Archive for the ‘Press Releases’ Category

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TIFF Brings Home Best Of The Festival Circuit For Toronto Audiences - TIFFG

Thursday, June 26th, 2008

TIFFG - The Toronto International Film Festival announces 27 international selections to screen this September after premiering at film festivals the world over. Programmers have brought back some of the finest titles from Cannes, Berlin and beyond, to screen as part of the 33rd edition of the Festival running September 4 - 13, 2008. The official website for the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival, tiff08.ca, will go live on Friday, June 27, 2008. Ticket packages for TIFF08 will be available for purchase by Visa† cardholders as of 10am on Monday, July 7, 2008, and by cash, debit or Visa as of 10am on Monday, July 14, 2008. Purchase online at tiff08.ca, by phone at 416-968-FILM or 1-877-968-FILM or in person at the TIFFG Box Office at Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor Street West (main floor, north entrance). Box Office hours are 10am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday.

GALA PRESENTATION
The Good, The Bad, The Weird Kim Jee-woon, South Korea North American Premiere
Drawing inspiration from Sergio Leone’s 1966 classic The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Kim (The Foul King, TIFF 2000) returns to TIFF with the first-ever “kimchi western.” This is also South Korea’s biggest budget movie ever. In the 1930s, Northeast Asia lies in chaos. The Korean Peninsula has fallen to Japanese Imperialists. Many Koreans have retreated to the vast wilds of Manchuria, including a thief named Tae-gu (The Weird). A train robbery lands Tae-gu with a mysterious map promising untold treasure, but cold-blooded hitman Chang-yi (The Bad) and bounty hunter Do-won (The Good) are also hot on the trail of the map. On the heels of them all is a larger, more powerful cast of characters, including Chinese, Russian and Korean bandits, the Japanese army and the Korean resistance. In true western style, it all builds towards the climactic final showdown – a breathtaking bullet ballet. Starring Jung Woosung, Lee Byung-hun, and Song Kang-ho, The Good, The Bad, The Weird is a Barunson Co. Ltd. Film Division and Grimm Pictures production, produced by Choi Jae-weon and Kim Jee-woon, and executive produced by Miky Lee.

SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
Adoration Atom Egoyan, Canada North American Premiere
The twelfth feature film from celebrated Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan. High school student Simon (Devon Bostick) is caught up in family history, technology and a shocking and explosive lie that intertwines the lives of his uncle (Scott Speedman) and his French teacher (Arsinée Khanjian), while forcing him to reconcile conflicting memories of his deceased parents (Noam Jenkins and Rachel Blanchard).

Un conte de Noël Arnaud Desplechin, France North American Premiere
A dysfunctional family, torn apart by illness, death and loss, come together for Christmas in the North of France. Exploring the relationships among them, one by one they open up to acceptance, forgiveness and understanding. Winner of a Special Prize at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, Desplechin’s (Rois et Reine, TIFF 2004) Un Conte de Noël stars Catherine Deneuve, Jean-Paul Roussillon, Mathieu Amalric, Anne Consigny, Melvil Poupaud, Emmanuelle Devos and Chiara Mastroianni.

Entre les murs Laurent Cantet, France North American Premiere
From celebrated filmmaker Laurent Cantet (Vers le Sud, TIFF 2005) comes the winner of the Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Armed with the best intentions, François and his fellow teachers prepare for a new year at a high school in a tough neighbourhood. Cultures and attitudes often clash in the classroom – a microcosm of contemporary France and the world at large. François’s extravagant frankness often takes his students by surprise, and his ethics are put to the test when his students begin to challenge his methods.

Gomorrah Matteo Garrone, Italy North American Premiere
Power, money and blood – these are the “values” that the residents of the Province of Naples and Caserta have to face every day. They hardly ever have a choice, and are almost always forced to obey the rules of the “system,” the Camorra. Only a lucky few can even think of leading a normal life. Five stories are woven together in this violent scenario, set in a cruel and apparently imaginary world, but one that is deeply rooted in reality. Winner of the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival.

MASTERS
24 City Jia Zhang-ke, China North American Premiere
A state-owned factory in Chengdu is shut down, giving way to a luxury apartment complex called 24 CITY. Reflecting on the life of work that binds them all, old workers, factory executives and yuppies assemble the history of China. Written and directed by filmmaker Jia Zhang-ke (Still Life, TIFF 2006; Useless, TIFF 2007), 24 City stars Joan Chen, Zhao Tao, Lv Liping and Chen Jianbin.

Four Nights with Anna Jerzy Skolimowski, Poland/France North American Premiere
From influential Polish filmmaker Jerzy Skolimowski comes the story of Leon, a hospital worker who once witnessed the brutal rape of Anna, now a young nurse working in the same hospital. Secretly forcing himself into her life, and her bedroom, Leon develops an intense fixation with Anna that begs the question, “how far will he go?”

Of Time and the City Terence Davies, United Kingdom North American Premiere
Acclaimed British director Terence Davies (Distant Voices, Still Lives; TIFF 1988) returns to his native Liverpool and to his filmmaking roots to capture a sense of the city today and its influences on him growing up in the late 40s and early 50s.

Le Silence de Lorna Jean-Pierre Dardenne and Luc Dardenne, Belgium/France/Italy North American Premiere
Lorna, a young Albanian woman living in Belgium, becomes entangled in a sham marriage orchestrated by mobster Fabio, an arrangement that will end in murder if Lorna chooses to keep silent. Best Screenplay winner at Cannes 2008, Le Silence de Lorna is written, directed and produced by two-time Palme d’Or winners Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne (L’Enfant, TIFF 2005).

Three Monkeys Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Turkey/France/Italy North American Premiere
Winner of Best Director at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Nuri Bilge Ceylan (Climates, TIFF 2006) tells the story of a dislocated family battling the odds to stay together by covering up the truth.

REAL TO REEL
Blind Loves Juraj Lehotský, Slovakia North American Premiere
Finding one’s place in this world is not an easy thing for any person, but how much more difficult can it be for someone who is blind?

VISIONS
Liverpool Lisandro Alonso, Argentina/France/Netherlands/Spain/Germany North American Premiere
During an Atlantic crossing, Farrel asks the captain of the freighter he is sailing for permission to go ashore at the next port. He wants to visit the place where he was born to find out if his mother is still alive.

Service Brillante Mendoza, Philippines/France North American Premiere
The Pineda family operates a run-down movie house that shows sexy double features. While they endure each other’s sins and vices, the matriarch, Nanay Flor, receives a long-awaited court decision on the bigamy case filed against her estranged husband.

VANGUARD
Waltz with Bashir Ari Folman, Israel/France/Germany North American Premiere
One night in a bar, an old friend tells director Ari Folman about a recurring nightmare. The two men conclude that there’s a connection to their Israeli Army mission in the Lebanon War in the early 1980s. An astonishing and powerful animated feature that journeys into the director’s memory in search of some missing pieces.

DISCOVERY
Hunger Steve McQueen, United Kingdom North American Premiere
Winner of this year’s Caméra d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Hunger follows Bobby Sands and the other political inmates of Northern Ireland’s Maze Prison in 1981 as they seek to gain special category status for republican prisoners.

Medicine for Melancholy Barry Jenkins, USA Canadian Premiere
Two African-American twentysomethings wake up in bed together having no recollection of how they arrived there. Wandering the streets of San Francisco, the pair meditate on issues of race, class, identity and gentrification, exploring sights of the city less seen in today’s cinema.

The Paranoids Gabriel Medina, Argentina International Premiere
At once an unmotivated procrastinator, fearsome hypochondriac and unenthused children’s party entertainer, Luciano is on the fast track to nowhere. When his successful friend arrives from Spain, Luciano is forced to face the realities of his own uninspired existence.

Salamandra Pablo Agüero, Argentina/France/Germany North American Premiere
In the valley of El Bolson in Patagonia – a haven for renegades from all over the world – Alba and Inti try to build a normal life as mother and son.

Three Blind Mice Matthew Newton, Australia International Premiere
Tension mounts between three young Australian naval officers as they hit the streets of Sydney before being shipped out to Iraq. Written and directed by Matthew Newton, who also stars.

Tony Manero Pablo Larraín, Chile/Brazil North American Premiere
Santiago de Chile, 1978. Dancer Raúl Peralta is obsessed with imitating Tony Manero, John Travolta’s character in Saturday Night Fever. His quest for stardom seems within his grasp when a TV station announces a Manero impersonation contest.

Tulpan Sergey Dvortsevoy, Germany/Switzerland/Kazakstan/Russia/Poland North American Premiere
Before he can realize his ambition of becoming a shepherd, Asa must first get married. Tulpan, his sole prospect for a future bride, rejects Asa due to his big ears. But Asa refuses to give up. Winner of this year’s Un Certain Regard Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

CONTEMPORARY WORLD CINEMA
Acne Federico Veiroj, Uruguay/Argentina/Spain/Mexico North American Premiere
At age 13, Rafael loses his virginity thanks to arrangements made by his older brother. His first kiss, however, proves harder to get.

Linha de Passe Walter Salles and Daniela Thomas, Brazil North American Premiere
In the heart of São Paulo, four fatherless brothers try to find a way out from their preordained paths. Reuniting directors Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries, TIFF 2004) and Thomas, Linha de Passe garnered Best Actress (Sandra Corveloni) at Cannes 2008.

O’Horten Bent Hamer, Norway/Germany/France North American Premiere
In the driver’s cab of a train journeying through the Norwegian countryside, Odd Horten is on his penultimate journey from Oslo to Bergen. Tomorrow he’ll make his last trip. But, for the first time in almost 40 years, he will arrive too late and miss his last departure.

Lion’s Den Pablo Trapero, Argentina/South Korea/Brazil North American Premiere
Julia awakes in her apartment one morning, pregnant and in the company of the bloodied bodies of two men who had been her lovers. In an instant, her life becomes that of a single mother in prison.

Restless Amos Kollek, Israel/Germany/Canada/France/Belgium North American Premiere
Recently discharged from the Israeli army, Tzach travels to New York to confront his father Moshe, a struggling artist who left his family behind some twenty years ago.

Revanche Götz Spielmann, Austria North American Premiere
Alex is an errand boy; Tamara, a prostitute. Entwined in a forbidden love affair, both are determined to escape the Viennese brothel where they work. But carrying out their plan proves fateful once police officer Robert walks into their lives… [Full Story]

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Hot Docs Awards Announced

Saturday, April 26th, 2008

Hot Docs - Hosted by the CBC’s Jian Ghomeshi, the Hot Docs Awards Presentation, held Friday, April 25, at the Isabel Bader Theatre in Toronto, saw ten awards and $30,000 in cash and prizes presented.

The jury for international features, consisting of film critic Elvis Mitchell, journalist Johanna Schneller and Iikka Vehkalahti, Commissioning Editor, YLE TV 2 Documentaries, granted three awards to films in the competitive International Spectrum programme. The Best International Feature Documentary Award, sponsored by A&E, went to THE ENGLISH SURGEON (D: Geoffrey Smith; P: Geoffrey Smith, Rachel Wexler; UK), the story of renowned British brain surgeon Henry Marsh who offers desperately needed hope to those suffering from life-threatening tumors in the Ukraine. The jury said of the film: “Polished and shameless, in the best sense of combining two seemingly contradictory elements and shaping them into a satisfying and penetrating whole…as one juror noted, this film has everything.” The winner received a $5000 cash prize, courtesy of Hot Docs.

The Special Jury Prize for international feature documentary, sponsored by the OMDC, was awarded to TO SEE IF I’M SMILING (D&P: Tamar Yarom; Israel), which offers frank testimonials of female Israeli soldiers that illustrate how the trauma of war temporarily alters personalities, morals and values. The jury said of the film: “The Special Jury Prize is given to a film that makes all of us face the question: could this be me? Would I behave this way? The director and protagonists share memories of a different and painful existence in a way that touches and challenges us and is relevant everywhere in the world.”

The new HBO Documentary Films Emerging Artist Award was presented to Boris Despodov for CORRIDOR #8 (P: Martichka Bozhilova; Bulgaria), an absurdly funny and fascinating portrait of a misguided infrastructure project in southeastern Europe. The jury said of the film: “For the Emerging Artist Award, our jury must have set a new record for consensus - it was pretty much immediate. We agreed right away. This film is gorgeous, hilarious, enlightening and irresistible.”

The jury for Canadian features, consisting of filmmaker Massoud Bakhshi, producer Michael Burns and IDFA programmer Rada Sesic, granted two awards to films in the competitive Canadian Spectrum programme. The Best Canadian Feature Documentary Award, sponsored by Documentary and the Documentary Organisation of Canada, was presented to JUNIOR (D: Isabelle Lavigne, Stéphane Thibault; P: Johanne Bergeron, Yves Bisaillon (NFB)), a behind-the-scenes look at the pressures facing junior hockey players. The jury said of the film: “With unanimous enthusiasm, the jury wants to cite an original view of small town Quebec life. Its cinéma vérité approach gives the audience a truly authentic drama that penetrates the lives of small town icons.” The winner received a $5000 cash prize, courtesy of Documentary.

The Special Jury Prize for Canadian feature documentary, sponsored by the NFB and the Directors Guild of Canada, was awarded to FLICKER (D: Nik Sheehan; P: Maureen Judge, Anita Lee (NFB)) the story of pop culture icon Brion Gysin, his hypnotic dream machine and his influence on his generation. The jury said of the film: “This cinematically refined portrait of the self-destructive artist, remembered by his friends and compatriots uses interesting visuals and creative sound design to bring us into the world of an almost forgotten mid-century innovator.” The winner received a $5000 FAP (Filmmaker Assistance Program) prize, courtesy of the NFB.

The Best Short Documentary Award (up to 29 min), sponsored by Playback, was awarded to THE APOLOGY LINE (D&P: James Lees; UK). The film, which documents a telephone service set up to offer the public the opportunity to make anonymous confessions, was commended by the jury for its formal innovation and poetic exploration of the paradox of urban isolation and intimacy. The Best Mid-Length Documentary Award (30-59 min), sponsored by the Canada Council for the Arts, was given to IT’S ALWAYS LATE FOR FREEDOM (D&P: Mehrdad Oskouei; Iran), which was screened as part of this year’s popular Spotlight on Iran programme. An eye-opening and hopeful portrait of a Tehranian youth correctional facility, the jury noted that the film rose above its competition by offering an element of discovery and by challenging the viewer’s preconceptions. The jury for short and mid-length films consisted of filmmakers Jennifer Baichwal (short films only), Molly Dineen (mid-length films only) and Arturo Perez Torres, and Elena Fortes Acosta, Festival Director of Ambulante Documentary Film Festival (Mexico).

Also at the Awards Presentation, The Hot Docs Board of Directors presented its annual Outstanding Achievement Award to documentary pioneer Richard Leacock. Montreal-based director Yung Chang, whose film UP THE YANGTZE recently broke Canadian box office records for documentaries, was named recipient of this year’s Don Haig Award, which recognizes a director whose work has bridged the fiction and non-fiction filmmaking worlds. The $10,000 cash prize, to be used for whatever the filmmaker needs towards his craft, is awarded each year by a jury consisting of representatives from the Don Haig Award Committee and Hot Docs in memory of influential producer. Toronto-based filmmaker Elizabeth Lazebnik was named the recipient of the Lindalee Tracey Award, a $5000 cash prize presented annually to a filmmaker who works in the spirit of its namesake – with passion, humour, a strong sense of social justice and a personal point of view.

The Hot Docs Festival continues through to Sunday, April 27. The Audience Award, sponsored by History Television and determined by audience poll, and the CIDA Award for best Canadian film on an international development issue will be announced on Monday, April 28… [Full Story]

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Sprockets Engages With Diverse International Titles - TIFFG

Tuesday, March 11th, 2008

TIFFG - Organizers of the Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children today announced the exciting line-up of films running April 12-18, 2008. Enriching, engaging and entertaining, Sprockets offers children and youth an opportunity to learn about film and cultural perspectives from around the world with a programme drawn from the best of international children’s cinema. New this year, festivalgoers can free enjoy on-site hands-on film-craft activities before and after screenings at Famous Players Canada Square. Tickets for the Family Programme are now available through the Official website sprockets.ca, by calling 416-968-FILM (toll free at 1-877-968-FILM) or visiting the TIFFG Box Office at the Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor Street West (main floor, north entrance – Bay subway station). Tickets to the school screenings will be made available to the public on April 4, 2008.

“The focus of Sprockets is to offer audiences a cultural experience by providing diverse and quality programming,” said Elizabeth Muskala, Co-Director, Learning.

Allen Braude, Co-Director, Learning added, “By engaging children and youth through film, and promoting interaction with filmmakers and participation in Jump Cuts, juries and on-site activities, Sprockets embodies the future of Learning initiatives at Bell Lightbox.”

This year’s line-up features 68 films representing 26 countries and 15 languages. Audiences can explore the world through high quality of youth-oriented films from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cuba, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Israel, Kenya, Latvia, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and USA. The 11th edition of Sprockets also welcomes local and international guests including Helen Hood Scheer, Anna Justice, Mischa Kamp and Darius Weems. Festivalgoers will also have an opportunity to meet the Snow Queen. Tiffany Knight, star of The Snow Queen, a winner of an Alliance for Children and Television Award of Excellence, will be in attendance at the screening on April 12.

Sprockets’ selection of 26 Features is exceptional this year. Films include:

• Karla’s World Charlotte Sachs Bostrup, Denmark
Disappointed by her parents at Christmas and believing she has the worst family ever, Karla decides to run away and enjoy Christmas elsewhere. Over the course of the holiday, she learns to appreciate a family that, while not perfect, still has many loving qualities.

• Standing Alone Gholam-Reza Ramezani, Iran
Twelve-year-old Mohammad has written a story which has won first prize in the inter-school competition. In order to attend the award ceremony, he must overcome obstacles and stand up to authority figures who fail to listen to him or consider his needs.

• The Three Robbers Hayo Freitag, Germany
In order to avoid going to the dreaded orphanage run by a frightening “auntie”, clever and charming Tiffany devises a plan to stay with three robbers in their forest hideout. This animated fairytale will delight audiences of all ages with its witty script and bold use of colour.

• SOS – Summer of Suspense Arne Lindtner Næss, Norway
In this thrilling adventure on land and sea, Noora must hide a seal club abandoned by its mother and outsmart three drug smugglers who are determined to find a mysterious package that has gone missing.

• Leaps & Bounds Petter Næss, Sweden
Azad (Ali Abdulsalam), a young Kurdish refugee living in Sweden, must overcome new obstacles in order to reunite with his parents. This award-winning drama features an inspiring performance by Abdulsalam as a young person facing the challenges of being a refugee.

Once again, Sprockets presents the best of local and international short films, which are divided into three distinct programmes. Canadian Shorts celebrates the diverse home-grown talent across the nation, from animation to live action, and from comedy to drama. Loot Bag, a collection of outstanding animated films, offers thoughtful storytelling and plenty of laughs, and includes Giraffe in the Rain (Belgium/France, 2007), directed by Pacale Hecquet. A witty parable about the refugee experience, Giraffe in the Rain tells the a tale of a giraffe who, after being forced to leave her homeland, tries to build a new life in a less-than welcoming northern city inhabited exclusively by dogs. My Greatest Day Ever (Australia, 2007), directed by Mark Bellamy, follows Scotty as he discovers that giving his best effort when playing soccer may actually be more effective than always relying on luck. This film screens in Soccer Shorts, a programme about young soccer fans which explores diverse themes including the importance of trying your best, the immigrant experience and the unfair consequences of political dispute. Also screening in this programme is Every Day After 4 (Greece, 2007), directed by Angeli Andrikopoulou and Argyris Tsepelikas, the story of a young girl’s reluctance to play soccer because of her disability.

Sprockets’ Reel Rascals showcases films for Sprockets’ youngest audience members, children aged three to six. Amusing and charming Lotte from Gadgetville (Estonia/Latvia, 2006) directed by Janno Põldma and Heiki Ernits, follows inhabitants of Gadgetville as they learn judo and invent labour-saving devices. In The Crane and the Giraffe (Argentina, 2006), directed by Vladmir Bellini, it’s love at first sight when a shipyard crane glimpses a giraffe that is arriving by boat. Also presented in this programme are three episodes from much-loved 3D animation MuMuHug (Taiwan, 2006), directed by Vick Wang.

Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children offers children and youth the opportunity to learn about film and cultural perspectives from around the world. Through the power of film, Sprockets is helping to transform the way children and youth see the world. The 11th annual Sprockets runs from April 12-18, 2008, and includes a Family Programme (April 12-13) for ages three and up, on-site activities and a week-long School Programme (April 14-18) for students in Grades 1 through 12. Family Programme tickets are $6.60 per child and $10.61 per adult, Reel Rascals, The Snow Queen screening and Jump Cuts Young Filmmakers Showcase tickets are $6.60 per person (does not include GST, building fund fee or service charges). For more information visit sprockets.ca… [Full Story]

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Cinematheque Ontario’s Spring Season

Friday, March 7th, 2008

Cinematheque Ontario - Cinematheque Ontario’s Spring Season treats audiences to a line-up featuring impressive retrospectives, exclusive limited runs and special events. Beginning March 27, the season offers a retrospective on Josef von Sternberg, Richard Leacock in person presenting Norman Mailer’s underground classic Maidstone, and a compelling collection of films from Romania. Other highlights include a series commemorating Glenn Gould’s 75th birthday, Exclusive Limited Runs of Philippe Garrel’s J’Entends plus la guitare and Peng Tao’s Little Moth; and the Toronto premiere of The Valerie Project.

Director Spotlight
March 27 to May 8 offers audiences the opportunity to see the dazzling films of Josef von Sternberg, one of the great overshadowed filmmakers of American cinema. Josef von Sternberg’s Underworld is a 19-title retrospective that includes von Sternberg’s first feature The Salvation Hunters (1925), his seven masterpieces starring long-time collaborator Marlene Dietrich – The Blue Angel (1929), Morocco (1930), Blonde Venus (1932), The Devil Is a Woman (1935), Dishonored (1931), Shanghai Express (1932) and The Scarlet Empress (1934) – and a rare screening of his little-known short The Town (1943). His silent works The Salvation Hunters, Underworld (1927), The Last Command (1928) and The Docks of New York (1928) will be presented with live piano accompaniment by William O’Meara.

Special Programmes and Screenings
This year, the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Film Festival will honour the acclaimed documentarian Richard Leacock with the Hot Docs Career Achievement Award. On April 24, we are honoured to welcome Leacock to Cinematheque Ontario where he will introduce a screening of Norman Mailer’s rarely shown and difficult-to-see cult classic Maidstone (1970).

For the past two years, the New Romanian Cinema has been the buzz of the international film scene. The Latest Wave: New Romanian Cinema is a survey of this exciting development. This programme features the Toronto premieres of The Paper Will Be Blue (Radu Muntean, 2006), the hilarious and moving satire 12:08 East of Bucharest (Corneliu Porumboiu, 2006), the terrific documentary The Great Communist Bank Robbery (Alexandru Solomon, 2004), the not-to-be-missed masterpiece The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (Cristi Puiu, 2005), and the extraordinary The Oak (Lucian Pintilie, 1992). This series runs from April 11 to May 2.

Few performers of classical music enjoyed the kind of far-reaching prominence Glenn Gould did in his lifetime and few musicians have had the posthumous following he has. From April 18 to 30, Cinematheque Ontario is pleased to present The Idea of Gould, as part of an initiative by The Glenn Gould Foundation commemorating the 75th anniversary of Gould’s birth. This series features Gould’s favourite film Woman in the Dunes (Hiroshi Teshigahara, 1964), and Cities: Glenn Gould’s Toronto (John McGreevy, 1979) followed by Glenn Gould: On the Record and Glenn Gould: Off the Record (Roman Kroitor & Wolf Koenig, 1960) and How Mozart Became a Bad Composer (Kirk Browning, 1968) screening as part of The Free Screen. How Mozart Became a Bad Composer appears courtesy of Thirteen/WNET New York and The Glenn Gould Estate. On April 18, as part of Cinematheque Ontario’s Lecture Series, Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post music critic and long-time Gould associate Tim Page gives a talk followed by a screening of The Well-Tempered Listener (1970), a CBC/NET programme conceived and developed by Gould.

On April 9, Cinematheque Ontario invites Toronto moviegoers to enjoy a cinematic and musical treat. The Valerie Project will make its Toronto premiere in a special off-site presentation of Jaromil Jireš’s surrealist fantasy film Valerie and Her Week of Wonders (1970). The film’s lusciously chimerical new soundtrack will be performed live by 10 musicians during the projection of the 35mm archival print. The print is being imported from the Czech Republic especially for this one-night only event at The Royal cinema. This event is a co-presentation with The Free Screen, Images Festival and Wavelength Music Arts Projects.

Exclusive Limited Runs
Cinematheque Ontario presents four Exclusive Limited Runs in its Spring Season: Peng Tao’s second feature Little Moth (2007) will have its Toronto premiere on March 28; a new 35mm print of Charlie Chaplin’s cult classic Monsieur Verdoux (1947) will screen on April 4 and 6; Matt Gallagher’s charming and funny The Rise and Fall of the Grumpy Burger (2008) will play on May 8 and 9; and Philippe Garrel’s J’Entends plus la guitare (1991), starring Benoît Régent and Johanna ter Steege, screens in a newly restored 35mm print on May 9 and 10. Andy Warhol’s The Velvet Underground and Nico: A Symphony of Sound (1966), a sell-out during the fall 2006 Andy Warhol retrospective, will screen on May 10 as a companion piece to J’Entends plus la guitare.

Ongoing series
The Free Screen presents free screenings of work by artists engaged in fields ranging from avant-garde film and animation to hybrid documentaries, essay films and video art. On April 2, Cinematheque Ontario pays tribute to one of the most beloved members of the Canadian film community, Jim Murphy, who passed away last spring at age 59. Jim was a founding member of the Toronto Filmmakers Co-op and a film distribution and marketing expert who played a central role in the acquisition, distribution and marketing of countless Canadian films. This tribute will be followed by a screening of David Weaver’s Century Hotel (2001) starring Colm Feore, Mia Kirshner and Lindy Booth.

The CFMDC marked their 40th anniversary last year by commissioning seven artists to make works inspired by films that hold notable significance to them as image-makers. On April 16, CFMDC’s ReGeneration pairs up these new films with their influential companion pieces. Many of the artists will be in attendance.

The popular Classic Sundays: Treasures from the Bologna Film Festival screens favourites from the Hollywood, British and European cinema. This season, five films will screen from March 30 to April 27, featuring a restored 35mm print of Humphrey Jennings’s Fires Were Started (1943)and Julien Duvivier’s Deadlier Than the Male (1956)… [Full Story]

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Sire Records to Release "Body of War: Songs that Inspired an Iraq … - Market Wire (press release)

Wednesday, February 6th, 2008

LiveDaily.com

Market Wire (press release) - ”Body of War: Songs that Inspired an Iraq War Veteran,” a double-CD compilation of songs curated by Iraq war veteran Tomas Young, will be released by Sire Records on March 18, 2008 — two days before the fifth anniversary of the United States invasion of Iraq. Young, a 26-year-old veteran, was shot and paralyzed from the chest down after serving in Iraq for less than a week. His heart-wrenching and inspiring story is told in the critically acclaimed feature documentary “Body of War,” produced and directed by Phil Donahue and Ellen Spiro (www.bodyofwar.com). Young enlisted in the U.S. Army just two days after 9/11 with the intention of fighting those responsible for the attack on our country. He has transformed his personal suffering into political activism. His powerful story and authentic voice serve to question the war in Iraq that cost him his mobility, and convey the moving journey of a young veteran’s survival and adaptation to his new life as paraplegic… [Full Story] Related Articles • Vedder, Young Grace 'Body Of War' Soundtrack - Billboard • Neil Young, Eddie Vedder Contribute To Body Of War Compilation - 411mania.com [View all 8 related]

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TORONTO '07 | Fest Set With 349 Film Slate; Cowan Unveils Serious … - indieWIRE

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007

indieWIRE - 349 films from 55 countries are set for the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival, organizers are revealing this morning in Canada. “There is a lot of soul-searching and a lot of extremely gifted, overwhelmingly passionate cinema in the festival this year, TIFF co-director Noah Cowan told indieWIRE in a conversation yesterday. “These are filmmakers who are out to transform the way we see the world, they are out to make a difference.” As previously announced, the event will kick-off with Canadian Jeremy Podeswa’s “Fugitive Pieces” on September 6th and close with Paolo Barzman’s “Emotional Arithmetic” on September 15th. The massive Toronto fest boasts some 340,000 annual admissions and Cowan is preparing attendees for a challenging, serious roster of some provocative and even quite political films. “The tenor of the work coming particularly from the U.S. is fiercely political, aesthetically challenging, and will probably go down as a real beginning of a real golden age for American cinema in a time of war and strife,” Cowan envisioned. “There are so many examples, its a little overwhelming,” he added, specifically noting films such as Alan Ball’s “Nothing is Private,” Stuart Townsend’s “Battle in Seattle,” and even Tom McCarthy’s more subtle, “The Visitor.” The entire 349 film lineup for the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival, is available in a complete 17 page PDF document. Joining the Toronto lineup today are new films from Sidney Lumet, Jason Reitman, and even new, unseen documentaries from Michael Moore, Jonathan Demme and Julian Schnabel. Added to the fests Gala Presentations section are Renny Harlin’s “Cleaner,” Richard Attenborough’s “Closing The Ring,” Alain Corneau’s “Le Deuxieme Souffle,” Robin Swicord’s “The Jane Austen Book Club,” Kenneth Branagh’s “Sleuth,” and Paul Schrader’s “The Walker.” While in the Masters section, the event has added Wayne Wang’s “A Thousand Years of Good Prayers” and “The Princess of Nebraska.”… [Full Story]

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Complete Film List Rescheduled - tiff07.ca

Sunday, August 19th, 2007

tiff07.ca - In light of the tragic passing of our esteemed colleague and dear friend, Richard Bradshaw this week, and his scheduled funeral for next Tuesday, August 21, 2007, the Toronto International Film Festival Group has decided to cancel its launch press conference scheduled for Tuesday, August 21 at 11:00am. Press announcements scheduled for that day will now go live on the website on Wednesday, August 22. Our thoughts and condolences go out to Mr. Bradshaw’s family and friends and our colleagues at the Canadian Opera Company. The complete film list by title, Gala schedule, and Visa Screening Room Schedule will now go live on Wednesday, August 22, after 12:00pm… [Full Story]

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Toronto Adds Two Galas Among 73 Titles… - iW NEWS

Wednesday, August 15th, 2007

iW NEWS - The Toronto International Film Festival has added 73 more titles to its line up, with two galas as well as special presentations, in addition to films added to the fest’s Masters, Contemporary World Cinema, Visions and Vanguard sections. Alexi Tan’s Taiwan/China/Hong Kong production “Blood Brothers,” the story of three siblings who are lured to the crime world in 1930s Shanghai will screen as a gala as well as Indian director Rituparno Ghosh’s “The Last Lear.” The film, starring Indian superstar Amitabh Bachchan, follows veteran theater actor Harish Mishra (Bachchan) who becomes gravely ill. The star’s director, Siddharth (Arjun Rampal), however, keeps a cold distance, refusing to visit him, but Mishra decides to leave the comfort of his home and joins the cast and crew on location, taking up the position of “outsider” and proclaiming the superiority of Shakespeare. Among TIFF’s Special Presentations are Francois Ozon’s latest “Angel,” “Chacun son Cinema,” by various directors who made shorts in honor of the 60th Festival de Cannes this past May as well as Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud’s Cannes jury winner “Persepolis.” Joining Contemporary World Cinema are Nick Broomfield’s “Battle for Haditha,” Sarah Gavron’s “Brick Lane,” and Lone Scherfig’s “Just Like Home.” Cannes Palme d’Or winner “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days” by Cristian Mungiu will join Visions, while “Boy A” by John Crowley and “White Lies, Black Sheep” by James Spooner will screen in the Vanguard section. “Our commitment to promoting international voices has never been stronger,” said Noah Cowan, TIFF co-director in a statement. “As seen by this year’s titles from around the world, the global industry is thriving and we are proud to have these filmmakers present their work at TIFF, often as world premieres. Not only does this international presence speak to the diversity of the city of Toronto, but in seeing ourselves reflected in films from other countries, we see how the art of filmmaking unites us all.”… [Full Story]

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