Wednesday, July 18, 2007

YOUNG PEOPLE F*CKING, and other new Canadian films to look forward to at TIFF

Yep, TIFF announced its Canadian line-up today, and it's mostly more of the same. The festival opens with Jeremy Podeswa's FUGITIVE PIECES and has the expected Gala presentations of Denys Arcand's L’ÂGE DES TÉNÈBRES (DAYS OF DARKNESS) and David Cronenberg's EASTERN PROMISES. New films by Bruce Sweeney, master filmmaker Carl Bessai, Clement Virgo and Guy Maddin. Ah hell, read the press release.


FESTIVAL CELEBRATES THE FINEST IN CANADIAN FILMMAKING
Toronto – Canadian programming at the 32nd Toronto International Film Festival highlights the best of our national cinema, bringing the country's finest films and filmmakers to the attention of local, national and international audiences. This year, Canada First! opens with Martin Gero's funny, sexy comedy YOUNG PEOPLE F*CKING, and continues its celebration of emerging talent with eight feature films. Ticket Passes and Packages now on sale. For more information, please visit tiff07.ca or call 416-968-FILM or 1-877-968-FILM.

The Festival announces Denys Arcand's L’ÂGE DES TÉNÈBRES (DAYS OF DARKNESS) starring Marc Labrèche, and David Cronenberg's EASTERN PROMISES starring Viggo Mortensen and Naomi Watts. These titles join the previously announced Opening Night film, FUGITIVE PIECES by Jeremy Podeswa, as Canadian Gala Presentations to date.

Special Presentations include HERE IS WHAT IS from Adam Vollick, Daniel Lanois, Adam Samuels; Guy Maddin's MY WINNIPEG; Clement Virgo's POOR BOY'S GAME, winner of the Telefilm Canada Pitch This! competition in 2001; SILK by François Girard, and Roger Spottiswoode's SHAKE HANDS WITH THE DEVIL [Spottiswoode is born in Canada, but raised in Britain, thus the James Bond film in his credits.]

Canada First! titles include Martin Gero's YOUNG PEOPLE F*CKING; AMAL by 2005 Telefilm Canada Pitch This! winner Richie Mehta; Rafaël Ouellet's LE CÈDRE PENCHÉ; Stéphane Lafleur's CONTINENTAL, UN FILM SANS FUSIL; Chaz Thorne's JUST BURIED; Ernie Barbarash's THEY WAIT; Ed Gass-Donnelly's THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY, and Robert Cuffley's WALK ALL OVER ME.

Contemporary World Cinema includes Leonard Farlinger's ALL HAT, Bruce Sweeney's AMERICAN VENUS, Laurie Lynd's BREAKFAST WITH SCOT, Bernard Émond's CONTRE TOUTE ESPÉRANCE, Carl Bessai's NORMAL, Denis Côté's NOS VIES PRIVÉES, Kari Skogland's THE STONE ANGEL, and Allan Moyle's WEIRDSVILLE.

Real to Reel includes: Peter Raymont's A PROMISE TO THE DEAD: THE EXILE JOURNEY OF ARIEL DORFMAN, Suroosh Alvi and Eddy Moretti's HEAVY METAL IN BAGDHAD, and John Zaritsky's THE WILD HORSE REDEMPTION.