Eagle Lake’s Amelia Ambridge grew up roller skating on the boardwalk in Haliburton. Back then, she said folks wore quad rollers and it was the only place that had any pavement. At Haliburton Highlands Secondary School, she also wrestled. Ambridge reckoned the two provided the necessary skillset to become a roller derby player.
Ambridge left the Rhubarb capital of Ontario for the University of Ottawa and then moved to Montreal where she has been for 20 years. The nurse practitioner and stand-up comedian comes back home about five times a year and is returning this weekend with friends for the Haliburton International Film Festival (HIFF) – which is screening a roller derby movie.
HIFF’s Myra Stephen and Tammy Rea said Les Furies (The Furies) is “a femaledriven sports comedy from Quebec. Women in Montreal and Waterloo, QC fight for their rink time when a men’s semi-pro hockey team claims their regular arena, threatening their established sports community. They prove that women’s sports can inspire crowds and that sisterhood is the ultimate act of resistance.”
Ambridge said after she moved to Montreal, she discovered the city had a strong roller derby scene with competitive teams. She thought a person had to be a professional to play. Then she heard about a boot camp where women could learn the ins-and-outs of the sport and try to get drafted to a team. “I did all of that.” She competed until the pandemic hit.
Known on the track as ‘Hot Pocket,’ Ambridge is travelling with four other women she knows, and who have connections to the league and film, for the Sunday afternoon (Nov. 8) screening.
Stephen and Rea said it is interesting to note that Haliburton had a roller derby team “back in the day. Some of the women who were involved took part in a piece for Dusk Dances (2013) featuring roller derby. Some of those women will be coming to HIFF as well.”
Ambridge said she is excited to show the County off to her buddies. She said this will be her third time seeing the film.
Asked about the appeal of roller derby over the years, from the days of ‘Skinny Minnie’ Miller to the Drew Barrymore movie Whip It, Ambridge said it is an intense sport; feminine; inclusive of all; and with an indie vibe. She said the sport had evolved from the days of banked tracks and anything goes, to flat tracks and more rules, but the show has carried on. She said they had retained derby nicknames, “crazy” clothes, makeup, and characters built around players.
The movie also champions women’s sports, friendship, and diversity: from a mom to a lesbian coming out, to trans and queer folk. She said they all play for their own reason, and each gets something different out of the sport.
Those Other Movies is celebrating 20 years with its annual HIFF Nov. 6-8 at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion in Haliburton.
Stephen and Rea said, “this year’s line up promises stories with characters chasing big dreams, seeking big thrills and dancing with some big moral questions. From comedy to drama to thrillers, this line up has something for everyone. HIFF brings Canadian stories and ones from around the world.”
They said the HIFF committee collectively watched more than 50 films at the Toronto International Film Festival and Sudbury’s Cinefest — 11 days of movies, nine movie watchers, 54 movies, 147 total viewings.
“The final selection for Haliburton has stories of underdogs persevering against the odds, immigrants facing barriers, people coming up with quirky and creative solutions and showcasing the lengths some people will go to both survive and chase dreams. These are stories that will stick with you. The festival has been curated to give the audience time to think, talk, question and make connections. There will be time to walk, stretch, eat and refuel too.”
Weekend VIP passes are $65 available at https://www.thoseothermovies.com/ or cash at the door. Tickets for individual films are $10 at the door. Commemorative blankets will be for sale (at cost) via the website or with cash at the theatre. $45 tax included.
