SUMMERWORKS THEATRE FESTIVAL

August 9^th-19^th, 2012

Toronto, ON –The largest juried theatre Festival in Canada announces it’s final selections for 2012. The 22^nd Festival, running from August 9^th to 19^th, features over 40 plays, a return of the Performance Bar, a Live Art Series, practical workshops and a new twist on the Music Series. The National Series features a new play by award-winning playwright, actor and director Daniel MacIvor.

“We were humbled and proud of the quality of the work this year,” says Artistic Producer, Michael Rubenfeld. “We programmed an exciting, challenging season of work that is political, entertaining, provocative and virtuosic.”

New plays by Daniel MacIvor, Anton Piatigorsky, Sean Dixon, Waawaate Fobister, Richard Sanger, Rosa Laborde, Nicholas Billon, Erin Brandenburg, Ron Jenkins, Anthony Black, The Scandelles and more.  Work directed by Richard Greenblatt, Tara Beagan, Brendan Healey, Sarah Stanley, Edward Roy, Natasha Mytnowych, Ron Jenkins, Alistair Newton and others.

This year’s National Series welcomes four very different, exciting shows, including a brand new Daniel MacIvor piece, I, Animal.  This will be the first time SummerWorks has presented a new full-length by the award winning playwright and actor.

SummerWorks welcomes back to the Festival Halifax’s 2b Theatre, with their production of When It Rains, by Anthony Black (Invisible Atom).  When It Rains was nominated for 8 Merritt Awards (Halifax Doras) and won one for performance.  From Montreal, the Festival features two provocative solo shows: My Pregnant Brother, by Johanna Nutter and One/Un, by Mani Soleymanlou.  Each of these works garnered considerable attention in previous productions, and SummerWorks is pleased to offer their Toronto premiere’s at this year’s Festival.

THE 2012 SUMMERWORKS FULL LINE-UP

Twitter: @SummerWorks

www.summerworks.ca

About SummerWorks Theatre Festival:

As the largest juried theatre festival in Canada featuring predominantly New Canadian plays, SummerWorks programs a festival that uniquely reflects Toronto and Canada’s cultural zeitgeist. Since 1991, SummerWorks has continued to explore and respond to the needs and wants of audiences and the theatre community. The festival has grown to become of the country’s preeminent multi-disciplinary hubs featuring a Music Series, a mentorship program (SummerWorks Leadership Intensive Program –S.L.I.P.); and the National Series, showcasing works from across Canada. The festival adds new initiatives yearly, including performance-based programs such as the Performance Bar. The 2012 SummerWorks Festival runs August 9th to 19th in venues across Toronto.

Toronto, ON — Across the country, arts patrons, organizations and artists are banding together to support the SummerWorks Theatre Festival. Just over a week ago, the festival was given word that their federal funding would no longer be renewed. In order to fill the gap in their budget, Festival Artistic Producer Michael Rubenfeld sent a note asking for donations. Over 400 people have donated to a total of $34,272. The Festival is close to reaching its goal of $48,000 and hopes to continue fundraising efforts year round.

Rubenfeld says, “The results of our fundraising drive have been astounding. We are overwhelmed by the support we’ve received and think it’s a testament to how valuable SummerWorks and the arts really are to Canadians.” He adds, “We are indebted to our patrons for coming to our aid this year, but recognize that we are still in need of stable financial partnerships for subsequent years.”

In addition to showcasing some of the best theatre Ontario has to offer, SummerWorks puts on an annual National Series, which presents works from across Canada. The loss of Heritage Canada’s funding put the National Series at risk. The Festival is thrilled to announce that due to their fundraising efforts and the support of Canadians across the country the National Series will go on this year as planned.

Several industry professionals, Canadian artists, writers, producers and media personalities have come out in support of the Festival.

Mark Ellis, co-creator of the television series Flashpoint says, “SummerWorks is a perfect festival.  It offers its audience affordable, quality entertainment, showcasing emerging artists and new works.  Without grassroots arts funding, we would have no Stratford, no Soulpepper, no symphonies.  Without SummerWorks, we would have no Flashpoint.  Stephanie Morgenstern and I met at SummerWorks in 1996 and went on to create a television show that puts millions of dollars into the Canadian economy and reaches audiences around the world. “

Hannah Moscovitch, playwright-in-residence at Tarragon Theatre and award-winning author of East of Berlin comments that, “SummerWorks offers the best of new Canadian performance before it hits the big-time. The festival acts as a springboard for Canadian talent.  It’s because of SummerWorks that my plays have toured nationally and internationally, sold out theatres, and won awards.  Like many other Canadian writers, premiering work at the festival launched my career.”

Comments from other anonymous donors include:

“I am more than happy to invest in our community’s cultural and economic growth through SummerWorks, and I wish you all the best in furthering what has become one of Toronto’s greatest assets.”

“SummerWorks is an essential part of our community and our city. Let’s knock this one out of the park.”

“From an aspiring young Canadian actor, please keep doing what you’re doing.”

“SummerWorks is one of the most valuable theatre Festivals in this country. You are wonderful, courageous and an important asset to our theatrical culture.”

“The arts matter!”

For information on donating please visit http://www.summerworks.ca/2011/donate.php/.

Twitter: @SummerWorks

www.summerworks.ca

High res photos: http://www.summerworks.ca/2011/media-photo-gallery.php

Media accreditation for 2011 Festival: http://www.summerworks.ca/2011/media-accreditation.php

About SummerWorks Theatre Festival:

As the largest juried festival in Canada featuring predominantly New Canadian plays, SummerWorks programs a festival that uniquely reflects Toronto and Canada’s cultural zeitgeist. Since 1991, SummerWorks has continued to explore and respond to the needs and wants of audiences and the theatre community. The festival has grown to become of the country’s preeminent multi-disciplinary hubs featuring a Music Series, a mentorship program (SummerWorks Leadership Intensive Program –S.L.I.P.); and the National Series, showcasing works from across Canada. The festival adds new initiatives yearly, including performance based programs such as this years Art Bar. The 2011 SummerWorks festival runs August 4th to 14th in venues across Toronto.

Media inquiries: Daniela Syrovy email hidden; JavaScript is required

Canada’s largest juried theatre festival boasts diverse concert line-up including Bruce Peninsula, Bonjay, and Polaris Prize Long-Listers Hooded Fang and Miracle Fortress

August 4-14, 2011

Over the past 20 years, Toronto’s annual SummerWorks Theatre Festival has brought together and showcased some of Canada’s best talent in theatre, dance, and music. This 21^st edition kicks off August 4^th with over 40 plays, workshops, free programming, and a bouquet of concerts.

Now in its fourth year, the SummerWorks Music Series has something for everyone – an eclectic mix of Toronto’s top troubadours plus national samplings of the best in juicy pop, twangy folk rock, soul-stirring gospel, dark rock and roll, and down n’ dirty dance.

The Series, sponsored by CBC Radio3, Exclaim! and TD Canada Trust Music hosts ten nights of tunes that will be sure to get feet stomping and hands in the air. This year’s line up features Toronto indie-pop darlings Hooded Fang, a high-energy homecoming from a European tour for Bonjay, the dreamy sounds of Montreal’s Miracle Fortress, and the celebratory return of urban gospel greats Bruce Peninsula. It also includes Ruby Coast, Lioness, Steven McKay, Great Bloomers, Green Go, Jennifer Castle, Powers, and a one-time only performance by Toronto super group ‘House League’, featuring members of The Magic, Forest City Lovers, Matters and Evening Hymns.

“The Series touches on so many different styles of music; there’s really something for everyone,“ says Lauren Schreiber, Music Series Programmer. “The festival makes an effort to champion local talent and showcases the diversity in the musical landscape of Canada.”

All concerts will be held at The Lower Ossington Theatre (LOT), an arts space located at 100A Ossington Avenue. The series is also beginning and ending with outdoor parties from noon to 1:00 AM on August 4^th and 14^th in the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art’s courtyard. The opening and closing parties will feature Choir! Choir! Choir!, Sister, Louise Burns, and more acts to be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets for all shows are $10 and will be available as of July 1^st at Soundscapes and Rotate This, and through the Theatre Centre Box Office. Tickets: artsboxoffice.ca or 416-504-7529. Full schedule below.

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More info:

Twitter: @SummerWorks

www.summerworks.ca

Media Accreditation for the festival: http://www.summerworks.ca/2011/media-accreditation.php

FULL SCHEDULE:

Thursday August 4: OPENING

Friday August 5

Steven McKay – 10:30 PM

Hooded Fang  – 11:30 PM

Saturday August 6

Lioness – 10:30 PM

Bonjay  – 11:30 PM

Sunday August 7 – Tuesday August 9:

Musical Works in Concert

Wednesday August 10

House League – 10:30 PM

Great Bloomers – 11:30 PM

Thursday August 11

Jennifer Castle – 10:30 PM

Bruce Peninsula – 11:30 PM

Friday August 12

Ruby Coast – 10:30 PM

Miracle Fortress – 11:30 PM

Saturday August 13

Powers – 10:30 PM

Green Go – 11:30 PM

Sunday August 14: CLOSING

Toronto, ON —Canada’s largest juried theatre festival returns this August to bring us the most provocative and powerful theatre in the country. The 21^st edition, running from August 4^th to 14^th,  features over 40 plays, the Music Series, SummerWalks, Performance Bar, workshops, and a host of free programming.

“We were overwhelmed by the quality of the submissions for this year’s Festival”, says Artistic Producer, Michael Rubenfeld, “With nearly 200 submissions, this was easily our most competitive year to date.”

Theatrical highlights include:

The team that brought us The Russian Play re-connects this year with Little One, by Hannah Moscovitch, directed by Natasha Mytnowych and starring Michelle Monteith. Volcano Theatre’s presentation of Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour’s, White Rabbit, Red Rabbit.

New plays by Richard Sanger, Nicolas Billon, Matthew Mackenzie, Christopher Stanton and Clifford Cardinal. New work directed by Judith Thompson, Adam Pettle, Kate Lushington, Jovanni Sy, Michael Wheeler, and Layne Coleman.

The festival features exciting new creations by our exceptional theatre talents including: Combat by Claire Calnan and Allison Cummings (tinybird); Flight, by Steven McCarthy, Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman, and Monica Dottor (Company Blonde); and Barbershop, by Theatre de Soleil’s Jeremy James (Paris) and Phillip Mckee.

SummerWorks will see the Toronto premier of Euridyce, by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Kristina Nicoll, and Mr. Marmalade, by Noah Haidle, and starring David Storch.

Notable production companies, Alameda Theatre Comany, Praxis, Birdtown and Swanville, Workman Arts and the red light district bring the festival their unique offerings.

SummerWorks will also present two remounts of the world class productions of Susanna Hood’s, Shudder, directed by Ruth Madoc-Jones and Small Wooden Shoe’s, Perhaps in a Hundred Years, by Jacob Zimmer, Ame Henderson and Chad Dembski.

THE 2011 SUMMERWORKS FULL LINE-UP

Details on The National Series, Music Series, SummerWalks and Performance Bar will be announced at a later date.

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www.summerworks.ca

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Toronto, ON – The SummerWorks Theatre Festival is pleased to welcome Joanna Barrotta as their inaugural General Manager.

Joanna, a ten-year theatre professional, has been stage managing both opera and theatre for several companies across the country.  An active theatre advocate, Joanna served as a Dora juror in the 2009/10 season in the independent category, and frequently sits on panels to teach young stage managers how to enter the business.  She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from York University in Theatre Production.  Joanna is thrilled to begin this exciting new chapter of her career with the SummerWorks Theatre Festival.

“The first play I saw at SummerWorks was Essay by Hannah Moscovitch, directed by Michael Rubenfeld,” says Barrotta.  “It was an auspicious introduction to the Festival, and to Michael, who would become the Artistic Producer four years later.  I am honoured to have the opportunity to contribute to the Festival that has been instrumental in providing a platform for so many respected artists.”

“With this new position, we will be able to better support the important work of over one-thousand annual SummerWorks artists” says Artistic Producer, Michael Rubenfeld.  “Thank-you to our patrons and funders for their continued support, whom, without, none of this would be possible”.

The SummerWorks Theatre Festival is the largest juried festival in Canada, featuring plays and artists from across Canada.  Since its inception twenty years ago, SummerWorks has been dedicated to offering artists an avenue to display their work.  Under the leadership of Michael Rubenfeld, the Festival’s Artistic Producer, SummerWorks has expanded to include a Music Series, a Performance Bar, Musical Works in Concert, and the S.L.I.P. (SummerWorks Leadership Intensive Program), and has received enthusiastic national acclaim.

SummerWorks Theatre Festival takes place from August 4-14^th,, 2011. Applications for the Local Series and Musical Works in Concert are available online at www.summerworks.ca, and due February 1^st.  Please visit the website for more information about the Festival.

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Award-Winning “Eskimos” World Broadcast Premiere
APTN (Reel Insights) – October 13th, 2010 – 9:00 PM

“I don’t regret the experience, but I have never recovered from it either.”

- Zebedee Nungak

TORONTO, October 4^th, 2010  – White Pine Pictures is proud to announce the feature documentary The Experimental Eskimos, will have its world broadcast premiere on October 13^th, 2010 at 9 PM ET/MT on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) across Canada.

The Experimental Eskimos won the Directors Guild of Canada Allan King Award for Excellence in Documentary, on September 25^th. The film premiered at the Hot Docs International Documentary Festival in 2009 and has since toured festivals across the globe, winning additional awards at both the Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival (Best Feature Documentary) and at the Yorkton Film Festival (NFB Kathleen Shannon Award).

The film documents an extraordinary project of social engineering. The Experimental Eskimos follows Peter Ittinuar, Zebedee Nungak and Eric Tagoona, who as 12-year-old boys, were shipped South in the early 1960s from their homes in the Canadian Arctic to attend white public schools in Ottawa. The consequences for the boys, their identity, and culture, were brushed aside. All three went on to become political activists for their people.

Featuring a wealth of rare archival footage, family photos and government documents, the 70-minute documentary is the untold story of how an experiment in assimilation not only changed the boys, but changed a nation.

“APTN was an integral part of making this film, with their assistance in funding as well as their continual support of the team’s vision for the film. It is a deeply moving tale that will reach hearts and minds,” said director Barry Greenwald.

Barry Greenwald’s documentary directing credits include Taxi!, Who Gets In?, Between Two Worlds, The Negotiator and High Risk Offender. His films have screened widely in Canada and internationally and have received numerous honours including the Cannes Palme d’Or and awards at Chicago, Leipzig, Melbourne, New York and Nyon.

The film reunites director Barry Greenwald and producer Peter Raymont, who previously worked together to make White Pine Pictures’ award-winning documentary Between Two Worlds. That film chronicled the life and tragic death of Canada’s “model Eskimo”, Joseph Idlout, leader of the Inuit hunters once pictured on the back of Canada’s two dollar bill.

The Experimental Eskimos is a co-production of White Pine Pictures and co-producer Alethea Arnaquq-Baril of Paunna Productions in Iqaluit, Nunavut. Visit APTN’s website for local broadcast listings: www.aptn.ca

About White Pine Pictures

White Pine Pictures is an independent Canadian film, television, and new media Production Company based in Toronto, Canada. Headed by award-winning filmmaker, Peter Raymont, the company is recognized internationally as a high quality production house with a reputation for compelling visual styles and depth of content. White Pine Pictures prides itself on its longtime relationships with Canadian talent and key industry players worldwide. White Pine has produced over 100 films, including the Emmy award-winning feature documentary Shake Hands With The Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire, the Oscar-shortlisted A Promise to the Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman, and the award-winning documentary Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould currently in theatrical release. White Pine is also producer of the TV drama series The Border, on CBC. Seasons One, Two and Three of The Border are currently airing across Europe and has been licensed to ION Television in the USA.

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Media Inquiries:

Daniela Syrovy
Clutch PR- email hidden; JavaScript is required

Murder, revenge and justice bring Australia’s hottest actors together for this noir thriller

Toronto, ON (September 13, 2010) – Michael Henry’s debut feature thriller BLAME took centre stage at the Toronto International Film Festival, Sunday evening for its International premiere to a sold out audience.

Selected to the Discovery Program at TIFF, the thriller centres on a group of young vigilantes who fall from grace as they seek revenge for a sexual betrayal. When the truth is out, they find themselves on the dark side of justice.

Five friends violently attack a man in his remote country house. Their plan: the perfect murder. It all goes horribly wrong and in the aftermath, questions are raised about the events leading up to that day. As lies and secrets are revealed, the dynamic of the group crumbles and friends begin to question each other’s motives. Ultimately, the quest for justice drives the friends to a place of no return. Energetic and visually stunning, BLAME is a psychological thriller that grabs audiences by the throat and takes them along for an intense ride

BLAME’s star-studded cast includes Oz up-and-comers Sophie Lowe (Beautiful Kate), Kestie Morassi (Wolf Creek), Damian de Montemas (Somersault), Simon Stone (Jindabyne, Balibo), Mark Leonard Winter (Van Diemen’s Land) and Ashley Zukerman (The Pacific).

SCREENING INFO:
Press & Industry
Monday, September 13,7:45PM SCOTIABANK THEATRE 3,
Wednesday September 15, 12:15PM SCOTIABANK THEATRE 8,

Public
Friday, September 17, 2:30PM VARSITY 8
Saturday September 18, 3:30PM VARSITY 7

Filmmaker Michael Henry graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) school of Film and Television in 1998 and has written and directed the internationally successful short film, Without a Sound (BBC British Short Film Festival, Australian Selection: Student Academy Awards 1999). The Shallow End and En Route followed to critical acclaim and wide festival screenings. Michael has taught numerous classes in screenwriting at CAE Melbourne and was the inaugural graduate from the VCA: Masters of Screenwriting program. BLAME is Henry’s first feature film.

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EPK

http://www.blameepk.com/

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For more information:

http://www.blamefilm.com/

For interviews please contact: Daniela Syrovy, ClutchPR,  - email hidden; JavaScript is required

September 12, 2010

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!
TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX OPENS TO THE PUBLIC WITH A FREE BLOCK PARTY FOR AUDIENCES OF ALL AGES

Toronto – Today, Piers Handling, Director & CEO TIFF, Michèle Maheux, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, TIFF and Noah Cowan, Artistic Director, TIFF Bell Lightbox, officially opened TIFF Bell Lightbox to the public. This historic occasion was celebrated with a free public block party featuring family activities, musical guests including K’naan, and free access to the new building and its Essential Cinema exhibition.

“TIFF Bell Lightbox is a remarkable space, a building where audiences can experience the full range of cinema. Wherever your interest lies, from Jean-Luc Godard to Tim Burton; the opportunities to delve into the cinematic experience will be endless,” said Handling. “We are thrilled to celebrate our opening day with the public, and we can’t wait to reveal all that TIFF Bell Lightbox has to offer year-round.”

Handling and Cowan were joined by a number of dignitaries including The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Canada’s Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Greater Toronto Area, The Honourable Michael Chan, Ontario’s Minister of Tourism and Culture, Councillor Adam Vaughan, Councillor Kyle Rae, The Reitman family, Wade Oosterman, President Bell Mobility, Jennifer Tory, Regional President, Greater Toronto Region, RBC, TIFF Founders Bill Marshall, Henk van der Kolk, Joan Cohl, wife of the late Dusty Cohl and Canadian filmmakers Chris Chong Chan Fui and Richie Mehta.

TIFF Bell Lightbox is Canada’s newest year-round cultural destination where visitors will experience a diverse selection of screenings, guest appearances, exhibitions and special events, all for the love of film.

About TIFF Bell Lightbox

TIFF Bell Lightbox, a breathtaking five-storey complex located in downtown Toronto, provides a permanent home for film lovers to celebrate cinema from around the world and propels TIFF forward as an international leader in film culture. Designed by innovative architecture firm KPMB, TIFF Bell Lightbox’s fluid structure encourages exploration, movement and play. The campaign to build TIFF Bell Lightbox is generously supported by lead sponsor Bell, the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the King and John Festival Corporation – consisting of the Reitman family and The Daniels Corporation – RBC as major sponsor and official bank, major sponsor BlackBerry, Visa†, the Copyright Collective of Canada, the Slaight Family Foundation, The Daniels Corporation, NBC Universal Canada, the

Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation, the Harbinger Foundation, Mackenzie Financial, HSBC, CIBC and BMO. The Board of Directors, staff and many generous individuals and corporations have also contributed to the campaign. For more information on the TIFF Bell Lightbox campaign, visit tiff.net/tiffbelllightbox.ca.

About TIFF

TIFF is a not-for-profit cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world through film. Its vision is to lead the world in creative and cultural discovery through the moving image. TIFF generates an annual economic impact of $170 million CAD and currently employs more than 100 full-time staff and 500 part-time and seasonal staff, and counts upon the largesse of over 2,000 volunteers year-round.

TIFF is generously supported by lead sponsor Bell, Major Sponsors RBC and Blackberry, the Government of Ontario, the Government of Canada and the City of Toronto.

Essential Cinema is generously supported by presenting sponsor RBC Visa Infinite Avion, presenting partner the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund. With Special Thanks to the official media sponsor The Globe and Mail and the Hal Jackman Foundation for supporting Essential Cinema.

Future Projections is supported by the Ontario Arts Council.

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Images available on TIFF’s ftp site:

ftp://pressf:pressf12@204.101.25.168

username: pressf

password: pressf12

For unedited sound bites and B-roll:

http://tiffbelllightbox-epk.mijo.com

company: TIFF

username: Press

password: TIFF2010

Toronto – Somali-Canadian global music sensation K’naan will perform during the free block party that will celebrate the opening of TIFF Bell Lightbox this Sunday, September 12, 2010. He joins the previously announced roster of concert line-up that includes some of the biggest names in indie rock and pop. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., TIFF offers an exciting array of programming for all ages in the heart of the Entertainment District, right on King Street (between John and Peter streets). In addition there will be fun family activities, delicious food from local King Street restaurants, free cupcakes supplied by Madeleines, Cherry Pie and Ice Cream, and a movie star look-alike contest.

Following the official ribbon cutting on September 12, TIFF will offer free admission to the building, welcoming visitors to enjoy the spectacular design of Canada’s newest cultural destination and experience a diverse selection of screenings, film-based artworks from major international artists and filmmakers, and the Essential Cinema exhibition, which features iconic objects and photographs from the history of cinema.

TIFF Bell Lightbox Block Party

Offering fun, food and entertainment, the Block Party will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. along King Street (between John and Peter streets). This free signature event is hosted by Matt Baram and Naomi Snieckus from The National Theatre of the World, a fresh, progressive theatre company known for creating captivating live theatre through the art of improvisation.

Schedule and Event Descriptions

11:00 am – 4:00 pm * unless otherwise noted

Family Fun Zone

The Emerald City Bouncy Castle

Face Painting with the Lollipop Guild

Memory Making with the Photo Booth

Whiz of a Wiz Crafts & Games

Balloon Twisting with the Twisted Ones – 12pm – 4pm

Strolling Magic with Magicana – 12:30pm – 3pm

11:05 – 11:30 am

Los Angeles funk/rock band 100 Monkeys kicks off the TIFF Bell Lightbox celebration.

noon – 12:20 pm

Join TIFF for the ribbon-cutting ceremony with the special guests and dignitaries in attendance. Marking the official opening of TIFF Bell Lightbox, the building will be open to the public with free admission.

12:20 – 2:00 pm

Polaris Music Prize Showcase: Three Canadian bands shortlisted for the 2010 Polaris Music Prize perform, Montreal’s Karkwa, Toronto’s The Sadies and Radio Radio from Atlantic Canada. The Polaris Music Prize is a $20,000 prize for the Canadian album of the year, as determined by music journalists, broadcasters and bloggers around the country. The Polaris gala and award presentation on Monday, September 20 will be broadcast on SIRIUS Satellite Radio 86, CBC Radio 3 and on MuchMusic.com. It will also air on MuchMusic on September 25 at 9pm EST.

12:45 – 1:15 pm

Movie Star Look-Alike Contest: Channel your inner film star for the chance to win a fantastic Tim Burton ticket package. The best impersonators at the party will be featured on the stage and judged by audience applause. The contest will be hosted by Donnarama, Canada’s premier Barbra Streisand impersonator. Check out TIFF’s Essential 100 list for inspiration at tiff.net/essential.   2:15 – 2:45 pm

Toronto’s own pop darling Fefe Dobson takes the stage to perform songs from her upcoming album, Joy.

3:00 – 3:45 pm

Don’t miss a performance by global music sensation K’naan, introduced by CBC’s George Stroumboulopoulos.

Time TBD

A special performance by Toronto’s Joy of Dance Studio.

Inside TIFF Bell Lightbox

12:20 pm – 4 pm  * unless otherwise noted

Cinema 1: Celebrating TIFF’s 35th anniversary, TIFF@35, directed and produced by Barry Avrich, features the history of Festival trailers, red carpet footage and images from the past 35 years. Also screening is Starting Over: The Legacy of Leslie and Clara Reitman, a film paying tribute to the parents of Ivan, Agi and Susan. This film was commissioned by TIFF and directed and produced by Nobu Adilman.

Cinema 2: Screening on a loop, Preludes consists of ten original short films by pre-eminent Canadian filmmakers that were originally commissioned for the Festival’s 25th anniversary.

Cinema 3: A cinematic trailer produced by Stephen Garrett incorporating images from all films on the Essential 100 list.

Cinema 4: 8½ Screens, a special new commission from Atom Egoyan, reverses the relationship between projector, audience and screen by remixing the famous projection room sequence in Federico Fellini’s 8½.

Cinema 5: E-100 by James Andean and François Xavier Saint-Pierre is a sound installation in which key samples of film dialogue culled from the films on the Essential 100 list are heard both clearly and obliquely in conjunction with a randomizer algorithm patched to various instrumental samples.

In NYman with a Movie Camera, Michael Nyman revisits one of the high-points of his career: the composition of his now-famous score for Dziga Vertov’s Man With a Movie Camera substituting new images, shot-for-shot, for Vertov’s own, and then reapplying his score. * This event starts at 8 pm.

Atrium: What’s Your Essential 100?, an interactive installation that invites visitors to text in their favourite films from the Essential 100 list and see a dynamic visualization of images projected above the box office.

Starting Over: The Legacy of Leslie and Clara Reitman a film paying tribute to the parents of Ivan, Agi and Susan. This film was commissioned by TIFF and directed and produced by Nobu Adilman

Home is a short film commissioned by TIFF and the King and John Festival Corporation as part of the HOME heritage programme, honouring the rich history of site.

Gallery: The Essential Cinema exhibition of objects, posters, photographs, artworks by major international artists and other iconic items from the Essential 100 films, and TIFF commissions including Guy Maddin’s Hauntings I, eleven projections that recreate fragments of lost or unrealized film masterpieces.

Gallery Annex: Douglas Gordon’s 24 Hour Psycho Back and Forth and To and Fro, consisting of two side-by-side projections of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho. Both projections are slowed down to a duration of twenty-four hours, one playing forwards and the other in reverse so that they meet at one point.

RBC Learning Centre: Features two pieces by Ming Wong, the first inspired by Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love and the second by Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s Ali: Fear Eats the Soul.

Canadian Film Gallery: Three elements: a TIFF@35 poster exhibition, the Project Grizzly bear suit and a Brian Linehan tribute.

About TIFF Bell Lightbox

TIFF Bell Lightbox, a breathtaking five-storey complex located in downtown Toronto, provides a permanent home for film lovers to celebrate cinema from around the world and propels TIFF forward as an international leader in film culture. Designed by innovative architecture firm KPMB, TIFF Bell Lightbox’s fluid structure encourages exploration, movement and play. The campaign to build TIFF Bell Lightbox is generously supported by lead sponsor Bell, the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the King and John Festival Corporation – consisting of the Reitman family and the Daniels Corporation –  RBC as major sponsor and official bank, major sponsor BlackBerry, Visah†, the Copyright Collective of Canada, the Slaight Family Foundation, The Daniels Corporation, NBC Universal Canada, the

Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation, the Harbinger Foundation, Mackenzie Financial, CIBC and BMO. The Board of Directors, staff and many generous individuals and corporations have also contributed to the campaign. For more information on the TIFF Bell Lightbox campaign, visit tiff.net/tiffbelllightbox.ca.

About TIFF

TIFF is a not-for-profit cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world through film. Its vision is to lead the world in creative and cultural discovery through the moving image. TIFF generates an annual economic impact of $170 million CAD and currently employs more than 100 full-time staff and 500 part-time and seasonal staff, and counts upon the largesse of over 2,000 volunteers year-round.

TIFF is generously supported by lead sponsor Bell, Major Sponsors RBC and Blackberry, the Government of Ontario, the Government of Canada and the City of Toronto.

Essential Cinema is generously supported by Presenting Sponsor RBC Visa Infinite Avion and Presenting Partner, the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund. With Special Thanks to the official media sponsor The Globe and Mail and the Hal Jackman Foundation for supporting Essential Cinema.

TIFF’s block party is supported by the Department of Canadian Heritage, with special thanks to the Entertainment District Business Improvement Association.

Future Projections is supported by the Ontario Arts Council.

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Please note that media planning to cover the September 12 block party must RSVP at email hidden; JavaScript is required. Media sign-in tent is located on John Street, south of King Street.  For outlets in live hits from the block party, contact Katie Saunoris at email hidden; JavaScript is required for more information.

For information, contact the Communications Department at 416-934-3200 or email email hidden; JavaScript is required.

Images available on TIFF’s ftp site:

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password:pressf12

– Powerful film charts the devastating impact of war on children
– First P&I Screening Sept. 10 at 9:45 a.m., Scotiabank Theatre 6

Toronto, ON (September 9, 2010) – Amira. Razmira. Yahya. The names of just three of the tens of thousands of children surviving through the devastating aftermath of war. Filmmaker Vibeke Løkkeberg presents the world premiere of her powerful and emotionally devastating film Tears of Gaza at the 35^th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (September 9 – 19).  The film 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 focuses on the impact of the attacks on the civilian population.

Screening Information:

Press & Industry 1 – Sept. 10^th, 09:45 AM Scotiabank Theatre 6
1^st Public Screening Sept. 12^th, 09:45 PM Scotiabank Theatre 4
Press & Industry 2 – Sept. 15^th, 07:30 PM Scotiabank Theatre 2
2^nd Public Screening Sept. 14^th, 09:30 AM Varsity 7
3^rd Public Screening Sept. 19^th, 12:30 PM AMC 3

Tears of Gaza follows three children through the war and the period after the ceasefire. Løkkeberg delivers an horrific, first-hand glimpse into the nightmare of war. With raw footage from the front lines, the film exposes not only the cruelty of battle, but also the brutal consequences to women and children, forced to handle their everyday life after a dramatic war experience. Many of them live in tents or in ruins without walls or roofs, and are in dire need of money, food, water and electricity. Others have lost family members, or are left with seriously injured children. Can war solve conflicts or create peace?

Løkkeberg was born in Norway. She is an actor, director, screenwriter and author, and has become one of Norway’s most well-known personalities and leading feminist artists Løkkeberg started out as fashion model in Rome, Copenhagen, Paris and London in early 1960s.  She has directed several features, including The Revelation (77), Betrayal (81), Hud (86), which screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival, Måker (91), and Der gudene er døde (93). Løkkeberg’s Tears of Gaza is the filmmaker’s first foray into documentary film. Løkkeberg contrasts factual footage with fictional re-enactments to create a unique cinematic experience in hopes of elevating the viewer’s emotional connection to the subjects in the film and spurring protest.

For more info see Media Page.
To download trailer:http://sprend.com/download.jsp?FileId=iHNvVKcGPQnanwZEmkUg

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