts screening in theatres and on-line during the festival Stay Connected to read our Blog Post Reviews on our home page Features Bardo Gulliver Returns Salt Lake Mountain Shorts Ice Merchants Victoria AirHostess-737 Exposed  Simo

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Ian Merkel November 23, 2022
Archived Other Festivals Reviews

The South African Film Festival 2022 is now over Read our Reviews

Message from Ian Merkel (President of the Vancouver Foreign Film Society) As the original curator to the Vancouver South African Film Festival, way back in 2011, this festival holds a very special place in our community partnership. In the past few years our society has co-presented films that not only are from South Africa, but also from Southern Africa and the African Continent —————————————– In addition to our co-presented film

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Ian Merkel October 18, 2022
Archived Blogs VIFF Reviews

Our Society’s Top Foreign language / International Films-VIFF2022

Our Reviewers Top 4  9.4/10  10/10  9/10  9.5/10 Our Society had 4 Film Reviewers with the hollowing access to the films: David House – Previews , In Theatre Attendance and On-Line Access Arash Taheri -Previews ,  In Theatre Attendance John Le Blanc -Previews Only (Away for the Festival) Ian Merkel – Previews and On Line Access  These reviews and grading  are of our previewers personal opinions

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Ian Merkel October 17, 2022
Archived Blogs VIFF Reviews

Capsule Review of “R.M.N. and “Plan 75”

“R.M.N.” Reviewed By Arash Taheri   Cannes Film Festival 2022 NomineePalme d’Or Cristian Mungiu       ………R.M.N is arguably one of the best films of the year. My admiration is not only for its solid storyline, but also from a technical point of view, it is well executed.  ……..It starts quite mysteriously with a young boy running away from something that horrified him.……..From then on, the story shifts on to

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Ian Merkel October 10, 2022
Archived Blogs VIFF Reviews

Capsule Review Music Pictures- New Orleans

“Music Pictures – New Orleans” Review by Ian Merkel ……..This documentary featuring 4 jazz legends,  well into their golden years, is a delightful film covering different genres of the New Orleans Jazz and Blues Scene. It provides a wonderful snapshot of  New Orleans and its special connection to the Music Scene. …….Beginning with Grammy-winner Irma Thomas, aka “The Soul Queen of New Orleans, and moving on to Benny Jones Sr., of

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Ian Merkel October 1, 2022
Archived Blogs VIFF Reviews

Capsule Review Of “Klondike”

“Klondike” Review by Ian Merkel Sundance Film Festival 2022 WinnerDirecting Award World Cinema – DramaticMaryna Er Gorbach NomineeGrand Jury Prize World Cinema – Dramatic This powerful theatrical debut by Maryna Er Gorbach screened at Sundance 2022. A very timely  war drama set in the Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine in 2014.  ……Timely , as it was released just before Russia decided to invade Ukraine this year. ….Including the tragedy of the

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Ian Merkel September 27, 2022
Archived VIFF Sponsored Films

Community Partnered Film Vancouver International Film Festival 2022

After 2 Years of Covid we are pleased to once again be a Community Partner with the Vancouver International Film Festival 2022 29 Sep – 9 Oct 2022   Our Community Partnered Film in the Altered States Category Leonor Will Never Die (Ang Pagbabalik ng Kwago) Screens Sat Oct 16:15pm  International Village Cinema 9 Screens Tue Oct 04 3:15 pm International Village Cinema 10   $5 off with Ticket  Promo Code on VIFF Connect

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Ian Merkel September 17, 2022
Archived VIFF Promos

Past Promo Code for $5 off on-line for “Costa Brava, Lebanon” See Post to Subscribe to our society and get the Promo Code –

VIFF Promotions of International / Foreign films to our subscribers — our society offers a monthly promo code for ticket discounts to a Foreign / International film to our subscribers on our mail list. The selected film will be part of the year round films programmed by the VIFF team Our July Foreign Feature Promo  Costa Brava, Lebanon (link to VIFF) $5 off with Ticket Promo Code——— Subscribe  here to our mail list

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Ian Merkel July 18, 2022
Archived VIFF Promos

Past Promo “Official Competition” See Post to Subscribe to our society

VIFF Promotions of International / Foreign films to our subscribers — our society offers a monthly promo code for ticket discounts to a Foreign / International film to our subscribers on our mail list. The selected film will be part of the year round films programmed by the VIFF team Our June Foreign Feature Promo  Official Competition (link to VIFF) $5 off with Ticket Promo Code——— Subscribe  here to our mail list

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Ian Merkel June 12, 2022
Archived VIFF Promos

Some Must-See films currently playing at VIFF

Click the Picture links to see details, screening dates and times Hit The Road Loved this film . An all round pleaser **** 4 1/2 Stars Between two Two Worlds A smart, honest film with a strong cast headed up by an understated performance by Juliette Binoche **** 4 stars

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Ian Merkel May 2, 2022
Archived Other Festivals Reviews

Capsule Reviews RENDEZ-VOUZ French Film Festival

While the 28th festival is now over – films continue on line  through  Eventive or through Vision Quest Productions  Une révision (A revision)  by Catherine Therrien Winner of 4 awards this film with a rating of 7.2 on IMDB was an interesting take on educational requirements in various University faculties :  What is acceptable in terms of religious references and what is expected by students in terms of their own critical

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Ian Merkel May 2, 2022
Archived VIFF Promos

“Sundown” Last screening at VIFF Thurs Apr 21st at 5:30 pm. Promo Code $5 off on Viff Connect. Open Post to subscribe and get the code.

VIFF Promotions of International / Foreign films to our subscribers Starting in March our society will offer a monthly promo code for ticket discounts to a Foreign / International film to our subscribers on our mail list. The selected film will be part of the year round films programmed by the VIFF team   Our April Foreign Feature Promo   Sundown (link to VIFF) $5 off with Ticket Promo Code——— Subscribe 

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Ian Merkel April 21, 2022
Archived VIFF Promos

VIFF PROMO “Ahed’s Knee” Opens Fri Mar 25 to Mar 28

VIFF Promotions of International / Foreign films to our subscribers In March 2024 our society began offering a periodic promo code for ticket discounts to a Foreign / International film to our subscribers on our mail list. The selected film will be part of the year round films programmed by the VIFF team   Our additional March Foreign Feature Promo   Ahed’s Knee (link to VIFF) $5 off with Ticket Promo

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Ian Merkel March 22, 2022
Archived VIFF Promos

VIFF PROMO “Great Freedom” Opens Fri Mar 18 to Mar 24

VIFF Promotions of International / Foreign films to our subscribers In March 2024 our society began offering a periodic promo code for ticket discounts to a Foreign / International film to our subscribers on our mail list. The selected film will be part of the year round films programmed by the VIFF team   Our March Foreign Feature Promo   Great Freedom (link to VIFF)  $5 off with Ticket Promo Code———

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Ian Merkel March 13, 2022
Archived Other Sponsored Festivals and Films

Community Partner 28th RENDEZ-VOUZ French Film Festival  Feb 18 to Mar 31 2022

Community Partner 28th RENDEZ-VOUZ French Film Festival  Feb 18 to Mar 31 2022 Community Partner 28th RENDEZ-VOUZ French Film Fest Feb18 to Mar 31 2022 We are pleased to once again join the 28th RENDEZ-VOUZ French Film Fest as a Community Partner ——————- Click the above Link or Picture for Festival details, tickets and schedule   Screenings will take place in theatres(tickets through Eventbrite) & on-line through Eventive   Opening Night Movie:

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Ian Merkel February 17, 2022