• Grinders goes behind the scenes of underground poker. More new documentaries including Fake or Fortune, Coast (series 3) and Into the Mind
• TVOKids programs and online games that teach kids the basics of money
• TVOKids takes part in the 25th Anniversary Rick Hansen Relay
• Remembrance programming includes The Sinking of the Laconia, The First World War From Above, War in the Mind, and Paris 1919

NEW DOCUMENTARIES

Grinders - World Broadcast Premiere
Wednesday November 2, 2011 at 9 pm ET
75 minutes
Produced by Border City Pictures in Association with TVO

With a new baby and wife to support, out-of-work filmmaker Matt Gallagher (The Rise and Fall of Grumpy Burger) tries his hand - and some would say “luck” - at playing poker for a living. Grinders is the director’s inside journey into the unconventional, often bizarre, underground world of illegal poker clubs. It’s a world populated by colourful characters, straight out of central casting. A world where the workday starts at midnight, runs strictly on cash, and can change forever with the simple flip of a card.

Playing poker to pay the bills means living side by side with risk. But, as Matt soon discovers, the real meaning of risk lies far outside the poker room – and can strike in the most personal way. Matt’s intimate, first-person narrative is joined by the voices of other grinders with stories that range from tales of ultimate success to personal disaster.

Grinders will have a special pre-broadcast premiere for Apple iPad users with TVO’s new Doc Studio app beginning October 19.

Coast (Series 3) - North American Premiere
Tuesdays at 7 pm ET beginning November 1, 2011
8 / 60 minutes
Produced by Open University for BBC

Host Neil Oliver and a team of experts including historians, archaeologists and geologists set out to uncover the stories of British coastline communities. This time they are headed to Britain’s Northern Isles, some 170 islands from the tip of Shetland to the tip of Orkney. From tourism and fishing to military defence and archeology, the coastline is embedded with forgotten social, cultural and natural history.

Fake or Fortune – North American Premiere
Thursdays at 9pm ET November 3, 10, 17 & 24, 2011
4 / 60 minutes
Produced by BBC

Every picture tells a story, but none quite like this as paintings are about to be treated as crime scenes! Beyond the genteel galleries and up-market auction houses of the art world lies a dimension rarely seen – a darker side of incalculable wealth, social ambition, sometimes subterfuge. Journalist Fiona Bruce and art expert Philip Mould investigate the remarkable stories lying beneath the surface of paintings – bringing art to a whole new audience. From Paris and Amsterdam to Cape Town, the banks of the Nile, and New York, the team employ old-fashioned detective skills and the latest forensic testing to reveal compelling tales of lost masterpieces, forgers and Nazi-looted art.

Into the Mind – TVO Premiere
Tuesdays at 9 pm ET November 15, 22 and 29, 2011
3 / 60 minutes
Produced by BBC

Over the last century scientists have devised many ingenious methods to unlock the secrets of the mind. In this series Michael Mosley (The Story of Science) goes in search of these bizarre, brilliant and the unorthodox experiments that have led to scientific discovery.

Alexandria: The Greatest City - North American Premiere
Monday November 21, 2011 at 10 pm ET
60 minutes
Produced by Lion Television

Alexandria was once the biggest and most influential city on the planet, founded by Alexander the Great and home to Cleopatra, Archimedes and the largest library in the world. How did this shining beacon of civilization and knowledge meet its classical demise? Acclaimed historian Bettany Hughes (When the Moors Ruled in Europe) looks at Alexandria past and present, unearthing archaeological gems and following in the footsteps of Hypatia, the city’s last great female philosopher and guardian of great Library of Alexandria - whose murder would bring down the curtain not just on an era but on the ancient world as a whole.

TVOKIDS FINANCIAL LITERACY

TVOKids presents a fun way for parents to help their kids learn more about financial literacy. This November, take a look at two TVOKids programs specifically focused on math concepts: Carney the Coin Counting Cat and Tumbletown Tale$, launching November 1.

Carney the Coin Counting Cat
Carney the Coing Counting Cat introduces the basics of money to preschoolers and is accompanied by This and That: Coin Spot, a new online game at tvokids.com. Early learners will be able to tag along with Carney the Coin Counting Cat, who works at the This and That Shop, the corner store in Gisèle’s Big Backyard. Your little ones will focus on concepts such as: Canadian coin identification, currency amounts and learning that money is used to buy things. Look for it in Gisele’s Big Backyard, TVOKids’ morning programming block for preschool kids.

Tumbletown Tale$
In the Tumbletown Tale$ series, TVOKids will help school-aged kids put the spotlight on learning how to think critically about money, develop a realistic understanding of how to use it, and appreciate its value. Last year, Tumbleweed (the main character) got a job as a newspaper reporter, and this year Tumbleweed learns how to manage his money in Tumbletown Tale$. Still working in the newsroom, Tumbleweed struggles to live on a budget and stay out of debt. Look for it Mondays and Wednesday at 3:55 pm in The Space, TVOKids’ afterschool programming block.

TVOKIDS AND THE 25th ANNIVERSARY RICK HANSEN RELAY

As Rick Hansen travels across Canada on the 25th Anniversary Rick Hansen Relay commemorating his Man in Motion World Tour, TVOKids will have a part to play when the tour reaches Toronto on November 6. Rick Hansen is a hero to tvokids.com kid reporter Hisham Mohammad and Hansen has agreed to have Hisham be one of the Medal Bearers. Hisham will also conduct a one-on-one interview with Hansen.

Visit tvokids.com to see Hisham on the relay and his interview with Rick Hansen, available November 7.

REMEMBRANCE

TVO’s Remembrance programming includes documentaries, dramas and current affairs programs airing throughout November that offer stories of heroism, rare historical footage, and contemporary perspectives on war.

The Sinking of the Laconia - North American Premiere
Sundays at 9 pm ET November 6 and 13, 2011
2 / 85 minutes
Produced by TalkbackThames in association with Teamworx and ARD

In September 1942, a German U-boat fired on and sank a British troop carrier, the Laconia. As the U-boat Captain, Werner Hartenstein, listened to the cries of the drowning passengers, he realized the ship had been carrying Italian prisoners of war, Polish guards and British women and children. Having sunk the ship, Hartenstein could have left them to their uncertain fate in the water, but instead he made the incredible decision to save as many lives as he could. This beautifully produced two-part drama tells the true story of unexpected humanity in the fog of war.

The First World War From Above - North American Premiere
Monday, November 28, 2011 at 10 pm ET
60 minutes
Produced by BBC

The scale of the First World War is brought to life by a collection of rarely-seen historical footage and photographs. Aerial footage, shot from an airship in the summer of 1919, reveals the destruction inflicted on European towns and countryside, from the coast of Belgium to the border of Switzerland. Present-day footage retraces that journey, rediscovering the scars, gashes and fault lines still clearly visible on the landscape, and reveals the heroic but tragic story of the pilot who helped make the original film.

Allan Gregg in Conversation – Dan Bjarnason and Lynne Olson
Friday, November 4, 2011 at 10 pm ET
30 minutes
Produced by TVO

Dan Bjarnason, author of Triumph at Kapyong, tells the story of Canada’s pivotal battle in the Korean War. Historian and author of Citizens of London, Lynne Olson, describes how some well-known Americans stationed in London, including iconic journalist Edward R. Murrow and diplomat Averell Harriman, helped Winston Churchill persuade America to enter World War Two. 

Also visit tvo.org for an online Allan Gregg in Conversation miniseries on war, featuring interviews with authors Margaret MacMillan, Pierre Berton, Romeo Dallaire and others.

War in the Mind - Encore
Friday November 11, 2011 at 10 pm ET
War in the Mind gives voice to Canadian soldiers living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), exploring their thoughts and the therapeutic treatment they undergo to help erase the stigma surrounding PTSD.

Paris 1919–Encore
Friday November 11, 2011 at midnight ET
Inspired by Margaret MacMillan's acclaimed book, Paris 1919 captures the atmosphere, characters and the dramatic cut-and-thrust of diplomacy and territorial ambition as political leaders redraw the map of the world, attempting to broker a lasting peace after World War One.

TVOKids Remembers

TVOKids helps children participate in Remembrance Day with its annual "Thank A Soldier" campaign. From October 11 to November 11, kids are invited to visit tvokids.com to submit personal shout-outs and thanks which will be delivered to Canadian troops stationed overseas. Kids can tune into TVOKids’ The Space after school to hear some of these messages read on the air.

Also for Remembrance:

The Last Day of World War One – Sunday, November 6, 2011 at 8 pm ET
Michael Palin visits battlefields in France and Belgium to find out what happened on the day the First World War ended.

The Great Escape: The Reckoning – Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 8 pm ET
A drama-documentary about of the RAF Special Investigation Branch’s hunt for the Gestapo suspects who murdered 50 Allied airmen after their escape from a POW camp.

Rape of Europa – Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 9 pm ET
During the Third Reich and World War Two, millions of Western art treasures were looted and destroyed by the Nazis on a scale unprecedented in history. Rape of Europa charts the systematic theft, deliberate destruction and miraculous survival of Europe's art treasures.

Shooters – Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 8 pm ET
The Canadian Army Film and Photo Unit (CFPU) scooped the world on the major events of the Second World War in Europe: the invasion of Sicily, the D-Day landing and the liberation of Paris. The CFPU shot the first feature documentary while under fire, and captured the only footage shot of an action leading to a Victoria Cross.

10 Days to War – Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 9 pm ET
The clock ticks in the countdown to the Iraq War as eight gripping storylines reveal backroom negotiations and political maneuvering at all levels of power in Britain. Starring Stephen Rea, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Conti and Art Malik.

• Mississauga is the final stop in The Agenda on the Road: Your Vote 2011 tour
• Complete election results on a special edition of The Agenda with Steve Paikin
• TVOKids and Pillars of Freedom elections for kids
• TVO’s Doc Studio forum for filmmakers launches with an Alan Zweig retrospective
• The World Premiere of Raw Opium: Pain, Pleasure, Profits

YOUR VOTE 2011

As the campaign for the Ontario election heads into the final stretch, TVO’s Your Vote 2011 suite of multi-platform media resources on TV, online, in public and on your mobile continues to engage citizens in the political process, digging deep into issues that matter to them.

And TVOKids wants to make voting matter for kids with the animated program Pillars of Freedom and a special election of their own.

The Agenda on the Road: Your Vote 2011 Mississauga
Sunday, October 2 from 10 am to 4 pm – AgendaCamp at the Living Arts Centre
Monday, October 3 at 8 pm – Live On-Location broadcast at Mississauga City Hall

Since February, TVO’s Agenda on the Road: Your Vote 2011 tour has been traveling across Ontario, including stops in Ottawa, Hamilton, Niagara and Sudbury, to hear from Ontarians what issues matter to them in the Ontario election. On October 2 and 3, only days before the election, the tour will make its final stop in Mississauga. The two-day event features a daylong, participant-led workshop called AgendaCamp on the Sunday at the Living Arts Centre and a live, on-location broadcast of The Agenda with Steve Paikin at Mississauga City Hall on the Monday at 8 pm.

To participate in or propose a discussion topic for AgendaCamp on October 2, or for free tickets to be part of the live broadcast audience on October 3, please register at yourvote2011.ca.

Ontario Election coverage on The Agenda with Steve Paikin
October 6 beginning at 8 pm ET

After travelling across the province with the On the Road tour, and election-issue discussions and debates every night since the start of its sixth season on September 6th, TVO’s flagship current affairs program caps its Ontario election coverage with a special edition of The Agenda with Steve Paikin on Election Night with complete coverage of the election returns from 8 pm until after the premier-elect’s speech.

Steve Paikin’s guests for the evening include retiring MPPs Monique Smith (Liberal, Nipissing), Norm Sterling (PC, Carleton-Mississippi Mills), Howard Hampton, (NDP, Kenora-Rainy River), along with Victoria Serda, former deputy leader of the Green Party of Ontario, and political commentator Jim Coyle of The Toronto Star.

During the first hour of the program before the polls close, Steve and his guests will debate and discuss the "Citizen's Agenda" that emerged from the Agenda on the Road: Your Vote 2011 tour across Ontario. Then, stay with The Agenda from 9 pm on for complete election results and go to yourvote2011.ca for an online chat to have your say about the results.

And never miss an episode of The Agenda with Steve Paikin, now available on your mobile with the new The Agenda with Steve Paikin app.

YourVote2011.ca

Still undecided about how to vote in the Ontario election and want to look a little closer at your choices? When looking for resources to get at the heart of election issues, make yourvote2011.ca your first stop. TVO has compiled a vast collection of online resources to help Ontarians learn about and get engaged in the political process at yourvote2011.ca including:

• platform summaries of all the major parties
• exclusive videos including leader profiles
• blog posts featuring experts analyzing party statements and policy announcements, and issue-based blogs with special guest bloggers
• an election toolkit explaining everything you need to know about voting in Ontario
• Web chats allowing you to engage with other citizens around hot election topics

TVOKids and Pillars of Freedom

TVOKids wants to teach kids the basics of civics by holding a mock election with animated characters from the multi-platform series Pillars of Freedom.

During the run-up to the election, hosts Kara, Drew and Dalmar from TVOKids’ afternoon block, The Space, will act as campaign managers for each of the animated characters. The campaign kicks off September 27 and early polls open September 30. Kids can vote online at tvokids.com.

On October 6, the results of the vote will be announced in the animated finale episode of season 1 of Pillars of Freedom. Kara, Drew and Dalmar will help children understand the voting results using pie charts made of real pies, along with graphs.

Season 2 of Pillars of Freedom premieres October 10, 2011 at 5:55 pm ET on TVO’s The Space and airs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Doc Studio Alan Zweig Film Festival
(docstudio.tvo.org)

TVO is a proud supporter of established and emerging documentary filmmakers. On October 19, TVO launches Doc Studio, an online initiative that will serve as a platform to showcase documentary filmmakers and their work, as well as act as a learning community that supports POV (point-of-view) filmmaking.

Doc Studio will launch with an on-air and online festival celebrating the films of Alan Zweig, Doc Studio’s first filmmaker-in-residence.

Vinyl – Wednesday October 19, 2011 at 9 pm ET
In his first film for TVO and the first of three films that are as much about himself as his subjects, filmmaker and passionate record collector Alan Zweig talks to other LP-obsessed aficionados about music and how collecting records has impacted their lives.

I, Curmudgeon - Thursday October 20, 2011 at 9 pm ET
In the second of a trilogy of self-confessional films, director Alan Zweig talks to self-declared curmudgeons about what makes them such contrarians, including Harvey Pekar, Fran Lebowitz, Andy Rooney, Bruce La Bruce and Scott Thompson.

Lovable - Wednesday October 26, 2011 at 9 pm ET
Alan Zweig concludes his trilogy of introspective films by talking to a diverse group of single women who reveal the challenges of finding and keeping love.

A Hard Name – Thursday October 27, 2011 at 9 pm ET
In Allan Zweig's Genie Award-winning Best Feature-Length documentary eight middle-aged convicts who are trying to stay out of jail open up about their past and the choices they made that led them to where they are now.

October 19 also marks the launch of the Doc Studio Contest running to February 27, 2012. Ontario filmmakers 18 years old and over are invited to submit a five-minute documentary. A panel of experts will choose the top five submissions and the public will determine the overall winner whose film will air on TVO in March.

DOCUMENTARIES

Raw Opium: Pain, Pleasure, Profits – World Broadcast Premiere 
Wednesday October 5 and 12, 2011 at 9pm ET 
2 /50 minutes
Produced by Kensington Communications in association with TVO

This two-part series takes us around the world to reveal the tremendous impact of the opium poppy, a commodity that has the power to both ease pain and destroy lives. In Part One, we encounter an opium master in southeast Asia, a UN drug enforcement officer on the border of Afghanistan hunting down the smugglers of central Asia, a former Indian government drug czar who encounters the opium farmers of northern India, and a Vancouver user struggling to kick the habit. In Part Two, we continue to follow a user who enters treatment, a former enforcement officer who meets Portuguese street workers who confront the realities of drug use, and a doctor determined to change how we treat and care for those suffering from addiction.

Raw Opium will also be available at tvo.org in a live stream where viewers can also participate in an online chat during and after each episode featuring expert guests discussing and debating issues that arise in the documentary.

Raw Opium: Pain, Pleasure, Profits has been selected out of a thousand entries to be one of the first twelve independent world issues documentaries featured by The Economist Film Project, an initiative to share the work of independent, international documentary filmmakers with global audiences interested in learning more about our world and its untold stories.

Blown Apart: Windfarm Wars – North American Premiere
Begins Sunday October 9, 2011 at 8 pm ET
4 / 50 minutes
Directed by Jeremy Gibson; produced by Sevenstones Media for BBC

The quest to develop clean, renewable energy is one of the great scientific endeavors of our time and wind power is becoming increasingly popular around the world as an option. But sometimes science runs into politics. Opponents cite the noise produced by turbines, the impact to bird populations, reduction of property values and destruction of scenery as concerns.

This timely four-part documentary series examines what happens when a wind farm of nine 120-metre high turbines is planned to be built on a sensitive English landscape. Filmed over four turbulent years, the series reveals a deeply divided community and explores in candid and intimate detail a story that goes to the very heart of the question of renewable energy, our attitudes towards it and the future for on-shore wind power.

Ancient Worlds – North American Premiere
Begins Monday October 10, 2011 at 10 pm ET
6 / 50 minutes
Produced by BBC

Ancient Worlds is a fascinating voyage of discovery from the birth of the first cities through the development of trade, warfare, writing, religion and kingship, to the mighty empires that struggled for supremacy in the first clash of civilization. With extensive filming in Iraq, Syria, Turkey, North Africa, Egypt, Pakistan and Europe and interviews with eminent historians, experts and archaeologists, the series uncovers the stories of the empire-builders, preachers, poets and kings who defined the entire course of future human experience.

From the cities of Mesopotamia to the rise and fall of Bronze Age civilization, the Persian wars, Alexander the Great and Rome, Ancient Worlds brings the kings, warriors, merchants and philosophers back to life. Stunning photography of ancient wonders and lost worlds combines with rare footage of art and artifacts to reveal what the Ancients were fighting for then, and what they have left us fighting for now.

Hayley, The 96 Year Old School Girl–North American Premiere
Tuesday October 11 at 9pm
50 minutes
Directed by James Routh; Produced by Rabbit Films

Hayley Okines is the most recognized face in the world of rare medical conditions, for she has the accelerated aging disease, Progeria. Director James Routh has followed her story for nearly ten years, and audiences across the world have followed as the delightfully cheerful Hayley has grown up and grown in awareness of her condition. During that time, huge progress has been made in the study of the condition, leading to hope that an effective treatment is imminent.  With unique, intimate access this film follows Hayley during one of the most important periods of her life in which she starts secondary school, something her parents thought would never happen. 

The film also follows the exciting developments in medical research. With encouraging results from a drug trial in the USA, Hayley may finish school after all.  But there is an even greater significance that may affect the whole of humanity - could this medical research spell the beginning of the end of aging.

Mother of Rock: Lillian Roxon – Ontario premiere
Thursday October 13, 2011 at 9pm ET
55 minutes
Produced by Lowlands Media

Mother of Rock: Lillian Roxon shines a light into the decadent world of Max’s Kansas City, a tiny underground club in New York, and Lillian Roxon’s place in documenting the emerging rock revolution as it rolled over the US in the 1960s and early 1970s.

In New York City in 1968, a revolution was under way in a tiny club called Max’s Kansas City. When Andy Warhol’s Factory superstars collided with the underground music scene at Max’s, punk rock was born. It would be the new sound of the world, far more influential than The Beatles. It was defined by the Velvet Underground, the New York Dolls and Iggy Pop, whose attitudes and sounds still influence us today. The reigning queen of Max’s was Australian journalist Lillian Roxon. She was a music visionary who understood before anyone else how important music would be in shaping popular culture. Lillian became known as “the mother of rock” and celebrated the world of popular music in her book, The Rock Encyclopedia, first published in 1969. Lillian was a funny, passionate woman 30 years ahead of her time.

Online with YourVote2011.ca

When looking for resources to get at the heart of election issues, make YourVote2011.ca your first stop. TVO is compiling a vast collection of resources to help Ontarians learn about and get engaged in the political process:

• Platform summaries of all the major parties
• Exclusive videos including leader profiles from the TVO archive, a day in the life of a rookie MP, election issue-specific complete episodes of The Agenda with Steve Paikin , one-on-one interviews with representatives from smaller official parties, and many more
• An online election toolkit explaining everything you need to know about voting in Ontario including how our electoral system works and what the different levels of governments are responsible for
• Web chats allowing you to engage with other citizens around hot election topics
• Poll visualizations exploring how public opinion is affected by hot campaign issues
• Daily round-ups of election headlines and campaign maps tracking where the leaders are
• Blog posts featuring experts analyzing party statements and policy announcements of the parties, and issue-based blogs with special guest bloggers
• A social media round-up analyzing how the parties' campaigns are playing out in the social media space
• Honoured Citizen, a Facebook game that simulates democracy in a virtual province.
  
  

In Public with the Agenda on the Road: Your Vote 2011 Tour

On October 2 and 3, the Agenda on the Road: Your Vote 2011 tour makes its final stop in Mississauga. The tour began in Ottawa in February and travelled across the province over several months to Hamilton, Niagara and Sudbury to hear directly from Ontarians what issues they felt were important leading up to the election.

Each two-day event featured a daylong, participant-led workshop called AgendaCamp that brought together members of the public, community leaders, policymakers, and anchor Steve Paikin to discuss "Citizens' Agenda": the topics citizens wanted addressed in the upcoming election. At the end of the day a unique voting system called dotmocracy was used to rank the issues they thought should be at the top of their candidates’ agenda. The results of each region’s dotmocracy poll can be found at yourvote2011.ca.

The ideas and discussion topics tabled at the AgendaCamp formed the backbone of a special live, on-location broadcast of The Agenda with Steve Paikin the following night.

To participate in or propose a discussion topic for the October 2nd AgendaCamp to be held at Mississauga’s Living Arts Centre, or for free tickets to be part of the live broadcast audience on October 3 at Mississauga City Hall, please register at yourvote2011.ca.

On Election Night

On October 6, a special edition of the The Agenda with Steve Paikin will have complete coverage of the election returns from 8 pm until after the premier-elect’s speech. Steve Paikin’s guests for the evening include retiring MPPs Monique Smith (Liberal, Nipissing), Norm Sterling (PC, Carleton-Mississippi Mills), Howard Hampton, (NDP, Kenora-Rainy River), Victoria Serda, former deputy leader of the Green Party of Ontario and political commentator Jim Coyle of The Toronto Star.

During the first hour of the program before the polls close, Steve and his guests will debate and discuss the "Citizen's Agenda" that emerged from the Agenda on the Road: Your Vote 2011 tour across Ontario. Then, stay with The Agenda from 9 pm on for complete election results and go to yourvote2011.ca for an online chat to have your say about the results.

Highlights include:

• Stephen Hawking at the Perimeter Institute 90-minute special September 18 at 8 pm 
• The Agenda with Steve Paikin looks back at 9/11 and Allan Gregg talks to Irshad Manji
• Unheralded and Deadman - TVO NFB Calling Card documentaries showcase emerging filmmakers
• The Joy of Stats and How Long is a Piece of String - Math is made fun with documentaries that make stats exciting and measuring a piece of string a journey of discovery
• Steam of Life / Herb and Dorothy / ANPO Art X War - Point of view documentaries where men bare their souls and much more, profile an exceptional pair of art patrons, and reveal a painful period of Japan’s history through art
• Silk and Accused - Two new courtroom dramas featuring all-star casts

Stephen Hawking at Perimeter Institute
Sunday September 18, 2011 at 8 pm
90 minutes
Produced by TVO

Professor Stephen Hawking returns to Canada’s Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Ontario this September. He’s here for the official Grand Opening of the Stephen Hawking Centre at Perimeter Institute where the world’s most famous scientist holds a Distinguished Research Chair. As the presenting media partner of the Grand Opening, TVO will air a 90-minute special of Hawking’s appearance at Perimeter Institute to be broadcast on September 18 at 8 pm.

Last year, TVO beamed the world’s most famous living scientist’s first public speech in Canada into homes across the country. TVO’s special relationship with PI has promoted an enthusiasm for science, and raised awareness of its role in understanding our past, present and future. Moreover, it has given Canadians unprecedented, exclusive access to the world’s greatest scientific minds.

The Agenda with Steve Paikin – 9/11 week
Monday to Friday, September 12 to 16, 2011 at 8 pm
Produced by TVO

TVO’s flagship current affairs program kicks off its sixth season with a week-long focus on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Guests will examine how the shocking events of that day changed our lives forever – from how we live day-to-day, to geo-politics.

The Agenda with Steve Paikin focuses on in-depth current affairs analysis, exploring multiple perspectives through one-on-one interviews and extended debate. The Agenda Online and The Agenda on the Road:Your Vote 2011 offer more opportunities for Ontarians to engage in the critical issues that impact the province.

Allan Gregg in Conversation
Fridays at 10 pm ET
New season begins Friday September 9, 2011
Produced by TVO

Allan Gregg in Conversation features host Allan Gregg in engaging discussions with some of the world's foremost thinkers on social, cultural, political and economic issues.

Irshad Manji (Friday September 9) - A decade after the September 11th attacks, Irshad Manji, Muslim reformer and author of the book, Allah, Liberty and Love: The Courage to Reconcile Faith and Freedom, examines how relations between Muslims and non-Muslims have changed. 

Neil Seeman (Friday September 23) - Almost half the adults in Canada are either overweight or obese, and our kids aren’t far behind. So what can be done about it? Neil Seeman, author of the controversial new book XXL: Obesity and the Limits of Shame, argues that public health campaigns haven’t worked and it’s time to try a radically different approach.

DOCUMENTARIES

With half of our primetime schedule devoted to documentary programming, TVO is the destination in Ontario for powerful, provocative documentaries from Canada and around the world. As a proud supporter of independent and emerging filmmakers, TVO presents big, bold ideas and new perspectives on our global village through point-of-view films, as well as non-fiction programs covering topics ranging from science, nature and the environment, to people, places, and history.

NFB-TVO Calling Card Documentaries

Aaron Hancox’s Unheralded and Chelsea McMullan’s Deadman are prime examples of how TVO supports Canada’s emerging documentary filmmakers. The films were made possible by the Calling Card Program, an initiative produced by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) and TVO with the participation of the Documentary Organization of Canada. Each filmmaking team is awarded $45,000 and receive mentorship from members of the film and new-media community to take their docs from concept to television premiere or online launch. The winning 30-minute TV documentary has its premiere broadcast on TVO.

Unheralded - World Broadcast Premiere
Wednesday September 7, 2011 at 9 pm ET
30 minutes
Directed by Aaron Hancox
Produced by CH Films and NFB in association with TVO as part of the Calling Card Program

Unheralded shows what it takes to make an honest living in today’s newspaper business within a close-knit community. Set against the backdrop of the death of print media, Aaron Hancox’s film profiles the hard-working team that brings you The Lakefield Herald, a feel-good, small town newspaper in Lakefield, Ontario. For the last 10 years, The Herald has been owned and operated by a tireless jack-of-all-trades named Terry McQuitty who, in addition to writing the news and selling ads, is the paper’s delivery boy. The film follows Terry and his staff as they report on the stories that matter to folks in Lakefield - soapbox derbies, town hall meetings and 65th wedding anniversaries. It’s not exactly hard-hitting news, and that’s just the way they like it.

Deadman - World Broadcast Premiere
Wednesday September 7 at 9:30pm ET
30 minutes
Directed by Chelsea McMullan
Produced by Vision Entertainment Inc. and NFB in association with TVO as part of the Calling Card Program

Chelsea McMullan’s film juxtaposes one man’s dream of a mythological and violent Old West with another man’s view of a traditional, tranquil way of life. In Deadman Creek, British Columbia, Matt Sandvoss is the sheriff in town – or at least he dresses the part. The Wild West aficionado straddles the line between big dreamer and boy at heart. He doggedly pursues his plan to construct a replica of an Old-West town in a remote part of the province, complete with a saloon and a gaggle of villainous gunfighters. For Gerald Carter, a Cree resident of Deadman Creek, Matt is an urban cowboy whose mission raises questions about the age-old stereotypes of cowboys and Indians, the easy commoditization of sacred land, and the troubling disparity between fantasy and history.

Science Documentaries

The Joy of Stats
Sunday September 18, 2011 at 9 pm ET
60 minutes
Produced by Wingspan Productions

YouTube superstar Hans Rosling, whose eye-opening, mind-expanding, and very funny online lectures have made him an international internet legend, is your guide on a roller coaster ride through the wonderful world of statistics. Rosling entertainingly explores the history of statistics, how statistics works mathematically, and how with statistics we can take the massive deluge of data of today’s computer age and use it to see the world as it really is.

How Long is a Piece of String
Sunday September 18, 2011 at 10 pm ET
50 minutes
Produced by BBC

Measurement is something we take for granted. But imagine a world without measurement. No distance, no time, no weight, no mass. It would be impossible to describe what something looks like, where it is or how it relates to anything. Creating a system of measurement has allowed us to understand how the Earth revolves around the Sun and how time advances. 'How long is a piece of string?' might sound like an easy question, but as comedian Alan Davies discovers in this mind-bending program, finding the answer involves a journey through math, physics and quantum mechanics, via the fundamental nature of the universe.

Point Of View Documentaries

Steam of Life – Canadian Premiere
Wednesday September 14, 2011 at 9 pm ET
85 minutes
Produced by Oktober and Röde Orm Film

Finnish men from all walks of life, in many different saunas, and usually completely nude, share their touching stories about love, death, birth and friendship. Steam of Life reveals the men's naked souls in an exceptionally intimate and poetic way as they speak straight from the heart and in the warmth of rusty stoves, cleansing themselves both physically and mentally.

Herb and Dorothy – TVO Premiere
Thursday September 15, 2011 at 9 pm ET
90 minutes
Produced by Fine Line Media and Independent Television Service

In the early 1960s, when very little attention was paid to Minimalist and Conceptual Art, Herbert Vogel, a postal clerk, and Dorothy Vogel, a librarian, quietly began purchasing the works of unknown artists. In a few years this unassuming New York City couple built one of the most important contemporary art collections in history with very modest means. Herb and Dorothy tells their story: how they devoted Herb’s salary to purchase art they liked while living on Dorothy's paycheck alone. They had two rules: the piece of art had to be affordable, and it had to be small enough to fit in their one-bedroom Manhattan apartment. They proved to be curatorial visionaries, collecting early works by artists who would become world-renowned, including Sol LeWitt, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Richard Tuttle, Chuck Close, and many, many others.

ANPO: Art X War - Canadian Premiere
Wednesday September 28, 2011 at 9 pm ET
90 minutes
Directed by Linda Hoaglund

Linda Hoaglund’s unflinching documentary tells the story of resistance to U.S. military bases in Japan through an electrifying array of artwork created by Japan's foremost artists. The film articulates the lasting impact that the U.S. military presence has had on Japanese lives, and the creative processes that artists have devised to transmit the spirit of resistance.

DRAMA

Silk - North American Premiere
Beginning Sunday September 25, 2011 at 9 pm ET
6 / 60 minutes
Produced by BBC

Maxine Peake (The Street, Little Dorrit) and Rupert Penry-Jones (Whitechapel, Persuasion) star as competing lawyers applying to become members of the highly prestigious Queen's Counsel (QC) – known informally as “taking silk.” Peake plays Martha Costello, a brilliant and passionate defence barrister with a reputation for defending the poor and downtrodden. Penry-Jones is Clive Reader, a charming, funny, and gifted barrister who is thoroughly ruthless and knows how to play the game. Only one is likely to be made QC so how they perform in court is vital. Smart and classy with sharp, witty dialogue, Silk is a fast-paced drama following the rivalry, tension, passion and intrigue of life on the front line of criminal law.

Accused - North American Premiere
Beginning Sunday September 25, 2011 at 10 pm ET
6 / 60 minutes
Produced by BBC

Six holding cells – six very different and intriguing stories of crime and the consequences. Written and created by Jimmy McGovern (The Street, Cracker), each episode of Accused follows the stories of different defendants awaiting their verdicts, and through flashbacks reveal how they ended where they are. For the viewer, the verdict of whether the accused are guilty or innocent will arrive at different points in every story, creating true suspense and surprise. Each time, the possible outcomes are endless – as this compelling drama reveals just how easily life can present so many alternative paths. Starring Christopher Eccleston, Juliet Stephenson, Andy Serkis, Naomi Harris, Benjamin Smith and Marc Warren.

Weeknights throughout the entire summer The Agenda with Steve Paikin will offer new one-on-one interviews with special guests for each week, followed by in-depth discussion and debate from the best of the year’s programs.

On Fridays it’s a full hour of fresh insightful content, starting with the one-on-one interviews and followed by an in-depth discussion and debate. Chattopadhyay will examine the key issues that came up on the program during the week.  

The Agenda with Steve Paikin’s summer season examines many of the important issues facing Ontarians, including everything from the information age and the state of the contemporary family to the winners and losers in the global economy.

Beginning in September, Chattopadhyay will also become the new host of TVO’s Big Ideas.

The Agenda with Steve Paikin’s summer lineup is as follows:

July 4-8: The Information Age
From sharing videos to unveiling international secrets, the web continues to shape our world and the way we interact with each other.

Special guest for the week: Don Tapscott, author of Grown up Digital and Macrowikinomics.

Debate on Friday, July 8 Securing Cyberspace: How well protected are you online?

July 11-15: The Haves and Have-Nots
The world is still regaining its footing from the recession. But as things improve, economic disparities remain between countries, between classes and between families.

Special guest for the week: Daniel Ariely, behavioural economist at Duke University and author of Predictably Irrational.

Debate on Friday, July 15: Voluntourism: Helping or Hurting?

July 18-22: Modern Family
Gender roles and the idea of the traditional family have changed drastically in recent years. What does a modern family look like?

Special guest for the week: Emma Donoghue, playwright, literary historian and author of the Man Booker Prize-nominated novel, Room.

Debate on Friday, July 22: Multiracial Identity

July 25-29: (In) Justice
How are government dollars preventing crime? Are we really all equal before the law? This week examines the politics of justice.

Special guest for the week: David Welch, CIGI Chair of Global Security, Balsillie School of International Affairs.

Debate on Friday, July 29: DNA: Perfect Evidence?

Details on The Agenda with Steve Paikin’s entire nine-week summer lineup are available here.

Viewers are also invited to join in the online discussions, read new blogs and watch episodes of The Agenda with Steve Paikin anytime at The Agenda online.

For five seasons, The Agenda with Steve Paikin has provided Ontario with thought-provoking, insightful analysis of the big issues of the day with lively debates and stimulating one-on-one conversations. On March 3, 2011, The Agenda with Steve Paikin marked a milestone with its 1000th program.

• Veteran journalist Piya Chattopadhyay joins TVO’s The Agenda with Steve Paikin and TVO’s lecture series Big Ideas
• New docs include War in the Mind and Cannes award-winner Armadillo
• Encores of popular docs from past season presented all summer long

TVO WELCOMES PIYA CHATTOPADHYAY! 

This summer TVO’s flagship current affairs program, The Agenda with Steve Paikin welcomes new guest host Piya Chattopadhyay. A seasoned journalist, Piya brings with her a nuanced understanding of the critical issues that are examined in the program.

Piya will anchor The Agenda with Steve Paikin throughout the summer, and will fill in as guest host throughout the year, allowing for even more of the in-depth analysis that Ontarians have come to rely on.

Now in its fifth season, The Agenda with Steve Paikin focuses on in-depth current affairs analysis, exploring multiple perspectives through one-on-one interviews and extended debate. The Agenda Online and The Agenda on the Road:Your Vote 2011 offer more opportunities for Ontarians to engage in the critical issues that impact the province.

Beginning in September, Piya Chattopadhyay will also become the new host of TVO’s popular lecture series, Big Ideas.

NEW DOCUMENTARIES

As a proud supporter of independent documentary filmmakers, TVO offers new films this summer from Canada and around the world, and gives doc lovers a chance to catch up on films they may have missed the first time around.

War in the Mind - World Broadcast Premiere
Wednesday July 6, 2011 at 9 pm ET and Sunday August 28, 2011 at 8 pm ET
58 minutes
Directed by Judy Jackson
Produced by Judy Films in association with TVO

War in the Mind gives voice to Canadian soldiers living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); exploring their thoughts and the therapeutic treatment they undergo to help erase the stigma surrounding PTSD.  This documentary also looks at the stories behind the growing number of military suicides; and those whose service to their countries have gone unnoticed and unheralded.  A unique therapeutic program provides hope that more soldiers can truly heal and return to life with their families.

Bloodied But Unbowed - Ontario Premiere
Thursday July 7, 2011 at 9 pm ET
56 minutes
Directed by Susanne Tabata
Produced by Knowledge in association with TVO

Bloodied But Unbowed chronicles the late ‘70s and early ‘80s Vancouver punk rock scene. Told by its surviving stars whose accounts are suffused with both humour and gritty realism, the documentary tells a tale of rebellion and music - a fiercely independent scene created from nothing and played out in a microcosm of urban squalor.  Overarching those halcyon days of poverty and excess is the MUSIC that moved its audience to their feet and seemed to validate their very existence.

The Young Romantic - TVO Premiere
Thursday July 21, 2011 at 9 pm ET
55 minutes
Directed by Barbara Willis Sweete
Produced by Rhombus Media in association with TVO

Internationally acclaimed filmmakers shed light on the positive force of art within the political and economic monolith that is China. Taking a close look at Chinese social, economic and cultural realities through the unfolding story of young piano sensation Yundi Li and his travels with mentor Seiji Ozawa, one of the world's most celebrated conductors, the film reveals Yundi's musical genius while painting a picture of the new China, which includes 30 million piano students and 10 million violin students.

Armadillo – North American Premiere
Wednesday August 3, 2011 at 9 pm ET
62 minutes
Directed by Janus Metz
Produced by Fridthjof Film in association with TVO

Danish filmmaker Janus Metz's gripping first feature-length documentary picked up the Cannes Critics Week’s Grand Prix for best documentary in 2010. Armadillo, named for a base in Afghanistan where soldiers from Denmark are fighting against the Taliban, has created controversy in Metz’s homeland. The film depicts six months in the posting of a handful of young soldiers and includes a frightening sequence in which a patrol faces a Taliban ambush, which ends with a Danish hand grenade killing several insurgents.  Still high on adrenaline and relief, their debriefing involves boasting and laughter. The documentary's coverage of the incident has embroiled the Danish military in questions about appropriate behaviour in combat situations. While the men are Danish, there is a universality to their story and a vitality in the filmmaking.

Kinngait – Riding Light Into The World - TVO Premiere
Thursday August 18, 2011 at 9 pm ET
48 minutes
Directed by Annette Mangaard
Produced by Site Media in association with TVO

The remote Arctic region of Nunavut is home to some of Canada’s best-known and acclaimed visual artists.  The documentary brings the audience to the community of Cape Dorset and the acclaimed Kinngait Studios, on the occasion of its 15th anniversary. The film follows Inuit artists whose lives and artwork reflect the ongoing social and environmental changes that are transforming the north.  From artists working in their studios, to their community life, the dramatic landscape of Baffin Island is an inspiration for many artworks. The collaboration between artists and business people, Inuit and non-Inuit, committed to making the studio a success artistically and financially is showcased.

MORE DOCUMENTARIES ALL SUMMER LONG

Empire of the Word - Sundays July 3, 10, 17 and 24, 2011 at 8 pm ET   
Eight years in the making, Empire of the Word is a compelling look inside the act of reading and traces its impact on more than five thousand years of human history.

The Man Who Saved Geometry - Tuesday July 12, 2011 at 9 pm ET
By the middle of the 20th century, the excitement in math had moved to computers and chaos theory from geometry. But one man - Donald Coxeter - kept the torch burning.

It’s A Boy - Wednesday July 13, 2011 at 9 pm ET
Both comic and informative, It's a Boy is a witty take on male circumcision and how we in the western world generally feel about it.

Last Call at the Gladstone Hotel - Monday July 18, 2011 at 10 pm ET
Filmmakers chronicle the sale and restoration of Toronto’s oldest working hotel over a five-year period and capture the impact of this change.

Listen To This - Wednesday July 20, 2011 at 9 pm ET and Thursday August 11, 2011 at 9 pm ET
A pianist starts a music program at a primary school in a Toronto inner city neighbourhood. For some students, it's the first time anyone has had the time to really listen to them.

Corpus - Wednesday July 27, 2011 and Tuesday August 23, 2011 at 9 pm ET
With her 33rd birthday quickly approaching, Connie Diletti goes on a journey to decide what she is going to do with her body after she dies. 

The First Movie - Thursday July 28, 2011 at 9 pm ET
Filmed entirely in Kurdistan, northern Iraq, The First Movie explores the dream and aspirations of its children and the painful memories of its adults.

Mom’s Home - Sunday July 31, 2011 at 8 pm ET
A humorous, compassionate and intimate documentary about aging mothers who move in with their adult daughters.

Genius Within - The Inner Life of Glenn Gould - Thursday August 4, 2011 at 9 pm ET
One of the most comprehensive and touching film portraits of the great Canadian pianist in all his glories and miseries.

Recessionize! For Fun and Profit! - Sunday August 7, 2011 at 8 pm ET
A black-comic road trip through California, Europe and Dubai to meet those who manage to turn the world economic crisis into opportunity. 

Cat Ladies - Wednesday August 10, 2011 at 9 pm ET
A verite documentary that pierces the intimate world of the "cat lady" - women who give and seek love in their world with their cats.

Disfarmer - Sunday August 14, 2011 at 8 pm ET
An Arkansas portrait photographer captured the lives and emotions of the people of rural America during the two World Wars and the Great Depression.

Urban Goddess: Jane Jacobs Reconsidered - Tuesdays August 16 and 30, 2011 at 7 pm ET
Documentary looks at the legacy of Jane Jacobs, a champion of neighbourhood activism, through two redevelopment disputes in neighbourhoods in New York and Toronto.

Inside Disaster Haiti - Wednesdays August 17, 24 and 31, 2011 at 9 pm ET
Thirty-six hours after one of the deadliest earthquakes in history, a team from the International Federation of Red Crosses (IFRC) was travelling overland into Haiti, and Canadian filmmaker Nadine Pequeneza and her crew were alongside to capture the massive relief efforts.

Land - Sunday August 21, 2011 at 8 pm ET
With its cheap land and cheap labour, Nicaragua has attracted people from all over the world - all looking to get their own little piece of paradise. It all plays out against a backdrop of yo-yoing land reforms and President Daniel Ortega's mutable politics.

Water On The Table - Tuesday August 23, 2011 at 7 pm ET
Canada's relationship with its most precious and increasingly threatened natural resource, freshwater, is explored.

Karsh Is History - Thursday August 25, 2011 at 9 pm ET
A portrait of legendary photographer Yousuf Karsh told through a compelling illustrated commentary on the history of photography, woven from the perspective of today.  

TVOKids will launch this new campaign at the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario’s Ultimate Block Party, an exciting event for children and parents that promotes play-based learning. The Ultimate Block Party is free to attend and is taking place at the Fort York National Historical Site on Sunday, June 5 from 11 am to 5 pm. The event will help families and educators understand how play directly feeds brain development.

TVOKids hosts Kara, Drew and Dalmar will perform two live stage shows to kick off the Million Ways to Move campaign, and will be debuting a special new song and dance moves to get the crowd up and moving. The hosts will perform at 12:45 pm and 2:45 pm at the Band Shell stage.

TVOKids is a “play partner” at the Ultimate Block Party and will have a “play centre” at the event that will offer a selection of fun, play-based activities for kids for the entire day. Kids will be able to write down and record the number of activity minutes they’ve completed during the day then enter them into the new TVOKids Million Ways to Move contest online when they get home.

TVOKids Million Ways to Move contest details:

• Kids may enter the contest at TVOKids.com by submitting the type of activity they’ve completed and the number of minutes it kept them moving.
• A printable MOVES card can also be downloaded from tvokids.com, and kids can stamp the card to track the moves they’ve made.
• The MOVES card counts as 60 minutes and when submitted to TVOKids by mail or electronically, kids will receive a TVOKids pedometer by mail.
• Participants will be entered into TVOKids’ random draws for prizes that will take place every three months throughout the year.

TVOKids is proud to partner with The Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada in promoting the Million Ways to Move campaign to their members, a number of whom star in the special music video.

For more information on the Million Ways to Move campaign and to watch the new music video visit TVOKids.com.

• The Agenda on the Road: Your Vote 2011 (Sudbury, June 26 and 27)
  What issues are top-of-mind for Northern Ontarians in this fall’s provincial election? TVO’s flagship current affairs program, The Agenda with Steve Paikin, heads to Sudbury to find out.

• The Agenda with Steve Paikin at the Equinox Summit (June 6 – 10)
  On location from Canada's Perimeter Institute (PI) in Waterloo, this special week of Agenda programs explores questions and ideas around our world’s energy future – the theme of the inaugural international conference at PI.

• Documentaries
  Catch four new docs including the world broadcast premiere of Jamie Kastner’s Recessionize! For Fun and Profit, a look at those who find opportunity in the midst of the global economic downturn. And to mark Pride Week in Toronto, Edie and Thea: A Very Long Engagement, which chronicles an enduring love story.
  
  
• India Week: Bollywood and Beyond (June 17 – 26)
  TVO presents a week-long, multimedia showcase of Indian cinema and culture to coincide with the International Indian Film Academy’s annual weekend and awards event, held this year in Toronto.

CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Agenda on the Road: Your Vote 2011

Sudbury
Sunday June 26, 2011 – AgendaCamp public workshop
Monday June 27, 2011 at 8 pm ET – Live on-location broadcast
Venues to be announced

Register now at yourvote2011.ca

This month, it’s Northern Ontario’s turn to build the citizens’ agenda for the October 6 Ontario election when TVO’s flagship current affairs program, The Agenda with Steve Paikin, heads to Sudbury for the next stop in the five-city Your Vote 2011 tour.

Bringing together engaged citizens from all walks of life, the Your Vote 2011 tour asks Ontarians to define the ideas and topics they want to see addressed in the provincial election. The two-day Sudbury visit features the AgendaCamp public workshop on Sunday June 26, which will shape the live, on-location broadcast of The Agenda with Steve Paikin the following night at 8 pm.

Those interested in participating in the AgendaCamp or obtaining free audience tickets for the live broadcast are invited to register now at yourvote2011.ca.

With previous tour stops in Ottawa and Hamilton—where area citizens rated energy policy as the top voter concern—the Your Vote 2011 tour continues in Niagara (May 15 and 16), Sudbury (June 26 and 27), and the GTA in September.

For five seasons, The Agenda with Steve Paikin has provided Ontario with thought-provoking, insightful analysis of current affairs, exploring multiple perspectives on the big issues of the day with in-depth debates and stimulating one-on-one conversations. On March 3, 2011, The Agenda with Steve Paikin marked a significant milestone with its 1000th program.

The Agenda with Steve Paikin at the Equinox Summit: Energy 2030

Live broadcasts from Perimeter Institute in Waterloo
Monday June 6 to Friday June 10, 2011 at 8 pm ET
Produced by TVO  

Climate change. Peak oil. A rapidly growing population… How will our world be affected by these challenges 20 years from now? What if the efforts we’re taking now aren’t enough? How can we use cutting-edge technologies to create a cleaner, more sustainable energy future?

This month, the inaugural Equinox Summit: Energy 2030 at Canada's Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo will gather the world’s foremost science experts and industry leaders around these questions. And TVO, as presenting media partner, will be there to engage Ontarians in this important global conversation.

From Monday June 6 to Friday June 10 at 8 pm, TVO’s flagship current affairs program, The Agenda with Steve Paikin, will present a week of live, on-location broadcasts from Perimeter Institute’s Mike Lazaridis Theatre of Ideas. Each program will feature energy experts who will discuss and debate today’s energy issues. Guests will be announced the day of the event and members of the public are invited to be part of the studio audience.

TVO will also provide access to summit events through streaming at tvo.org. More details will be announced in the weeks ahead.

DOCUMENTARIES

Recessionize! For Fun and Profit! - World Broadcast Premiere
Wednesday June 1, 2011 at 9 pm ET
60 minutes
Directed by Jamie Kastner
Produced by Cave 7 Productions in association with TVO

As a proud supporter of the Ontario documentary filmmaking community, TVO is pleased to present the world broadcast premiere of Toronto director Jamie Kastner’s latest offering. 

In Recessionize! For Fun and Profit!, Kastner (Kike Like Me) sets off on a black-comic road trip through California, Europe and Dubai to meet those who manage to turn the world economic crisis into opportunity.  The quirky cast, at times funny, absurd and heartrending, range from kids at “Camp Millionaire” and Berlin prostitutes offering eco-discounts, to the owners of a French hotel promising a hamster experience. The present-day journey is interwoven with ironic accounts of the financial solutions people resorted to during the Great Depression. Recessionize! For Fun And Profit! tells a unique, bittersweet tale that touches on the universal ironies of modern market-guided existence.

Children of the Park – North American Premiere
Wednesday June 8, 2011 at 9 pm ET
60 minutes
Produced by Rayo Films in co-production with Cobra Films, Daggewood Films and ITVS International

In Managua, Nicaragua, teenager Sujeylin Aguilar raises her newborn daughter Karla on the same streets she has been calling home for the past eight years. Based in a city park and part of a larger group of youngsters, mother and baby struggle to reach the little one’s first birthday. Children of the Park offers an intense personal story about second generation street children.

You Don’t Like the Truth: 4 Days Inside Guantánamo – TVO Premiere
Wednesday June 15, 2011 at 9 pm ET
100 minutes
Directed by Luc Côté and Patricio Henríquez
Produced by Les Films Adobe Inc.

In October 2002 15-year-old Canadian Omar Khadr was imprisoned in Guantánamo Bay Prison for allegedly killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan. Four months later, Khadr received his first visit from Canadians—a team from the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS). Based on seven hours of security camera footage declassified in 2008 by the Canadian courts, You Don’t Like the Truth shows the CSIS interrogation of Khadr at Guantánamo Bay.

The raw prison footage is accompanied by commentary from Khadr’s lawyers, cellmates and family members as well as psychiatrists, a former US interrogator and former foreign minister of Canada, Bill Graham. They watch as Khadr’s initial hope—that the Canadians’ visit would lead to a break in his case—gives way to despondency as it becomes apparent to Khadr that clearing his name is not the purpose of CSIS’ visit.

Edie and Thea: A Very Long Engagement - Canadian Premiere
Wednesday June 29, 2011 at 9 pm ET
60 minutes
Directed by Susan Muska and Greta Ólafsdóttir
Produced by Bless Bless Productions

After sharing their lives for 42 years, feisty and delightful lesbian couple Edie Windsor and Thea Spyer are finally getting married. Soon after they met in New York’s West Village in the early 1960s, they became “engaged,” though the idea of a civil marriage for lesbian and gay couples was unthinkable at the time.

This touching documentary charts Edie and Thea’s love story through four decades of personal and political challenges, from the pre-Stonewall gay scene and protests, to estranged families and fear of exposure at work. Throughout it all, these remarkable women share a magnetic attraction and an extraordinary commitment to each other. While their home state of New York still does not recognize same-sex marriage, they travel to Toronto in 2007 to be married by Harvey Brownstone, Canada’s first openly gay judge.

INDIA WEEK: BOLLYWOOD AND BEYOND

June 17 – 26

As one of the most multicultural cities in the world, Toronto is home to number of diverse communities, including South Asians – the city’s largest visible minority. It’s a fitting location for this year’s International Indian Film Academy annual weekend and awards event (June 23 – 25), a celebration of Indian cinema. Leading up to this event, TVO presents a week-long, multimedia festival of films, documentaries and current affairs programs that showcase Indian film and culture.

The Interviews
“A Bollywood Wedding”
Friday June 17 at 10:30 pm
Produced by TVO

Saturday Night at the Movies’  filmmaker series explores the wedding tradition in contemporary Indian culture through the 2001 film Monsoon Wedding. Featuring Wedding composer Mychael Danna, film critics Brian Johnson and Katrina Onstad, and Weddingbells Magazine editor-in-chief Alison McGill.

Saturday Night at the Movies
“Bollywood Night at the Movies” – NEW!
Saturday June 18, 2011 starting at 8 pm ET

For the first time ever, TVO’s long-running film anthology series focuses its lens on Bollywood cinema with an evening of films that promise a night of music, dance and drama. In between the films, The Interviews explores the popularity, misconceptions, vast storytelling style and international influence of the Bollywood genre.

Wake Up Sid (2009)
In this song-filled rom-com from director Ayan Mukherjee, a spoiled, 20-something slacker (Ranbir Kapoor) living off his father’s fortune is in for a big wakeup call after failing his college exams and falling for an ambitious, aspiring writer (Konkona Sen Sharma).

The second film is to be announced.

Allan Gregg in Conversation
Fridays at 10 pm ET
Produced by TVO

Kasi Rao (June 17) – Premiere
A leading Canadian consultant on India to government and public- and private-sector organizations, Rao talks about how we can improve trade, social and cultural relations with one of the world’s fastest growing economies.

Russell Peters (June 24) 
The Canadian funnyman and author of Call Me Russell talks about his Anglo-Indian roots, his childhood in Brampton, Ontario, and his rise to fame.

For more insights on Indian culture and history, viewers can review an online miniseries of past Allan Gregg interviews touching on these themes at tvo.org. Look for:

- Salman Rushdie on his family ties to Kashmir and the India-Pakistani conflict over the region
- Indian author Gita Mehta on modern India
- Canadian author M. G. Vassanji on rediscovering his roots in India
- Filmmaker Deepa Mehta on making movies in Canada and India
- Indian-Canadian novellist Anita Rau Badami on her book, Can You Hear the Nightbird Call?, about the 1985 Air India bombing      

Pink Saris – Canadian Premiere
Wednesday June 22, 2011 at 9 pm ET
100 minutes
Directed by Kim Longinotto
A Channel 4 Production

In Pink Saris, director Kim Longinotto (Sisters in Law, Rough Aunties) examines the plight of rural underclass women in India as she follows the work of Sampat Pal, the leader of an unlikely band of activists.

Pal was married as a pre-pubescent girl into a family that made her work hard, beat her, then forced her out of her village for being disobedient. Today, as the head of the Gulabi Gang (the Pink Gang), she’s out to get justice for other ostracized, abused women and girls in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

“When a man does wrong, give him a beating,” she tells Renu, a 15-year-old girl whose husband has abandoned her and who is being raped by her father-in-law. There’s also Rekha, a 14-year-old “untouchable” who is three months pregnant and homeless – unable to marry her unborn child’s father because of her low caste.

While she boldly positions herself into the centre of various family dramas, Pal herself is a vulnerable figure: she has family pressures of her own to deal with and a growing clan of dependents she’s struggling to support. Still, Pink Saris reverberates with hope and empowerment against the odds.

Also during TVO’s India Week:

India with Sanjeev Bhaskar –  Fridays June 17 – July 8, 2011 at 7 pm ET
The British-born actor sets out to get under the skin of modern India in this four-part series. From the deserts of Rajasthan and tea plantations of Darjeeling to the Himalayas, the Ganges River and into Pakistan, his journey takes him on a personal mission to find the ancestral homeland that his family left behind.

The Holier It Gets – Sunday June 26, 2011 at 11 pm ET
In this award-winning documentary, filmmaker Jennifer Baichwal (The True Meaning of Pictures, Manufactured Landscapes) journeys from Canada to India with her siblings and husband to fulfill her father's final wish – to spread his ashes in the Ganges River.