Toronto Spotlight On Canadian Cinema
Written by: FFT Webmaster | August 22nd, 2011
With the world industry heading to Toronto in two weeks for the annual Toronto International Film Festival, it is a huge opportunity for local filmmakers and dealmakers to put their best foot forward. Traditionally, the Festival has long been a major supporter of Canadian cinema, which within its own boundaries is as diverse as the world cinema offerings on tap. From the French-language films from the province of Quebec, to the outdoor influence of British Columbia to the Hollywood-on-the-lake ambience of Toronto, Canadian cinema is a world unto itself.
This year, the Toronto International Film Festival will showcase 25 native feature films and 43 native shorts. The list includes some a mix of veterans such as David Cronenberg, Sarah Polley, Guy Maddin, Bruce McDonald, Lea Pool, Jean-Marc Vallée and Mary Harron, as well as new works from Carl Bessai, Mike Clattenburg, Mike Dowse and Philippe Falardeau. Among the most anticipated are A DANGEROUS METHOD by David Cronenberg, which stars Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender and Keira Knighley; TAKE THIS WALTZ by actress-turned-director Sarah Polley, which stars Seth Rogen, Michelle Williams and Sarah Silverman; CAFÉ DE FLORE, the newest film from Jean-Marc Vallée, the director of the cult favorite C.R.A.Z.Y.; SISTERS & BROTHERS by Carl Bessai which will have its world premiere in the Special Presentations program; Canadian-Irish co-production THE MOTH DIARIES by Mary Harron, which will have its first screening after its world debut at the Venice Film Festival; veteran Quebec director Léa Pool’s documentary PINK RIBBONS INC. and the world premiere of KEYHOLE by cult director Guy Maddin, starring Jason Patric and Isabella Rossellini.
The Festival’s Canada First! Program, which celebrates new and provocative Canadian auteurs, will include seven new films, of which three are world premieres. Here is the list of the films in that section:
Amy George
Yonah Lewis + Calvin Thomas
Thirteen-year-old Jesse wants to be an artist, but believes that his mundane middle class Toronto life has left him unprepared. After reading a book on what it takes to be a “true artist,” he sets out looking for risk, ecstasy, wildness and women.
Leave It On The Floor
Sheldon Larry
This indie-narrative musical is set in the drag-ball community memorialized in the documentary Paris Is Burning. With 11 original songs by Beyoncé‟s musical director Kim Burse and choreography by Beyoncé choreographer and “Mr. Single Ladies‟ Frank Gatson Jr., the film tells the story of a young African American thrown out by his narcissistic mother for being gay. He stumbles upon a competitive drag ball organized by runaways and throwaways where he ultimately finds a new home and family.
Nuit #1
Anne Emond
Clara and Nikolaï meet at a rave. They return to Nicolaï‟s apartment and make love. Afterwards, instead of parting, the two lovers divulge their deepest secrets to one another. Starring Catherine De Léan and Dimitri Storoge.
The Odds
Simon Davidson
In The Odds, a murder mystery set in the world of illegal teenage gambling, 17-year-old Desson Orr must find his best friend‟s killer before the game is exposed.
The Patron Saints
Brian M. Cassidy, Melanie Shatzky
The Patron Saints is a disquieting and hyper-realistic glimpse into life at a nursing home. Bound by the candid confessions of a recently disabled resident, the film weaves haunting images, scenes and stories from within the institution walls. Sidestepping conventional documentary methods for a heightened cinematic approach to storytelling, the film employs lyrical realism and black humour in its charged portrait of fading bodies and minds.
Romeo Eleven (Roméo onze)
Ivan Grbovic
Romeo Eleven is the intimate portrait of a shy young man looking for love in all the wrong places. A path of lies slowly catches up to him before leading the audience to a surprising and moving conclusion.
Wetlands (Marécages)
Guy Édoin
On a dairy farm in the Eastern Townships, in the middle of a drought, an accident will disrupt the life of the Santerre family. Forced to band together like never before, they will have to learn to forgive. Starring Pascale Bussières, Luc Picard, François Papineau and Gabriel Maillé.
Here is the list of Canadian films in all the various TIFF sections:
Galas
A Dangerous Method
Director: David Cronenberg
Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley and Sarah Gadon
Starbuck
Director: Ken Scott
Cast: Patrick Huard, Antoine Bertrand and Patrick Labbé
Take This Waltz
Director: Sarah Polley
Cast: Seth Rogen, Michelle Williams and Sarah Silverman
Masters
Hard Core Logo 2
Director: Bruce McDonald
Cast: Bruce McDonald, Care Failure and Julian Richlings
Special Presentations
Afghan Luke
Director: Mike Clattenberg
Cast: Nick Stahl, Nicolas Wright, Stephen Lobo, Vik Sahay and Steve Cochrane
Breakaway
Director: Robert Lieberman
Cast: Vinay Virmani, Russell Peters, Anupam Kher, Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi, Sakina Jaffrey, Noureen Dewulf, Rob Lowe and Camilla Belle
Café de Flore
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Cast: Kevin Parent, Vanessa Paradis, Evelyne Brochu, Hélène Florent and Evelyne de la Chenelière
Edwin Boyd
Director: Nathan Morlando
Cast: Scott Speedman, Kevin Durand, Kelly Reilly, Joseph Cross, Brendan Fletcher, Charlotte Sullivan and Brian Cox
Goon
Director: Michael Dowse
Cast: Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel, Alison Pill, Marc-Andre Grondin, Eugene Levy and Liev Schreiber
Keyhole
Director: Guy Maddin
Cast: Jason Patric, Isabella Rossellini, Udo Kier, Louis Negin and Brooke Palsso
Monsieur Lazhar
Director: Philippe Falardeau
Cast: Fellag, Sophie Nelisse, Émilien Neron, Danielle Proulx and Brigitte Poupart
The Moth Diaries
Director: Mary Harron
Cast: Lily Cole, Sarah Gadon, Sarah Bolger, Judy Parfitt and Scott Speedman
Vanguard
Doppelgänger Paul
Director: Dylan Akio Smith and Kris Elgstrand
Cast: Tygh Runyan, Brad Dryborough, Ben Cotton and Matty Finochio
i am a good person/i am a bad person
Director: Ingrid Veninger
Cast: Hallie Switzer, Ingrid Veninger, Jacob Switzer, Mathieu Chesneau, Suzana Mikytova and Simon Reynolds
Contemporary World Cinema
Billy Bishop Goes to War
Director: Barbara Willis-Sweete
Cast: Eric Peterson and John Gray
I’m Yours
Director: Leonard Farlinger
Cast: Rossif Sutherland, Karine Vanasse, Don McKellar and Nicolas Campbell
Sisters and Brothers
Director: Carl Bessai
Cast: Cory Monteith, Dustin Milligan, Amanda Crew, Gabrielle Miller and Kacey Rohl
For more descriptive information on the full Canadian program, visit: www.tiff.net.