Tag: Simon Ennis

Gimme Truth … or should that be Liberty Than Condemnation?

At Hot Docs 2026, Gimme Truth explores conspiracy culture, spiritual identity, and fringe belief systems with a detached, observant eye. Rather than proving or debunking its subjects, the film watches how people build meaning, community, and personal mythology around the ideas they hold dear.

GIMMIE TRUTH Faux PosterWorld Premiere at Hot Docs 2026

What is the truth behind Gimme Truth, a documentary that questions the various beliefs circulating around the world? From conspiracy narratives that include 9/11 to New Age World Orders, there is a wide range of material on display. Filmmakers Simon Ennis and Brad Abrahams seem less interested in proving or disproving anything than in observing how these ideas spread. Through Hot Docs 2026, running this weekend, the response from many viewers may well be a simple, “Oh, really?” after watching it.

As for facts and verification, that responsibility feels deliberately left to the viewer. That is partly why the film opens at Conscious Life Expos. These gatherings are filled with people who are not easily categorised as “hippies,” but rather individuals who believe they are attuned to a higher frequency, if not a wider range of thought.

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“The Hobby” Explored: On Why Modern Board Games Captivate Millions

Although Simon Ennis’s The Hobby explores some aspects of modern board gaming, what’s offered is more so about the people who are dedicated to it rather than the history.

The Hobby by Simon Ennis Movie PosterNot to be confused with the documentary with the same name directed by Morgan Jon Fox and released in the same year, The Hobby by Simon Ennis looks at the phenom of modern board gaming. The introduction quickly reveals the origins of board games: apparently, one of the very first games dates back to Babylonian times, and it was simply known as the Royal Game of Ur.

Flash forward a few decades, and in Egypt, Senet earned widespread popularity. Had this feature-length examination had focused on the past, I would still find tracing its history just as fascinating as the look at the present.

This work examines the motivations behind why certain individuals go above and beyond in pursuit of their passions. Mind you, Irving Finkel–the individual who starts off this film–is a hoot, and he almost steals the show. Only a third of the other passionate souls interviewed reveal their first time playing and what they talk about more is in what keeps them going. When I looked at some games like Arkham Horror, these rules heavy products are just that. To micromanage on top can be daunting. However, for those youths getting introduced to easier games, they may even get a heads-up in developing their people and cognitive skills.

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