The Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF) is kicking off a marathon of more than 300 screenings from October 29 to November 8, showcasing 232 titles across 55 nations. Amid the packed schedule, a brand-new documentary about Martin Scorsese’s 1990 classic Goodfellas will open the festival on November 2, offering cinephiles a fresh, investigative angle on a film that has shaped modern cinema.
From personal obsession to professional pursuit
Australian filmmaker Lisa Downs and British director Ashley Pugh first bonded over a shared love of the same childhood movies—Flight of the Navigator, The NeverEnding Story, and Flash Gordon. Their partnership soon turned romantic, and a birthday surprise—a private cinema screening of Goodfellas when they were dating—sealed their connection. Years later, that early spark evolved into a mission: to create a documentary that goes beyond the typical DVD bonus material and delves into the film’s cultural impact. Their project, titled As Far Back as I Can Remember … The Story of Goodfellas, is as much a tribute to their relationship as it is to Scorsese’s masterpiece.
Unearthing lost footage and coaxing elusive voices
Determined to avoid a surface-level retrospective, the duo spent countless hours scouring archives for anything related to the original production. Their most astonishing find was a cache of VHS tapes stored in an Alaskan safe for 35 years, featuring a film-student’s candid reels of Joe Pesci and other cast members roaming the set. The filmmakers had to delicately upscale the material, preserving its archival grain without introducing a synthetic, AI-like sheen. Documentary purists will appreciate the patience required to treat such relics with respect.
Securing interviews proved equally arduous. Starting with a personal connection to Christopher Serrone—who portrayed the young Henry Hill—the team built a list that eventually included Samuel L. Jackson, Illeana Douglas, producer Irwin Winkler, and screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi. While Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, and Joe Pesci remained out of reach, the participation of Lorraine Bracco—renowned for her roles in Goodfellas and The Sopranos—served as a turning point. The pair approached Bracco at a 2025 fan convention in Woodbridge, New Jersey; her immediate enthusiasm unlocked a trove of further contacts, from actress Debbie Mazar to casting director Ellen Lewis, whose work on the film injected authentic New Jersey locals into Scorsese’s vision.
Premiere night, awards and the wider WIFF experience
When the documentary finally arrived at WIFF, the festival programmed it as a centerpiece of the opening weekend. Lorraine Bracco will receive the festival’s Spotlight Award during the same screening, followed by a live Q&A where Downs and Pugh will field questions about the research process, the challenges of handling vintage media, and the emotional resonance of revisiting a beloved classic. The event promises to attract not only die-hard fans of Goodfellas but also scholars, filmmakers, and newcomers curious about the behind-the-scenes craft.
WIFF’s broader program this year blends comedy, dance, horror and local charity events, such as the live art auction hosted by Framed Dreams on November 5. The festival’s downtown takeover—complete with red carpets, street performers, and live music—creates a vibrant backdrop for the documentary’s debut, reinforcing Windsor’s status as a growing hub for cinephile culture.
Downs and Pugh are already planning three additional film-centric documentaries, one of which will explore the lasting legacy of Goodfellas itself. Their ambition reflects a belief that the story behind Scorsese’s masterpiece is as compelling as the movie’s on-screen drama, and that audiences will continue to crave deeper insight into the era-defining work.
