Youth by Youth Cinema Series

THE CALGARY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR YOUTH BY YOUTH CINEMA SERIES

The Calgary International Film Festival's (CIFF's) 3^rd Annual Youth by Youth Cinema Competition is looking for young directors to submit their work and compete in the 2009 YYC Competition! Youth by Youth Cinema (YYC) is part of the Calgary International Film Festival and is an open competition for young filmmakers from grades 4 through 12. Over $2000.00 in cash and prizes will be awarded at the event and all finalists will be treated to a one of a kind opportunity as delegates and VIP's of the festival.

Competition Guidelines:

¬… Films must be between 30 seconds and 7 minutes in length.

¬… Both fiction and non-fiction films are accepted.

¬… Films must have been completed after August 2008.

¬… Films must be directed by youth aged 9 ’Äì 18 at the time of the film's completion.

¬… Any one applicant may submit up to three films (including group projects).

¬… All applicable copyrights (music/image/text sources) must be secured by the filmmaker(s).

¬… Preview screeners accepted ONLY on DVD formats.

¬… Preview screeners must be labeled with title, director name, contact email address, and running time.

Submission Deadline: July 31, 2009

Submissions to:

Juan Delgado - YYC Coordinator

Calgary International Film Festival

1320 ’Äì 15^th Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta T3C 0X7

P: 403.209.5908 F: 403-457-3784

E: juan@calgaryfilm.com

24 Canadian pianists ready to compete in prestigious Honens International Piano Competition

The world’Äôs next generation of concert pianists take part in Honens Stage One

Stage One of the Sixth Honens International Piano Competition gets underway with recitals in Calgary (March 21), New York (March 26-31), and Munich (April 25’Äì27). Ninety-three concert pianists hailing from 26 countries will each perform a 40-minute solo recital before a live audience in one of the three concert venues: Calgary’Äôs Rozsa Centre, New York City’Äôs Peter Norton Symphony Space or Munich’Äôs Gasteig.

A total of 24 Canadians will participate in the competition: Michael Berkovsky (Toronto ON), Maxim Bernard (Quebec City QC), Tiffany Butt (North Vancouver BC), Sheng Cai (Toronto ON), Sonia Chan (Toronto ON), Tina Chong (Banff AB), Dmitri Levkovich (Toronto ON), Ang Li (Toronto ON),
Scott Meek (Winnipeg MB), Christopher Miranda (Mississauga ON), Eldon Ng (Toronto ON),
Ilya Poletaev (Toronto ON), Sergei Saratovsky (Vancouver BC), Elizabeth Schumann (LaSalle QC),
Isaac Seo (Toronto ON), Benjamin Smith (Chatham ON), Jean-Philippe Sylvestre (Ste-Julie QC),
Wayne Weng (Vancouver BC), Daniel Wnukowski (Windsor ON), Irene Wong (Mississauga ON),
Todd Yaniw (Edmonton AB), Zhenya Yesmanovich (Toronto ON), Avan Yu (Vancouver BC), and Darrett Zusko (Windsor ON).

All performances will be recorded on digital video by the Honens recording team, which consists of an audio-visual engineer and a Honens representative, who ensure that the conditions are as uniform as possible and note the state of instruments, the acoustical qualities of the performance rooms, and any unusual circumstances. The Stage One performances will be reviewed by the First Jury in June and 21 pianists will be selected to advance to the Quarterfinals in Calgary. Members of the First Jury are Angela Cheng, Chairwoman (Canada), Katherine Chi (First Laureate 2000 Honens International Competition; Canada), Matthias Kirschnereit (Germany), and Ronan O’ÄôHora (United Kingdom).

In Canada, Stage One recitals will take place at the University of Calgary’Äôs Rozsa Centre on Saturday, March 21 at 10 am, 2 pm and 7 pm, and feature performances by twelve pianists from seven countries. Tickets to each session are $10 or $25 for a day-pass and are available through the Honens Box Office by calling 403 299 0140 or online at honens.com. For a detailed performance schedule visit honens.com.

The triennial Honens International Piano Competition, founded in 1992, is ranked among the world’Äôs greatest music competitions. It is unique in its mission to find the ’Äúcomplete artist’Äù ’Äì one who possesses technical mastery as well as expressiveness in a wide range of musical forms and styles, and whose music-making possesses imagination, innovation and relevance in today’Äôs world. The Sixth Honens Competition takes place in Calgary, October 22 to November 6, 2009. It is presented by Nexen Inc. and supported by Steinway & Sons, Irene Besse Keyboards Ltd., MacLeod Dixon LLP, Enbridge Inc., and TransAlta. For more information about Honens, please visit honens.com.

In search of the complete artist, Honens invites 93 pianists to international piano competition

Pianists selected for first public stage of 2009 Honens Competition

CALGARY, AB, January 9, 2009 ’Äì Honens announced today that 93 concert pianists from 26 countries have been invited to take part in Stage One of the Sixth Honens International Piano Competition. Honen’Äôs International Piano Competition is one of the highest-ranking musical competitions in the world. Its uniqueness lies in its mission to find the complete artist ’Äì one who possess technical mastery as well as expressiveness in a wide range of musical forms and styles ’Äì one whose music-making possesses imagination, innovation and relevance in today’Äôs world.

Stage One is the preliminary round of the competition where pianists from around the world perform individual 40-minute solo recitals. Stage One sessions take place before audiences in Calgary on March 21; in New York from March 26 to 31; and in Munich on April 25 to 27. A total of 11 pianists in Calgary, 50 in New York and 32 in Munich will perform.

The Application Screening Jury, which included Angela Cheng, Chairwoman, Honens First Jury; William Aide, Chairman, Honens Second Jury; and Stephen McHolm, Honens Executive Director reviewed 145 applications.

’ÄúIt’Äôs evident by the quality of the applicants that Honens has become one of the world’Äôs leading competitions,’Äù says McHolm. ’ÄúThe competition juries will face a challenging task ahead in choosing the 2009 Honens Laureates.’Äù

Stage One performances will be videotaped and reviewed by the First Jury at the Banff Centre in June. From a field of 93 pianists, 21 will advance to the Quarterfinals in Calgary, which begins on October 22.

Honens International Piano Competition is one of the world’Äôs most prestigious events of its kind. The Sixth Honens Competition takes place in Calgary, October 22 to November 6, 2009. It is presented by Nexen Inc. and supported by Steinway & Sons, Irene Besse Keyboards Ltd., MacLeod Dixon LLP, Enbridge Inc., and TransAlta. For more information about Honens, please visit honens.com.

Doing Leonard Cohen

DOING LEONARD COHEN

RETURNS TO CALGARY AFTER EIGHT YEARS

Calgary, AB ’Äì By popular demand, One Yellow Rabbit is pleased to bring back one of its most highly acclaimed creations: Doing Leonard Cohen.

Running from November 25 to 29 2008, in the Big Secret Theatre, the One Yellow Rabbit Ensemble reprises this multi-layered homage to Leonard Cohen, which features some 50 poems from early works like Death of a Lady's Man and The Spice Box of Earth, as well as an extended treatment of the novel Beautiful Losers.

Following the Calgary performances, One Yellow Rabbit travels to Toronto, where Doing Leonard Cohen and Sylvia Plath Must Not Die will be performed in repertory at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts from December 2 to 13, 2008.

Along with its sultry yet aggressive movement, the hallucinatory stream of consciousness captures the erotic and sensual qualities of Cohen's finest poetic voice. Put on your bell-bottoms and Greek sandals, then get set to revel in the sexy 60s as only Leonard can’Äîand did. Don't miss the show the Globe & Mail called "poetry in motion".

One Yellow Rabbit is also thrilled to present a special one-performance-only edition of Sylva Plath Must Not Die ’Äì Unplugged Sylvia Plath and Anne Sexton, two of the 20^th century's most prolific and complex literary figures, are inexorably linked, as much by their mutual zeal for life as by their infamous deaths.

Originally premiering at the 2008 High Performance Rodeo, the One Yellow Rabbit Ensemble invites audiences to revisit its voyeuristic journey to another era in a special pay-what-you-can performance on Saturday, November 29, at 2:00 pm in the Big Secret Theatre.

Doing Leonard Cohen

Adapted and Directed by Blake Brooker

Staged by Denise Clarke

Performed by the OYR Ensemble

November 25^th to 29^th, 2008

Big Secret Theatre

Tuesday-Wednesday $20, Thursday $23, Friday $29 and Saturday $31

Tickets available at Ticketmaster 403-299-8888 or ticketmaster.ca or oyr.org

For more information 403-264-3224 or oyr.org / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njRVGSfeyfY

Found Footage Festival in Calgary - 11/13 & 11/14

FOUND FOOTAGE FESTIVAL COMES TO CALGARY WITH ALL-NEW SHOW

New York, NY ’Äî The Found Footage Festival, the acclaimed touring showcase of odd and hilarious found videos, will make a special two-night appearance in Calgary next month as part of its 2008 North American tour. Hosts Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher, whose credits include the Late Show with David Letterman and The Onion, are excited to present their new lineup of video clips and live comedy at the Plaza Theatre (1133 Kensington Rd. NW) on Thursday, Nov. 13th and Fri., Nov. 14th (7 pm both nights). The event is being sponsored by the Calgary Underground Film Festival (calgaryundergroundfilm.org). Tickets are $15 ($12 for students) and are available in advance at Bird Dog Video (1333 16th Ave. SW).

The Found Footage Festival is a one-of-a-kind event compiles more than an hour's worth of footage from videos that were found at garage sales and thrift stores and in warehouses and dumpsters throughout the country. Curators Pickett and Prueher host each screening in-person and provide their unique observations and commentary on these found video obscurities. From the curiously-produced industrial training video to the forsaken home movie donated to Goodwill, the Found Footage Festival resurrects these forgotten treasures and serves them up in a lively celebration of all things found.

Among the new clips to be featured in the 2008 show:

-17 workplace sexual harassment videos, edited down to three minutes of just the best reenactments
-A brand-new collection of exercise videos featuring Playgirl's 1985 Man of the Year, a scantily-clad Angela Lansbury, and a guru who calls himself "The Laughing Yogi."
-An instructional video on how to toilet train cats

The Found Footage Festival was founded in New York in 2004 and has gone on to sell out hundreds of shows across the U.S. and Canada, including the HBO Comedy Festival at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal. The festival has been featured on National Public Radio, ABC World News, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and G4 TV's Attack of the Show, and has been named a "Critic's Pick" in dozens of publications, including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle and The Chicago Tribune.

To set up an interview with the curators, please contact Nick Prueher at 347-255-7350, or via email at foundfootagefestival@yahoo.com. Screeners and high-resolution images from the festival are also available upon request. Additional information can be found on the festival's website: www.foundfootagefest.com.

ABOUT THE CURATORS

Nick Prueher and Joe Pickett began collecting found videotapes in 1991 after stumbling across a training video entitled, "Inside and Outside Custodial Duties," at a McDonald's in their home state of Wisconsin. Since then, they have compiled an impressive collection of strange, outrageous and profoundly stupid videos. Pickett, a former Minnesota film technician, and Prueher, a former segment producer at the Late Show with David Letterman, have written for The Onion and Entertainment Weekly and recently directed the feature-length documentary, "Dirty Country" (www.dirtycountrymovie.com), which won the Audience Award at the 2007 South By Southwest Film Festival.

ABOUT THE CUFF

The Calgary Underground Film Festival is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to programming films that defy convention. The CUFF elevates Calgary's cultural landscape with the best in local and international independent cinema, challenging and entertaining audiences with boundary breaking films, compelling artist showcases and engaging events. More information about the CUFF can be found at www.calgaryundergroundfilm.org.

ABOUT THE VENUE

Built in the late 1920s, the Plaza Theatre is Calgary's last operating neighborhood theatre, offering first run art house cinema since 1995. The venue is located at 1133 Kensington Rd. NW (between 10th & 14th Streets). For detailed directions to the theatre, visit www.theplaza.ca. Tickets to the Found Footage Festival are $15 ($12 for students) and are available at Bird Dog Video (1333 16th Ave. SW).

New Works Calgary Presents: The People United Will Never Be Defeated!

The People United Will Never Be Defeated!

New Works Calgary presents pianist Corey Hamm on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 8 pm at the Eckhardt-Gramattˆ© Hall, Rozsa Centre.

"The People United Will Never Be Defeated" (1975) is a piano composition by the American composer Frederic Rzewski. It is a set of 36 variations based on the Chilean song "El pueblo unido james sere vencido!" by Sergio Ortega and Quilapayen. This song is one of many that emerged from the Unidad Popular in Chile between 1969 and 1973 prior to the overthrow of the Salvador Allende government. Rzewski composed the variations as a tribute to the struggle of the Chilean people against a newly imposed repressive regime.

Many pianists consider the technical demands of this work to be among the most severe of any well-known piece of the 20th Century. The pianist, in addition to needing a virtuoso technique, is required to whistle, slam the piano lid, and catch the after-vibrations of a loud attack as harmonics: all of these are "extended techniques" in 20th Century piano writing.

The concert will also include "Fickle" by Calgary composer George Fenwick, "kamelyin" by Gordon Fitzell, and Michel Gonneville's "Chute/Parachute".

Corey Hamm is Assistant Professor of Piano and Chamber Music at the University of British Columbia School of Music in Vancouver. Hamm is the pianist and a founding member of the prominent new music ensembles Hammerhead Consort and the Nu:BC Collective. He is regularly broadcast on CBC Radio as a soloist and chamber musician and is actively involved in the promotion and performance of contemporary music.

Tickets are available is advance at Campus Tickets at the University of Calgary (403-220-7202) or at the door: adults $20, seniors and students $15.

www.newworkscalgary.ca

The English Surgeon Lanches Calgary's Doc Soup Series

AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY THE ENGLISH SURGEON LAUNCHES CALGARY'S DOC SOUP SERIES

RENOWNED BRAIN SURGEON AND FILM'S SUBJECT DR. HENRY MARSH IN ATTENDANCE

Calgary, October 27, 2008 ’Äì The Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) and Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival are pleased to announce THE ENGLISH SURGEON (D: Geoffrey Smith, UK) will launch Calgary's monthly Doc Soup screening series. Called "funny, frightening, and deeply moving" by the New York Times and "a gorgeous and utterly moving portrait" by Indiewire, THE ENGLISH SURGEON won Best International Feature Documentary awards at both the 2008 Hot Docs and Silver Docs festivals.

THE ENGLISH SURGEON screens on Wednesday, November 5, at 7:00 p.m. at the Cineplex Odeon Eau Claire Market, 200 Barclay Parade, S.W. Renowned brain surgeon and the subject of the film, Dr. Henry Marsh, will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A.

About the Film

What is it like to have God like surgical powers, yet to struggle against your own humanity? What is it like to try and save a life, and yet to fail?

Driven by the need to help others where he can, Dr. Henry Marsh, one of London's foremost brain surgeons, has been going out to Kiev for over 15 years to help improve upon the medieval brain surgery he witnessed there during his first visit in 1992. Today, the patients see him as the great saviour from the West, desperate parents want him to save their child, and his Ukrainian colleague sees him as a guru and a benefactor. But for all this immediate satisfaction, Henry also sees grossly misdiagnosed patients, children who he can't save, and a lack of equipment and trained supporting staff. "It's like selling your soul to the devil, but what can you do? My son had a brain tumour as a baby and I was desperate for someone to help me. I simply can't walk away from that need in others".

It is this dilemma ’Äì one of his own making ’Äì that makes Henry so interesting. It lets his troubled and compassionate humanity through and reveals the universal theme at film's centre: the struggle to do good things in a selfish and flawed world.

With an original soundtrack by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, THE ENGLISH SURGEON openly confronts moral and ethical issues which touch every one of us. And all in a country called the Ukraine which is struggling to do the same thing’Ķ.

The Screenings

The Doc Soup monthly screening series brings the latest Canadian and international documentaries to the big screen in Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver. Subscription packages for Calgary's Doc Soup are currently available at www.docsoup.ca for $99 (save $45). Each subscription guarantees a ticket to every Doc Soup selection and comes with free bonus tickets to the Calgary International Film Festival. SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER: Purchase your Doc Soup Pass now and receive a bonus ticket to THE ENGLISH SURGEON - bring a friend for FREE! Single tickets for THE ENGLISH SURGEON are $12. Single tickets are not sold in advance and are only sold at the door, subject to availability.

Upcoming screening dates for Calgary's Doc Soup are January 7, February 4, March 4, April 1, and May 6. Doc Soup titles are announced at least one month prior to their screenings and, whenever possible, guest directors are in attendance.

Hot Docs is pleased to acknowledge Citytv as the Presenting Partner of the Doc Soup series.

Doc Soup: Award-winning documentary

AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY THE ENGLISH SURGEON LAUNCHES CALGARY'S DOC SOUP SERIES

RENOWNED BRAIN SURGEON AND FILM'S SUBJECT DR. HENRY MARSH IN ATTENDANCE

Calgary, October 15, 2008 ’Äì The Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) and Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival are pleased to announce THE ENGLISH SURGEON (D: Geoffrey Smith, UK) will launch Calgary's monthly Doc Soup screening series. Called "funny, frightening, and deeply moving" by the New York Times and "a gorgeous and utterly moving portrait" by Indiewire, THE ENGLISH SURGEON won Best International Feature Documentary awards at both the 2008 Hot Docs and Silver Docs festivals.

THE ENGLISH SURGEON screens on Wednesday, November 5, at 7:00 p.m. at the Cineplex Odeon Eau Claire Market, 200 Barclay Parade, S.W. Renowned brain surgeon and the subject of the film, Dr. Henry Marsh, will be in attendance for a post-screening Q&A.

About the Film

What is it like to have God like surgical powers, yet to struggle against your own humanity? What is it like to try and save a life, and yet to fail?

Driven by the need to help others where he can, Dr. Henry Marsh, one of London's foremost brain surgeons, has been going out to Kiev for over 15 years to help improve upon the medieval brain surgery he witnessed there during his first visit in 1992. Today, the patients see him as the great saviour from the West, desperate parents want him to save their child, and his Ukrainian colleague sees him as a guru and a benefactor. But for all this immediate satisfaction, Henry also sees grossly misdiagnosed patients, children who he can't save, and a lack of equipment and trained supporting staff. "It's like selling your soul to the devil, but what can you do? My son had a brain tumour as a baby and I was desperate for someone to help me. I simply can't walk away from that need in others".

It is this dilemma ’Äì one of his own making ’Äì that makes Henry so interesting. It lets his troubled and compassionate humanity through and reveals the universal theme at film's centre: the struggle to do good things in a selfish and flawed world.

With an original soundtrack by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, THE ENGLISH SURGEON openly confronts moral and ethical issues which touch every one of us. And all in a country called the Ukraine which is struggling to do the same thing’Ķ.

The Screenings

The Doc Soup monthly screening series brings the latest Canadian and international documentaries to the big screen in Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver. Subscription packages for Calgary's Doc Soup are currently available at www.docsoup.ca for $99 (save $45). Each subscription guarantees a ticket to every Doc Soup selection and comes with free bonus tickets to the Calgary International Film Festival. Single tickets for THE ENGLISH SURGEON are $12. Single tickets are not sold in advance and are only sold at the door, subject to availability.

Upcoming screening dates for Calgary's Doc Soup are January 7, February 4, March 4, April 1, and May 6. Doc Soup titles are announced at least one month prior to their screenings and, whenever possible, guest directors are in attendance.

Hot Docs is pleased to acknowledge Citytv as the Presenting Partner of the Doc Soup series.

Hot Docs

Hot Docs, North America's largest documentary festival, conference and market, will present its 16th annual edition from April 30 ’Äì May 10, 2009. An outstanding selection of 170+ documentaries from Canada and around the world will be presented to Toronto audiences and international delegates. Hot Docs will also mount a full roster of conference sessions and market events and services for documentary practitioners, including the renowned Toronto Documentary Forum, May 6 & 7, and The Doc Shop. For more information please visit www.hotdocs.ca.

About CIFF

Founded in 1998, the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) is a charitable, not-for-profit, cultural organization based in Alberta, Canada. Inspired by the pioneering spirit and maverick ideals of the community, CIFF showcases films that break traditional boundaries and forge new cinematic ground. CIFF celebrates an unparalleled breadth and depth of cultural diversity through the meaningful, accessible, and artistic medium of film and engages thousands of artists to showcase the best films from filmmakers in over 100 countries around the world. CIFF is held annually at the end of September, screening over 200 films and hosting several gala events, awards, and special presentations. For more information visit www.calgaryfilm.com.

Calgary Cinematheque presents High and Low

The Calgary Cinematheque presents acclaimed Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’Äôs High and Low (1963) for October featured screening

The Screening

The Calgary Cinematheque continues it’Äôs season-two programming with High and Low by famed Japanese director Akira Kurosawa.

High and Low

Adapted from Evan Hunter’Äôs pulp novel King’Äôs Ransom, the film could arguably be called one of the best thrillers ever made. Kurosawa’Äôs mastery of the art form is evident, and the film clearly demonstrates the director’Äôs two cinematic fortes ’Äì epic samurai thrillers and tragic tales of everyday people.

Starring Kurosawa mainstay Toshiro Mifune as Kingo Gondo - a powerful executive, who is faced with the ransom demands of a kidnapper who has supposedly taken his son - the plot twists and turns and reveals Gondo’Äôs inner anguish, comments on police methods and procedures, and demonstrates the true cost of ambition.

Shot in black and white, and presented in newly restored 35mm, the film is a must-see for fans of Kurosawa and great films alike. The film shows why Kurosawa is considered a true master of cinema, with every shot being an experience in pure cinematic joy.

The Calgary Cinematheque presents

Akira Kurosawa’Äôs High and Low

Thursday, October 23, 2008. 7:00 PM

Plaza Theatre, 1133 Kensington Road NW, Calgary, Alberta

Tickets: $10.00 for members/students/seniors, $12.00 for non-members.

Calgary Cinematheque Memberships available for $25.00 at the door

For information visit: www.calgarycinema.org

CIFF 2008 Award Winners

THE CALGARY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2008 AWARD WINNERS

Calgary, AB ’Äì The Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) is pleased to announce the award-winning films of the 2008 festival. This year's picks represent the best and the brightest of cinema from Canada and abroad, and awards were given for excellence in both short and feature-length work.

The following categories were represented, and awards were handed out to six deserving filmmakers who demonstrated outstanding achievement in their art form.

BEST OF ALBERTA SHORTS AWARD

The Real Place by Cam Christiansen

Cam Christiansen took home the Best of Alberta Shorts Award for the second year running with his sophomore effort The Real Place. Cam won this award last year with his debut short film I Have Seen the Future. This second short film was commissioned by the NFB and Cam once again used his trademark animated style to tell the story of playwright John Murrell.

MOVIEOLA BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM AWARD

Next Floor by Denis Villeneuve

Multi-award-winning Canadian director Denis Villeneuve was given the Movieola Best Live Action Short Film Award for his already lauded film Next Floor. The film was awarded the prestigious Canal+ Critic's Week Award at this year's Cannes. Based on an original idea by Phoebe Greenberg, created by Phoebe Greenberg and Carolyn Binet, with screenplay by Jacques Davidts, the film tells the story of a crew of gluttonous banquet guests who participate it what can only be called a ritualistic gastronomic carnage. The film showcases Villeneuve's unique and powerful cinematic voice.

BEST CANADIAN FEATURE

One Week by Michael McGowan

One Week, written and directed by Michael McGowan, was awarded City TV's Best Canadian Feature Award. McGowan can add this prize to his already prestigious collection, which includes: winner of the Writers Guild of Canada's Canadian Screen Writer's Award for Best Screenplay; the Directors' Guild Award for Best Director; five Genie Awards nominations; Grand Prix at the Paris Film Festival; the audience award at the London Film Festival; and the People's Choice Award for the Canadian Film Circuit. As part of the award, McGowan was awarded a $2,500 cash prize.

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

Let the Right One In by Tomas Alfredson

Let the Right One In has been collecting award-after-award during its short time on the festival circuit, and the CIFF Best International Feature Award adds to a long list which includes: the Jury Prize, Best Director, Fant-Asia Film Festival; Jury Prize, Best Film, Fant-Asia Film Festival; Jury Prize, Best Photography, Fant-Asia Film Festival; Best Narrative Feature, Tribeca Film Festival; Nordic Film Prize, Goteborg Film Festival; Nordic Vision Award, Goteborg Film Festival; and the Critic's Award, NatFilm Festival among others. The film has won over 15 International prizes, and continues to amaze critics and audiences alike. Deftly crafted by Alfredson, and powerfully adapted for the screen by John Ajvide Lindquist from his bestselling book of the same name, the film is unlike any vampire movie ever seen - a chilling and beautiful coming of age story.

HotDOCS BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE AWARD

ANVIL! The Story of Anvil by Sacha Gervasi

Adding to her list of prizes, Sacha Gervasi was awarded the HotDOCS Best Documentary Feature Award at this year's CIFF. The film screened at the Sundance Film Festival, and has taken home Audience Awards at both the Los Angeles and Sydney International Film Festivals. It also picked up another Best Documentary Award at the Galway Film Fleadh in July of this year. Follow the band through their mundane daily routines, their disastrous European tour, and regular in-fighting, Anvil! The Story of Anvil is an uplifting, inspirational, and bittersweet look at a band still chasing the elusive dream of fame and renown long past their prime.

AMERICAN EXPRESS PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD

Hope for the Broken Contender, Chris Scheuerman

The American Express People's Choice Award is given to the film of the festival garnering the most audience votes. Once again, this prize has been awarded to a production with a local connection, and is the first award for director Chris Scheuerman. After directing the short film Cornered, upon which Hope for the Broken Contender was based, Scheuerman raised the funds to shoot his first feature by working in Alberta's oil patch for several months to save up the $6500 budget. Shot in Calgary with a cast including former WBA Light Heavyweight Champion Eddie Mustafa Muhammad (who squared off with Robert De Niro in Raging Bull), Pat Fiacco (the Mayor of Regina, and a world class boxing official) and plenty of local Calgary talent, Scheuerman delivered his first K.O. with a film about the tough choices one must make when pursuing a dream.

About CIFF

Founded in 1998, the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) is a charitable, not-for-profit, cultural organization based in Alberta, Canada. Inspired by the pioneering spirit and maverick ideals of the community, CIFF showcases films that break traditional boundaries and forge new cinematic ground. CIFF celebrates an unparalleled breadth and depth of cultural diversity through the meaningful, accessible, and artistic medium of film and engages thousands of artists to showcase the best films from filmmakers in over 100 countries around the world. CIFF is held annually at the end of September, screening over 200 films and hosting several gala events, awards, and special presentations. For more information visit www.calgaryfilm.com.

CIFF announces Cash Prize

Calgary International Film Festival Announces $25,000 Cash Prize for Movie Mavericks

Calgary, AB ’Äì The Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) and American Express confirmed today it will offer a $25,000 cash prize to the winner of its newly created competition, Movie Mavericks. Inspired by the pioneering spirit and can-do attitude of Calgarians, Movie Mavericks will become the flagship of CIFF's program, and will include a competition adjudicated by a jury of well-known maverick filmmakers, an international marketing campaign and $50,000 in scholarship funding for up-and-coming maverick filmmakers enrolled in the SAIT film studies program through the American Express Movie Mavericks Scholarship.

"Movie Mavericks will have a real and significant impact on CIFF and the City of Calgary," Jacqueline Dupuis, executive director, Calgary International Film Festival, said. "It will allow us to differentiate the festival from other film festivals around the globe, attract industry professionals from around the world to CIFF, and create international awareness and cache for Calgary. This will significantly impact tourism and spending in the downtown core during the festival."

Beginning at the 2009 festival, which will run September 18 to 27, 2009, CIFF will curate a selection of films from around the world that exemplify what it means to be a Movie Maverick: films that forge new cinematic ground and break traditional models for success. These films will be showcased for the public in the newly created Movie Mavericks section and entered into competition. The winning filmmaker will win the American Express Movie Mavericks Award, which includes a cash prize of $25,000 donated by American Express.

In mid-2009, CIFF will announce the appointment of a well-known Movie Maverick to attend the festival and serve as head juror to the Movie Mavericks competition. The public will be invited to view the work of this honorary Movie Maverick during special presentation film screenings.


About CIFF
Founded in 1998, the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) is a charitable, not-for-profit, cultural organization based in Alberta, Canada. Inspired by the pioneering spirit and maverick ideals of the community, CIFF showcases films that break traditional boundaries and forge new cinematic ground. CIFF celebrates an unparalleled breadth and depth of cultural diversity through the meaningful, accessible and artistic medium of film. CIFF engages thousands of artists to showcase the best films from filmmakers in over 100 countries around the world. CIFF is held annually at the end of September, screening over 200 films and hosting several gala events, awards and special presentations. For more information, visit www.calgaryfilm.com.

CIFF Last-Minute Closing Gala Tickets

THE CALGARY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL RELEASES

LAST MINUTE CLOSING GALA TICKETS FOR BART GOT A ROOM

Calgary, AB ’Äì Calgary, AB ’ÄìThe Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) is pleased to announce the festival will celebrate its closing on September 27th with Brian Hecker's Bart Got a Room. As of Midnight Thursday, September 25, 2008 150 tickets for the screenings of Bart got a Room have been made available to the public for sale.

What: CIFF Closing Gala

VIPs: Director Brian Hecker in attendance

Date: Saturday, September 27, 2008

Time: 7:00 PM and 7:30 PM

Where: Globe Cinema, 617 - 8 Ave SW, Calgary, AB

Tickets are available at: www.calgaryfilm.com or at the Fido Box Office

The film was a hit at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival, and stars Academy Award® winner William H. Macy (Fargo, Magnolia), Cheryl Hines, and Steve Kaplan. Bart Got a Room is American writer/director Hecker's first feature, and the hilarious plot and superb cast makes it an ideal closing for the 2008 CIFF.

Featuring cinematography by award-winning Norwegian cinematographer Hallvard Brˆ¶in; edited by Annette Davey and Danny Rafic. Bart Got a Room is produced by Galt Niederhoffer, Celine Rattray, Tony Shawkat, Reagan Silber, and Jai Stefan. Executive producers are Stephen Benedek, Ed Hart, Dina Burke, Mario Fallone, Pamela Hirsch, Michael LaFetra, Bruce Lunsford, and Randy Simon Writer Brian Hecker. Bart Got a Room will screen at the Volkswagen Closing Night Gala on Saturday, September 27 at the Globe Theatre starting at 7:00 p.m. The Gala reception will follow at Flames Central.

The complete 2008 CIFF line-up, as well as festival tickets and passes, are available online at www.calgaryfilm.com from August 25, 2008. The Fido Box Office opens at Eau Claire Market and the CIFF Souvenir Program Guide goes on sale at all Calgary Starbucks locations on September 5, 2008.

About CIFF

Founded in 1998, the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) is a charitable, not-for-profit, cultural organization based in Alberta, Canada. Inspired by the pioneering spirit and maverick ideals of the community, CIFF showcases films that break traditional boundaries and forge new cinematic ground. CIFF celebrates an unparalleled breadth and depth of cultural diversity through the meaningful, accessible, and artistic medium of film and engages thousands of artists to showcase the best films from filmmakers in over 100 countries around the world. CIFF is held annually at the end of September, screening over 200 films and hosting several gala events, awards, and special presentations. For more information visit www.calgaryfilm.com.

CIFF Doc Series and Animation

CIFF DOC SERIES, FASHION IN FILM, AND AN ANIMATED FEATURE FILM ROUND OUT THURSDAY'S CALGARY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL PROGRAM

Calgary, AB ’Äì With only four days remaining of the 9^th Annual Calgary International Film Festival, time is running out to catch the many cinematic gems being presented at this year's event. This year, the festival has been marked with a strong line-up of documentaries, narrative features, and parties, and these great shows and fantastic events will continue until Sunday's close.

THURSDAY NIGHT DOCS

The Sweetest Embrace: Return to Afghanistan

Soorgul and Amir return to their country in search of their families after 16 years of living as refugees. When their paths diverge, their futures are filled with unexpected and unpredictable turns as they seek to find resolution in their lives. The Sweetest Embrace tells an intimate story set against one of the world's harshest, and yet beautiful, landscapes, where life has been shaped by war, but where spirit remains resilient.

Thursday, September 25, 2008 7:00 p.m. @ Cineplex Eau Claire

Bird's Nest

Bird's Nest follows two Swiss architects on two very different projects: the national stadium for the Olympic summer games in Beijing and a city area in the provincial town of Jinhua, China, as they build bridges between two cultures, two architectural traditions and two political systems. The documentary shows how Chinese culture affects the construction work, the specific architectonic form and the struggle to achieve it, giving insight about the society, the culture and everyday life in China.

Thursday, September 25, 2008 9:15 p.m. @ The Globe Upstairs

FASHION PICK

Gloss

This entry into the Life in Focus: Fashion in Film series is a satirical fairytale set in modern Russia, where unbridled capitalism has created a seedy, decadent lifestyle for Moscow's nouveau rich. Galya goes to Moscow to realize her dream of becoming a supermodel, but is promptly rejected and told she is too gangly to become a model. Through perseverance and help from her gangster ex-beau, she is catapulted to the cover of magazines ’Äì though in ways she never expected.

Thursday, September 25, 2008 9:30 p.m. @ The Globe Downstairs

Saturday, September 27, 2008 12:30 p.m. @ The Globe Downstairs

AMERICAN INDY ANIMATED FEATURE

Sita Sings the Blues

Three hilarious shadow puppets narrate both ancient tragedy and modern comedy in this beautifully animated interpretation of the Indian epic Ramayana. Director Nina Paley varies her rich animation, site gags and a 1920s jazz soundtrack by legendary singer Annette Hanshaw in order to tell "The Greatest Break-Up Story Ever Told."

Thursday, September 25, 2008 7:00 p.m. @ The Uptown Downstairs

Saturday, September 27, 2008 9:15 p.m. @ Cineplex Westhills

The complete 2008 CIFF line-up, as well as festival tickets and passes, are available online at www.calgaryfilm.com from August 25, 2008. The Fido Box Office opens at Eau Claire Market and the CIFF Souvenir Program Guide goes on sale at all Calgary Starbucks locations on September 5, 2008.

About CIFF

Founded in 1998, the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) is a charitable, not-for-profit, cultural organization based in Alberta, Canada. Inspired by the pioneering spirit and maverick ideals of the community, CIFF showcases films that break traditional boundaries and forge new cinematic ground. CIFF celebrates an unparalleled breadth and depth of cultural diversity through the meaningful, accessible, and artistic medium of film and engages thousands of artists to showcase the best films from filmmakers in over 100 countries around the world. CIFF is held annually at the end of September, screening over 200 films and hosting several gala events, awards, and special presentations. For more information visit www.calgaryfilm.com

CIFF Italian Party and Screening

CIFF ITALIAN FILM SCREENING AND PARTY LIGHTS UP TUESDAY NIGHT

Calgary, AB ’ÄìThe Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) is pleased to announce a series of special events and parties as part of this year's 9^th annual event. As part of CIFF's ongoing commitment to provide stellar cinematic and cultural experiences, this year's festival special events schedule highlights our visiting delegates, local filmmakers, award-winners and gala films.

The CIFF Italian Party is one of the highlights of the event schedule this year. This VIP cocktail reception and takes place at Osteria de Medici (201 10th St. NW) after the screening of CIFF's highlight Italian film, Gomorrah. While the Sicilian Mafia has drawn the lion's share of media attention over the years, it is the Neapolitan mafia, known as the Camorra, who have created an insidious oligarchy of power. Director Matteo Garrone's hotly anticipated Gomorrah (a dark play on words) weaves five storylines culled from the best-selling literary exposˆ© of the same title about Neapolitan underworld. Like the Godfather films, Gomorrah examines organized crime from the inside out, except that the latter is more concerned with the assorted lowlifes and foot soldiers rather than those at the centre of power.

Event Details

Screening: Tuesday September 23, 2008 7:00 p.m. @ The Plaza

Party: Italian Film Party

Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2008.

Time: 9:00 PM

Where: Osteria de Medici, 201 10th St. NW, Calgary, AB

Admission: VIP and Gomorrah patrons

CIFF Welcomes Special Guests to the 2008 Festival

THE CALGARY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

WELCOMES SPECIAL GUESTS TO THE 2008 FESTIVAL

Calgary, AB ’Äì The Calgary International Film Festival brings visiting directors, producers, and cast members to the festival, providing an up-close-and-personal look at the movie-makers taking part in this year's event. Special guests will be in attendance at their film screenings, and available for question and answer periods to discuss their work.

HIGHLIGHTED GUESTS

Noah & Logan Miller (Writers/Directors), Touching Home

Tue. Sep. 23, 2008 9:30 PM @ Globe Downstairs

Three months after their homeless father died in jail, twin filmmakers, Logan and Noah Miller cornered Ed Harris in an alley outside of the Castro Theatre in San Francisco and pitched him their autobiographical movie, Touching Home. Nine days later Harris called them and said he wanted the role. Touching Home is a courageous and honest portrayal of a family fighting to overcome the pain of wasted years and the crushing forces of addiction.

Carl Bessai (Director), Mothers&Daughters

Thu. Sep. 25, 2008 7:15 PM @ Uptown Upstairs

Sun. Sep. 28, 2008 3:00 PM @ Uptown Upstairs

Mothers&Daughters explores the hilarious, the ridiculous, and the complicated dynamics of mother/daughter relationships. Three mother/daughter pairs offer a diverse glimpse into the needs, the denials, and the inescapable love that these women feel towards each other. Ultimately, it is a celebration of the inexplicable bond of mothers and daughters.

Kent Tessman (Director), and Jennifer Lo & David Bajurny (Co-Producers), Bull

Sat. Sep. 20, 2008 4:45 PM @ Uptown Downstairs
Tues. Sep. 23, 2008 7:00 PM @ Westhills

Bull is a darkly comic neo-noir film, set among the heat-wave-baked skyscraper canyons of the Toronto financial district. A hapless stockbroker named Charlie finds himself caught up in a twisty web where no one, no one at all, is telling the truth. Not only did Kent Tessman write, produce and direct this film, he also edited, mixed, completed the visual effects and composed the score, showing his talents as a one man filmmaking tour-de-force.

Najeeb Mirza (Director), Sweetest Embrace: The Return of Afghanistan

Thurs. Sep. 25, 2008 7:00 PM @ Eau Claire

In Najeeb Mirza's The Sweetest Embrace, Soorgul and Amir return to their country in search of their families. The film tells an intimate story set against one of the world's most harsh and yet beautiful landscapes, in a land where life has been shaped by war and hardship but where spirit remains resilient.

Denny Tedesco (Director), The Wrecking Crew

Tues. Sep. 23, 2008 7:15 PM @ Eau Claire
Sun. Sep. 28, 2008 2:30 PM @ Uptown Downstairs

Nicknamed by their conservative predecessors, the Wrecking Crew was comprised of prodigious rock 'n' roll session players in the prolific California music scene. Responsible for the lush instrumentation in Phil Spector's Wall of Sound and in the Beach Boys' seminal Pet Sounds, the Wrecking Crew was behind nearly every hit of the '60s and some of the most enduring songs ever recorded.

GJ Echternkamp (Cast, Producer), Necessary Death

Fri. Sep. 26, 2008 11:30 PM @ Plaza
Sat. Sep. 27, 2008 2:45 PM @ Plaza

A Necessary Death is a taut dramatic tale of ambitious film students, desperate to be original, who spiral down a creative and moral hole from which they cannot emerge unscathed.

OTHER SPECIAL GUESTS OF NOTE

Michael Sparaga, Director Maple Flavour Films
Michael Selditch, Director Eleven Minutes
Murray Siple, Director Carts of Darkness
Taylor Greeson Director Meadowlark
Siu Tran, John Tran, Sam Tran & Daddy Tran, Director, Producer, Subject Daddy Tran
Steven Rose, Director Hi My Name Is Ryan

Juan Francisco Villa, Producer Alondra Smiles
Suzanne Chisholm, Director Saving Luna

Denny Tedescu, Director The Wrecking Crew

SHORTS

Local Filmmakers
Mitch Barany, City of Noise
James Reckseidler, Zinneke
Jonathan Joffe, Boiler Room
Cam Christiansen, The Real Place
Michael Peterson, Curse of The Piano
Devon Bolton, The Promise
Corey Lee, In Translation
Sandi Somers, The Panty Portal

Out of Town Short Filmmakers
Sara St. Onge, Lobotomobile
Jeff Chiba Stearns, Yellow Sticky Notes
Anna McRoberts, The Windfisherman
Ismael Nava, Greedy As A Pig
Randall Okita, Machine Wishbone