“I’ve never really been very lonely because I’ve always had something to do,” says Agatha Bock. A single Manitoban in her mid-80s, Agatha has fashioned herself an essentially self-sufficient lifestyle on her 54-acre ancestral farm, where she spends her days growing delectable fruits and vegetables from heirloom seeds. Her tools are held together with duct tape, her green thumb plastered in a cast, but neither her advanced age nor doctors’ orders can hold her back from the satisfaction of tending to her crops.
Amalie Atkins’ debut feature documentary chronicles her aunt Agatha’s daily rituals over the course of six years as she shares practical farming tips, Mennonite recipes for pierogies, and captivating stories from her life. Colourful montages of Agatha’s patchwork quilts, hand-labeled jars, and gardening gloves call to a family history lovingly preserved through all things handmade and homegrown. Shot on vibrant 16mm film by cinematographer Rhayne Vermette (Ste. Anne) and paired with a relaxing lo-fi soundtrack by Green-House, Agatha’s Almanac draws an artful portrait of simple, sustainable living.
Apr 10: Q&A with director Amalie Atkins
Wondrous… The rhythms of Agatha’s way of life soak into one’s consciousness. As an immersion in a fully realized world, Agatha’s Almanac is so resolutely charming that there is no point in resisting its power. Let it remind you that there is another way to live lightly on the earth, with care and attention paid to the smallest of details.
Dorothy Woodend, The Tyee
The embodiment of cottagecore — a document of quietness and quaintness, aesthetically conveying the romantic beauty of a life of simplicity.
Alex Hudson, Exclaim!
Amalie Atkins
Agatha Bock
Canada
2025
English
Best Canadian Feature, HotDocs
Book Tickets
Friday April 17
Saturday April 18
Sunday April 19
Tuesday April 21
Thursday April 23
Sunday April 26
Tuesday May 05
Indigenous & Community Access
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Credits
Producer
Amalie Atkins
Screenwriter
Amalie Atkins
Cinematography
Rhayne Vermette
Editor
Amalie Atkins
Original Music
Green-House (Olive Ardizoni), Castle If (Jess Forrest), Katarina Gryvul, Andrea-Jane Cornell
Canadian Film Showcase
Canadian Film Showcase features returning festival favourites, brand-new premieres, free screenings on National Canadian Film Day (April 15), and a specially curated program by Sook-Yin Lee (Paying for It).
Agatha's Almanac
Shot over six years on vibrant 16mm film, Agatha’s Almanac is an artful documentary portrait of filmmaker Amalie Atkin’s octogenarian aunt, who has fashioned herself an endearingly simple and self-sustaining lifestyle on her Manitoba farm.
The Art of Adventure
The unbelievable adventure story of how painter Robert Bateman and ecologist Bristol Foster drove a Land Rover from Africa to Australia in 1957, developing a love of nature to last a lifetime. An inspirational love letter to the adventure of life itself.
Follies
After two kids and 16 years of marriage, François and Julie decide to open up their relationship in a bid to rekindle their dwindling sex life. A painfully hilarious and brutally honest depiction of love, sex, and intimacy in the age of the internet.
Modern Whore
In director Nicole Bazuin's cheeky, stylized documentary, Modern Whore-memoirist Andrea Werhun (Paying for It) recounts her experiences as an escort and stripper in Toronto, debunking misconceptions about the world’s oldest profession.
Paying for It
Talk about a hall of mirrors! Sook-Yin Lee wittily adapts the graphic novel of the same name by her ex-boyfriend, Canadian cartoonist Chester Brown, about the end of their relationship and Brown's subsequent decision to start paying for sex.
Dead Lover
A foul-smelling gravedigger's romance ends in tragedy, spurring her to attempt a resurrection through a madcap series of science experiments. Grace Glowicki and Ben Petrie’s film is a zany DIY horror that zaps fresh life into Mary Shelley's classic.
Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner
When Atanarjuat displaces Oki, the Chief's son, by winning the hand of the beautiful Atuat, his brother Amaqjuaq pays the ultimate price. This cautionary tale showcases the consequences of putting personal desires ahead of community needs.
Parsley Days
Kate is ambivalent about her relationship with Ollie. While he's undeniably a great guy, she's curious about what else the world might hold. But when she discovers she's pregnant, breaking up becomes a little more complicated. A magical realist delight!
Outrageous!
Two misfits find love and support in this cult classic and landmark for Canadian queer cinema. Determined to retain her freedom after being treated for schizophrenia, Liza grows equally committed to seeing Robin realize his potential as a drag performer.
Love & Independence
A program of shorts that introduces daring new voices in Canadian cinema. Personal, playful, provocative, and self-financed, these films offer the freedom to express boldly through practices rooted in filmmaking among friends.
Endless Cookie
Are you ready for the most Canadian comedy of recent years? It's a documentary about half-siblings sharing stories, but it's mostly about interruptions, digressions, diversions, and free pizza. It's also animated, but you probably already noticed that.