Mermaids

Mermaids is a documentary directed by debut feature filmmaker Ali Weinstein. The film had its premiere at this year’s Hot Docs Film Festival and will return to the Ted Rogers Cinema this weekend.

A feature documentary about the powerful allure of a universal myth, Mermaids immerses audiences in a world where fantasies come to life. Following the stories of five extraordinary tail-donning women who are part of a growing “mermaiding” subculture, audiences voyage between mermaid theme parks, conventions, tail-making studios, and deep into the ocean where escaping reality and transforming into the empowered icon of the mermaid is possible.

Weinstein can definitely see what would draw people to mermaiding. “I personally believe that there is a sort of transcendence inherent in immersing oneself in water, an element that has captivated us throughout time in all its power and mystery. I believe in its ability to transport us into another realm in which we are more beautiful, stronger, and more at peace with ourselves than ever.”

There will be a Q&A with Weinstein following this weekend’s screenings of the film: Friday July 14 at 6:30pm, Saturday July 15 at 4pm, and Sunday July 16 at 8:45pm. For tickets and more information visit the Hot Docs website here.

Mermaids is rated PG.