Karina & Matt at the TIFF Opening Night party
Possible Worlds co-programmer Karina and I recently traveled to the Toronto International Film Festival thanks to Air Canada, to scout for new Canadian films and meet with Canadian filmmakers and producers.
Between us, we saw over 30 new Canadian feature films and they both agree it was a stellar year for films made North of Hollywood. This means you're in for an amazing line-up at Possible Worlds, Sydney's 7th Canadian Film Festival, hitting Sydney in August 2012.
The cast of A Dangerous Methodsome of Canada's most acclaimed directors had new film in the festival this year, including David Cronenberg (A DANGEROUS METHOD) and Guy Maddin (KEYHOLE).
One of the highlights among the Canadian films was Philippe Falardeau's moving classroom drama MONSIEUR LAZHAR, which won the prize for Best Canadian Feature, and was subsequently chosen to represent Canada at the Oscars (fingers crossed!).
Karina's favourite Canadian feature was Sarah Polley's new film as a director TAKE THIS WALTZ, the follow-up to the much-loved Away From Her. Michelle Williams delivers a stunning performance as a young woman who must choose between her kind, loving husband (Seth Rogen) and the exciting, handsome new neighbour (Luke Kirby). The film displays Polley's trademark emotional honesty and gorgeous, colour-saturated photography. It's like a love letter to Toronto in the summer...
My favourite was Anne Emond's debut feature NUIT #1. The film is a two-hander set entirely in a dingy Montreal apartment, and it unfolds in real time. It charts the one-night stand between Clara & Nikolai, who've just met in a club. The film moves from sweaty sex to frank discussion as the couple decide to talk until dawn. Voicing the anger, frustration, fears and aspirations of an entire generation, this raw debut feature is both a slap across the face and long, tight hug... it establishes Quebec's Anne Emond as a talent to watch.
We got to brush up against a few celebrities (Willem Dafoe and Kevin Spacey, for example), but more importantly, we met some fascinating Canadian filmmakers, many of whom are chomping at the bits at the idea of coming to Australia to present their work at the Festival and meet you, the audience! We're already hard at work raising funding for next year's festival and compiling a wish list of the best films made up north. Keep your eyes peeled!
Sarah Polley presents Take This Waltz