When a condo community learns of a neighbour's death, the dramatic retelling of his disappearance and demise takes on a life of its own. Each version of the story sounds stranger than the last until an Easter Monday revelation takes everyone by complete surprise.
Set in a retirement community for aging artists and entertainers, the 13-min film blends documentary interviews, musical performances, and true crime vignettes to explore the bizarre events surrounding Don’s death.
Awards & Nominations:
- Winner, Best Documentary Short (2019 Reel Shorts Film Festival)
- Winner, Best Canadian Short (2019 NorthwestFest)
- Nominee, Best Short Non-Fiction (2019 Yorkton Film Festival)
Official Selection:
- Palm Springs International ShortFest 2019
- Hot Docs 2019
- NorthwestFest 2019
- Reel Shorts 2019
- Yorkton Film Festival 2019
- Vancouver Short Film Festival 2019
- Whistler Film Festival 2018
- Northwest Filmmaker's Festival 2018
Press:
"A feel-good story...it speaks to the nature of entertainers, whose life is informed by being seen.”
Zoomer Magazine
“Deeply moving and wildly entertaining.”
Vancouver Courier
“…an ending that will either make you mad or laugh like crazy.”
Hollywood North Magazine
“Surreal, dramatic…one man’s death took on a life of its own.”
Booooooom
"Well-done and funny."
About To Review Podcast
SYNOPSIS
Tucked away in the heart of downtown Vancouver, there's a condo tower that's home to long-time members of Canada's performing arts professions: singers, actors, costume designers, dancers, filmmakers, playwrights, jazz musicians, and more.
Now picture this: on Easter Saturday, the residents of Vancouver's Performing Arts Lodge wake up to discover jazz singer and beloved tenant Don Stewart has unexpectedly died after a Good Friday performance at a neighbourhood bar. But as news travels between his creative and colourful neighbours, the story of Don’s pass takes on a life of its own. Every resident has their own version of what really happened to Don on Good Friday and each version is stranger than the last—until an Easter Monday revelation takes these entertainers and artists by complete surprise.
The Day Don Died is a 13min short film that blends non-fiction interviews with musical performances and cinematic recreations. It takes a laugh-out-loud look at the ways we knowingly and unknowingly spread misinformation and false news.
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