TIFF Announces Canada’s Top Ten for 2014

Click on image to view full press release

Click on image to view full press release

Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival presents screenings, filmmaker Q&As, free events, and onstage discussions with celebrated Canadians Keanu Reeves, Naomi Klein, Avi Lewis and Sandra Oh

TIFF toasted the nation’s cinematic trailblazers tonight, announcing the top 10 feature, short film and student film selections for the 14th annual Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival™. Established by TIFF in 2001, the Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival celebrates and promotes contemporary Canadian cinema and raises awareness of Canadian achievements in film. The 10-day festival runs January 2 to 11, 2015 at TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto and presents public screenings of the selected films accompanied by introductions and Q&A sessions with filmmakers, as well as special events and free engagements. On January 10, the festival welcomes Canadian author and activist Naomi Klein and filmmaker Avi Lewis for an onstage conversation and a sneak peek at This Changes Everything, the upcoming documentary inspired by Klein’s new book. The one and only Keanu Reeves will close the festival, taking the stage on January 11 for an intimate discussion about his iconic career. The festival’s tour across Canada includes stops in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and Montreal; Vancouver’s The Cinematheque will host a special onstage conversation with star of the big and small screen Sandra Oh.

New this year, the festival has incorporated Student Shorts, formerly the Student Film Showcase, to spotlight the top student shorts from colleges and universities across the country. An archival screening of a Canadian classic, Not a Love Story: A Film About Pornography, also joins the lineup. And for the first time, audiences can vote to crown the Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival People’s Choice Award winner. These announcements were made at an industry event in Toronto tonight hosted by Canadian gem Teri Hart.

“Canadian movies and Canadian talent have proven themselves among the best in the world,” said Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director, Toronto International Film Festival. “Now it’s our chance to get together and celebrate our best. Thirty impressive new films, plus one-of-a-kind onstage conversations add up to a great way to warm up the winter.”

“The Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival slate spotlights the work of both veteran and emerging filmmakers,” said Steve Gravestock, Senior Programmer, TIFF. “We are truly proud to connect Canadian talent with an enthusiastic and savvy audience, bringing the community together in celebration of the Canadian film industry’s achievements in 2014, which by any standards has been a watershed year.”

Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival features for 2014, in alphabetical order.
Corbo, Mathieu Denis (Christal Films)
Félix et Meira (Felix & Meira), Maxime Giroux (FunFilm Distribution)
In Her Place, Albert Shin (A71 Entertainment Inc.)
Maps to the Stars, David Cronenberg (Entertainment One Films)
Mommy, Xavier Dolan (Entertainment One Films)
Monsoon, Sturla Gunnarsson (KinoSmith)
The Price We Pay, Harold Crooks (Filmoption International)
Sol, Marie-Hélène Cousineau and Susan Avingaq (Vtape)
Tu dors Nicole, Stéphane Lafleur (Entertainment One Films)
Violent, Andrew Huculiak

Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival shorts for 2014, in alphabetical order.
Bihttoš (Rebel), Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers
Bison, Kevan Funk
La Coupe (The Cut), Geneviève Dulude-De Celles (3.14*Collectif)
Cutaway, Kazik Radwanski (La Distributrice de films)
Day 40, Sol Friedman
Kajutaijuq: The Spirit That Comes, Scott Brachmayer
Mynarski chute mortelle (Mynarski Death Plummet), Matthew Rankin (La Distributrice de films)
Sleeping Giant, Andrew Cividino
Still, Slater Jewell-Kemker (Canadian Film Centre)
The Weatherman and the Shadowboxer, Randall Lloyd Okita (National Film Board of Canada)

Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival student shorts for 2014, in alphabetical order.
Backroads, Candy Fox (University of Regina)
Dinner Time, Alexander Mainwaring (Langara College)
Elpis, Akreta Saim (York University)
Fallow, Breanna Cheek (Emily Carr School of Art and Design)
La dernière danse sur la Main (Last Dance on the Main), Aristofanis Soulikias (Concordia University)
Lifers, Joel Salaysay (Simon Fraser University)
Light, Yassmina Karajah (University of British Columbia)
Never Stop Cycling, Colin Lepper (Sheridan College)
Running Season, Grayson Moore (Ryerson University)
Tomonster, Pui Ka Wong (Sheridan College)

For more in on Canada’s Top Ten including synopses of films, panels who choice the films, event and more please visit press release on TIFF website.

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