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Cherub film image; man dressed as cherub holding bouquet of flowers

Cherub

Northern Lights

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World Premiere

Harvey (Benjamin Turnbull) is a middle-aged, overweight biologist. He lives a lonely life, often feeling invisible on his daily commute and starving for interaction. He spends his time photographing plants and visiting his comatose father in the hospital. While browsing an adult bookshop, he unearths a gay magazine called Cherub, “For big men and their admirers.” Curious and nervous, he submits a photo to the magazine’s Cherub of the Month contest.

Produced as his M.F.A. thesis at York University, Devin Shears’ debut feature (his previous film Grown in Darkness screened at the 2022 VIFF Short Forum) is a gentle, warmhearted character study featuring a deeply human performance from Turnbull. Harvey flourishes before our eyes as he overcomes the fear of being humiliated and experiences the highs and lows of feeling seen. Featuring richly textured cinematography, a shimmering score, and completely dialogue-free, Cherub is an ambient charmer that heralds the arrival of a bright, young talent in Shears.

 

Oct 3 & 4: Q&A with director Devin Shears and actor Benjamin Turnbull

 

Presented by

Media Partner

   

Director
Cast

Benjamin Turnbull

Credits
Country of Origin

Canada

Year

2024

Language

No Dialogue

Film Contact
18+
74 min
Comedy Drama LGBTQIA2S+ Q&As at VIFF

Book Tickets

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Credits & Director

Producer

Mithila Majithia, Devin Shears

Screenwriter

Devin Shears

Cinematography

Nick Tiringer

Editor

Devin Shears

Production Design

Annette Wanjiku Wanjiru

Original Music

Anastasia Westcott

Devin Shears headshot; Cherub director

Devin Shears

Devin Shears is a filmmaker from St. John’s, Newfoundland, currently living in Toronto. His past work has played at VIFF, Atlantic Film Festival, and Antimatter, among others. Cherub is his first feature film, made as part of his MFA thesis at York University.

 

 

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