Toronto: Indy Sportz Film Fest Experience (ISFFE), a non-profit event, launches in April with sports celebrities, international films and community outreach. The ISFFE takes place on Friday April 24, 2015 from 4 pm to 8 pm (Fan Experience, Alexandra Park Community Centre) and Saturday April 25, 2015 from 11 am to 11 pm (Screenings, Jackman Hall Theatre Art Gallery of Ontario).
Prithipal Singh … A True Story will be screened at the Art Gallery of Ontario (Jackman Hall Theatre) on Saturday April 25th from 6:05 pm to 7:45 pm. Inspired by a true story, the film traces the life of Prithipal Singh, one of the greatest Indian hockey players. Prithipal, a survivor of partition, goes on to become the best penalty corner convertor and in the process wins three Olympic medals including a gold medal at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. After walking away from hockey, disillusioned with a bronze medal at the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games, Prithipal joins the Punjab Agricultural University where he is the head of student welfare. Caught between two warring student groups and his own set of principles, Prithipal finds himself being accused of murdering a student and a deadly blood feud is ignited. He was shot dead in 1983 by a student.
This year’s other films and sports themes are: The Fall League (USA) – Senior Softball; George Chuvalo: Never Knocked (Canada) ) – Boxing; Vintage Canadian Wrestling (Canada); In the Steppes of Ghenghis (Mongolia/USA) – Horse Racing; The Silent Portrait of Michael Brannigan (USA) – Running; The Trailblazer: The Mychal Thompson Story (Bahamas) – Basketball; and De Pleintjes aka ANTWERP-The City Game (Belgium) – Soccer.
The Fan Experience is a unique aspect of the festival which allows tickets holders and people in the Alexandra Park Community to meet top sportspeople and take part in various activities. It features appearances by former UFC fighter and World Arm Wrestling champion, Gary Goodridge; former CFL player Mike ‘Pinball’ Clemons, and former wrestler Ricky Johnson (uncle of The Rock). The Fan Experience is affiliated with the IGNITE Toronto 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am program. The Festival also features ‘The Roger Baker Photo Exhibit’ that includes photos of George Chuvalo and Muhammad Ali. More information, at www.isffexperience.org