Smuggling Hendrix[/caption]
The Calgary International Film Festival added twelve more films, some from as far away as India, Columbia and Sweden, others closer to home, including one from a Calgarian first-time feature director, to the 2018 lineup.
In a film that will resonate with many festival-goers, Director Gillian McKercher paints a portrait of life working in an industry with looming layoffs in CIRCLE OF STEEL, all to an Albertan soundtrack. Other films with buzz to watch for include the winner of Tribeca Film Festival’s Best International Narrative Feature: SMUGGLING HENDRIX, directed by Marios Piperides, and BIRDS OF PASSAGE. Directed by Ciro Guerra and Cristina Gallego, this visual feast takes us into the heart of the drug trade in the Guajira desert.
“These films shine a light on those defining moments that set us on a new path,” said Stephen Schroeder, Executive Director of the Calgary International Film Festival. “Whether that moment is about moving past invisible borders, tangible walls or simply embracing different mindsets, the subjects in these films are all about to make that leap.”
AMATEURS directed by Gabriela Pichler
When the German low-cost superstore Superbilly considers opening shop in the small Swedish community of Lafors, the local government office makes a commercial to sell Lafors as the prime location. Aida and Dana, two high school kids, decide to turn their mobiles and selfie sticks toward everyone that isn’t allowed to take part in the commercial. A quirky narrative film, with subtitles.
BIRDS OF PASSAGE directed by Ciro Guerra and Cristina Gallego
This visually stunning narrative feature takes us to the origin of the drug trade in the Guajira desert of Colombia, from the perspective of the indigenous Wayuu population who end up trading their traditional farming for marijuana.
CIRCLE OF STEEL directed by Gillian McKercher
The first feature from Calgary director Gillan McKercher, this narrative feature is a satirical yet sympathetic portrait of life in the oil and gas industry. New engineer Wendy Fong works for an energy company with rumours of upcoming layoffs. Long days in the field and long nights alone begin to take their toll. Wendy navigates personal ethics and corporate interest, with an Albertan soundtrack and stunning visuals of the Western landscape.
CLARA directed by Akash Sherman
Isaac Bruno (Patrick J. Adams, SUITS, ROOM FOR RENT) is an astronomer obsessed with searching the cosmos for signs of life beyond Earth, despite the collapse of his personal life right in front of him. His relentless research of the night sky leads him into the path of an unqualified but confident amateur astronomer named Clara (played by Troian Bellisario, SUITS, PRETTY LITTLE LIARS). Working together, their effort ultimately leads them to a shocking and profound scientific discovery. This is Canadian director Akash Sherman’s second feature film.
GIANT LITTLE ONES directed by Keith Behrman
This Canadian feature tells the tale of two best friends since childhood. High school royalty, the boys are handsome, stars of the swim team and popular with girls. They live a perfect teenage life – until the night of Franky’s epic 17th birthday party, when Franky and Ballas are involved in an unexpected incident that changes their lives forever.
ISLAND OF THE HUNGRY GHOSTS directed by Gabrielle Brady
On a remote tropical island, forty million crabs migrate through a dense jungle and rocky shores to the freedom of the sea. Christmas Island is also a temporary home to refugees seeking passage to Australia but confined to a high security detention centre deep in the jungle. With a brilliant score, lush cinematography and keen attention to detail, this award winning documentary focuses on the detention centre’s trauma counselor as she and her young family navigate local mythologies that surround them.
MEGA TIME SQUAD directed by Tim Van Dammen
A small-town criminal finds an ancient Chinese time-travel device that can help him pull off a heist and start a new life – but he may not survive the consequences of tampering with time. This Late Shows feature is a study in high-meets-low, combining elements of the sci-fi, the crime thriller and the comedy to make a comedy heist film with a time-traveling twist.
ROOM LAUNDERING directed by Tomoo Ezaki
Shy and preferring to keep to herself, Miko has with the perfect job – a “room launderer.” When a previous tenant dies of unnatural cases, such as murder or suicide, the “room launderer” purifies it. This is done by staying on the property long enough to clear its manager from legal requirement to inform future tenants of the tragedy. Miko’s only problem is she can see and talk to the dead. This Japanese first feature blends quirky comedy and light-hearted drama.
SIR directed by Rohena Gera
Ratna works as domestic live-in help with Ashwin. Although Ashwin is wealthy, Ratna can sense that he he’s given up on his dreams and is somewhat lost. On the other hand, Ratna who seems to have nothing, is full of hope and works determinedly towards her dream. This narrative feature depicts the social structure in India and the restrictions that prevent people from following their dreams.
SMUGGLING HENDRIX directed by Marios Piperides
Yiannis, a fading musician, is planning to leave crisis-ridden Cyprus for a better life abroad. His plans are put on hold when his dog Jimi runs away and crosses the UN buffer zone that divides the “Greek” from the “Turkish” side of the island. Since animal exchange between the two “sides” is prohibited, Yiannis reluctantly joins forces with Hasan, a Turkish settler, and a cast of unexpected characters to smuggle his best friend back.
SOULS OF TOTALITY directed by Richard Raymond
Lady 18 and Guy 3 have a secret. They are members of a cult that believes if they die during a solar eclipse, their souls will be taken to paradise. But that’s not their secret. They are also profoundly in love. An American short film.
THE UNICORN directed by Robert Schwartzman
When an engaged couple, Caleb and Malory are forced to go to Palm Springs for a weekend to celebrate Malory’s parents’ 25th wedding vow renewal, they discover the secret to the parents’ happy marriage – threesomes. Horrified but intrigued, and determined to properly celebrate their own ‘re-engagement,’ they set out on a wild night in search of a threesome of their own.Film Festivals
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SMUGGLING HENDRIX, BIRDS OF PASSAGE Among Films Added to 2018 Calgary International Film Festival
[caption id="attachment_28552" align="aligncenter" width="1392"] Smuggling Hendrix[/caption]
The Calgary International Film Festival added twelve more films, some from as far away as India, Columbia and Sweden, others closer to home, including one from a Calgarian first-time feature director, to the 2018 lineup.
In a film that will resonate with many festival-goers, Director Gillian McKercher paints a portrait of life working in an industry with looming layoffs in CIRCLE OF STEEL, all to an Albertan soundtrack. Other films with buzz to watch for include the winner of Tribeca Film Festival’s Best International Narrative Feature: SMUGGLING HENDRIX, directed by Marios Piperides, and BIRDS OF PASSAGE. Directed by Ciro Guerra and Cristina Gallego, this visual feast takes us into the heart of the drug trade in the Guajira desert.
“These films shine a light on those defining moments that set us on a new path,” said Stephen Schroeder, Executive Director of the Calgary International Film Festival. “Whether that moment is about moving past invisible borders, tangible walls or simply embracing different mindsets, the subjects in these films are all about to make that leap.”
AMATEURS directed by Gabriela Pichler
When the German low-cost superstore Superbilly considers opening shop in the small Swedish community of Lafors, the local government office makes a commercial to sell Lafors as the prime location. Aida and Dana, two high school kids, decide to turn their mobiles and selfie sticks toward everyone that isn’t allowed to take part in the commercial. A quirky narrative film, with subtitles.
BIRDS OF PASSAGE directed by Ciro Guerra and Cristina Gallego
This visually stunning narrative feature takes us to the origin of the drug trade in the Guajira desert of Colombia, from the perspective of the indigenous Wayuu population who end up trading their traditional farming for marijuana.
CIRCLE OF STEEL directed by Gillian McKercher
The first feature from Calgary director Gillan McKercher, this narrative feature is a satirical yet sympathetic portrait of life in the oil and gas industry. New engineer Wendy Fong works for an energy company with rumours of upcoming layoffs. Long days in the field and long nights alone begin to take their toll. Wendy navigates personal ethics and corporate interest, with an Albertan soundtrack and stunning visuals of the Western landscape.
CLARA directed by Akash Sherman
Isaac Bruno (Patrick J. Adams, SUITS, ROOM FOR RENT) is an astronomer obsessed with searching the cosmos for signs of life beyond Earth, despite the collapse of his personal life right in front of him. His relentless research of the night sky leads him into the path of an unqualified but confident amateur astronomer named Clara (played by Troian Bellisario, SUITS, PRETTY LITTLE LIARS). Working together, their effort ultimately leads them to a shocking and profound scientific discovery. This is Canadian director Akash Sherman’s second feature film.
GIANT LITTLE ONES directed by Keith Behrman
This Canadian feature tells the tale of two best friends since childhood. High school royalty, the boys are handsome, stars of the swim team and popular with girls. They live a perfect teenage life – until the night of Franky’s epic 17th birthday party, when Franky and Ballas are involved in an unexpected incident that changes their lives forever.
ISLAND OF THE HUNGRY GHOSTS directed by Gabrielle Brady
On a remote tropical island, forty million crabs migrate through a dense jungle and rocky shores to the freedom of the sea. Christmas Island is also a temporary home to refugees seeking passage to Australia but confined to a high security detention centre deep in the jungle. With a brilliant score, lush cinematography and keen attention to detail, this award winning documentary focuses on the detention centre’s trauma counselor as she and her young family navigate local mythologies that surround them.
MEGA TIME SQUAD directed by Tim Van Dammen
A small-town criminal finds an ancient Chinese time-travel device that can help him pull off a heist and start a new life – but he may not survive the consequences of tampering with time. This Late Shows feature is a study in high-meets-low, combining elements of the sci-fi, the crime thriller and the comedy to make a comedy heist film with a time-traveling twist.
ROOM LAUNDERING directed by Tomoo Ezaki
Shy and preferring to keep to herself, Miko has with the perfect job – a “room launderer.” When a previous tenant dies of unnatural cases, such as murder or suicide, the “room launderer” purifies it. This is done by staying on the property long enough to clear its manager from legal requirement to inform future tenants of the tragedy. Miko’s only problem is she can see and talk to the dead. This Japanese first feature blends quirky comedy and light-hearted drama.
SIR directed by Rohena Gera
Ratna works as domestic live-in help with Ashwin. Although Ashwin is wealthy, Ratna can sense that he he’s given up on his dreams and is somewhat lost. On the other hand, Ratna who seems to have nothing, is full of hope and works determinedly towards her dream. This narrative feature depicts the social structure in India and the restrictions that prevent people from following their dreams.
SMUGGLING HENDRIX directed by Marios Piperides
Yiannis, a fading musician, is planning to leave crisis-ridden Cyprus for a better life abroad. His plans are put on hold when his dog Jimi runs away and crosses the UN buffer zone that divides the “Greek” from the “Turkish” side of the island. Since animal exchange between the two “sides” is prohibited, Yiannis reluctantly joins forces with Hasan, a Turkish settler, and a cast of unexpected characters to smuggle his best friend back.
SOULS OF TOTALITY directed by Richard Raymond
Lady 18 and Guy 3 have a secret. They are members of a cult that believes if they die during a solar eclipse, their souls will be taken to paradise. But that’s not their secret. They are also profoundly in love. An American short film.
THE UNICORN directed by Robert Schwartzman
When an engaged couple, Caleb and Malory are forced to go to Palm Springs for a weekend to celebrate Malory’s parents’ 25th wedding vow renewal, they discover the secret to the parents’ happy marriage – threesomes. Horrified but intrigued, and determined to properly celebrate their own ‘re-engagement,’ they set out on a wild night in search of a threesome of their own.
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World Premiere of Andrew Slater’s ECHO IN THE CANYON to Open 2018 LA Film Festival
[caption id="attachment_31436" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Echo in the Canyon[/caption]
The World Premiere of the documentary Echo in the Canyon by Andrew Slater, which features some of music’s biggest names reflecting on the sustained influence of Laurel Canyon’s historic music scene, will be the Opening Night film of the 2018 LA Film Festival, followed by a live performance. The festival also announced today the titles in Premieres section, the Future Filmmakers Showcase, the Music Video program and the Indie Pilot program.
“I’m so proud to be opening the Festival with a love song to Los Angeles via Andrew Slater’s Echo in the Canyon,” said Jennifer Cochis, Festival Director. “We are committed to showcasing documentaries, and premiering this work at the Ford Theatres to be followed by a live musical performance is going to be a once in a lifetime experience.”
Opening Night Film
Thursday, September 20, the Ford Theatres Echo in the Canyon, dir. Andrew Slater, USA, World Premiere Echo in the Canyon is a look at how The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, The Mamas & the Papas birthed the beginnings of the Laurel Canyon music scene and how the echo of these artists’ creations reverberated between each other and ultimately across the world with a timelessness that continues today. With appearances by Tom Petty, Brian Wilson, Stephen Stills, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Michelle Phillips, Jackson Browne, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Roger McGuinn, John Sebastian, Lou Adler, Jakob Dylan, Norah Jones, Beck, Regina Spektor, Cat Power, and others. The film was executive produced by Jakob Dylan.Premieres
World and US Premieres of fiction and documentary films featuring noteworthy talent. American Dreamer, dir. Derrick Borte, USA, World Premiere Ashes in the Snow, dir. Marius A. Markevicius, Lithuania/USA, World Premiere Brian Banks, dir. Tom Shadyac, USA, World Premiere The Chaperone, dir. Michael Engler, USA, World Premiere The Clovehitch Killer, dir. Duncan Skiles, USA, World Premiere Good Girls Get High, dir. Laura Terruso, USA, World Premiere Kate Nash: Underestimate the Girl, dir. Amy Goldstein, USA, World Premiere Ride, dir. Jeremy Ungar, USA, World Premiere Tea With the Dames, dir. Roger Michell, UK, US Premiere We Have Always Lived in the Castle, dir. Stacie Passon, USA, US PremiereMusic Videos
Celebrating the marriage of music and visuals in these groundbreaking works. Apartment, dir. Ellis Bahl, USA Art in Motion, dir. Hayk Matevosyan, USA, World Premiere Bones, dir. Hunter Brumfield, USA Camisa Al Reves, dir. Andrew Vasquez, USA Clutch, dir. Christopher Ripley, USA Dis Generation, dir. Hiro Murai, USA Dreams, dir. Elliott Sellers & Erik Ferguson, USA Found, dir. rubber.band, USA Half a Million, dir. Lamar + Nik, USA Hard World, dir. Mike Hollingsworth, USA Heart Attack, dir. Mimi Cave, USA Indie, dir. Angel Kristi Williams, USA I Want You, dir. NORTON, USA Land of the Fairies, dir. Amiel Kestenbaum, Israel Lost Angeles, dir. Evanston Moore, USA Loving is Easy, dir. Chris Ullens, United Kingdom My Way, dir. WATTS., USA Pleader, dir. Isaiah Seret, United Kingdom Side by Side, dir. Bohdan Zajcenko, Czech Republic Terraform, dir. Sil van der Woerd & Jorik Dozy, Spain True Love Waits, dir. Adi Halfin, IsraelFuture Filmmakers Showcase: High School Shorts
Made by incredibly accomplished high school filmmakers from across the country and globe, 43% of the short films in this diverse slate are directed by young women and 47% are directed by filmmakers from diverse backgrounds.Indie Pilots
In this section, each pilot stands on its own and navigates the full hour of an episodic show. Storytellers bring an independent sensibility to these original series. 2 Kawaii 4 Comfort, co-dirs., Luke Palmer, John Bickerstaff, USA 40 And Single, dir, Leila Djansi, USA/Ghana Mulligan, dir, Steve Parys, USA
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Tribeca Film Festival Announces 2019 Dates + Call For Submissions
The Tribeca Film Festival, today announced that its 18th edition will take place April 24 to May 5, 2019 in New York City. Tribeca celebrates storytelling in all its forms from film to TV, VR to gaming. Submissions will open on August 20 for feature and short films; episodic and online storytelling; virtual, immersive, and augmented reality; as well as branded entertainment.
The 2019 Festival will introduce Critics Week, the first for a North American film festival, as a sidebar to the main program. Tribeca is collaborating with New York-based film critics to curate the section including Eric Kohn (IndieWire Chief Film Critic and Deputy Editor), K. Austin Collins (Vanity Fair Film Critic), Bilge Ebiri (Village Voice Film Critic), Alison Willmore (BuzzFeed News Film Critic and Culture Writer), and Emily Yoshida (New York Magazine and Vulture Film Critic). The inaugural Critics Week will highlight a slate of 5-7 feature films and screen throughout the Festival.
Tribeca also announced that the Tribeca X Award, which debuted in 2016 to honor the best in branded entertainment, will expand with new juried award competitions for feature length film, short film, episodic, and VR. Past Tribeca X winners include works for Samsung (Hearing Colors, directed by Greg Brunkalla), Smirnoff Ice (Chris Fonseca: Keep It Moving, directed by Zachary Heinzerling), and Square (For Every Kind of Dream Series, directed by Mohammad Gorjestani).
Tribeca is a longstanding champion for female filmmakers – last year 46% of the feature films were directed by women. The 7th annual Nora Ephron Award will again recognize a female writer or director whose work embodies the spirit and vision of the legendary filmmaker and writer Nora Ephron with a $25,000 prize.
In addition to honors for films playing In Competition, Tribeca continues to focus on the discovery of new filmmakers with juried awards for best new narrative and documentary filmmakers.
“The New York critical community has long been our compatriots in championing the most exciting new voices and trends in cinema, so we are thrilled that Tribeca will officially partner with them with this inaugural Critics Week program,” said Tribeca’s Director of Programming Cara Cusumano. “We look forward to discovering the new work they select, along with all the upcoming features, shorts, TV, VR, and online work from around the world as we officially open for submissions for Tribeca 2019.”
“We have been impressed with the caliber of stories and creators submitting to Tribeca X to the point where we see a need to increase visibility for the work being done in branded entertainment by expanding with additional awards opportunities,” said EVP Paula Weinstein.
Last year’s Festival celebrated storytelling and diverse voices with a slate of feature films; acclaimed shorts programming; TV including the world premiere of National Geographic’s Emmy®-nominated Genius: Picasso, the second season of the series which world premiered at the 2017 Festival; in addition to Tribeca N.O.W.’s (New Online Work) showcase of innovative digital storytellers. Tribeca Immersive expanded with the debut of VR theater Tribeca Cinema360, and its acclaimed line-up included projects like Vestige, one of the first VR experiences to be acquired at a major festival. The Festival debuted the first film funded through Untold Stories, the Festival’s premier program awarding $1M to an underrepresented filmmaker, in collaboration with the Festival’s Title sponsor AT&T and the Tribeca Film Institute.
Submissions open on August 20 for all sections of the Festival – feature and short films, TV, Immersive, N.O.W., and the Tribeca X Award.
Submission deadlines for the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival:
Feature and Short Films, Tribeca TV, Tribeca N.O.W., and Tribeca Immersive:
August 20, 2018 – Submissions Open September 26, 2018 – Early Deadline October 31, 2018 – Official Deadline November 28, 2018 – Late DeadlineTribeca X Award:
August 20, 2018 – Submissions Open November 28, 2018 – Early Deadline January 9, 2019 – Official Deadline January 30, 2019 – Late Deadline
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Toronto International Film Festival Unveils 2018 Wavelengths Program of 43 Experimental Films
[caption id="attachment_31419" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
What You Gonna Do When the World’s on Fire?[/caption]
The Toronto International Film Festival unveiled the 18th edition of it’s Wavelengths program showing adventurous and carefully curated lineup of shorts and feature films from around the world. This year’s selection of 43 films, comprises 4 programs of experimental short films, 2 curated pairings, and 10 features, each contributing to an exciting, diverse lineup of moving-image art.
Wavelengths ’18 offers trenchant reflections on home, memory, and a world in flux through artistic narratives produced by a mix of emerging talent and contemporary masters and working across a variety of inventive styles. Fiction highlights include Bi Gan’s dazzling and mysterious Long Day’s Journey Into Night, a dreamy neo-noir about memories, passion, and the malleability of time that received critical acclaim at Cannes; the beautiful and intimate RAY & LIZ, the searing debut feature by Richard Billingham, Turner Prize–nominated photographer-turned-filmmaker, inspired by his family and his own Thatcher-era childhood memories; and Mariano Llinás’ epic 14-hour drama La Flor — the longest film in Argentine history — which took nearly a decade to produce and which explores the possibilities of cinematic narrative through impressive and ingenious experiments in acting and genre.
Wavelengths will showcase several astonishing and sure-to-be landmark documentaries, including master Chinese filmmaker Wang Bing’s powerful Dead Souls, a momentous, eight-hour documentary that offers sobering testimonials of experiences in China’s forced re-education camps in the 1950s; the World Premiere of the stunningly shot The Stone Speakers by Igor Drljača, a compelling documentary about faith, tourism, shifting industries, and competing historical narratives in Bosnia and Herzegovina; the provocative and powerful What You Gonna Do When the World’s on Fire? by the returning Roberto Minervini, a fiery portrayal of Black life in the American South; the gripping found-footage film The Trial by Festival mainstay Sergei Loznitsa, which assembles original material from a show trial conducted under Stalin’s Soviet government in 1930s Moscow; and the elegant, moving Erased,___Ascent of the Invisible by Ghassan Halwani, a personal-essay film by the animator of The Lebanese Rocket Society (Wavelengths 2012) inspired by the distorted image of a mysterious man thought to have disappeared many years ago in Beirut. Andrea Bussmann’s solo debut, Fausto, and Jodie Mack’s The Grand Bizarre are two of this year’s most exhilarating cinematic experiments; they defy categorization as they meld documentary inquiry with inspired audio-visual expressions, ranging from the mythical to the musical.
Short-film highlights include new works by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Abraaj Group Art Prize winner Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Nathaniel Dorsky, Mary Helena Clark, Laida Lertxundi, Ben Rivers, Kevin Jerome Everson, Laura Huertas Millán, and more. The programme also features the World Premiere of artist-filmmaker Beatrice Gibson’s I Hope I’m Loud When I’m Dead, a KW Production Series co-commission with Mercer Union (Toronto), Camden Arts Centre (London), and Bergen Kunsthall (Bergen), which is supported by the Julia Stoschek Foundation and Outset Germany_Switzerland and which features appearances by poets Eileen Myles and CAConrad.
Wavelengths will also present a number of historical restorations and rediscoveries. This year’s archival selections include the previously unseen 1986 Summer (1986), by Japanese avant-garde titan Toshio Matsumoto; Lisa Baumgardner’s punchy Girl Pack (1981), recently restored by the Museum of Modern Art in New York; and the fascinating and idiosyncratic portrait film Alice (1974), directed by Austrian painter and filmmaker Maria Lassnig as part of her Soul Sisters series.
The 43rd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6 to 16, 2018.
WAVELENGTHS SHORT FILM PROGRAMS
Wavelengths 1: Earth, Wind & Fire
Polly One Kevin Jerome Everson | USA | Canadian Premiere Blue Apichatpong Weerasethakul | France/Thailand | International Premiere Fainting Spells Sky Hopinka | Ho-Chunk Nation/USA | International Premiere Prologue to the Tarot: Glenna Brittany Gravely, Ken Linehan | USA | World Premiere Hoarders Without Borders Jodie Mack | USA | World Premiere ante mis ojos Lina Rodriguez | Colombia/Canada | World Premiere ALTIPLANO Malena Szlam | Chile/Argentina/Canada | World PremiereWavelengths 2: Another Brick in the Wall
Ada Kaleh Helena Wittmann | Germany | World Premiere The Glass Note Mary Helena Clark | USA | North American Premiere mumok kino Philipp Fleischmann | Austria | International Premiere TREES DOWN HERE Ben Rivers | United Kingdom | International Premiere 1986 Summer ( 1986夏) Toshio Matsumoto | Japan | International Premiere Words, Planets Laida Lertxundi | Spain/USA | Canadian Premiere The Invisible Cinema 3 Philipp Fleischmann | Austria | International Premiere Walled Unwalled Lawrence Abu Hamdan | Germany | North American PremiereWavelengths 3: Centerfold
Girl Pack Lisa Baumgardner | USA | International Premiere Please step out of the frame. Karissa Hahn | USA | Toronto Premiere The Air of the Earth in Your Lungs Ross Meckfessel | USA/Japan | World Premiere Sira Rolla Tahir | Canada | World Premiere Slip Celia Perrin Sidarous | Canada | Toronto Premiere Alice Maria Lassnig | USA | Canadian Premiere Fallen Arches Simon Liu | United Kingdom/USA/Hong Kong | World Premiere I Hope I’m Loud When I’m Dead Beatrice Gibson | USA/Italy/United Kingdom | World PremiereWavelengths 4: We’ve Only Just Begun
Colophon (for the Arboretum Cycle) Nathaniel Dorsky | USA | World Premiere A Return James Edmonds | Germany | North American Premiere The Labyrinth ( El Laberinto) Laura Huertas Millán | Colombia/France | North American Premiere Île d’Ouessant David Dudouit | France | North American Premiere Julio Iglesias’s House ( La casa de Julio Iglesias) Natalia Marín | Spain | North American Premiere Man in the Well ( Jing li de ren) Hu Bo | China | North American PremierePAIRINGS
L. COHEN James Benning | USA Canadian Premiere preceded by Arena Björn Kämmerer | Austria International Premiere The Grand Bizarre Jodie Mack | USA North American Premiere preceded by Those Who Desire ( Los que desean) Elena López Riera | Switzerland/Spain International PremiereFEATURES
Dead Souls ( Si Ling Hun) Wang Bing | France/Switzerland North American Premiere Erased,___Ascent of the Invisible ( Tirss, Rihlat Alsoo’oud ila Almar’i) Ghassan Halwani | Lebanon North American Premiere Fausto Andrea Bussmann | Canada/Mexico North American Premiere In My Room Ulrich Köhler | Germany/Italy North American Premiere The Flower (La Flor) Mariano Llinás | Argentina North American Premiere Long Day’s Journey Into Night (Di qiu zui hou de ye wan) Bi Gan | China/France North American Premiere RAY & LIZ Richard Billingham | United Kingdom North American Premiere The Stone Speakers (Kameni Govornici) Igor Drljača | Canada/Bosnia/Herzegovina World Premiere The Trial Sergei Loznitsa | Netherlands North American Premiere What You Gonna Do When the World’s on Fire? Roberto Minervini | Italy/USA/France North American Premiere Previously announced Canadian titles in the Wavelengths Program include Lina Rodriguez‘s ante mis ojos, Andrea Bussmann’s Fausto, Rolla Tahir’s Sira , Celia Perrin Sidarous’ Slip, and Igor Drljača’s The Stone Speakers.
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Toronto International Film Festival to Spotlight 48 Films in 2018 Contemporary World Cinema Program
[caption id="attachment_31415" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Look at Me[/caption]
The Toronto International Film Festival will spotlight 48 films from international filmmakers in this year’s 2018 Contemporary World Cinema roster with a strong presence from Latin America and Eastern Europe — telling stories of identity, depicting family dynamics, and making bold political statements.
Several of the the impressive 27 World Premieres in the program are from TIFF veterans, including Belmonte from Uruguay’s Federico Veiroj, The Other Story from Israel’s Avi Nesher, Stupid Young Heart from Finnish Academy Award nominee Selma Vilhunen, Quién te Cantará from Spain’s Carlos Vermut, and Look at Me from Tunisia’s Nejib Belkadhi.
The program also highlights film selections that have already captivated audiences worldwide this year, including “I Do Not Care If We Go Down In History As Barbarians” by Radu Jude, Birds of Passage by directing duo Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerra, and Border by Ali Abbasi.
2018 Toronto International Film Festival Contemporary World Cinema Program
The Accused ( Acusada) Gonzalo Tobal | Argentina North American Premiere Angel (Un Ange) Koen Mortier | Belgium/Netherlands/Senegal International Premiere Asako I & II ( Netemo Sametemo) Ryusuke Hamaguchi | Japan/France North American Premiere Before the Frost ( Før Frosten) Michael Noer | Denmark World Premiere Belmonte Federico Veiroj | Uruguay/Spain/Mexico World Premiere Birds of Passage ( Pájaros de verano) Cristina Gallego, Ciro Guerra | Colombia/Denmark/Mexico/France Canadian Premiere Black 47 Lance Daly | Ireland/Luxembourg North American Premiere The Black Book Valeria Sarmiento | Portugal/France World Premiere Border ( Gräns) Ali Abbasi | Sweden/Denmark North American Premiere Bulbul Can Sing Rima Das | India World Premiere Core of the World Natalia Meshchaninova | Russia/Lithuania International Premiere The Dive ( Hatzlila) Yona Rozenkier | Israel North American Premiere Donbass Sergei Loznitsa | Germany/Ukraine/France/Netherlands/Romania North American Premiere El Ángel Luis Ortega | Argentina/Spain North American Premiere EXT. Night ( Leil Khargi ) Ahmad Abdalla | Egypt/United Arab Emirates World Premiere The Factory (Завод (Zavod)) Yury Bykov | Russia/France/Armenia World Premiere Florianópolis Dream ( Sueño Florianópolis) Ana Katz | Argentina/Brazil/France North American Premiere “I Do Not Care If We Go Down In History As Barbarians” ( Îmi este indiferent dacă în istorie vom intra ca barbari) Radu Jude | Romania/Czech Republic/France/Bulgaria/Germany North American Premiere Jinpa ( Zhuang Si Le Yi Zhi Yang ) Pema Tseden | China North American Premiere Let Me Fall (Lof mer ad falla) Baldvin Z | Iceland/Finland/Germany International Premiere Look at Me Nejib Belkadhi | Qatar/France/Tunisia World Premiere Minuscule – Mandibles From Far Away ( Minuscule – Les Mandibules du Bout du Monde) Thomas Szabo, Hélène Giraud | France World Premiere The Most Beautiful Couple (Das schönste Paar) Sven Taddicken | Germany/France World Premiere Museum (Museo) Alonso Ruizpalacios | Mexico North American Premiere One Last Deal (Tuntematon mestari) Klaus Härö | Finland World Premiere The Other Story (Sipur Acher) Avi Nesher | Israel World Premiere Quién te Cantará Carlos Vermut | Spain/France World Premiere The Realm (El Reino) Rodrigo Sorogoyen | Spain/France World Premiere Redemption (Geula) Boaz Yehonatan Yacov, Joseph Madmony | Israel North American Premiere Retrospekt Esther Rots | Netherlands/Belgium World Premiere Roads in February (Les routes en février) Katherine Jerkovic | Canada/Uruguay World Premiere Rosie Paddy Breathnach | Ireland World Premiere Sew the Winter to my Skin Jahmil X.T. Qubeka | South Africa/Germany World Premiere Sibel Çagla Zencirci, Guillaume Giovanetti | France/Germany/Luxembourg/Turkey North American Premiere Stupid Young Heart (Hölmö nuori sydän) Selma Vilhunen | Finland/Netherlands/Sweden World Premiere Styx Wolfgang Fischer | Germany/Austria North American Premiere The Sweet Requiem (Kyoyang Ngarmo) Ritu Sarin, Tenzing Sonam | India/USA World Premiere That Time of Year (Den Tid På Året) Paprika Steen | Denmark World Premiere Ulysses & Mona Sébastien Betbeder | France World Premiere The Vice of Hope (Il Vizio Della Speranza) Edoardo de Angelis | Italy World Premiere Winter Flies (Všechno bude) Olmo Omerzu | Czech Republic/Slovenia/Poland/Slovakia International Premiere Working Woman (Isha Ovedet) Michal Aviad | Israel International Premiere Previously announced Canadian titles in the Contemporary World Cinema program include Darlene Naponse’s Falls Around Her, Bruce Sweeney’s Kingsway, Renée Beaulieu’s Les Salopes or the Naturally Wanton Pleasure of Skin, Thom Fitzgerald’s Splinters, Sébastien Pilote’s The Fireflies Are Gone, and Maxime Giroux’s The Great Darkened Days.
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Toronto International Film Festival to Spotlight 11 Films by International Legends in 2018 Masters Program
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Peterloo[/caption]
The Toronto International Film Festival today unveiled the lineup for the 2018 Masters program, comprised of 11 daring new films by acclaimed, established auteurs with remarkable bodies of work. Included in the 2018 Masters lineup are new works by three acclaimed European directors that unwaveringly address contemporary adversities: the debut of the single-installment version of Italian maestro Paolo Sorrentino’s corrosive comedy, Loro, which stars Toni Servillo as infamous politician Silvio Berlusconi; legendary French—Swiss auteur Jean-Luc Godard’s The Image Book, winner of the inaugural 2018 Special Palme d’Or at Cannes; and German director Christian Petzold’s daring Transit, an adaptation of Anna Seghers’ World War II novel set in an era resembling the present day, which offers subtle and timely reflections on rootlessness and exile.
Among the auteurs in the lineup are: Algerian visionary Merzak Allouache, who explores religious radicalization with Divine Wind, the latest in a remarkable filmography that spans over four decades; acclaimed Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan, who is known for his distinct cinematic use of landscape and who returns to the Festival with The Wild Pear Tree; Mexican master Carlos Reygadas, who delivers an existential meditation on a couple’s open relationship in Our Time; South Korean director Hong Sang-soo, who returns to the program with Hotel by the River, a black-and white-drama set in an isolated hotel during a cold winter; British director Mike Leigh, who explores the history of British parliamentary reform in Peterloo; and Iranian maverick Jafar Panahi, who presents 3 Faces, a thoughtful examination of traditional gender roles and artistic independence.
Chinese pioneer Jia Zhang-ke will introduce his largest production to date, Ash Is Purest White, a look at the rapid evolution of Chinese capitalist society explored through the romance between two mismatched people, while veteran Japanese director Shinya Tsukamoto will present Killing, an ambitious samurai genre film set in mid-19th century Japan.
The 43rd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6 to 16, 2018.
2018 Toronto International Film Festival Masters Program
3 Faces Jafar Panahi | Iran North American Premiere Ash Is Purest White ( Jiang Hu Er Nü) Jia Zhang-ke | China/France North American Premiere Divine Wind ( Rih rabani) Merzak Allouache | Algeria/France/Qatar/Lebanon World Premiere Hotel by the River ( Gangbyun Hotel) Hong Sang-soo | South Korea North American Premiere Killing ( Zan) Shinya Tsukamoto | Japan North American Premiere Loro Paolo Sorrentino | Italy/France World Premiere Our Time ( Nuestro Tiempo) Carlos Reygadas | Mexico/France/Germany/Denmark/Sweden North American Premiere Peterloo Mike Leigh | United Kingdom Canadian Premiere The Image Book ( Le livre d’image) Jean-Luc Godard | Switzerland/France North American Premiere The Wild Pear Tree ( Ahlat Ağacı) Nuri Bilge Ceylan | Turkey/France/Germany/Bulgaria North American Premiere Transit Christian Petzold | Germany North American Premiere
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2018 Toronto International Film Festival Adds More Gala and Special Presentations Films
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Green Book[/caption]
The Toronto International Film Festival today unveiled its second batch of titles premiering in the Gala and Special Presentations programs in September. Four Gala Presentations and 22 Special Presentations have been added to the selection of titles already announced.
“We’re rounding out the lineup of Galas and Special Presentations with some of the most exciting films of the year,” said Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of TIFF. “Audiences won’t want to miss these premieres from a mix of newcomers and global heavyweights.”
This second announcement brings the total for Galas and Special Presentations to 44 World Premieres, 9 International Premieres, 12 North American Premieres and 11 Canadian Premieres.
The 43rd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6 to 16, 2018.
GALAS 2018
Green Book Peter Farrelly | USA World Premiere Closing Night Film Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy Justin Kelly | Canada/USA/United Kingdom World Premiere The Lie Veena Sud | Canada World Premiere Opening Night Film Outlaw King David Mackenzie | USA/United Kingdom World PremiereSPECIAL PRESENTATIONS 2018
22 July Paul Greengrass | Norway/Iceland North American Premiere American Woman Jake Scott | USA World Premiere Baby ( Bao Bei Er) Liu Jie | China World Premiere Boy Erased Joel Edgerton | USA International Premiere Driven Nick Hamm | Puerto Rico/United Kingdom/USA North American Premiere Duelles (Mothers’ Instinct) Olivier Masset-Depasse | Belgium/France World Premiere A Faithful Man ( L’homme fidèle) Louis Garrel | France World Premiere Gloria Bell Sebastián Lelio | USA/Chile World Premiere Hold the Dark Jeremy Saulnier | USA World Premiere Kursk Thomas Vinterberg | Belgium/Luxembourg World Premiere Legend of the Demon Cat – Director’s Cut Chen Kaige | China/Japan World Premiere Mid90s Jonah Hill | USA World Premiere A Million Little Pieces Sam Taylor-Johnson | USA World Premiere Never Look Away ( Werk ohne Autor) Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck | Germany North American Premiere The Quietude ( La Quietud) Pablo Trapero | Argentina North American Premiere Skin Guy Nattiv | USA World Premiere Teen Spirit Max Minghella | USA World Premiere Tell It To The Bees Annabel Jankel | United Kingdom World Premiere Viper Club Maryam Keshavarz | USA World Premiere Vision Naomi Kawase | Japan/France International Premiere Vita & Virginia Chanya Button | United Kingdom/Ireland World Premiere Wild Rose Tom Harper | United Kingdom World Premiere
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BLACKKKLANSMAN, FIRST MAN, A STAR IS BORN to Compete for Audience Award at San Sebastian International Film Festival
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BlacKkKlansman[/caption]
Ten new films including the latest by Damien Chazelle, Alfonso Cuarón, and Spike Lee will compete for the City of Donostia / San Sebastian Audience Award at the San Sebastian International Film Festival. A Star Is Born, the directorial debut of Bradley Cooper will bring the section to a close.
Jacques Audiard (Paris, 1962), the author of Un prophète / A Prophet (2009), Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, will present The Sisters Brothers, to have its premiere at the Venice Festival. This western based on the novel of the same name by Patrick deWitt stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly, who is also involved in its production.
The latest film from the winner of last year’s Academy Award for Best Director, Damien Chazelle (Providence, USA, 1985), once again directs Ryan Gosling in First Man as Neil Armstrong, the first astronaut to walk on the Moon. The film by the creator of La La Land, in which Claire Foy (The Crown) also has a part, will open the Venice Festival.
Alfonso Cuarón (Mexico City, 1968) competed in the Official Selection at San Sebastian with his second film, A Little Princess (1995). Since then, he has won a Best Director Academy Award for Gravity, while his films Y tu mamá también (And Your Mother Too) and Children of Men have enjoyed widespread international success. With Roma, to have its premiere in Venice, he portrays the life of a maid working in a middle-class district of Mexico City in the early 70s.
In this new take on the iconic love story, A Star Is Born, Bradley Cooper (Philadelphia, USA, 1975) makes his directorial debut and portrays seasoned musician Jackson Maine, who discovers and falls in love with struggling artist Ally, played by Lady Gaga. Ally has given up on her dream to become a successful singer until she meets Jack, who immediately sees her raw talent. This intimate story takes us on a journey through the beauty and challenges of a relationship struggling to survive. After its premiere in Venice, A Star Is Born will bring Perak to a close in San Sebastian.
Lukas Dhont (Belgium, 1991) will also present his first feature in San Sebastian, Girl, winner of the Caméra d’Or for Best First Film in Cannes and Fipresci Prize in Un Certain Regard. Dhont tells the story of a young girl born as a boy and who dreamt of becoming a ballerina.
Ciro Guerra (Río de Oro, Colombia, 1981) shares the helm of Pájaros de verano (Birds of Passage) with Cristina Gallego (Bogotá, 1978), producer of his earlier films. Guerra started his career in Films in Progress, where he won a prize in 2003 for his first work, La sombra del caminante. His third film, El abrazo de la serpiente (Embrace of the Serpent) screened in Horizontes Latinos, was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award. In Pájaros de verano, which premiered at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight, he uses a true story to explain the origins of drug trafficking in Colombia.
The first animated film to compete in San Sebastian’s Official Selection was Bakemono no ko / The Boy and the Beast (2015), by Mamoru Hosoda (Nakaniikawa, Japan, 1967). The author of Toki wo kakeru shojo (The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, 2006) and Okami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki (Wolf Children, 2012) now presents in San Sebastian Mirai, which premiered at the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight.
The participations of Nadine Labaki (Beirut, 1974) in San Sebastian are counted in awards. In 2007, with her directorial debut Sukkar banat / Caramel, she landed the Audience and Youth Awards, and in 2011, with her second film, Et maintenant on va où? / Where Do We Go Now?, she earned the spectators’ vote as Best European Film. With Capharnaüm, winner of the Jury Prize in Cannes, she once again competes for the City of Donostia / San Sebastian Audience Award.
Although his films have been programmed in different retrospectives –When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts in .doc – New paths of non-fiction and Summer of Sam in American Way of Death: American Film Noir 1990-2010– and the collective film Ten Minutes Older – The Trumpet screened as part of the Zabaltegi-Specials selection, this is the first time that Spike Lee (Atlanta, USA, 1957) will have competed for an award in San Sebastian. The author of Malcolm X, winner of honorary Academy and César awards, will compete for the Audience Award with BlacKkKlansman, a dramatic comedy about an Afro-American policeman who infiltrates the Ku Klux Klan, winner of the Jury Grand Prix at Cannes and the Audience Award at Locarno.
Jia Zhangke (Fenyang, China, 1970), however, has enjoyed wide presence at the Festival in recent years. In 2013 he won the Best Screenplay Award at Cannes for Tian zhu ding / A Touch of Sin (2013), screened as part of Perlak, the same section which saw the selection in 2015 of Shan he gu ren (Mountains May Depart), winner of the Audience Award for Best European Production. His short film The Hedonists was screened in Zabaltegi-Tabakalera in 2016, the same year as he sat on the official jury presided by Bille August, which gave the Golden Shell to Wo bu shi pan jinlian / I Am Not Madame Bovary by Xiaogang Feng. Now he will endeavour to win the spectators’ award for a second time with Ash is Purest White, a film selected for the Cannes official competition, in which he describes the changes transforming his country through a violent love story.
These films join those already announced in Perlak: El ángel (Luis Ortega), Petra (Jaime Rosales), Leto / Summer (Kirill Serebrennikov), Zimna wojna / Cold War (Pawel Pawlikowski), Un día más con vida / Another Day of Life (Raúl de la Fuente and Damian Nenow), Netemo Sametemo / Asako I & II (Ryusuke Hamaguchi) and 3 Rokh / Three Faces (Jafar Panahi).
A STAR IS BORN
BRADLEY COOPER (USA)
Cast: Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Andrew Dice Clay, Dave Chappelle, Sam Elliott
CLOSING NIGHT FILM
Not in competition
In this new take on the tragic love story, a seasoned musician discovers—and falls in love with— a struggling artist. She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer… until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally’s career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.
ASH IS PUREST WHITE
JIA ZHANGKE (CHINA – FRANCE – JAPAN)
Cast: Zhao Tao, Liao Fan
Qiao is in love with Bin, a local mobster. During a fight between rival gangs, she fires a gun to protect him. Qiao gets five years in prison for this act of loyalty. Upon her release, she goes looking for Bin to pick up where they left off. A story of love, betrayal and loyalty set in China’s underworld.
BLACKKKLANSMAN
SPIKE LEE (USA)
Cast: John David Washington, Adam Driver, Topher Grace, Laura Harrier
Spike Lee helms the true story of the first Afro-American cop to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan at its highest levels in the ‘60s, with the help of a colleague who passed himself off as a radical racist.
CAPHARNAÜM
NADINE LABAKI (LEBANON)
Cast: Zain Al Rafeea, Yordanos Shiferaw, Boluwatife Treasure Bankole, Kawthar Al Haddad, Fadi Kamel Youssef, Cedra Izam, Alaa Chouchnieh, Nadine Labaki
International Courtroom
Zain, a 12 year-old boy, faces the judge.
Judge: Why are you suing your own parents?
Zain: For giving me life.
FIRST MAN
DAMIEN CHAZELLE (USA)
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke
The film tells the story of the most dangerous mission in the history of Humanity to date. A tale of how NASA sent Neil Armstrong to the Moon and the sacrifices and the cost it represented for many.
GIRL
LUKAS DHONT (BELGIUM – NETHERLANDS)
Cast: Victor Polster, Arieh Worthalter, Katelijne Damen, Valentijn Dhaenens
Lara, aged 15, dreams of becoming a ballerina. With her father’s help, she pushes herself to the limit in the interminable endeavour. But her body doesn’t lend itself easily to the discipline imposed upon it, because in fact she was born a boy.
MIRAI
MAMORU HOSODA (JAPAN)
A spoiled and pampered little 4 year-old who finds himself being ignored on the birth of his little sister Mirai. Kun struggles to cope with the new situations thrown at him in his home. But suddenly the teenage version of his sister travels back in time from the future to share with Kun an extraordinary adventure of unimaginable proportions.
PÁJAROS DE VERANO
CIRO GUERRA, CRISTINA GALLEGO (COLOMBIA)
Cast: Carmiña Martínez, Jose Acosta, Natalia Reyes, Jhon Narváez, José Vicente Cote, Juan Bautista Martínez, Greider Meza
Based on a true story explaining the origin of drug trafficking in Colombia, the film takes place in the ‘70s when North American youths are embracing the hippie culture and, with it, marijuana. The upshot is that the local farmers almost instantly morph into “entrepreneurs”. In the Guajira desert, a Wayuu Native American family finds itself forced to assume a role of leadership in this new enterprise. Wealth and power combine with a war between brothers which will seriously endanger their family, their lives and their ancestral traditions.
ROMA
ALFONSO CUARÓN (MEXICO)
Cast: Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira
The most personal project to date from Academy Award®-winning director and writer Alfonso Cuarón (Gravity, Children of Men, Y Tu Mamá Tambien), Roma follows Cleo, a young domestic worker for a family in the middle-class neighborhood of Roma in Mexico City. Delivering an artful love letter to the women who raised him, Cuarón draws on his own childhood to create a vivid and emotional portrait of domestic strife and social hierarchy amidst political turmoil of the 1970s.
THE SISTERS BROTHERS
JACQUES AUDIARD (FRANCE – BELGIUM – ROMANIA – SPAIN)
Cast: John C. Reily, Joaquin Phoenix, Jake Gyllenhaal, Riz Ahmed
Charlie and Eli Sisters live in a wild and hostile world. They have blood on their hands: the blood of criminals and innocent people alike… They have no scruples about killing. It’s their job. Charlie, the younger brother, was born to kill. Eli, however, dreams of living a normal life. They are hired by the Commodore to find and kill a man. From Oregon to California, a ruthless hunt begins, an initiatory journey that will test this insane bond between the two brothers. A path that leads to their humanity?
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Napa Valley Film Festival Announces 2018 Narrative and Doc Feature Competition Films
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Micah Hauptman and Ivy Matheson in Only Humans[/caption]
The 8th annual Napa Valley Film Festival (NVFF), scheduled to take place November 7 – 11, announced its Narrative and Documentary Feature Film lineups in core competition today.
The 18 films in NVFF’s core competition categories will vie for the titles of Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature, as determined by the juries. The directors of these 18 films will participate in NVFF’s unique Artists-in-Residence (AIR) Program that includes a six-night stay at the luxury resort Meadowood Napa Valley. The residency includes master classes and breakout sessions with industry leaders as well as social and networking opportunities at special events throughout the festival.
“We are thrilled to be sharing with our audiences another diverse set of expertly-crafted real and imagined stories at the upcoming 8th annual Napa Valley Film Festival,” said Executive & Artistic Director Marc Lhormer. “Once again, we are pleased to see strong representation of female filmmakers, with the number growing each year. We look forward to hosting all the wonderful filmmakers as our Artists-in-Residence this year in beautiful Napa Valley.”
NARRATIVE FEATURES COMPETITION
Are You Glad I’m Here – A Lebanese housewife and a millennial American girl bridge cultural differences to become friends. Dark secrets are aired and one night they find themselves partners-in-crime. Starring Tess Harrison and Marwa Khalil. Directed by Noor Gharzeddine. West Coast Premiere Ask for Jane – Based on real events, Ask for Jane tells the story of a group of young college women who developed an underground abortion network that helped over 11,000 women get illegal abortions in Chicago between 1969 and 1973. Starring Cody Horn, Sarah Ramos, Alison Wright and Sarah Steele. Directed by Rachel Carey. West Coast Premiere Cold Brook – Ted and Hilde, two ordinary men who share an extraordinary experience one evening, embark on an adventure to help a stranger find home while placing their own homes and everything they take for granted at risk. Starring William Fichtner, Kim Coates, Harold Perrineau, Robin Weigert, and Mary Lynn Rajskub. Directed by William Fichtner. West Coast Premiere Grace – Charlie Elliston is a once famous author suffering from writer’s block. With his book advance spent, his agent and best friend Bernie sends him Dawn, a belligerent young woman in order to inspire and check on him – but she has some plans of her own. Starring Katie Cassidy, Tate Donovan, Matthew Lillard, Mircea Monroe, Debby Ryan, and Missi Pyle. Directed by Devin Adair. West Coast Premiere Only Humans – Through her attempt to ignite a romance with a much older man, Sarah, a fiercely independent teenager, learns to appreciate not only her youth but also her overbearing mother. Starring Peri Gilpin, Micah Hauptman and Ivy Matheson. Directed by Vanessa Knutsen. West Coast Premiere Spare Room – A young widow caring for her brother with Down Syndrome is drawn to a mysterious veteran who has rented her spare room. Starring Skyler Samuels and Martin Sensmeier. Directed by Jenica Bergere. California Premiere Tomorrow – A war veteran struggling to find a reason to live is befriended by a man who lives every day as though it’s his last. Starring Stuart Brennan, James Cosmo, Stephen Fry, Stephanie Leonidas, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Sebastian Street. Directed by Martha Pinson. California Premiere When We Grow Up – When We Grow Up follows a close-knit, albeit sometimes contentious, family brought together by an unconventional emergency that forces them to confront each other’s secrets, flaws, and temperamental inner children. Starring Catherine Curtin, Grace Hannoy, Clyde Voce, Jennifer Tsay, and Mitch Poulos. Directed by Zorinah Juan. West Coast Premiere You Can Choose Your Family – A seventeen-year-old boy blackmails his father after discovering his secret second family. Starring Danielle Campbell, Jim Gaffigan, Anna Gunn, Alex Karpovsky, Samantha Mathis and Logan Miller. Directed by Miranda Bailey. California PremiereDOCUMENTARY FEATURES COMPETITION
Afghan Cycles – Following a new generation of young Afghan women cyclists, Afghan Cycles uses the bicycle to tell a story of women’s rights – human rights – and the struggles faced by Afghan women on a daily basis; from discrimination to abuse, to the oppressive silencing of their voices in all aspects of contemporary society. These women ride despite cultural barriers, despite infrastructure, and despite death threats, embracing the power and freedom that comes with the sport. Directed by Sarah Menzies. Napa Valley Premiere Cancer Rebellion – What is it really like to have cancer as a teenager? A survivor travels to all 50 states to uncover the stories of others who’ve also been diagnosed with cancer in their youth. In a world that largely avoids the subject, their voices are a call for revolution. Directed by Hernan Barangan. World Premiere A Fatherless Generation – Nathan Cheney turns the camera on himself and captures his emotional journey as he seeks the courage to face his biggest fear, his father. Along this six-year journey Cheney takes an emotional turn and discovers that he must first confront his personal demons before he can confront his father. In search of building a new relationship with his father, Cheney struggles to find the strength to overcome his own fears and move beyond his traumatic childhood. Directed by Nathan Cheney. Northern California Premiere Father’s Kingdom – In the early 1900s, an African-American man named Reverend M.J. Divine began a religious movement that would reach over a million followers at its peak, crossing racial divisions and advocating for gender and economic equality. Despite his influence and achievements, Father Divine is little remembered today, dismissed by detractors as a con man and a fraud. The reason: Father Divine claimed to be God. Directed by Lenny Feinberg. Napa Valley Premiere General Magic – Strap in for a fascinating tour of a slice of Silicon Valley history most people have never heard of, General Magic is a tale of how great vision and epic failure can change the world. Directed by Matthew Maude and Sarah Kerruish. California Premiere The Interpreters – The Interpreters follows the lives of Iraqi and Afghan military interpreters who worked with US forces on the ground. In many cases, interpreters face danger in their countries because of their affiliation with the US war effort. This is the story of how they are rebuilding their lives. Directed by Sofian Khan and Andres Caballero. California Premiere TransMilitary – TransMilitary chronicles the lives of four individuals defending their country’s freedom while fighting for their own. They put their careers and their families’ livelihoods on the line by coming out as transgender to top brass officials in the Pentagon in hopes of attaining the equal right to serve. Directed by Gabe Silverman and Fiona Dawson. Napa Valley Premiere The Trouble with Wolves – Death threats, court battles, and an iconic endangered species in middle, The Trouble with Wolves takes an up-close look at the most heated and controversial wildlife conservation debate of our time. The film aims to find out whether coexistence is really possible by hearing from the people directly involved. Directed by Collin Monda. Napa Valley Premiere Up to Snuff – Millions of people have been touched by his music, yet few know the journey, hardships and triumphs of American musician and composer W.G. Snuffy Walden. In Up to Snuff, friends and collaborators share personal stories, laughs and insights about this generous soul who overcame the excesses of rock and roll to find success as one of the most beloved composers in television history. Directed by Mark Maxey. California Premiere
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MARGUERITE, THE ETRUSCAN SMILE, AMERICAN RELAPSE Win Top Awards at 2018 Rhode Island International Film Festival
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The Etruscan Smile[/caption]
Over its six-day run Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) screened 295 films and on Sunday announced the Award Winners for its 36th Anniversary Celebration.
RIIFF is one of 10 Festivals in the world that is an Academy Award qualifier in the Live Action, Animation and Documentary Short categories and a qualifier with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). The winners of RIIFF’s Live Action, Animation and Documentary Short Grand Prizes hold a special honor: they become the Festival’s nominees for Academy Award consideration.
The award for LIVE ACTION SHORT went “Marguerite,” directed by: Marianne Farley, Canada, 2017. “Marguerite,” is the story of an aging woman and her nurse who develop a friendship that inspires her to unearth unacknowledged longing and thus help her make peace with her past.
The award for ANIMATED SHORT went to “One Small Step” directed by: Bobby Pontillas | China/USA, 2018. “One Small Step” is an animation that tells the story of an ambitious young girl who aspires to be an astronaut with the support of her humble father.
The award for DOCUMENTARY SHORT went to “Father K” directed by Judd Ehrlich | USA, 2018. The story concerns Palestinian Lutheran Pastor Khader El-Yateem who decides to become NYC’s first Arab-American elected official and the political establishment writes off his candidacy as a fantasy. But they underestimate “Father K”, who’s determined to unite Bay Ridge, the conservative Brooklyn neighborhood he calls home that is also the heart of the city’s Middle Eastern community. As Father K’s trailblazing campaign picks up steam, he must confront the harsh realities of electoral politics while trying to hold onto the optimism and hope that made his unlikely candidacy possible.
2018 Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival AWARDS
BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT
GRAND Prize: (RIIFF’s Official Academy Nomination) “Marguerite” | Directed by: Marianne Farley | Canada, 2017. JUDGE’S COMMENTS: “I almost always try to avoid the word “beautiful” when I critique art, but I guess sometimes you simply can’t reject it for any other critical terms. This is a deeply beautiful film, even with its frightening glimpses of the infirmity of old age. The script and editing could not be more perfect.” FIRST Prize: “The Collar” | Directed by: Viktoria Runtsova | Russia, 2017. Tied with: “Woe is Me” | Directed by: Simon Cartwright | United Kingdom, 2018.BEST SHORT ANIMATION
GRAND Prize: (RIIFF’s Official Academy Nomination) “One Small Step” | Directed by: Bobby Pontillas | China/USA, 2018. JUDGE’S COMMENTS: “Delightful. Brilliant. Touching. It left me in tears FIRST Prize: “Two Balloons” | Directed by: Mark C. Smith | USA, 2017. Tied with: “Negative Space” | Directed by: Max Porter & Ru Kuwahata | France, 2017.BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY
GRAND Prize: (RIIFF’s Official Academy Nomination) “Father K” | Directed by: Judd Ehrlich | USA, 2018. JUDGE’S COMMENTS: “Documentaries are only as strong as their subject, and Father K is an inspirational subject. In these times it’s important to remember that causes can be ignited by individuals but are sustained by communities. This is an important film.” FIRST Prize: “Zion” | Directed by: Floyd Russ | USA, 2017. Tied with: “Guns Found Here” | Directed by: David Freid | USA, 2018.BEST FEATURE
GRAND Prize: “The Etruscan Smile” | Directed by: Mihal Brezis & Oded Binnun | United Kingdom, Switzerland, USA, 2018. FIRST Prize: “You Can Choose Your Family” | Directed by: Miranda Bailey | USA, 2018. Tied with: “BACK ROADS” | Directed by: Alex Pettyfer | USA, 2018.BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
GRAND Prize: “AMERICAN RELAPSE” | Directed by: Pat McGee & Adam Linkenhelt | USA, 2018. FIRST Prize: “The Push” | Directed by: Brian Niles & Grant Korgan, | USA, 2018. Tied with: “Snow Birds” | Directed by: Joannie Lafrenière | Canada, 2017.FILMMAKER OF THE FUTURE AWARD
Presented to a filmmaker whose vision excites audiences and judges alike about the potential to produce compelling and successful films in the future. Delphine Le Courtois, Director, “Upset Body” | Canada, 2018.BEST ACTOR
Michael Rouse, Actor/Director, “Geoff” | United Kingdom, 2018. JUDGE’S COMMENTS: “Original, moving, peaceful and lovely story complemented by a perfectly balanced and sensitive portrayal by Michael Rouse. In 20 minutes, he conveys the pathos of a sensitive soul who must overcome his greatest fear with passion and warmth.”BEST ACTRESS
Celine Held, Actor/Director, “Caroline” | USA, 2018. JUDGE’S COMMENTS: “A masterful performance filled with nuance and truth; one that stays with you long after the last frame has faded.”BEST COMEDY SHORT
GRAND Prize: “We Are the Freak Show” | Directed by: Philippe Lupien & Marie-Hélène Viens | Canada, 2018. FIRST Prize: “Chuchotage” | Directed by: Barnabas Toth | Hungary, 2018. Tied with: “Fern” | Directed by: Johnny Kelly | United Kingdom, 2017.BEST EXPERIMENTAL
GRAND Prize: “Interstitial” | Directed by: Shunsaku Hayashi | Japan, 2017. FIRST Prize: “Triptych” | Directed by: Katia Lom | United Kingdom, 2018.BEST DIRECTOR
GRAND Prize: Pascal Plante, “Fake Tattoos” | Canada, 2017. FIRST Prize: Maggie Kiley, “6ate7” | Australia, 2018. Tied with: Ray Nomoto Robison “An Affair Remains” | USA, 2018.DR. J. GERALD LAMOUREUX AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
Presented to a filmmaker and artist who represents the spirit of cultural exchange between the United States and Canada. “Modified” | Directed by: Aube Giroux | Canada, 2017.DIRECTORIAL DISCOVERY AWARD
GRAND Prize Feature: “Rust Creek” | Directed by: Jen McGowan | USA, 2017 GRAND Prize Short: “Hero” | Directed by: Freddie Fox | France, United Kingdom, 2018BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
GRAND Prize: Olivier Gossot, Cinematographer/DP, “Fauve” | Directed by: Jeremy Comte| Canada, 2018 FIRST Prize Sarah Cunningham, Cinematographer/DP, “Flowers” | Directed by: Baptiste Petit-Gats | France, 2018 Tied with: Kelly Jeffrey, Cinematographer/DP, “Hunting Incident” | Directed by: Matthew James Thompson| USA, 2018CINEMA WITHOUT BORDERS AWARD
“Saving My Pig” | Directed by: Frank Dobrin | Bulgaria, 2018THE CALL TO ACTION AWARD
A film promoting advocacy or awareness of a pressing social or cultural issue GRAND Prize: “American” | Directed by: Richie Adams | USA, 2018 FIRST Prize: “Requiescat” | Directed by: S.J. Main Muñoz | Costa Rica, USA, 2018THE NEXT GENERATION AWARD
Celebrating New Voices And New Perspective In Cinema “eHero” | Directed by: Joseph Procopio | Canada, 2018PRIX DU CINEMA SUISSE
“Maximilian” | Directed by: Nicholas Greinacher | Switzerland, 2016THE MARLYN MASON AWARD
New voices, new perspectives by women in film GRAND Prize: “The Lost Ones” | Directed by: Les Egares | France, 2018 FIRST Prize: “Mary Goes Round” | Directed by: Molly McGlynn | Canada, 2017VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY
Exploring narratives that showcase the dynamics of youth GRAND Prize:“Warriors of Sanita” | Directed by: Luca Nappa | United Kingdom, Italy, 2018 FIRST Prize:“The Boy Who Wanted to Fly” | Directed by: Jorge Muriel | Spain, 2018RIIFF NEW ENGLAND DIRECTOR’S AWARD
GRAND Prize:“Good Morning” | Directed by: Elaine Mongeon | USA, 2017 Tied with: “Warrior” | Directed by: Gene Pina | USA, 2017RIIFF DIRECTOR’S CHOICE AWARD
“The Boy At Platform 3” | Directed by: Michael Daniel Vetter | Germany, Switzerland, 2018HEARTS, MINDS, SOULS AWARD
Celebrating Films that Reflect the Jewish Experience. GRAND Prize: “Life Will Smile” | Directed by: Drey Kleanthous | Greece, Israel, United Kingdom, 2017 FIRST Prize: “The Driver is Red” | Directed by: Randall Christopher | USA, 2017 Tied with: “Oma” | Directed by: Bill Kirstein | USA, 2017BEST EDITING
GRAND Prize: Amelia Allwarden, Editor, “Lunch Ladies” | Directed by: J.M. Logan | USA, 2017 FIRST Prize: Reema Senguptam, Editor, “Counterfeit Kunkoo” | Directed by: Reema Sengupta | India, 2017 Tied with: Mindy Elliott, Editor, “Pie” | Directed by: Adria Tennor | USA, 2018BEST SCREENPLAY
GRAND Prize: “Find Me” | Directed by: Tom Huang | USA, 2018 FIRST Prize:“We Win” | Directed by: Michael Stahl-David | USA, 2018 Tied with: “One Cambodian Family Please for My Pleasure” | Directed by: A.M. Lukas | USA, 2018FLICKERS’ AMBASSADOR AWARD
Presented to an individual who inspires and empowers communication and cultural understanding. Michele Noble, Director, “Reclamation: The Rise at Standing Rock” | USA, 2018FLICKERS’ INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Given annually to films or filmmakers who inspire social change and community outreach and strive to better the world in which we live. GRAND Prize: “QUAKERS: The Quiet Revolutionaries” | Directed by: Janet P. Gardner | USA, United Kingdom, 2018 FIRST Prize: “2nd class” | Directed by: Jimmy Olsson | Sweden, 2018PROVIDENCE FILM FESTIVAL AWARD
Presented annually to a New England director whose work brings cinematic excellence to an international audience. “TRE MAISON DASAN” | Directed by: Denali Tiller | USA, 2017ALTERNATIVE SPIRIT AWARD (LGBTQ) SHORT
GRAND Prize: “A Man My Son” | Directed by: Florent Gouëlou | France, 2018. FIRST Prize: “Fran This Summer” | Directed by: Mary Evangelista | USA, 2018. Tied with: “#hashtag” | Directed by: Atzin Ortiz Gonzalez | Mexico, 2017.ALTERNATIVE SPIRIT AWARD (FEATURE)
GRAND Prize: “Retablo” | Directed by: Alvaro Delgado Aparicio | Peru, 2017. FIRST Prize: “Funny Story” |Directed by: Michael Gallagher | USA, 2017.ALTERNATIVE SPIRIT AWARD (DOCUMENTARY)
GRAND Prize: “One Leg In, One Leg Out” | Directed by: Lisa Rideout | Canada, 2018. FIRST Prize: “Empire on Main Street” | Directed by: Jessica Congdon | USA, 2018.KIDSEYE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS
Presented to a film that resonates with the filmmaker within both children and adults alike.BEST CHILDREN’S ANIMATION
GRAND Prize: (Feature) “Sgt Stubby – American Hero” | Directed by: Richard Lanni | France, Ireland, USA, 2018 GRAND Prize: (Short) “Tyrannosaurus Funk” | Directed by: Sandra Boynton | USA, 2017 FIRST Prize: “Rising Waters In Underwood Springs!” | Directed by: Mathieu Auvray | France, 2017LIVE ACTION
GRAND Prize: “Space Girls” | Directed by: Carys Watford | United Kingdom, 2017 FIRST Prize: “The Extraordinary World of Cecily Blinkstop” | Directed by: Jennifer Potts | USA, 2018GREEN PLANET AWARD
Celebrating the vision of man’s shared humanity and achieving sustainability on our planet. GRAND Prize Feature: “Secret Ingredients” | Directed by: Amy S. Hart & Jeffrey M. Smith | USA, 2018 GRAND Prize Short: “The Kodiak Queen” | Directed by: Rob Sorrenti | United Kingdom / Virgin Islands (British), 2018VORTEX SCI-FI & FANTASY AWARD
GRAND Prize: “The Comet” | Directed by: Bård Røssevold | Norway, 2017 FIRST Prize: “Invaders” | Directed by: Daniel Prince | United Kingdom, 2018 Tied with: “ASIAN GIRLS” | Directed by: Hyun Lee | Australia, 2017BEST STUDENT FILM AWARD COLLEGE
GRAND Prize: “The Day That” | Directed by: Dorian Tocker | USA, 2017 FIRST Prize: “SATAN” | Directed by: Carlos Tapia | Switzerland / Mexico, 2017HIGH SCHOOL
GRAND Prize: “memory” |Directed by: Mew Kano | Japan, 2018 First Prize: “Blacked Out” | Directed by: Highland Park African-American History Project | USA, 2017 Tied with: “The Homecoming Game” | Directed by: Andrew Gerstenblatt | USA, 2017BEST MUSIC VIDEO
GRAND Prize: “COPYSHOP” | Directed by: Jakob Grunert | Germany, Hong Kong, 2017 First Prize: “Ode to life” | Directed by: Coline Declef | France, 2018BEST TELEVISION PILOT
GRAND Prize: Bhak – ‘Pilot’ | Directed by: Shreyom Ghosh & Arjun Chatterjee | India, 2018 First Prize: “Man-Babies” | Directed by: Tyler Hollinger | USA, 2018FLICKERS’ YOUTH FILM JURY AWARDS
Awards were presented by Will Ford and the 2018 Youth Film Jury members:BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT
GRAND Prize: “Wyrm” | Directed by: Christopher Winterbauer | USA, 2017BEST ANIMATION
“The Death, Dad & Son” | Directed by: Vincent Parronaud | France, 2017BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY
“TRE MAISON DASAN” | Directed by: Denali Tiller | USA, 2017BEST FEATURE FILM NARRATIVE
“The Maestro” | Directed by: Adam Cushman | USA, 2017BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
“My Dead Dad’s Porno Tapes” | Directed by: Charlie Tyrell | Canada, 2017BEST LGBTQ FILM
“Marguerite” | Directed by: Marianne Farley | Canada, 2017MOST POPULAR
“Souls of Totality” | Directed by: Richard Raymond | USA, 20182018 INDUSTRY AWARD WINNERS & SPECIAL AWARDS
GILBERT STUART ARTISTIC VISION (LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT) AWARD was presented to Joseph M. Alves, an American film production designer. He designed the three mechanical sharks for the movie Jaws (1975). Alves also designed three features for Steven Spielberg, and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Art Direction and won the BAFTA for Best Art Direction for his work on Close Encounters of the Third Kind. RI FILM & TELEVISION OFFICE DREAMMAKER AWARD Henry Bronchtein, Producer (“The Sopranos”) RIIFF SCREENPLAY COMPETITION AWARD was presented to Barry Brennessel from Silver Spring, MD whose screenplay is entitled “ANH SANG.” THE PRODUCER’S CIRCLE AWARDS are presented annually to members of the community who have actively worked to support and promote the mission of the Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival. This year’s recipients include: • Michael Braca, photographer; • Judge Frank Caprio, Municipal Judge and television personality; • Fr. Kenneth Gumbert, Educator/filmmaker; • Mike Maino, Classical 95.9 FM WCRI; • Dr. J. Scott Oberacker, RIIFF Educational Outreach Director; • The Greenwich Odeum, East Greenwich Arts Center; • The Rhode Show, daily morning news magazine; • Libby Slader, Rhode Island State Council on the Arts; • Niko Stamatakos, business sponsor/supporter; and • Trinity Repertory Company, Tony Award winning Theatre WINIFRED BROWNELL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD BACKGROUND: Beginning on Tuesday, August 7, 2018, a special year long “Celebration of Women in Film and Arts” was launched by the Festival. In a recent study by The Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film, at San Diego State University, RIIFF was one of 23 “high profile” film festivals in the United States that was surveyed. What was striking about the study was that women accounted for 29 percent of directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors, and cinematographers working on the indie films screened at the examined U.S. festivals in 2017-18. At the Rhode Island International Film Festival, that number was 41 percent with films selected by an international team of judges for quality, not a quota. This year, the Festival’s percentage is even higher. Out of nearly 300 films screening at RIIFF, 193 were created by female writers, directors and producers. That number translates to 65% of all the films at this year’s Festival had a woman at the helm. Here are the official numbers: FEMALE DIRECTORS: 99 FEMALE PRODUCERS: 72 FEMALE EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: 22 = 193 FEMALE SCREENWRITERS: 18 FEMALE EDITORS: 48 FEMALE SOUND EDITORS: 14 = 80 TOTAL: 273 To celebrate this achievement, the Festival dedicated this year’s event to Dr. Winifred E. Brownell, a groundbreaking educator and Dean Emerita of the Arts and Sciences at the University of Rhode Island. Her visionary work propelled the University to become a leading hub for film media studies and nurtured the Festival during its infancy, spurring it to become the internationally acclaimed event that it is today. The Festival is also establishing a $2,000 annual scholarship in her name that pays recognition to her career championing the arts and humanities at the University of Rhode Island and a leading female voice in higher education. This year’s winner of the Award: Alyssa Botelho, a University of Rhode Island student in the Harrington School of Communication and Media.
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World Premiere of JEREMIAH TERMINATOR LEROY Starring Laura Dern to Close Toronto International Film Festival
Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy from director Justin Kelly, based on one of the most famous literary gambits in American history will close this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Adapted from the memoir Girl Boy Girl: How I Became JT LeRoy by Savannah Knoop, the film promises a boundary-breaking Closing Night Gala bursting with intrigue.
“With Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy, Justin Kelly brings to the screen a truly unbelievable story that captivated a nation,” said Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of TIFF. “The storytelling is powerful and the characters are vivid, really evoking the idea that you have to see it to believe it.
“I am beyond honored that my film Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy will premiere at TIFF as the Closing Night Film,” said Justin Kelly, director of Jeremiah Terminator LeRoy. “I can’t wait for people to see the fascinating true story behind JT LeRoy, brought to life via incredible performances by a total dream cast.”
This captivating true story goes beyond the headlines to reveal the most compelling literary hoax of our generation. Laura Albert (Laura Dern) is an author who writes under a fictionalized persona, a disenfranchised young queer man named JT LeRoy. When her debut novel becomes a bestseller and JT becomes the darling of the literary world, she comes up with a unique solution to preserve her anonymity while giving life to her nom-de-plume. Enter her boyfriend’s androgynous sister, Savannah Knoop (Kristen Stewart), who connects with Laura’s punk, feminist, outsider universe and agrees to be JT in the public eye. Together, they embark on a wild ride of double lives, infiltrating the Hollywood and literary elite — and discovering who they are in the process.
The 43rd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6 to 16, 2018.
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World Premiere of Period Drama OUTLAW KING Starring Chris Pine to Open Toronto International Film Festival
The World Premiere of Outlaw King , David Mackenzie’s anticipated period drama chronicling the rise of 14th-century Scottish hero Robert the Bruce, will be the Opening Night Gala Presentation for the 43rd Toronto International Film Festival on Thursday, September 6, at Roy Thomson Hall.
This epic David-versus-Goliath tale reunites award-winning director David Mackenzie ( Starred Up , Young Adam) with his Hell or High Water actor Chris Pine, who takes on the starring role of the legendary Scottish king who leads a band of outlaws to reclaim the throne from the clutches of the English crown and its army. The film also stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Florence Pugh, and Billy Howle.
“TIFF’s Opening Night Film, Outlaw King , tells a powerful story that is rich in drama, excitement, romance, and adventure,” said Piers Handling, Director & CEO of TIFF. “Audiences are promised a thrilling journey back in time, as David Mackenzie masterfully unwraps history with taut dramatic flare and brings to life the true story of Scottish hero Robert the Bruce. Gripping performances led by Chris Pine and Aaron Taylor-Johnson make this a classic, entertaining, and action-packed Festival opener.”
“Thank you, TIFF, for welcoming our film into the world. The Festival is the perfect launch pad for our realistic epic, and we are delighted to be the first Scottish film ever to open Toronto,” said director David Mackenzie. “I cannot imagine a better place to have our World Premiere. Scotland and Canada’s histories are bound together, forged in the crucible of the struggles of history, bringing this day an affinity and sensibility that I hope will translate to a profound, visceral, and riotously entertaining experience. We have an amazing cast and crew working at the top of their game, and we are really looking forward to spreading some Scottish goodwill on the great city of Toronto.”
Outlaw King follows the untold, true story of Robert the Bruce, who transforms from defeated nobleman to outlaw hero during the oppressive occupation of medieval Scotland by Edward I of England. Despite grave consequences, Robert seizes the Scottish crown and rallies an impassioned group of men to fight back against the mighty army of the tyrannical King and his volatile son, the Prince of Wales.
The 43rd Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6 to 16, 20