Philippe Falardeau's Instincts Proved Right

Anna — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Here is an interview I conducted with Oscar-bound director of Monsieur Lazhar, Philippe Falardeau, before his TIFF2011 premiere. Nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Oscars and garnering nine nominations at the Genie Awards, including Best Director, Best Film and Best Adapted Screenplay, Falardeau had a keen instinct that this was the film that would change his game. He was right.

Check out the interview here:

I had the pleasure of catching up with Philippe Falardeau, directoRead More...

Cronenberg and Vallée Tackle Similar Themes in Genie Race

Anna — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:51:19 +0100

The two front running films at this years' Genie Awards could not be more different, yet they tackle similar themes.

Their differences are at first most obvious. Passion versus intellect. Modern love story versus famed historical figures. Wave-making new talent versus iconic filmmaker. Jean-Marc Vallée leads the Genie race with 13 nominations for his epic tale of love, spanning two continents and eras, Café de Flore. David Cronenberg follows with 11 nominations for Read More...

Canadian doc "I am Bruce Lee" to premiere

Katherine Brodsky — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:34:36 +0100

Vancouver-based Network Entertainment is set to launch the world premiere of feature documentary, "I am Bruce Lee" in Vancouver on February 8, followed by a theatrical release in over 200 theaters in the United States and Canada.

Network principal partners Derik Murray and Paul Gertz produced the acclaimed Muhammad Ali documentary "Facing Ali," directed by Pete McCormack, which was shortlisted for an Academy Award in 2010. McCormack also directs "I am Bruce Lee," with Bruce LeeRead More...

Oscars love Canada: Monsieur Lazhar gets nomination! (plus more)

Katherine Brodsky — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:28:08 +0100

Today has been an exciting news day for Canada. Quebec filmmaker Philippe Falardeau has managed to earn his first Oscar nomination for Best Foreign-Language Film for "Monsieur Lazhar."

According to The Canadian Press, Falardeau admits that he "shrieked and leapt into his producer's arms" when he found out that he was shortlisted for one of the most coveted awards in cinema.

"I just heard 'Canada' and I screamed and I jumped into my producer's arms like a baby," he said.

Monsieur Lazhar makes it to second-to-last Oscars shortlist

Katherine Brodsky — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:21:22 +0100

Montreal filmmaker Philippe Falardeau ("It's Not Me, I Swear") has a lot to be happy about. His film, "Monsieur Lazhar," has made the second-to-last shortlist (consisting of nine films) in the category of foreign-language film at the Academy Awards. The final five foreign-language contenders will be unveiled on Tuesday morning, Jan. 24 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

"Monsieur Lazhar," the story of an Algerian immigrant who helps a class of middle-school studentRead More...

Cronenberg and Vallée Go Head To Head in 2012 Genie Award Nominations

Anna — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:05:41 +0100

One of Canada's most established and internationally recognized directors, David Cronenberg, goes head to head with a director making waves around the world, Jean-Marc Vallée, in the 32nd Annual Genie Awards Nominations. Vallée leads the race with his love story Café de Flore, which received 13 nominations. Cronenberg's A Dangerous Method is not far behind with 11 nominations.

Philippe Falardeau's Monsieur Lazhar, close on their tales and also up for BeRead More...

Canadians Are Doing It (And Choosing It) For Themselves

Anna — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:32:06 +0100

I came across an article this morning by Misty Harris in the Ottawa Citizen about Canadians and their voracity in consuming CanCon on YouTube. She interviewed Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-Commerce Law at the University of Ottawa, who raised the question of the relevancy of content regulation in the new media world. If the cream rises to the top, and we're in a multi-channel, multi-platform universe, can't we be left to our own devices to choose our content, and can'tRead More...

Sarah Polley to adapt Margaret Atwood's 'Alias Grace'

Katherine Brodsky — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:04:28 +0100

Sarah Polley is set to adapt Margaret Atwood's novel "Alias Grace," the real-life story of a young housemaid who is accused of murdering her employer and his mistress (also a housekeeper) in 19th century Toronto.

Polley will receive funding from Astral Media’s Harold Greenberg Fund to option and adapt the best-selling Canadian novel.

Polley has been on a roll as a director starting with the acclaimed "Away From Her," continuing on with 2011's "Take This Waltz."

&nbRead More...

Canadian film picked up for U.S. distribution by Dimension Films

Katherine Brodsky — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:53:35 +0100

Dimension Films (which is part of the Weinstein Company) announced today that it has acquired U.S. distribution rights to the heist comedy "The Black Marks" from prolific Canadian production company, Darius Films.

The film will star Kurt Russell, Matt Dillon, and Montreal-er Jay Baruchel. "The Black Marks" is written and directed by Jonathan Sobol whose last film, "A Beginner's Guide to Endings," premiered at TIFF 2010. Darius Films' Nicholas Tabarrok will produceRead More...

Canada Screens: Embracing 2011 and Growing 2012!

Alexandra Staseson — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:02:05 +0100

Happy New Year!

We are so pleased to welcome you back to Canada Screens for what is now our 6th Season if you can believe it! Time flies when you're watching Great Canadian Cinema. In this letter below, you'll find some 2011 highlights, and an inkling of what's on the horizon for Canada Screens 2012!

I invite you to take a look below at some photos from December and at the 2011 Canada Screens "Read More...

Atom Egoyan casts Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon in new film!

Katherine Brodsky — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:49:38 +0100

It looks like Atom Egoyan has a new film on the horizon and he has landed Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon as the lead.

Scheduled to begin filming this summer, the $20-million Devil’s Knot is based on the brutal 1993 Arkansas murders of three eight-year-old Boy Scouts. The three men convicted for the murder were found innocent 18 years later. Witherspoon, who has New Orleans roots, plays Pam Hobbs, the mother of one of the murdered boys. Although she is initially convinRead More...

Can We Survive Another 200 Years?

Anna — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:11:15 +0100

"If we can last the next 200 years, we should be ok." This message of faint hope comes from Stephen Hawking, one of the many scientists, activists and luminaries interviewed in the end-of-the-world doc Surviving Progress, which plays this week at the Cumberland Cinema in Toronto, and the Rio Theatre in Vancouver.

Directed by Mathieu Roy and Harold Crooks, and based on a series of Massey Lectures, this film is not exactly uplifting holiday fare, but timely, with Canada slipping ouRead More...

Two Vancouver films are Slamdance bound

Katherine Brodsky — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:23:42 +0100

According to The Province, there are two Vancouver films that will be competing at the Slamdance Film Festival, which runs from Jan. 20-26 in Park City, Utah. Writer-director Derek Franson’s Comforting Skin and co-directors Dylan Akio Smith and Kris Elgstrand's Doppelgänger Paul (or A Film About How Much I Hate Myself), are among the 18 features from first-time directors in competition.

As it happens, both films happen to star Tygh Runyan.

You can find out more Read More...

"Space Milkshake" wraps production in Saskatchewan

Katherine Brodsky — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:41:13 +0100

Beaming all sci-fi comedy fans! We have just learned that "Space Milkshake" has wrapped production earlier this month in Saskatchewan.

Written and directed by Armen Evrensel, the film stars Billy Boyd (Lord of the Rings), Kristin Kreuk (Smallville), Amanda Tapping (Stargate, Sanctuary) and Robin Dunne (Sanctuary).

The absurdity-filled story follows four blue collar astronauts who are stuck together on a Sanitation Station after they bring a mysterious device abRead More...

Jay Baruchel to star in "The Rebel Kind"

Katherine Brodsky — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

According to Variety (well, my story in Variety, actually), Jay Baruchel is set to star in "The Rebel Kind," which is based on a memoir by John Armstrong, aka Buck Cherry, frontman of 1980s Vancouver-based band, "The Modernettes." (Baruchel will play Buck Cherry).

The film will be shot in Vancouver in the fall (2012) and will look at the emergence of the Vancouver punk-rock scene. The story centers on a band that has a taste of both fame and success, yet decides to throw in theRead More...

The Little Engine That Could

Anna — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:40:20 +0100

A germ of an idea brought forth by the Chair of our Board of Directors, Paul Gratton, one evening at our Canadian Film Lounge during TIFF 2010, has gathered steam and momentum, just like that "little engine that could." We are almost up the hill!

As soon as we launched our campaign, from coast to coast to coast we connected with people and created a real buzz in the industry about the streaming platform we're building to house the best of Canadian film. Being a part of tRead More...

Telefilm and Rogers Group of Funds announce eight docs to receive funding

Katherine Brodsky — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:23:19 +0100

According to Playback, Telefilm Canada and the Rogers Group of Funds have announced the eight films to receive funding under the 2011-2012 Theatrical Documentary Program.

Docs receiving funding include Vincent Goes To Hell: An Alice Cooper Doc Opera, a biopic about famed rocker Alice Cooper by writer/directors Reginald Harkema, Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn, and Montreal director Yung Chang’s follow up to Up the Yangtze, with The Fruit Hunters, exploration of the global fruit tRead More...

Variety names Philippe Falardeau as Director to Watch

Katherine Brodsky — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:10:02 +0100

Variety has unveiled its 10 Directors to Watch list, naming Montreal-based director Philippe Falardeau ("Monsieur Lazhar") as one of the directors to watch.

According to Variety, the list represents "up-and-coming helmers whose early work suggests promising careers ahead."

For the full list, visit: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118047334#.TuZm3HNp5qk

"Monsieur Lazhar," Canada's submission for the best foreign-language film Oscar category, will screen out of competitRead More...

Bell Media gets Canadian rights to Charlie Sheen's 'Anger Management'

Katherine Brodsky — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:49:42 +0100

Some light news. Charlie Sheen is coming to Canada - again. Canadian television, that is. Bell Media has acquired the exclusive Canadian multi-platform rights to ANGER MANAGEMENT, a new sitcom that's loosely based on the hit 2003 feature film of the same name. In the new series, an anger management therapist (Sheen), who may need more counseling than his patients, wreaks havoc on the lives of his patients through his unconventional methods.

Charlie Sheen addressRead More...

Playback Magazine: First Weekend Club moves closer to Canadian Virtual Cinema

Katherine Brodsky — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

First Weekend Club's executive director, Anita Adams, talks to Playback about securing the first round of funding for the beta launch of its VOD Canadian film project:

http://playbackonline.ca/2011/12/08/first-weekend-club-moves-closer-to-canadian-virtual-cinema/#ixzz1gAvZDd5v

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