Opening Gala A Smash Hit — CIFF 2010 Officially Gets Underway Today

When TIFF premiered SCORE: A Hockey Musical, earlier this month, it was met with great reviews. No wonder CIFF decided to follow suit. There was an excellent turnout for this mainstream musical at the kick off last night.

Following the film, Writer/Director Michael McGowan (creator of the endearing road-trip story: One Week) talked about his passion for telling stories from a Canadian perspective. McGowan is proud to have made something his own three kids, ranging in age from 7 to 11, can enjoy. He added: "I can make these films. I feel like the luckiest guy in Canada right now!"

Then it was time to party! The Gala event at Flames Central was the perfect venue, with a smouldering performance as the evenings' highlight by Hawksley Workman. Not only did he co-write many of the songs featured in the film (with McGowan) but also played a role as Gump.

The ladies from Fashion Magazine gave me a glass of bubbly and I wandered over to get a look at the Sephora set-up where I met Natalie from the Chinook Centre store. This girl is one of the best in the business, trained at Blanche MacDonald in Vancouver and just back from Fashion Week in Toronto and TIFF. She has worked on Megan Fox and Hillary Swank so who am I to say no to a makeover, complete with smokin' eyes!

I'm ready for my close up...

Written by Diane Bennett

Iconic Canadian Filmmaker Michael McGowan in a league of his own with “Score: A Hockey Musical”

Newcomer, Toronto's Reid, with TV's George Stroumboulopoulos

I was delighted CIFF’s Opening Gala was family-oriented, as I was accompanied by the lone child in the audience. Here’s his review:

It was an exciting story! Farley (Noah Reid) loved to play hockey with his friends and his journey is about taking a challenge, doing something different and being true to yourself.

It’s really funny because hockey players like to fight but Farley doesn’t, so all kinds of hilarious things happen — which are funnier with the added songs and dancing — this also makes it more interesting. I’m going to recommend it to my friends.

Every Canadian should see it!

Written by Diane Bennett and her 10-year-old son, Christian

Closing Gala Awards Highlight Of The Night

After having had the opportunity to listen to three of the Mavericks Filmmakers talk about the Art of Directing during the morning Industry Panel presentation yesterday, it was all the more exciting to see one of them win CIFF's top prize at the Closing Gala last night.

Writer and Critic Geoff Pevere, Head Juror of the Mavericks series, spoke of the attributes this award celebrates, prior to naming the winning director and film.

"Freshness of vision and creation of its' cinematic language, for vitality of its' expression and the reward it offers to viewers who rise to its' challenges; embodying the spirit of fearless originality and trailblazing optimism, it defines the essence of the Maverick spirit. The inaugural 2009 Mavericks Award goes to Chris Chong Chan Fui for Karaoke."

Production Still from Karaoke

The filmmaker, was speechless when he accepted the award, consisting of a trophy and a cheque for $25,000 - the largest prize of its kind from a Canadian Film Festival.

Chris Chong with CIFF's Trevor Smith and Jacqueline Dupuis

Chong says he completed Karaoke in about 5-months, although he had been thinking about making the movie for a couple of years. During the industry panel discussion the writer/director said the subtext of his film is deception. Chong used his actors much like props and felt they were one of the least significant aspects of the production, noting he left them in the dark about the vision he had for the film. The director added he only needed professional actors so they would be on time and not talk on set.

Although Chong said he was very regimented when making the film - carefully plotting each scene on an excel spreadsheet and following a distinct three act structure - fellow Mavericks filmmaker Nicolas Perada (Juntos) said the Karaoke director was probably the only one who viewed his film this way, noting it had a very loose style.

The Borneo-born, and sometime Torontonian, filmmaker has previously won two of TIFF’s Canadian short-film prizes. Karaoke was also selected for the 2009 Cannes Directors’ Fortnight (which is rare for a first-time feature film to show at Cannes) after having been selected exclusively for the script clinic at the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival.

The Best Of Alberta (Shorts) Award was also presented at the Closing Gala to Calgary-based Writer/Actor/Director Karen Hines for A Tax On Pochsy, the latest installment in the series featuring Hines as the amusing character Pochsy, with the distinct style of a silent film star.

Karen Hines accepts her award from NFB's David Christensen

A Tax On Pochsy is a romp which tackles serious issues like pollution and child labour with a witty, whimsical delivery by the delightfully funny Pochsy whom, it seems, is developing a cult-status in Canadian cinema as Hines alter-ego.

Production Still from A Tax On Pochsy

CIFF named High Life the Best Canadian Feature film (Gary Yates, Writer/Director). It's an outrageous comedy about a motley crew of petty criminal morphine addicts who decide to step up their game with a bank heist. (Not your average Canadian stoner movie.) The hilarious antics of these Pulp Fiction-esque characters, set to a 70's soundtrack featuring classic rockers April Wine, make this a nostalgic bit of Canadiana, even if the filmmaker tries to pass off the location as anywhere USA.

Other winners announced were:

• Can Go Through Skin, Special Mention New Voices in Fiction
• Katalin Varga, Best International Feature
• 45365, Special Mention: New Voices In Documentary
• Tibet Song, Best Documentary Feature
• Dans Macabre, Programming Selection
  Outstanding Achievement
• 12 Notes Down, Best Documentary Short

(Diane Bennett is covering Events, Headliners & Music on Film)

Volunteers Put There Necks Out For Festival

CIFF Volunteers at the Black Carpet Gala

A Special Event If You're Interested In Filmmaking

Take a seat, tomorrow morning, at the Cantos Music Room (Second Floor, 134 11 Avenue S.E.) if you are planning on making or have a film you're looking to exploit. CIFF has brought together a fantastic line-up of industry experts to give you great insight as you embark upon your first or next filmmaking journey.

These two back-to-back sessions are worth their weight in gold and yet the price of admission is just $5. per program. It's rare to be able to attend a pair of industry panel sessions of this calibre without being a delegate at a costly trade show, so, if you're free tomorrow morning, be sure to attend. It would also be fascinating for anyone wanting deeper insight into the creative process of Directing, Producing and Distributing independent films.

Up first at 10 am is "The Art of Filmmaking", with an 80-minute run time. The focus of this discussion is on direction, with topics ranging from point-of-view to finding your voice and expressing ideas through cinema. The Panellists will talk about vision, expressiveness, style and how to put your own unique look on film. The panel is moderated by Filmmaker David Christensen, Executive Producer of the NFB, North West Centre, with featured guest Directors from the Mavericks Competition: Chris Chong (Karaoke), Damien Chazelle (Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench) and Nicolas Perada (Juntos).

Then, at 11:30 am, "Financing and Selling Your Film in the Digital Age" will look at the challenges faced by independent producers who are increasingly looking to non-traditional sources and partners to finance their films in these tough economic times. The session will also focus on changes to the traditional model of film distribution and how filmmakers can build audience within the new models such as Video on Demand, day & date distribution and online communities. Moderated by Calgary based Film Producer Shirley Vercruysse (Burns Films Ltd.) the panelists are: Tom Alexander (Mongrel Media), Robin Smith (KinoSmith Films), Aida LiPera (Visit Films and CIFF Mavericks Juror) and Slava Rubin (Indiegogo.com). This session will run 60-minutes and should be interesting, considering the range of traditional to emerging means of film marketing channels these guests utilize in their businesses.

That's Saturday October 3rd at Cantos. Here's a map:

(Diane Bennett is covering Events, Headliners & Music on Film)

There's more to the picture than meets the eye...

Rock Prophecies sets the bar high for guitarists and the Rock Doc genre alike, bringing a bygone era of seminal superstars back into focus through pictures, music, anecdotes and interviews. Enter the world of the Rock Gods, as seen through the eyes of Robert Knight, fabled photographer of Guitar Legends.

Whether you believe Jeff Beck is best or you're into Kenny Wayne Shepherd (one of the fastest selling white bluesmen since Eric Clapton) there's something for every rock and blues fan in this film. With the price of admission you'll get an all-access backstage pass following Knight, as the protagonist, as he seeks to find the embodiment of his foil (the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughn) in the next generation of guitar virtuosos.

40-years of shooting industry icons sets the tone for the new generation of axe men, like Chris Iorio from Adelita's Way and Sick Puppies' Shimon Moore, blowing across the frets and bending the strings. (Rock 'n Roll will never die!) But it is the phenomenal Tyler Dow Bryant, a Texan born 6-months after the Double Trouble front man’s death, which gives this movie its mystique.

Filmmaker John Chester (Director, Cinematographer and Editor) will be in attendance, along with Knight. Showtime is 7:30 pm at Eau Claire Market - Cineplex Odeon - Screen 5. Afterwards, use your ticket to attend an exclusive CIFF Event, the VW Rock N' Roll Red Carpet Party. Shine up your hobnailed boots and put on your patchwork jeans, or find something fashionably fierce to wear, then let down your hair. As Almost Famous 'band aide' Penny Lane would say: "it's all happening" at the Barley Mill in Eau Claire, following the screening.

(Diane Bennett is covering Events, Headliners & Music On Film)

Timing Is Everything

After snagging free parking near Eau Claire Market, last night, I step out of my car just as two guys walk by. I know them in an instant. The unmistakable black cap and leather jacket was a giveaway as I had, a few nights before, pre-screened Rock Prophecies. It's Robert Knight, Photographer and subject of tonight's Headliner, with Director John Chester.

"Oh man," I blurt, "You guys are my heroes!"

This gets their attention and I introduce myself and my 9-year old son who I am taking to see the animated feature My Dog Tulip, followed by It Might Get Loud (a great film).

"That's my friend Jimmy Page's movie," Knight smiles.

We talk, as we walk, about one of the the film's featured artists, Tyler Dow Bryant, among other things. Knight tells me Bryant has a gig in California Sunday night. He gives me a clue as to where.

"He's playing on the same stage where Jimi Hendrix first played."

I give. My Hendrix Trivia from back when I was younger than my son is not that good.

"The Monterey Pop Festival."

Apparently it's an annual event and still has the same cachet for up and coming artists today. The pair are amazed how everyone in town seems to know who Knight is wherever he goes, indicating the buzz generated by the screening which is a one-night stand followed by the VW sponsored party. We pause outside the door for a picture. My son is short and Robert is tall so you take what you can get. For a picture shot with a 2.0 megapixel phone, it's a pretty good one.

As we ride the escalator up to the theatres, where they have a scheduled sound check for their film, I can't help but mention the similarity to Knight's story and the one told by Cameron Crowe in the fictitious film Almost Famous, about a 15-year old kid named William Miller, played by Patrick Fugit, who is hired by Rolling Stone magazine to tour with, and write about the up and coming rockband Stillwater. The film also stars Kate Hudson as groupie Penny Lane and Billy Crudup as rock star Russel Hammond.

"He ripped me off, man! I got my start 6-years before Led Zeppelin got famous."

Knight is eluding to the comparison of his real-life experience as a young teen wandering into the rock world with a camera and winding up befriending the band members along the way. (Before working in the film industry, Crowe was a contributing editor at Rolling Stone, which he still frequently writes for.*)

After parting company, with a hope to talk again, I feel pretty hip as we walk outside the market doors to get some fresh air. A passerby agrees to take a picture of my son and I as we crouch under one of the door posters which emulates my thoughts.

Then, as if the evening could get more uncanny, a young musician, with a guitar strapped to his back, bursts out of the doors and starts telling me how he just met Knight. His name is James Drolet and the video has the story.

*For more on Crowe/Almost Famous, click: IMDB.

(Diane Bennett is covering Events, Headliners & Music On Film)

Local Screen Industry Out in Support of CIFF

Joe Novak (Joe Media Group) & Katherine Bennett

Gord Imlach (Publicist) Tina Alford (ACTRA) & Donna Serafinus (Seven24)

(Diane Bennett is covering Events, Headliners & Music On Film)