Hot Docs has wrapped its 11-day hybrid edition, handing out three more cash prizes, announcing audience top picks, and tipping the hat to the 225 films from 63 countries that screened during the festival.
The animated documentary “Eternal Spring,” by Jason Loftus, won the Rogers Audience Award for Best Canadian Documentary, which comes with Cdn. 25,000 cash, and also claimed the top spot in the overall audience poll of cinemagoers and online doc-watchers.
“Eternal Spring,” which had its North American premiere at Hot Docs and has racked up other awards this year at European festivals, mixes 3D and new live footage to trace the story of comic-book illustrator Daxiong, a Falun Gong practitioner, who fled China after police began cracking down on members of the outlawed spiritual group.
Mark Bone’s “Okay! (The Asd Band Film),” which follows four autistic musicians as they prepare for their first live gig, is the second Roger...
The animated documentary “Eternal Spring,” by Jason Loftus, won the Rogers Audience Award for Best Canadian Documentary, which comes with Cdn. 25,000 cash, and also claimed the top spot in the overall audience poll of cinemagoers and online doc-watchers.
“Eternal Spring,” which had its North American premiere at Hot Docs and has racked up other awards this year at European festivals, mixes 3D and new live footage to trace the story of comic-book illustrator Daxiong, a Falun Gong practitioner, who fled China after police began cracking down on members of the outlawed spiritual group.
Mark Bone’s “Okay! (The Asd Band Film),” which follows four autistic musicians as they prepare for their first live gig, is the second Roger...
- 5/9/2022
- by Jennie Punter
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Canadian-Lebanese co-production Valley Of Exile has wrapped after a challenging shoot which had to contend with Lebanon’s collapsing economy, the pandemic and a refugee camp setting.
The feature film debut of Iranian-Canadian writer-director Anna Fahr (My Life in Limbo) has wrapped principal photography in Beirut, Lebanon, after lensing for the most part in a real-life refugee settlement in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley.
The indie feature follows the story of two Syrian sisters (played by non-professional actors) desperate to reunite with what remains of their family but who come to realize that their journey together into exile is ultimately a test of loyalty to each other. Above and below are first-look images from the film.
Produced by Toronto-based Morning Bird Pictures in collaboration with Beirut-based Placeless Films, the project was supported by Game Theory Films’ Black, Indigenous and People of Colour Distribution Fund. Fahr produces with Lara Abou Saifan.
The feature film debut of Iranian-Canadian writer-director Anna Fahr (My Life in Limbo) has wrapped principal photography in Beirut, Lebanon, after lensing for the most part in a real-life refugee settlement in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley.
The indie feature follows the story of two Syrian sisters (played by non-professional actors) desperate to reunite with what remains of their family but who come to realize that their journey together into exile is ultimately a test of loyalty to each other. Above and below are first-look images from the film.
Produced by Toronto-based Morning Bird Pictures in collaboration with Beirut-based Placeless Films, the project was supported by Game Theory Films’ Black, Indigenous and People of Colour Distribution Fund. Fahr produces with Lara Abou Saifan.
- 1/13/2022
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Bruce Labruce’s queer comedy fantasy “Saint-Narcisse” has been sold by the Brussels-based company Best Friend Forever to the U.S., along with a string of other key territories.
Film Movement has acquired U.S. rights to “Saint-Narcisse,” which was the closing film of Venice’s Giornate Degli Autori (Venice Days) and played as part of Toronto’s Industry Selects.
Best Friend Forever has also scored deals for France (Optimale Distribution), Germany, Austria and Switzerland (OUTtv – Cinemien Germany) and Benelux (OUTtv – Cinemien). Northern Banner and Az Films will release the film in Canada.
Set in 1972 Canada, “Saint-Narcisse” follows Dominic, a handsome narcissistic young man who discovers the existence of his twin brother, living in a remote monastery led by a depraved priest. Dominic sets out to save him and reunite once and for all. The two beautiful, identical brothers are soon embroiled in a strange web of sex, revenge and redemption.
Film Movement has acquired U.S. rights to “Saint-Narcisse,” which was the closing film of Venice’s Giornate Degli Autori (Venice Days) and played as part of Toronto’s Industry Selects.
Best Friend Forever has also scored deals for France (Optimale Distribution), Germany, Austria and Switzerland (OUTtv – Cinemien Germany) and Benelux (OUTtv – Cinemien). Northern Banner and Az Films will release the film in Canada.
Set in 1972 Canada, “Saint-Narcisse” follows Dominic, a handsome narcissistic young man who discovers the existence of his twin brother, living in a remote monastery led by a depraved priest. Dominic sets out to save him and reunite once and for all. The two beautiful, identical brothers are soon embroiled in a strange web of sex, revenge and redemption.
- 1/12/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Bruce Labruce’s Venice Giornate degli Autori closer ‘Saint-Narcisse’ finds Canadian home (exclusive)
Newcomer Felix-Antoine Duval plays amorous twins.
Northern Banner Releasing has acquired Canadian rights to Bruce Labruce’s upcoming Venice Giornate degli Autori closing night gala Saint-Narcisse.
Best Friend Forever handles world sales on the film, which takes place in 1972 Canada as a 22-year-old man with a fetish for himself finds the identical twin brother he never knew he had and the mother he thought had died in childbirth.
Once he finds his brother raised by a depraved priest in a remote monastery they reunite with their mother and become embroiled in a web of sex, revenge and redemption.
Saint-Narcisse stars...
Northern Banner Releasing has acquired Canadian rights to Bruce Labruce’s upcoming Venice Giornate degli Autori closing night gala Saint-Narcisse.
Best Friend Forever handles world sales on the film, which takes place in 1972 Canada as a 22-year-old man with a fetish for himself finds the identical twin brother he never knew he had and the mother he thought had died in childbirth.
Once he finds his brother raised by a depraved priest in a remote monastery they reunite with their mother and become embroiled in a web of sex, revenge and redemption.
Saint-Narcisse stars...
- 7/29/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Brussels-based Best Friend Forever has acquired Canadian artist-turned-filmmaker Bruce Labruce’s queer comedy fantasy “Saint-Narcisse,” ahead of Cannes’ virtual Marché du Film.
Set in 1972 Canada, “Saint-Narcisse” follows Dominic, a handsome narcissistic young man who discovers the existence of his twin brother, living in a remote monastery lead by a depraved priest. Dominic sets out to save him and reunite once and for all. The two beautiful, identical brothers are soon embroiled in a strange web of sex, revenge and redemption.
“‘Saint-Narcisse’ is my biggest budgeted and most ambitious movie to date with spectacular locations, elevated cinematography and art direction,” said Labruce, who has so far written and directed 11 feature films, notably “Gerontophilia” which played at Venice in 2013 and “Pierrot Lunaire” which won the Teddy Award in Berlin in 2014.
“Every filmmaker should make at least one film in their career on the following subjects: twins or doppelgangers, incest, a cabin in the woods,...
Set in 1972 Canada, “Saint-Narcisse” follows Dominic, a handsome narcissistic young man who discovers the existence of his twin brother, living in a remote monastery lead by a depraved priest. Dominic sets out to save him and reunite once and for all. The two beautiful, identical brothers are soon embroiled in a strange web of sex, revenge and redemption.
“‘Saint-Narcisse’ is my biggest budgeted and most ambitious movie to date with spectacular locations, elevated cinematography and art direction,” said Labruce, who has so far written and directed 11 feature films, notably “Gerontophilia” which played at Venice in 2013 and “Pierrot Lunaire” which won the Teddy Award in Berlin in 2014.
“Every filmmaker should make at least one film in their career on the following subjects: twins or doppelgangers, incest, a cabin in the woods,...
- 6/10/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The prizes were handed out during the Frontières Networking Lunch on May 18.
Rick Spears’ Black Bats and Lindsay MacKay’s Mersea picked up the post-production prizes at the genre-focused Frontières Platform in the Marché in Cannes on Saturday (May 18).
Us horror romance Black Bats picked up the inaugural Warner Music Supervision award. Directed by Rick Spears and produced by Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath of Divide/Conquer and Blumhouse Productions, it follows two teens who begin a relationship under the belief that they’re transforming into monsters.
The award will see Warner Music Supervision provide services and an original...
Rick Spears’ Black Bats and Lindsay MacKay’s Mersea picked up the post-production prizes at the genre-focused Frontières Platform in the Marché in Cannes on Saturday (May 18).
Us horror romance Black Bats picked up the inaugural Warner Music Supervision award. Directed by Rick Spears and produced by Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath of Divide/Conquer and Blumhouse Productions, it follows two teens who begin a relationship under the belief that they’re transforming into monsters.
The award will see Warner Music Supervision provide services and an original...
- 5/18/2019
- by Orlando Parfitt
- ScreenDaily
Arsinee Khanjian, Anne Muylaert also onboard portmanteau project.
Us director Todd Solondz, Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf, actress-screenwriter Arsinee Khanjian and Brazilian director Anne Muylaert have arrived in Jerusalem to begin pre-production on an ambitious portmanteau feature set against the backdrop of the Old City.
Titled The Quarters, the picture will capture the four different districts of the Old City - Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Armenian - through the eyes of an outsider with ethnic or religious ties to the neighbourhood.
Set against the backdrop of the Jewish Quarter, Solondz’s contribution will revolve around a 13-year-old American Jewish boy who reluctantly comes to Israel for the first time to perform his Bar Mitzvah. Makhmalbaf will tackle the Muslim Quarter with a tale of four friends who decide to run away together because they fear the religious divisions around them will eventually drive them apart.
Muyleart’s story revolves around a hairdresser from Rio de Janeiro who makes...
Us director Todd Solondz, Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalbaf, actress-screenwriter Arsinee Khanjian and Brazilian director Anne Muylaert have arrived in Jerusalem to begin pre-production on an ambitious portmanteau feature set against the backdrop of the Old City.
Titled The Quarters, the picture will capture the four different districts of the Old City - Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Armenian - through the eyes of an outsider with ethnic or religious ties to the neighbourhood.
Set against the backdrop of the Jewish Quarter, Solondz’s contribution will revolve around a 13-year-old American Jewish boy who reluctantly comes to Israel for the first time to perform his Bar Mitzvah. Makhmalbaf will tackle the Muslim Quarter with a tale of four friends who decide to run away together because they fear the religious divisions around them will eventually drive them apart.
Muyleart’s story revolves around a hairdresser from Rio de Janeiro who makes...
- 7/14/2017
- ScreenDaily
Lebanese film-maker Noura Kevorkian has wrapped shooting on her feature-length documentary Batata capturing the lives of Syrian migrant potato pickers turned refugees in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley.
The project scooped one of the Dubai Film Connection’s top $25,000 prizes when it was presented at the co-financing event in 2012.
Kevorkian will be at Diff this year for the Mena premiere of her experimental work 23 Kilometres about an elderly Lebanese man suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
Kevorkian said her original intention for Batata, which means potato in Arabic, was to explore the tense yet close-knit relationship between Lebanese and Syrian citizens living along the border through the lives of Syrian migrant workers who had travelled to Lebanon for the potato harvest for nearly 30 years and their Lebanese Christian employer.
The outbreak of the Syrian Civil War, however, changed the course of the film. “When the Arab Spring began the film started to change. It has become...
The project scooped one of the Dubai Film Connection’s top $25,000 prizes when it was presented at the co-financing event in 2012.
Kevorkian will be at Diff this year for the Mena premiere of her experimental work 23 Kilometres about an elderly Lebanese man suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
Kevorkian said her original intention for Batata, which means potato in Arabic, was to explore the tense yet close-knit relationship between Lebanese and Syrian citizens living along the border through the lives of Syrian migrant workers who had travelled to Lebanon for the potato harvest for nearly 30 years and their Lebanese Christian employer.
The outbreak of the Syrian Civil War, however, changed the course of the film. “When the Arab Spring began the film started to change. It has become...
- 12/10/2015
- ScreenDaily
Second European edition of genre co-production market to feature two extra spotlights in addition to its 17-strong line-up.
Frontières International Co-Production Market has unveiled the full line-up for its second European edition, taking place at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival from April 9-11.
This year sees an expanded Frontières line-up which will allow more projects to participate in live pitch sessions. In addition, it will include a Market Spotlight, featuring projects co-presented by Blood Window at Ventana Sur and the European Genre Forum at Tallinn Black Nights, and a Seeking Director spotlight which will involved three projects in development.
The 17-strong Frontières line-up features the already-announced Érik Canuel’s On the Threshold (an English-language remake of Sur Le Seuil) alongside new projects from directors Alexandre O. Philippe, Casey Walker and John Harrison, and producers Carole Scotta and Andrew D. Corkin.
It also features Eugene Garcia’s Jessie’s Demons, the new project...
Frontières International Co-Production Market has unveiled the full line-up for its second European edition, taking place at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival from April 9-11.
This year sees an expanded Frontières line-up which will allow more projects to participate in live pitch sessions. In addition, it will include a Market Spotlight, featuring projects co-presented by Blood Window at Ventana Sur and the European Genre Forum at Tallinn Black Nights, and a Seeking Director spotlight which will involved three projects in development.
The 17-strong Frontières line-up features the already-announced Érik Canuel’s On the Threshold (an English-language remake of Sur Le Seuil) alongside new projects from directors Alexandre O. Philippe, Casey Walker and John Harrison, and producers Carole Scotta and Andrew D. Corkin.
It also features Eugene Garcia’s Jessie’s Demons, the new project...
- 2/6/2015
- by ian.sandwell@screendaily.com (Ian Sandwell)
- ScreenDaily
Malabar Court is one of the twenty-three films selected for the co- production market of Film Bazaar 2013. We spoke to the director Niara Modi.
Niara Modi
Tell us about your project. What language will it be in?
Malabar Court is a character-driven drama, with a light heart and a sense of humour. It takes us on a journey with Sonya Cooper, a Parsi Indo- Canadian, as she strives to reclaim her life in India but instead finds herself in a complex romance with a childhood friend, clashes in an old conflict with her mother and gets ensnared in a legal nightmare over the sale of the family home, Malabar Court. Sonya’s struggles become a rite of passage from which she emerges with a new understanding of what home and belonging truly are. The film will mainly be in English, with a little Hindi and Gujarati.
Which stage of development is it in currently?...
Niara Modi
Tell us about your project. What language will it be in?
Malabar Court is a character-driven drama, with a light heart and a sense of humour. It takes us on a journey with Sonya Cooper, a Parsi Indo- Canadian, as she strives to reclaim her life in India but instead finds herself in a complex romance with a childhood friend, clashes in an old conflict with her mother and gets ensnared in a legal nightmare over the sale of the family home, Malabar Court. Sonya’s struggles become a rite of passage from which she emerges with a new understanding of what home and belonging truly are. The film will mainly be in English, with a little Hindi and Gujarati.
Which stage of development is it in currently?...
- 11/15/2013
- by Editorial Team
- DearCinema.com
Veteran Indian filmmaker Shyam Benegal and Qissa director Anup Singh are among the filmmakers who have had projects selected for the Co-production Market at this year’s Film Bazaar in Goa, India.Scroll down for full list of projects
Benegal has been making award-winning films since the 1970s – most recently satires Welcome To Sajjanpur and Well Done Abba. Singh’s Qissa: The Tale Of A Lonely Ghost is currently having a successful run on the festival circuit.
International projects at Film Bazaar include Amok, from Chilean director Valeria Sarmiento and produced by the UK’s Anna Holburn; UK filmmaker Robert Mullan’s Son Of India; Malabar Court, directed by Niara Modi and produced by Canada’s Paul Scherzer; and Polish director Piotr Trzaskalski’s Incredible.
The line-up also include one project in partnership with the Netherlands’ Boost programme, Bikas Mishra’s Wild Fire, and one project with Ifp, Varenya directed by Shripriya Mahesh.
Organised by the...
Benegal has been making award-winning films since the 1970s – most recently satires Welcome To Sajjanpur and Well Done Abba. Singh’s Qissa: The Tale Of A Lonely Ghost is currently having a successful run on the festival circuit.
International projects at Film Bazaar include Amok, from Chilean director Valeria Sarmiento and produced by the UK’s Anna Holburn; UK filmmaker Robert Mullan’s Son Of India; Malabar Court, directed by Niara Modi and produced by Canada’s Paul Scherzer; and Polish director Piotr Trzaskalski’s Incredible.
The line-up also include one project in partnership with the Netherlands’ Boost programme, Bikas Mishra’s Wild Fire, and one project with Ifp, Varenya directed by Shripriya Mahesh.
Organised by the...
- 10/22/2013
- by lizshackleton@gmail.com (Liz Shackleton)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: 40 Canadian and international producer teams selected for Omdc’s eighth annual Toronto co-financing market.
New films by Donald Petrie, Timo Vuorensola, Baltasar Kormakur [pictured], Nick Broomfield, Gillies Mackinnon are some of the 40 selections for the eighth Omdc’s International Financing Forum. (Full list below)
The Ontario Media Development Corporation’s feature film co-financing market will be held Sept 8-9, running concurrently to Tiff.
The two-day event includes one-on-one producer meetings, a top-level panel discussion, roundtable meetings, a networking luncheon, and a networking reception.
The initiative focuses on English language feature film projects being developed by international and Canadian producers, who meet with executives including sales agents, financiers, distributors, agents and executive producers – from companies including Beta Cinema, Big Beach, Cinetic, eOne, Film4, Film Nation, TF1, Wild Bunch and William Morris Endeavor.
The Canadian-produced projects selected this year include Nick Broomfield’s fiction feature film debut The Catastrophist to star Freida Pinto and John C Reilly and to...
New films by Donald Petrie, Timo Vuorensola, Baltasar Kormakur [pictured], Nick Broomfield, Gillies Mackinnon are some of the 40 selections for the eighth Omdc’s International Financing Forum. (Full list below)
The Ontario Media Development Corporation’s feature film co-financing market will be held Sept 8-9, running concurrently to Tiff.
The two-day event includes one-on-one producer meetings, a top-level panel discussion, roundtable meetings, a networking luncheon, and a networking reception.
The initiative focuses on English language feature film projects being developed by international and Canadian producers, who meet with executives including sales agents, financiers, distributors, agents and executive producers – from companies including Beta Cinema, Big Beach, Cinetic, eOne, Film4, Film Nation, TF1, Wild Bunch and William Morris Endeavor.
The Canadian-produced projects selected this year include Nick Broomfield’s fiction feature film debut The Catastrophist to star Freida Pinto and John C Reilly and to...
- 8/27/2013
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
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