With the Toronto International Film Festival kicking off yesterday, the reviews have started to roll in (though only the tip of the proverbial iceberg) along with more and more buzz. While we’re gathering more news from our people on the ground up in Toronto, we got our hands on exclusive photos and trailer from TIFF Doc “Midway.” Directed by photo-based artist Chris Jordan and “March of the Penguins” editor Sabine Emiliani (both making their directorial debut), “Midway” follows the albatrosses of Midway Atoll Island (a U.S. territory roughly midway between the U.S. and Asia) and their sometimes terrible fate.
The birds make their homes amongst left behind WWII machinery and the filmmakers documented their life-cycles: from babies hatching to young birds struggling for survival to the species’ mating rituals to their ultimate demise amongst the abandoned artifacts and garbage . Sound familiar? It is that poignant familiarity that drove the filmmakers with this project. As Jordan wrote, “Like the albatross, we
first-world humans find ourselves lacking
the ability to discern anymore what is
nourishing from what is toxic to our lives
and our spirits.” We’ve seen some of the photography that’s been released alongside the film, and it’s shocking and haunting stuff.
“Midway” promises to be a beautifully shot, in-depth look at the natural world (the mighty albatross in particular) and how it continues on, even amongst artificial rabble. The film will be making its premiere this afternoon at TIFF. Whether you’re a cinephile, photography enthusiast or birder, check out the trailer and photos below. If you’ve made your way across the Canadian border, you can see the film in its entirety at the festival tonight, September 9th or September 13th.
Looks great! Thanks for posting this, now I'll definitely be on the lookout for it.