MEDIA ~TIFF ’11
TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2011 line-up
Canadian, International Press
BURNING MAN
Directed by Jonathan Teplitzky
(Australia, 109 mins, World Premiere, Special Presentations)
Burning Man is a reckless, haunting, funny and ultimately life-affirming love story, all of which is reflected in the film’s short opening scenes: a lovely empty garden, a car crash, a woman crying, a world in flames. Intriguing and slightly bewildering, the potency and beauty of this initial sequence raises questions yet still portends answers.
When we meet Tom (Matthew Goode), it’s clear that he’s a good man, but behaving badly. He’s the principal chef at a casually chic restaurant overlooking Bondi Beach (where he doesn’t respond well to criticism from the clientele); a devoted, if mercurial, father to eight-year-old Oscar (Jack Heanly); and a man more attractive to women (lots of them) than he is to himself. Whatever is going on with Tom, his actions seem to be tolerated by those around him. But everything comes to a head when he prepares a birthday party for his son at a beachside park. His anger erupts and he finds himself in police custody — not much of a birthday for Oscar. As Tom descends into darkness, gem-like fragments of the story behind his current state of mind start to emerge. With the passion of his past and the emotional turbulence of his present beginning to merge, he recognizes that the women in his life, and Oscar, are all playing a part in pulling him back together.
Although Burning Man is a work of fiction, it is based on Teplitzky’s own life experience, and this undoubtedly explains much of the film’s depth and emotional punch. Stunningly photographed by Garry Phillips, Burning Man contains a host of on-point performances, none more moving than those by Goode (A Single Man) and Heanly. Goode suffuses every frame with an openness characteristic of the finest screen actors, and Heanly matches him with an emotional maturity unusual in so young a performer. Bojana Novakovic is also stellar as the woman who ultimately means the most to Tom. Brave and uncompromising, Burning Man promises a rewarding journey into love and loss, and back to love again.
SCREENING INFO:
Friday, September 9, 5:00PM TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX 6, Press screening *new*
Saturday September 10, 6:15PM TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX 1, PREMIERE
Sunday September 11, 11:15AM SCOTIABANK THEATRE 7, Press & Industry 1
Monday September 12, 8:30PM SCOTIABANK THEATRE 2
Tuesday September 13, 6:00PM SCOTIABANK THEATRE 11, Press & Industry 2
Saturday September 17, 3:00PM SCOTIABANK THEATRE 2
TALENT ATTENDING:
Jonathan Teplitzy (Director) – Sunday, Sept.11 -Monday, Sept.12
Matthew Goode (Actor) – Sunday, Sept.11
Bojana Novakovic (Actor) -Sunday, Sept.9 – Sunday, Sept.11
MEDIA DOWNLOADS:
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Canadian, US, International Press
SONS OF NORWAY (Sønner av Norge)
Directed by Jens Lien
(Norway, 88 mins, International Premiere, Contemporary World Cinema)
It’s 1978 and 14-year-old Nikolas is living an idyllic existence with his young brother and his archetypal, politicized hippie parents, the energetic Magnus (Sven Nordin) and the angelic Lone (Sonja Richter). When Lone is killed in a car accident, Magnus falls into a deep depression. Nikolas has nowhere to turn until his best friend proudly slaps his latest purchase on the turntable: The Sex Pistols’ Never Mind the Bollocks…. (The film was executive produced by former Pistols leader John Lydon, who plays a pivotal role in the movie.) Soon enough, Nikolas finds a new use for safety pins and buys a guitar. The real rub – and much of the comedy – comes when his father partially snaps out of his depression. Instead of disciplining Nikolas, Magnus encourages him. It may be hard to rebel, but it’s even tougher when your father is listening to the same records as you. Lively, entertaining and insightful, Jens Lien’s Sons of Norway is one of the funniest and most charming coming-of-age stories to come out of the Nordic region since Fucking Amal.
SCREENING INFO:
Thursday September 8, 1:30PM SCOTIABANK THEATRE 2, Press & Industry 1
Friday September 9, 9:45PM SCOTIABANK THEATRE 3, PREMIERE
Saturday September 10, 12:45PM AMC 3
Tuesday September 13, 1:45PM SCOTIABANK THEATRE 7, Press & Industry 2
Saturday September 17, 7:00PM SCOTIABANK THEATRE 11
TALENT ATTENDING:
Jens Lien (Director) – Friday, Sept.9th -Saturday, Sept.10th
John Lydon (Actor, Executive Producer) -Friday, Sept. 9th – Saturday, Sept.10th
Nikolaj Frobenius (Writer) – Thursday, Sept 8th – Monday, Sept. 12th
MEDIA DOWNLOADS:
HI-RES IMAGES
John Lydon/Johnny Rotten – jpg 128KB
Father & Son bike – jpg 880 KB
Canadian, US, International Press
Telefilm Canada spotlights Canadian talent at 36th Toronto International Film Festival
Talent to Watch spotlights the creative talent of our country’s emerging and established filmmakers. Don’t miss our “In conversation with…” sessions at the Filmmakers’ Lounge, which promise to take an insightful and perhaps even critical look at why Canadian cinema is applauded around the world. Atom Egoyan, one of Canada’s most renowned directors, will attend the first session, The New Face of Canadian Cinema, and will deliver opening remarks. Panelists will be announced shortly.
TALENT TO WATCH DATES:
The New Face of Canadian Cinema
Opening remarks by Atom Egoyan
Panelists:
Simon Davidson, The Odds, Canada First!
Guy Édoin, Wetlands (Marécages), Canada First!
Anne Émond, Nuit #1, Canada First!
Ivan Grbovic, Romeo Eleven (Roméo Onze), Canada First!
Yonah Lewis and Calvin Thomas, Amy George, Canada First!
Nathan Morlando, Edwin Boyd, Special Presentations
Over the last decade, Canadian cinema has increasingly explored the intertwined diversities of 21st-century Canada and the world beyond its borders. From tales of Canadians in settings and situations far from home, to new narratives emerging from our endlessly evolving cultural realities, our stories – both in what they are and how they are told – know no borders. This panel will examine the artistic challenges and opportunities of contemporary Canadian cinema’s rich and rewarding internationalism.
Hosted by Carolle Brabant, Executive Director, Telefilm Canada
Opening remarks by Oscar-nominated director Deepa Mehta (Water, The Republic of Love)
Panelists:
Carl Bessai, Sisters&Brothers – Contemporary World Cinema
Philippe Falardeau, Monsieur Lazhar – Special Presentations
Ivan Grbovic, Romeo Eleven (Roméo Onze) – Canada First!
Ingrid Veninger, i am a good person/i am a bad person – Vanguard
Moderated by Laurence Kardish, Senior Curator, Department of Film, The Museum of Modern Art, New York
Andrew Cividino, We Ate the Children Last – Short Cuts Canada
Chelsea McMullan, Derailments – Short Cuts Canada
Craig Goodwill, Patch Town – Short Cuts Canada
Mark Slutsky, Sorry, Rabbi – Short Cuts Canada
Dusty Mancinelli, Pathways – Short Cuts Canada
Sophie Goyette, La Ronde – Short Cuts Canada
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TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2010 line-up
Canadian, US, International Press
ClutchPR is project managing the opening of TIFF’s new home, TIFF Bell Lightbox.
11:30am – The Sadies
12:00pm - Official ribbon-cutting ceremony, doors open to public for free
12:20pm – Karkwa
12:45pm – Lookalike contest hosted by celebrity impersonator Donnarama
1:00pm – Radio Radio
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Canadian, US and International Press
BLAME
Directed by Michael Henry
(Australia, 89 mins, World Premiere, Discovery)
In a remote area of the Australian outback, a middle-aged piano teacher returns to his isolated and empty house. Without warning or provocation, five masked intruders dressed in black grab him, tie him to a chair and force him to swallow a bottle of sleeping pills. They wait for him to lose consciousness and, leaving him for dead, get into their car and drive away. Having left a fake suicide note and erasing all traces of their presence, it seems like the perfect crime. Of course, it’s not perfect at all – and when the best-laid plans start to go awry, the already tense proceedings get ratcheted up.
Cast with the crème de la crème of young Australian actors, director Michael Henry utilizes this attractive talent pool to great effect. The nuances of the group relationship are deftly portrayed and as the execution of their plan falls apart, tensions mount.
SCREENING INFO:
Sunday September 12, 7:00PM SCOTIABANK THEATRE 1, PREMIERE
Monday September 13, 7:45PM SCOTIABANK THEATRE 3, Press & Industry 1
Wednesday September 15, 12:15PM SCOTIABANK THEATRE 8, Press & Industry 2
Friday, September 17, 2:30PM VARSITY 8
Saturday September 18, 3:30PM VARSITY 7
TALENT ATTENDING:
Michael “Hank” Henry (Writer/ Director) Sept 7-19
Ryan Hodgson (Producer), Melissa Kelly (Producer) Sept 7-16
Michael Robinson (Producer) Sept 8-18
More info:
EPK
user: epkaccess
password: blameepk2010
For more information:
http://www.facebook.com/BlameMovie
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Canada, US and International Press
TEARS OF GAZA
Directed by Vibeke Løkkeberg
(Norway, 82 min, World Premiere, Real to Reel)
Disturbing, powerful and emotionally devastating, Tears of Gaza is less a conventional documentary than a record – presented with minimal gloss – of the 2008 to 2009 bombing of Gaza by the Israeli military. Photographed by several Palestinian cameramen both during and after the offensive, this powerful film by director Vibeke Løkkeberg focuses on the impact of the attacks on the civilian population.
The film shuttles between the actual bombings and the aftermath on the streets and in the hospitals. The footage of the bombs landing is indelible and horrifying, but it is on par with much of the explicit imagery on hand.
SCREENING INFO:
Friday September 10, 9:45AM SCOTIABANK THEATRE 6, Press & Industry 1
Sunday, September 12, 9:45PM SCOTIABANK THEATRE 4, PREMIERE
Tuesday, September 14, 9:30AM VARSITY 7
Wednesday September 15, 7:30PM SCOTIABANK THEATRE 2, Press & Industry 2
Sunday September 19, 12:30PM AMC 3
TALENT ATTENDING:
Vibeke Løkkeberg, Director and writer Sept.10 -15th
Terje Kristiansen, Producer Sept.10 -15th
Press Kit Press_Kit-TEARS_OF_GAZA_Sept_2010[1]
TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2009 line-up
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Canadian, US, International Press
TIFF Live at Yonge-Dundas Square
10 days of free programming
From noon until 9pm everynight of the Festival
A street-level hub for the world’s favourite public film festival! Everyone is invited to celebrate this year’s Festival by attending a packed schedule of free outdoor programming. Aside from a zombie walk, swing dance lessons, a comedy showcase, a preview of the National Ballet’s latest production, concerts and a TIFF Kids zone day there are screenings everyday at noon as well as three film premieres.
Film Premieres include:
- AMERICAN MASTERS featuring
JOAN BAEZ: HOW SWEET THE SOUND (Directed by Mary Wharton)
World Premiere
- THE NEIL YOUNG TRUNK SHOW (Directed by Jonathan Demme)
North American Premiere
- COPYRIGHT CRIMINALS (co-producers Benjamin Franzen and Kembrew McLeod)
World Premiere
Spotlights include:
SUCK spotlight features stars from the film.
PRECIOUS featuring poet Sapphire reading from her body of work and hosted by Lee Daniels.
WHIP IT roller derby featuring Drew Barrymore, Ellen Page and stars from the film watching the Toronto Roller Derby League bout it out.
THE TOPP TWINS spotlight hosted by Elvira Kurt.
HIPSTERS spotlight features swing dance lessons followed by a concert by swing band Aelita with the Galaxy All-Star Orchestra
TALENT ATTENDING as part of TIFF live at YDS:
Director Jonathan Demme
Joan Baez
Director George A. Romero
Drew Barrymore
Ellen Page
Eve
James Brown drummer Clyde Stubblefield
Rapper Chuck D
Author and poet Sapphire
Director Lee Daniels
New Zealand comedy duo The Topp Twins
Comedian Elvira Kurt
Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman
DJ Champion
Eclectic Method
and more…
Full schedule here: www.tiff.net/yds
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Canadian Press
COLE
Directed by Carl Bessai
(Canada, 95 mins, World Premiere, Contemporary World Cinema)
Cole Chambers (Richard de Klerk) is an aspiring writer living in the small British Columbia town of Lytton. While the community of 350 may lack the speed of the big city, it nonetheless provides intriguing source material for the stories that fill Cole’s notebook. Hoping to gain experience, he enrolls in a writing course at a university in the city, a three-hour drive each way. In class he meets Serafina (Kandyse McClure), a black woman who lives with her wealthy and controlling parents. Attracted to the possibility of escape that the other offers, Cole and Serafina start an affair few close to them understand.
Cole’s responsibilities at home include helping his sister Maybelline (Sonja Bennett) run the family gas station and store, as well as keeping her husband, Bobby (Chad Willett), from beating her or Rocket (Jack Forrester), her son from another relationship. Forced to work at the station, Cole feels his chances of evading a certain future for one of unknown promise are beginning to fade, and he must take drastic steps to change directions.
SCREENING INFO:
Monday Sept.14th, 12:30PM VARSITY 3, Press & Industry 1
Tuesday Sept.15th, 6:45PM SCOTIABANK THEATRE 3, Public 1
Wednesday Sept.16th, 10:00PM VARSITY 3, Public 2
Thursday Sept.17th, 4:00PM CUMBERLAND 4, Press & Industry 2
Friday Sept.18th, 12:00PM CUMBERLAND 4, Public 3
TALENT ATTENDING:
Director Carl Bessai Sept.10 to 17
Actor Richard de Klerk Sept.13 to 17
Actress Kandyse McClure Sept.15 to 16
Official website:
http://www.colethemovie.com/
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Canadian, US, International Press
PHOBIDILIA
Directed by Yoav & Doron Paz
(Israel, 85 mins, World Premiere, City to City)
After suffering an emotional breakdown in a public place, a young man vows to quit the chaotic city life and never leave his apartment. He quickly discovers that in today’s world all his needs can be easily met: sex via the internet, food by telephone delivery and entertainment by television.
Four years later, his idyllic existence comes under attack when Daniela, a free spirited girl comes into his life while Grumps, the building’s real estate agent , informs him that the apartment is about to be sold.
Our hero refuses to leave his kingdom and decides to fight till the bitter end.
SCREENING INFO:
Monday, Sept.14th, 2:45PM, VARSITY 7, Press & Industry 1
Monday, Sept.14th, 6PM, VARSITY 2, Public 1
Wednesday, Sept.16th, 2:30PM, VARISTY 2, Public 2
TALENT ATTENDING:
Director Yoav Paz Sept.11 to 18
Director Doron Paz Sept.11 to 18
Download PHOBIDILIA Press Kit here
Official website:
www.phobidilia.com