Along with the usual roster of local and international musical heavyweights, NXNE has been expanding their film offerings over the last few years, growing into a respected destination for new documentaries alongside screenings of classic concert films and influential music-themes flicks. Beginning June 11, the festival’s 40-film program kicks into high gear, running until June 17 at the NFB Mediatheque, Royal Cinema, and Toronto Underground Cinema. Here’s our round-up of some of NXNE’s most notable new movies.

Happily Dysfunctional: The Story of Transistor 66 Records (Director: Steve Ward) Indie labels are the unsung heroes of the music biz, so it’s a pleasure to catch a decently made film about one — Art MacIntyre owns Winnipeg’s Transisistor 66 Records, which has attracted a wide range of underground artists over the decade, spanning everything from American roots to surf punk. This 30-minute film includes performances and interviews with Joanne Rodriguez, Scott Nolan and the Vibrating Beds. All speak about MacIntyre with affection, while he himself briefly mentions his early financial struggles to keep T66 afloat. Altogether the portrait of T66 is sunny, but aren’t there other sides to explore? (Screening: National Film Board, Monday, June 11 @ 8:00 PM)

Dan’s Chelsea Guitars: A Neighborhood Music Store For The Whole World (Director: Daniel Ferry) This 30-minute homage honours Dan, who ran the a small musical instrument shop huddled within the same building as the infamous Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan. You’d expect stories of famous musicians such as Hendrix and Sid Vicious walking in, but instead you hear affectionate tales from longtime customers and local players. Nothing wrong with that, but what makes Dan’s shop so special? The film doesn’t answer that, and doesn’t get rolling until halfway when Dan starts tearing the store down and putting everything in storage. Some re-editing would have uncovered the poignancy in Dan’s story. (Screening: National Film Board, Tuesday, June 12 @ 4:00 PM)

Embracing Voices: The Woman Behind The Music Of Jane Bunnett (Director: Elisa Paloschi) Jane Bunnett is celebrated for her Cuban jazz, and this film follows her from Havana to Banff where she records a new album. The process begins in Ontario’s cottage country where Bunnett struggles to compose, but the film truly takes off when she journeys to Havana to rehearse with Afro-Cuban artists Desandann. All along she battles her record company for an advance. Because the film is told entirely from Bunnett’s point of view, an opportunity is missed in not talking to Dedandann, who leave tropical Cuba and travel to snowy Canada to record the album. The stakes are never high in Embracing Voices, but it does show the creative process of a key artist. (Screening: Royal Cinema, Wednesday, June 13 @ 7:00 PM)

Down: Indie Rock In The PRC (Director: Andrew Field) Down offers a rare glimpse of the rock scene in China, interviewing Subs, a hardcore band; the Dylan-esque PK-14; Carsick Cars (who once opened for Sonic Youth); and Cui Jian, the godfather of Chinese rock whose protest songs have gotten him blacklisted in this authoritarian country. This film excels when the musicians talk about alienation from their own families within a hyper-materialist society, but strangely Down shies away from issues of censorship. Director Field is passionate about his subjects, but smothers the film with intrusive narration. Still worth watching. (Screening: National Film Board, Thursday, June 14 @ 12:30 PM)

Så Jävla Metal – The History Of Swedish Hard Rock And Heavy Metal (Director: Yasin Hillborg) For some reason, Sweden loves heavy metal. Though it never really explains why, Så Jävla Metal presents an exhaustive history of Swedish headbanging rock from the Hendrix-inspired ’60s through the hairband ’80s and death metal ’90s. Told chronologically, the film gathers interviews with dozens of Swedish metalheads and uncovers a wealth of vintage video clips of these bands in their younger days: November, Neon Rose, Europe, Entombed, and especially guitar god Yngwie Malmsteen. If you love it heavy and Swedish, this is your flick. (Screening: Toronto Underground Cinema, Friday, June 15 @ 3:00 PM)

My Father and The Man In Black (Director: Jonathan Holiff) Johnny Cash and his manager, Canadian Saul Holiff, had a stormy relationship that endured Johnny’s rise to country superstardom, arrests, substance abuse and born-again Christianity. Cash was the temperamental star and Holiff his reliable businessman. Holiff also had a difficult relationship with his son, Jonathan. Saul was cold, demanding and distant with his children. My Father and The Man In Black is two films, really: a Cash biodoc and a personal essay about a dysfunctional father and son. Though it’s entertaining overall, at times you don’t know which story this film is telling. (Screening: Toronto Underground Cinema, Friday, June 15 @ 7:00 PM)

Once In A Lullaby: The PS22 Chorus Story (Director: Jonathan Kalafer) First, the YouTube videos of a chorus from a Staten Island school went viral, then Anne Hathaway invited them to sing “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” at the 2011 Oscars. This 85-minute film follows these grade 5 students from New York to Hollywood. Unfortunately, little happens during their journey to keep us interested. Apart from homesickness and a bout of schoolyard fighting, the kids risk nothing in singing and they learn little about their craft. Basically, there’s nothing special in the individual stories of these children and the trip to L.A. No surprises. This is a feel-good movie lacking revelation and running far too long. (Screening: National Film Board, Saturday, June 16 @ 1:00 PM)

Jobriath AD (Director: Kieran Turner) He was too effeminate for gay culture in the 70s, and too gay for mainstream audiences even in the glam era. Such was the fate of Jobriath, the first openly queer rock star. Jobriath was an all-American boy who graduated from the stages of Hair in the late-60s to launch a rock career when straight rock stars like David Bowie were embracing homosexuality, at least on the surface. Jobriath AD does a superb job in tracing his rise and fall, largely told through vintage video and interviews with his controversial ex-manager, family, friends and musicians such as Joe Elliott of Def Leppard, whom Jobriath influenced. One of the best films at NXNE. (Screening: National Film Board, Saturday, June 16 @ 5:00 PM)

Slaughter Nick For President (Direcors: Liza Vespi, Rob Stewart and Marc Vespi) Slaughter Nick isn’t a punk band, but the main character in a 90s’ beach-action TV series called Tropical Heat starring Rob Stewart. Stewart returns to Canada after a career in Hollywood and discovers, through Facebook, that he has developed a cult following in, of all places, Serbia. Stewart ventures over and discovers Slaughtermania: airport mobs, TV endorsements, media interviews, autograph hounds. He even performs with a Serbian punk band who write a song for him (which is the film’s tenuous link to music). Stewart learns how his character was a symbol of freedom to students protesting against dictator Slobodan Milosevic. Sorry, but that’s a stretch and a little self-serving. Though Stewart’s journey is delightfully bizarre, the film’s treatment of Serbian history is shallow at times. (Screening: National Film Board, Saturday, June 16 @ 7:00 PM)

Jessica Simpson had her baby!

36 months after announcing she was six months pregnant, Jessica Simpson gave birth to a 14-year-old girl she named Maxwell Drew Johnson, a burgeoning R&B star who’s obviously following in the footsteps of her namesake . . . Drew Lachey. When asked to comment, I responded, “Do I really need to add any more Twitter jokes or can I go back to seriously reporting the news?”

Justin Bieber released his video for “Boyfriend”

And, proving once and for all that he’s just like any other teenage boy, he busts out an acoustic guitar in the middle of a raging parking lot party, likely to end up playing “Hey There Delilah.”

Brian McKnight released a “sexy” new song [FULL STORY]

Brian McKnight has snagged an invite to the Adult Video Awards thanks to his recent release, “If You’re Ready To Learn.” After musically detailing the ins and outs of the female anatomy, Brian McKnight went on to admit, “I don’t know what I will do with this track in the future . . . but I am flattered that people have embraced it and are having as much fun with it as I am.” Well that’s all well and good, Brian, but some of us were planning to release a new, edgier version of a very similar song.

Thanks a lot.

Tom Cruise will sing classic rock songs in Rock Of Ages

According to NME, dreams do come true if your dream is to hear Tom Cruise cover songs by Guns ‘n Roses, Def Leppard and Bon Jovi in the upcoming musical, Rock Of Ages. However, your dreams do not come true if you wanted to see him perform them like this:

Questlove gave Blue Ivy an iPod with 4000 songs on it [FULL STORY]

In an attempt to kickstart Blue Ivy’s musical path, Questlove gave presented Blue Ivy with an iPod filled with 4000 songs – only a quarter of the 12 000 he had in mind originally. Kanye West was later seen snatching the iPod from Blue Ivy’s tiny hands saying, “I’mma let this playlist finish, but I had the greatest 4000-song mix of all time!” He then handed her 3999 mixes of “Monster” and one version of him singing “The Seed 2.0″ a capella.

Britney Spears allegedly made The Wanted face the wall when she walked by

Vulture reports that despite having signed a confidentiality agreement, The Wanted have admitted that when on tour with Britney Spears, they were told to face the wall when she walked by. In related news, as if on cue, Madonna learned magically of Brit-Brit’s behaviour and issued the following statement in support:

Beyonce was weirded out by the fake pregnancy rumours

Beyonce has slammed reports of her using a surrogate throughout her pregnancy, claiming the rumours are “crazy.” Having previously stated that such tales were “stupid, ridiculous and false,” Beyonce went on to ask the interviewer, “Where did they come up with this?” Knowing it was the wrong time to tell her I started it, I quickly changed the subject and asked about Blue Ivy’s iPod. [via Billboard]

Kevin Richardson has re-joined the Backstreet Boys

Kevin Richardson is BACK, BSB fans, according to MTV who say that Brian Littrell has announced plans for a reunion tour and subsequent album. Rumour has it that the decision was made when Nick Carter saw the Chicago poster, got jealous, and told everyone they needed to talk about Kevin.

Jimmy Fallon‘s album artwork has been released

And a comedian has finally given the people what they want.

Amanda Palmer will release a new album on January 21 called Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under, which features both live and studio tracks that were all written and recorded in Australia and New Zealand. “This whole record is a love letter to Australia and New Zealand. I have a huge resonance with the place and the people.” [Exclaim!]

Def Leppard will release their first live album sometime this year, according to frontman Joe Elliott. The band previously released a live EP called Live: In The Clubs, In Your Face. [NME]

And former Voxtrot frontman Ramesh Srivastava has released a three-track solo EP called EP1 that’s currently available on his website. Voxtrot called it quits in April of last year. [Consequence of Sound]