Call for submissions: Bell Media Diverse Screenwriters Program

The Writers Guild of Canada has put out a call for submissions for its Bell Media Diverse Screenwriters Program for Eastern Canada. This program is an excellent opportunity for emerging and mid-level writers to develop their skills and make important connections in the industry. Writers for film and television who are based in Ontario or further east have until December 9 to apply to the program.

The deadline for Western Canada (residents in or west of Manitoba) has also been extended until October 28. The Western program is run out of Vancouver, while the Eastern program takes place in Toronto. Application and participation in the program is free.

Canada selects Gabrielle by Louise Archambault as Foreign Language Oscar submission

TELEFILM CANADA ANNOUNCES THAT LOUISE ARCHAMBAULT’S GABRIELLE IS CANADA’S SELECTION FOR THE BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM OSCAR
For the third time in four years, a film produced by micro_scope is selected to represent Canada in the Oscar race

Montreal, September 24, 2013 – Telefilm Canada, which chairs the pan-Canadian Oscar selection committee, is pleased to announce that the feature film Gabrielle, directed by Louise Archambault, has been selected to represent Canada for consideration as a possible nominee in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 86th Academy Awards, to be held in Hollywood on February 27, 2014.

“Over the last several years, Canada’s film industry has done our country proud, with three nominations for Best Foreign Language Film three years running,” said Carolle Brabant, Executive Director of Telefilm Canada. “The selection committee certainly got it right these last three years, and we’re confident that we once again have a strong and very competitive candidate for the upcoming Oscar race. Gabrielle has won over audiences internationally, and there’s no question that the Academy members will succumb to its charms as well.”

2013 Festival du nouveau cinéma announces complete programming

This morning at a press conference at the Agora Hydro-Québec in UQAM’s Cœur des sciences, the Festival du nouveau cinéma announced its full programming for the 42nd annual edition. It promises to be another exciting year for what has fast become Montreal's preeminent film festival.

Among the works programmed this year is a web documentary I directed called Jazz Petite-Bourgogne (or Burgundy Jazz. It is presented in the FNC Lab section for "experimental, expanded and multidisciplinary cinematic forms at the crossroads of cinema, art and new technologies." Jazz Petite-Bourgogne explores the rich history of Montreal's jazz scene from the perspective of the black community in the neighbourhood called Little Burgundy or Petite-Bourgogne (formerly called St-Antoine or St-Henri).

The 42nd Festival du nouveau cinéma presents 273 films from October 9–20 at various venues around downtown Montreal.

2013 Toronto International Film Festival announces award winners

Toronto – The 38th Toronto International Film Festival® today announced its award recipients at a reception at the Intercontinental Hotel in Toronto.

YOUTUBE AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN SHORT FILM

The winner of the YouTube Award for Best Canadian Short Film goes to Walter Woodman and Patrick Cederberg for Noah. The jury, comprised of writer Rafael Katigbak, writer, director Nathan Morlando and documentary filmmaker Nisha Pahuja, remarked: “This film is a commentary on the ephemeral, disposable, A.D.D. culture that many of us are consumed by and living in. It tells us a story in a way we’ve never seen before and it tells it well. It’s fresh, innovative, and had the remarkable ability to embody complex emotion through the simple gesture of a mouse.” The award offers a $10,000 cash prize. Honourable mentions go to Kevan Funke’s Yellowhead, and Fraser Munden and Neil Rathbone’s The Chaperone 3D.

Call for submissions: 2014 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival

The Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival has put out a call for submissions for their 2014 festival which takes place in the spring.

The Hot Docs festival is the largest documentary festival in North America, and a critical launch pad for films. The festival is an Academy accredited festival, and the winner of the Best Short Documentary award automatically becomes qualified for consideration at the next Academy Awards.

The deadlines and fees have changed this year. The Early Bird Deadline is November 22, 2013, the regular deadline is December 13, 2013, and the late deadline is January 3, 2014. Fees range from $25-50 for short documentaries and $50-$150 for feature-length documentaries.

Academy's Governors Awards go to Angelina Jolie, Angela Lansbury, Steve Martin, Piero Tosi

Angelina Jolie, Angela Lansbury, Steve Martin and Piero Tosi to Receive the Academy's Governors Awards

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present Honorary Awards to Angela Lansbury, Steve Martin and Piero Tosi, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to Angelina Jolie. All four awards will be presented at the Academy's 5th Annual Governors Awards on Saturday, November 16, at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center®.

“The Governors Awards pay tribute to individuals who’ve made indelible contributions in their respective fields,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “We couldn’t be more excited for this year’s honorees and look forward to bringing their peers and colleagues together to celebrate their extraordinary achievements.”

2013 Toronto International Film Festival, September 5-15

The Toronto International Film Festival kicks off its 38th annual edition tonight. The official opening night film is by Bill Condon's The Fifth Estate, the very timely portrayal of the founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange. The dramatic thriller stars Daniel Brühl and Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange.

Also screening tonight are Unbeatable by Dante Lam, To Repel Ghosts: Urban Tales from the African Continent (African short films), A Story of Children and Film by Mark Cousins, Ilo Ilo by Anthony Chen, Tim's Vermeer by Teller, The Summer of Flying Fish by Marcela Said, the Palme d'Or winner Blue Is the Warmest Color by Abdellatif Kechiche, Salinger by Shane Salerno, Only Lovers Left Alive by Jim Jarmusch, Exit Marrakech by Caroline Link, Standing Aside, Watching by Yorgos Servetas, Closed Curtain by Jafar Panahi and Kambozia Partovi, An Episode in the Life of an Iron Picker by Danis Tanovic, The Past by Asghar Farhadi, Something Necessary by Judy Kibinge, Story of My Death by Albert Serra, and the Midnight Madness opening film All Cheerleaders Die by Lucky McKee and Chris Sivertson.

2013 Festival des Films du Monde – Award winners

AWARDS OF THE FESTIVAL DES FILMS DU MONDE (WORLD FILM FESTIVAL) – Montréal 2013

Jury
President : JIRI MENZEL, director (Czech Republic)
CAROLINE DHAVERNAS, actress (Canada)
MICHAEL KUTZA, festival director (USA)
PEDRO OLEA, director, scriptwriter, producer (Spain)
DAI SIJIE, director and writer (China - France)

FEATURE FILMS

Grand prix des Americas

TIFF announces 2013 fall programming at TIFF Bell Lightbox

TIFF ANNOUNCES A LANDMARK FALL LINE-UP
Season highlights include: The Cronenberg Project, Guillermo del Toro Master Classes, major retrospectives on Claire Denis and Coen Brothers, new releases from Jennifer Baichwal, Alanis Obomsawin and more.

Toronto – Starting October 3, TIFF Bell Lightbox audiences will be treated to an inspiring celebration of the best Canadian and international cinema, both past and present. This season includes a world premiere exhibition, major filmmaker retrospectives, free screenings, film-related workshops and new releases highlighting the best of contemporary world cinema.

TIFF proudly presents The Cronenberg Project, a multifaceted celebration of all things Cronenberg, including the world premiere of David Cronenberg: Evolution the most ambitious large-scale exhibition curated by TIFF. Visitors will experience an up-close and personal look at costumes, props, photographs, audio-visual elements, art work and set-design drawings from Cronenberg’s extensive filmography, including the typewriters from Naked Lunch, the instruments from Dead Ringers and the fly pod from The Fly. This exhibition will be accompanied by two film programmes, From Within: The Films of David Cronenberg, a full retrospective of Cronenberg’s films and Psychoplasmic Panic: Cronenberg and the Rise of Body Horror, a 10-film sidebar programme showcasing works by filmmakers influenced by Cronenberg’s vision.

2013 Toronto International Film Festival guest list, fact sheet

THE TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ROLLS OUT ITS RED-HOT CARPET FOR AN INTERNATIONAL ROSTER OF FILMMAKERS AND ACTORS

TORONTO — The 38th Toronto International Film Festival® welcomes an incredible guest list of celebrated talent from around the globe. Filmmakers expected to present their world premieres in Toronto include: Catherine Breillat, Nicole Garcia, Pawel Pawlikowski, Bertrand Tavernier, Steve McQueen, Godfrey Reggio, Denis Villeneuve, Bill Condon, Jean-Marc Vallée, John Wells, Ralph Fiennes, Richard Ayoade, Atom Egoyan, Matthew Weiner, John Carney, Jason Reitman, Jason Bateman, Yorgos Servetas, Liza Johnson, Megan Griffiths, Fernando Eimbcke, Alexey Uchitel, Johnny Ma, Biyi Bandele, Rashid Masharawi, Paul Haggis, Ron Howard, Eli Roth, Álex de la Iglesia, Bruce McDonald, Jennifer Baichwal, John Ridley, and Justin Chadwick.

The Festival also welcomes thousands of producers and other industry professionals bringing films to us.

Toronto International Film Festival announces 2013 Live Read, IMAX, Next Wave, Manifesto

FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FURTHER WAYS TO EXPERIENCE AND NAVIGATE 11 DAYS OF FILM
Enhanced experience with IMAX screenings
A look at the creative process with the return of Jason Reitman’s Live Read
Special selections through Next Wave and Manifesto initiatives

TORONTO – The 38th Toronto International Film Festival® today announced details of initiatives and special programming introduced to enhance the filmgoers’ Festival experience.

For the first time, the Festival proudly presents official selections and special screenings in stunning IMAX. Jason Reitman’s Live Read returns for an all-star read-through featuring a surprise cast. The Next Wave initiative sees a committee of young film enthusiasts highlight Festival films that appeal to their peers while, for the first time, the Manifesto initiative tasks the community organization with selecting films for audiences interested in the urban arts.

CBC's Glenn Gould Studio announced as Toronto International Film Festival venue

TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL PARTNERS WITH CBC TO BRING IN GLENN GOULD STUDIO AS NEW VENUE FOR 2013

TORONTO — Toronto International Film Festival® , in partnership with the CBC, is pleased to announce the Glenn Gould Studio as a venue host for various public and industry programming during this year’s Festival. The new venue will function as a main location for the newly expanded TIFF Industry Conference, which runs from September 6 to 12. Programming taking place at the Canadian Broadcasting Centre’s Glenn Gould Studio includes Industry Conference Keynote Session, Master Class, Moguls, Mavericks, Telefilm Canada PITCH THIS! on September 9 and Doc Conference (September 10 and 11).

“As the jewel of the Canadian Broadcast Centre, Glenn Gould Studio is just steps away from TIFF Bell Lightbox — the central hub for Festival activity,” said Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of the Toronto International Film Festival. “We welcome the CBC’s addition to Festival Village, and consider the venue an ideal spot for the special events and industry programming we have planned.”

Toronto International Film Festival announces 2013 Future Projections programme

FESTIVAL’S 2013 FUTURE PROJECTIONS PROGRAMME SHOWCASES MAJOR NEW VISUAL ART COMMISSIONS
Featuring six original installations prepared especially for David Cronenberg: Transformation and the North American premiere of Venice Biennale Silver Lion winner Camille Henrot

TORONTO — Future Projections celebrates the meeting point of cinema and the visual arts with a 2013 programme featuring installations from significant international and Canadian artists. This year, the popular and provocative city-wide programme is largely devoted to a single exhibition: David Cronenberg: Transformation — the visual art component of TIFF’s multi-faceted 2013 endeavour, The Cronenberg Project.Housed at the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art (MOCCA), the exhibition, curated by Noah Cowan and David Liss, sees six significant artists responding to a specific theme in filmmaker David Cronenberg’s work: the yearning to witness the next stage of human evolution. Artists include: Candice Breitz, James Coupe, Marcel Dzama, Jeremy Shaw, Jamie Shovlin and Laurel Woodcock. The exhibition runs from September 5 to December 29, 2013.

Future Projections will also feature Camille Henrot’s celebrated Grosse Fatigue, winner of the Venice Biennale Silver Lion, an exhibition of drawings by gonzo illustrator Ralph Steadman and a new installation by Radical Friend at the Drake Hotel. These works will be on display for the duration of the Festival, September 5 to 15, 2013.

Toronto International Film Festival announces 2013 Mavericks selections

MAVERICKS SET TO ENGAGE LEADERS FROM THE WORLD OF FILM AND CULTURE
Five world premiere screenings plus on-stage appearances by Spike Jonze, Harvey Weinstein, Beeban Kidron, Irrfan Khan, Ron Howard and Ken Taylor

TORONTO – The Toronto International Film Festival® has announced a prestigious lineup in this year’s Mavericks programme, set to offer audiences in-depth conversations with leaders in the film industry and beyond. Providing recollections, opinions and reactions, participating guests include filmmakers Spike Jonze, Ron Howard, Beeban Kidron, Chuck Workman, Madeline Anderson and Charlie Paul; actor Irrfan Khan; producer Harvey Weinstein; artist Ralph Steadman; Ken Taylor, former Canadian Ambassador to Iran; and Toronto Women & Film Festival founder, scholar and former TIFF programmer Kay Armatage.

“In Mavericks, we look for lively topics and great conversationalists,” said Mavericks lead programmer Thom Powers. “This year’s lineup includes great cinematic innovators and showcases film intersecting with music, art, technology, and politics. They are one-of-a kind events.”

Toronto International Film Festival announces 2013 Discovery selections

DISCOVERY PROGRAMME SHOWCASES 28 BOLD VISIONARY WORKS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

TORONTO — The Toronto International Film Festival® highlights 28 first and second feature films made by outstanding filmmakers from Canada and around the world in the Discovery programme. The inspiring lineup includes daring works and represents diverse perspectives from Hong Kong, France, Israel, Australia, Uruguay, Italy, Singapore, Costa Rica and South Africa.

"The Discovery programme exposes North American audiences to unique gems from today’s important global voices that will shape the films of tomorrow," said Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director of the Toronto International Film Festival. "The Festival is proud to recognize remarkable debut films with two prizes dedicated to Discovery filmmakers, and is committed to providing a nurturing environment for creative exchange."

Awards presented to films in the Discovery programme include the Grolsch Film Works Discovery Award supporting an exceptional filmmaker’s next project with a $10,000 cash prize, and the International Federation of Film Critics Award (FIPRESCI Prize) determined by a jury of esteemed international film critics.