Telefilm Canada is delighted by the announcements made today at the Toronto International Film Festival’s kick-off press conference. Twenty-one Canadian films with Telefilm financing will have their world premiere at this year’s festival – marking another highlight in a banner year for English Canadian cinema.

“This country is recognized the world over for both its great literature and the films born from these works,” said Wayne Clarkson, Executive Director, Telefilm Canada. “This year’s opening film, Fugitive Pieces, directed by Jeremy Podeswa and produced by Robert Lantos, is based on the international best-selling novel by Anne Michaels. The Tracey Fragments, from the novel by Maureen Medved and directed by Bruce McDonald and produced by Paul Barkin, and The Stone Angel, based on the beloved novel by Margaret Laurence and directed by Kari Skogland and produced by Liz Jarvis and Kari Skogland, will also have their North American premiere at the Festival. It is inspiring to see this country’s creators rediscovering our great Canadian stories.”

The first English-language feature film to cross the $1-million mark at the Canadian box office in 2007, Sarah Polley’s directorial debut Away From Her, based on popular short story by Alice Munro The Bear Came over the Mountain, premiered in a special gala at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival. Since then, the film has been garnering rave reviews and capturing audiences’ attention and hearts across the country. This success represents a significant turning point in the box-office presence of English-language feature films.

Clarkson added, “From the huge international epic co-production Silk, directed by François Girard to the very rooted films like Shake Hands with the Devil based on the book by Lt. General Roméo Dallaire and directed by Roger Spottiswoode, the upcoming slate of films for 2007-2008 reflects a diverse portfolio with all the elements of good movies: strong story, engaging characters and overall entertainment. Telefilm is proud of these films and we are confident that festival going audiences will enjoy them.”

Young People F*!*ing (director: Martin Gero; producers: Tracey Boulton and Steve Hoban) will open the Canada First! Program and L’Âge des ténèbres (director: Denys Arcand; producer: Denise Robert) and Eastern Promises (director: David Cronenberg; producers: Robert Lantos, Paul Webster and Stephen Garret (United Kingdom) will screen as Gala presentations.

Also screening at the 2007 edition of the Toronto International Film Festival are: All Hat (director: Leonard Farlinger; producer: Jennifer Jonas); Amal (directed Richie Mehta; producer: David Miller); American Venus (director: Bruce Sweeney; producer: Stephen Hegyes); Breakfast With Scot (director: Laurie Lynd; producer: Paul Brown); Continental, un film sans fusil (director: Stéphane Lafleur; producers: Luc Déry and Kim McCraw); Contre toute espérance (director: Bernard Émond; producer: Bernadette Payeur); Just Buried (director: Chaz Thorne; producers: Pen Densham, Bill Niven, Chaz Thorne and John Watson); Normal (director: Carl Bessai; producers: Carl Bessai and Andrew Boutilier); Poor Boy’s Game (director: Clement Virgo; producer: Damon D’Oliveira); Nos vies privées (director: Denis Côté; producers: Denis Côté and Daniel Fontaine-Bégin); They Wait (director: Ernie Barbarash; producers: Diane Boehme, Uwe Boll and Stephen Hegyes); Walk All Over Me (director: Robert Cuffley; producer: Carolyn McMaster); and Weirdsville (director: Allan Moyle; producer: Nicholas Tabarrok).

Partnering with the industry for success

The 32nd edition of the Toronto International Film Festival begins September 6, 2007. Through its Canada Showcase program, Telefilm is a long-time government partner of the Festival; both organizations are dedicated to spotlighting Canadian artists and their works, and providing them with the opportunity to develop audiences, discuss business deals and increase media visibility.

Telefilm also works with the industry to strengthen the business relationships between producers, distributors and exhibitors and creators, marking a pronounced improvement in the presence of English-language feature films at the domestic box office.