Sunday, July 24, 2011

Festival du Film de Juste pour rire 2011 (Just For Laughs Film Festival), July 24-30


JUST FOR LAUGHS FILMS                  

We have done it again!  After countless months of travel, sleepless nights, drinks, dance and hard work (in that order), we bring you the best comedy films, documentaries and shorts.

Homeboy Angelo Tsarouchas will be in town to present his award-winning film FRED & VINNIE; come see heavy-hitter Harvey Keitel and Emmy-winner Scott Caan in a tale of an unusual family reunion in A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO ENDINGS; or how about “the best movie about comedy” (Sarah Silverman said this) and the “wonderful... irreverent... brilliant” (The Huffington Postsaid this) PUNCHING THE CLOWN.

And we are proud to present the world premiere of the hilarious waiter-rebellion comedy, SERVITUDE, with several members of the cast and crew in attendance; marvel as madman Cap'n Video (aka Ralph Zavadil), the pre-Jackass prince of stupid neck-breaking stunts, finally gets his due in the Hot Docs smash hit (literally) BEAUTY DAY; the documentary PHUNNY BUSINESS will take us back to the historic comedy club All Jokes Aside which, for a decade, was the preeminent black comic showcase in America; while TELL YOUR FRIENDS! THE CONCERT FILM! will take you to the future of American comedy.

If you parlez français do not miss RIRE EXTRÊME, LE MISSIONNAIRE and OPÉRATION CASABLANCA.

Did we mention the shorts?: EAT MY SHORTS 1-2 is only the best of the best and les TOUT COURTS 1-2 is les meilleurs des meilleurs.

Enjoy the films!



English Feature Films
French Feature Films

BEAUTY DAY   

Tuesday 26 JULY, 7:00PM 
CINEMA DU PARC
3575 AV DU PARC

TECHNICAL SPECS
Canada / 2011 / 1h30 min / Director: Jay Cheel / Starring Ralph Zavadil.
Distributor: FILMSWELIKE
ORIGINAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE – NO SUBTITLES

SYNOPSIS
BEFORE THERE WAS JACKASS... BEFORE THERE WAS TOM GREEN...
THERE WAS RALPH ZAVADIL.  
His cable access television show, The Cap'n Video Show, ran from 1990 to 1995, spawning a small but loyal cult following. Each week Ralph performed a series of idiotic and occasionally dangerous stunts, challenging the sensibilities of his small Southern Ontario audience. With the advent of the internet and reality television still years away, his unique brand of gross-out stunt comedy was truly ahead of its time. All it took was a broken neck for him to get noticed.

QUOTES / AWARDS
"Beauty Day isn’t just one of the best films at HotDocs this year. It is one of the best films of the year."– Criticize This

A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO ENDINGS   

Wednesday 27 JULY, 7:00pm 
CINEMA DU PARC
3575 AV DU PARC

TECHNICAL SPECS
Canada / 2010 / 1h31min / Director: Jonathan Sobol / Starring: Harvey Keitel, Scott Caan, Paolo Costanzo, Wendy Crewson, Tricia Helfer, Jason Jones, and J.K. Simmons
Distributer: eONE FILMS CANADA
ORIGINAL ENGLISH VERSION – NO SUBTITLES

SYNOPSIS
If DUKE WHITE hadn't thrown himself into Niagara Falls, someone would've pushed him.First, he subjects his three eldest boys – Nuts, Cal and Jacob – to drug tests which turn out to have lethal consequences.  Worse, he gambles the settlement money at the race track and loses it all. Not knowing how much time they have left, the boys all decide to live the rest of their short lives to the fullest. But making up for past mistakes and doing all the things in life that they should’ve isn’t nearly that simple for the brothers… but then again the White boys have never taken the easy way out.


PUNCHING THE CLOWN   

THURSDAY 28 JULY 7:00PM
CINEMA DU PARC
3575 AV DU PARC
*Q&A with Henry Phillips

TECHNICAL SPECS
USA / 2009 / 1h30min / Director & Producer: Gregori Viens / Starring: Henry Phillips, Ellen Ratner, Ellen Pinsky, Wade Kelley, Matt Walker, Audrey Siegel, Guilford Adams, Mik Scriba, Evan Arnold, and Mark Cohen
ORIGINAL ENGLISH VERSION W/ FRENCH SUBTITLES

SYNOPSIS
Punching the Clown tells the story of Henry Phillips, a hapless modern day troubadour who lives out of his car, sees his luck change in L.A. when he falls backwards into a string of packed gigs, a record deal and maybe even love. Success proves fleeting, though, when an innocent miscommunication starts a vicious tabloid rumor about him. He faces losing his reputation and his music.

QUOTES / AWARDS / OTHER
"The funniest movie I've seen in years. The songs are disconcertingly funny."
-Moby

"The best movie about comedy I've seen so far. Henry Phillips has an angle on comedy that is subtle and singular."
-Sarah Silverman

"See [Phillips's] movie now, brag about your discerning taste for undiscovered talent later."
-Kyle Smith, The New York Post

"Wonderful... irreverent... brilliant.  We need films like Punching the Clown to keep cinema vibrant and interesting."
-Joseph Smigelski, The Huffington Post

SLAMDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2009
WINNER  Audience Award: Best Narrative Feature

CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL MOVIES AND MUSIC FESTIVAL 2009
WINNER  Jury Award: Best Film

SERVITUDE   

THURSDAY 28 JULY 9:00PM
CINEMA DU PARC
3575 AV DU PARC
World Premiere
Actress Margot Kidder will present the film along with actors Joe Dinicol, John Bregar, Kristen Hager, Rachel Skarsten, Jeigh Madjus and Lauren Collins, Director Warren P. Sonoda, Writer-Producer Michael Sparaga and Producer Sean Buckley. Q&A to follow.

TECHNICAL SPECS
Canada / 2011 / 1h25min / Director: Warren Sonoda/ Written by Michael Sparaga / Produced by Sean Buckley and Michael Sparaga / Starring Joe Dinicol, John Bregar, Linda Kash, Lauren Collins, Aaron Ashmore, Enrico Colantoni, Margot Kidder, and Dave Foley.
Distributor : MAPLE PICTURES
ORIGINAL ENGLISH VERSION – NO SUBTITLES

SYNOPSIS
A group of frustrated waiters band together and take over their restaurant for one glorious, revenge-filled night, after they discover that they are all about to be fired.

QUOTES / AWARDS / OTHER
Just For Laughs presents the world premiere of Servitude (Maple Pictures), the first film to be produced from the Telefilm Canada Features Comedy Lab, a CFC Film program, in collaboration with Just For Laughs.


PHUNNY BUSINESS:   

A BLACK COMEDY

Friday July 29, 7:00pm
CINEMA DU PARC
3575 AV DU PARC

*Director John Davies and producer/writer Raymond Lambert will present the film

TECHNICAL SPECS
USA / 2010/ 1h24 min / Director: John Davies  / Written and Produced by Raymond Lambert
ORIGINAL ENGLISH VERSION– NO SUBTITLES

SYNOPSIS
Chronicles the rise and fall of ALL JOKES ASIDE, which for a decade, was the preeminent Black Comic showcase in America. This mostly unheralded “star factory” impacted American Pop Culture in a huge way, giving early exposure and early paychecks to major talent like Steve Harvey, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx, MoNique, Bernie Mac, Carlos Mencia, D.L Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer, Adele Givens, Melanie Comarcho, Mike Epps, JB Smoove, Ali LeRoi, Aries Spears, George Willborn, Sheryl Underwood, Laura Hayes, Bill Bellamy, Craig Robinson, Deon Cole, Earthquake and Tommy Davidson, to name just a few.
QUOTES / AWARDS
“This is an invaluable look back at an all-too-brief but shining and important moment in the history of comedy. A fast-paced and hugely entertaining documentary about the legendary All Jokes Aside comedy club in Chicago. Filled with laughs but also somewhat bittersweet, as we see how this iconic club was allowed to die prematurely.”-RICHARD ROEPER, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

FRED AND VINNIE   

FRIDAY 29 JULY, 9:00PM 
CINEMA DU PARC
3575 AV DU PARC

*Q&A with Director Steve Skrovan and stars Angelo Tsarouchas & Fred Stoller

TECHNICAL SPECS
USA / 2010 / 1h29min / Director: Steve Skrovan / Written by Fred Stoller / Produced by Jerry P. Magana / Starring: Fred Stoller, Angelo Tsarouchas, Fred Willard
ORIGINAL ENGLISH VERSION– NO SUBTITLES

SYNOPSIS
Lonely guy Fred Stoller is thrilled when his good buddy, Vinnie D’Angelo, the world’s happiest agoraphobic and fattest vegetarian, comes to live with him, until Vinnie also proves to be the world’s most maddening roommate.

QUOTES / AWARDS
Winner of the 2011 Christopher Wetzel Award for Independent Film Comedy at Just For Laughs in Chicago.


TELL YOUR FRIENDS!   

THE CONCERT FILM!

SATURDAY 30 JULY 9:00PM
CINEMA DU PARC
3575 AV DU PARC
*Q&A with Liam McEneaney, Victor Varnado, and Rob Paravonian


TECHNICAL SPECS
USA / 2011 / 1h23min / Director: Victor Varnado
ORIGINAL ENGLISH VERSION– NO SUBTITLES

SYNOPSIS
Reggie Watts, Kristen Schaal & Kurt Braunohler, Liam McEneaney, and Christian Finnegan are among the performers in this comedy documentary that does for the current indie comedy scene what The Last Waltz or Woodstock did for Baby Boomer rock.  It not only features performances from some of the best rising comedians in the country, but it gives a sense of the world from which these performers have risen, through interviews with such comedy luminaries as Janeane Garofalo, Jim Gaffigan, Colin Quinn, Marc Maron, Paul F. Tompkins, Wyatt Cenac, Kumail Nanjiani, Hannibal Buress, and more.

QUOTES / AWARDS
"'Tell Your Friends! The Concert Film!' is, as the kids say, very very funny." - Drew McNeely
"..a film that will please any comedy nerd." -Punchline magazine

RIRE EXTRÊME   

Sunday 24 July 7:00pm
CINEMA DU PARC
3575 AV DU PARC

*World Premiere - Director Albert Nerenberg will present the film
*Montreal Ultimate Laughter Championship
*Ultimate laughter fight after the movie!
TECHNICAL SPECS
Canada / 2011 / 45min / Director: Albert Nerenberg / Producer: Shannon Brown.
An ELEVATOR FILM + CANAL D Co-production
ORIGINAL FRENCH VERSION – NO SUBTITLES

SYNOPSIS
When Laughologist Albert Nerenberg sees two angry cage fighters crack up before a fight he gets a crazy idea.  Instead of an ultimate fighting championship what if you held an ultimate laughter championship? So begins an unprecedented odyssey into the nature of violence, laughter and Quebec.  The goal to create the world's first laughter championship.  The Mission - find Quebec's best laugher.  While many consider the concept impossible and or idiotic, the Laughologist inadvertently stumbles on what may be an entirely new sport with revolutionary and hilarious results.

LE MISSIONNAIRE   

SUNDAY 24 JULY  9:00PM
CINEMA DU PARC
3575 AV DU PARC
*Presented by Jean-Marie Bigard

TECHNICAL SPECS
France / 2010 / 1h31min / Director: Roger Delattre / Starring Jean-Marie Bigard, David Strajmayster and Thiam Aïssatou
Distributor: FILMOPTION INTERNATIONAL
ORIGINAL FRENCH VERSION – NO SUBTITLES

SYNOPSIS
Jean-Marie Bigard, France's top stand-up comedian, writes and stars in this snappy comedy about an ex-convict on an offbeat road to redemption.  With the help of his brother, a priest, Mario the gangster becomes Father Mario to escape his former associates and is welcomed like the Messiah in a quiet village lost in the French countryside.  Of course, Mario's arrival soon livens the place up.  Comic Jean-Marie Bigard brings rugged credibility and impeccably deadpan comic timing to the role of Mario, while, as his saintly brother Patrick, Doudi Strajmayster (the cross-dressing star of hit TV series Samantha) hilariously falls foul of all kinds of delicious temptations.  Set in the beautiful Ardèche region of southern France, Le Missionaire is a smart rural comedy with big-city panache.

OPERATION CASABLANCA   

MONDAY 25 JULY 7:00PM
CINEMA DU PARC
3575 AV DU PARC

TECHNICAL SPECS
Switzerland, Canada, France / 2010 / 1h29 min / Director:  Laurent Nègre / Starring: Tarik Bakhari, Elodie Yung, Gilles Tschudi, Rachid Badouri, Emile Proulx-Cloutier
ORIGINAL FRENCH VERSION – NO SUBTITLES

SYNOPSIS
One day, Saadi finally snaps.  His boss has mistreated him one time too many.  But when the young dishwasher, a North African illegal immigrant dares to protest, he is summarily fired.  Leaving the rundown hotel in the outskirts of Geneva, on foot and with all his belongings in a shoulder bag, he becomes entangled in a terrorist group's attempt to kidnap the Secretary-General of the United Nations and is surrounded by a SWAT team battalion who has mistaken him for one of the Arab criminals.  With both the terrorists and the police gunning for him, desperate to keep from going under in this vortex of insanity, Saadi has no choice but to play along with the fundamentalists and try to find his own piece of heaven.


Eat My Shorts 1
Eat My Shorts 2

http://www.hahaha.com/en/film-festival/

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