Urban Planner: March 27, 2009

Juliette Binoche and Romain Duris in Paris, courtesy of V Kelly & Associates.

FILM: Cinefranco opens with Stephane Gehami’s En Plaine Coeur, the first of thirty-three French-language features (including Paris, shown above) and numerous short films the festival will be screening. This year's festival includes films from Canada, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Morocco, Lebanon, and Iran. The youth program is sold out, but next weekend there is a Master Class scheduled with Quebec Cinéma Vérité veteran Michel Brault and a roundtable discussion about Moroccan art. As the city's most adorable festival organizer puts it, "How else can you get to Paris for ten dollars?" Check the festival's website for schedule details (on until April 5). Royal Cinema (608 College Street), 7 p.m., $10 per screening.

ART: Funktion Gallery’s mysterious Faceless Few invite you to dispel some of their enigma (perhaps!) by dining with them at River restaurant. Guests are responsible for their own dinner bill, but the art viewing and conversation are free. After dinner the tone shifts thanks to music from one of Funktion's own DJs. Featured art is from Faceless Few's last show and includes some newer pieces as well. River Restaurant (413 Roncesvalles), 5 p.m. (dinner), 9 p.m. (romance), no cover.

AWARENESS: Toronto Habitat for Humanity student groups get to experience a twenty-four-hour taste of living below the poverty line. Small cabin-like structures will be set up in the ROM plaza which will serve as the students' "homes" for the experience. Unlike the actual conditions of those living below the poverty line, speakers, live music, and games will be provided throughout the day—we presume all in the name of education. Royal Ontario Museum (100 Queens Park), 7 a.m.–7 a.m., FREE.

DANCE: Tonight is the first of two nights showcasing global dance forms at the U of T Festival of Dance. The event is Canada’s largest university dance festival and covers (or uncovers) everything from hip hop to belly-dancing. Two hundred dancers perform over sixty different pieces, then drink a lot of water after the show. Hart House Theatre (7 Hart House Circle), 7:30 p.m., $12 ($10 for students/seniours).

MUSIC: Major Grey launch their self-titled debut album with great aplomb at the Horseshoe tonight. Along for the ride are equally poppy and fun local bands Chinese Food and Run with the Kittens. If you have a moment, check out the new Run with the Kittens video on their site—we can't decide if it's cool or incredibly creepy. Horseshoe Tavern (370 Queen Street West), 10 p.m., $10.