Press Release Three
For Immediate Release: March 25, 2008 •
North by Northeast Music and Film Festival and Conference and
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival co-present
Wesley Willis’ Joyrides
Screening April 20 and 22, 2008 as part of Hot Docs
Welcome to the remarkable life of Wesley Willis, a diagnosed schizophrenic who became an underground rock icon and revered outsider artist before his untimely death in 2003 at age 40.
At 6’6” and 350 lbs, Wesley was an imposing figure; he was also a gentle soul who could readily charm people with his infectious grin. He grew up in a poor Chicago neighbourhood where he made detailed freehand drawings of the cityscape. After meeting a musician, Wesley began to write and perform his own music, which featured bizarre, stream-of-consciousness lyrics “sung” over simple, driving punk-influenced melodies. Soon, he had a sizeable cult following … but fame came at a cost. On tour, Wesley often forgot to look after himself and he continuously wrestled with his mental illness. Still, he was a prolific artist right up to his death, producing 50 albums and thousands of drawings over his career. Wesley Willis' Joyrides is an absorbing portrait of a disturbed yet loveable man who found happiness in creativity. Shot over five years, the film includes interviews with Wesley, his friends and family, along with footage from his unique live performances and animations made from his artwork.
Wesley Willis' Joyrides screens at the Cumberland Theatre on Sunday, April 20at 9:45pm, and at the Bloor Cinema on Tuesday, April 22 at 11:45pm as part of Hot Docs.
Ticket info:
Evening screenings (between 6-11pm) are $12 each and Late Night Screenings (after 11pm) are $5. Order advance tickets and pass sales at the DOCUMENTARY Box Office (87 Avenue Road, 2 Blocks North of Bloor, upper level of Hazelton Lanes), online at www.hotdocs.ca, or by phone at 416-637-5150. Visit www.hotdocs.ca for further information and detailed film descriptions
About North by Northeast:
The North by Northeast (NXNE) Music & Film Festival and Conference (www.nxne.com) is a myth-busting, adrenaline-fuelled indie music and film festival that takes over Toronto for four days every June. The Music Festival is recognized worldwide as the place for fans to see breakout performances from great bands at intimate venues and for musicians to get vital international exposure. The Film Festival features the planet's most eclectic schedule of music-related films—past guest filmmakers include Don Letts, Guy Maddin, Bruce MacDonald and Stewart Copeland. And the Conference puts music insiders and veterans alongside next-generation thought leaders and cyber-punk upstarts who are defining the industry for the digital age. Catch the 14th annual North by Northeast Music & Film Festival and Conference June 12-15, 2008 at over 50 venues in downtown Toronto.