Canada back for the 16th Shanghai International Film Festival with ten films, including two in official competition
Montreal, June 7, 2013 – Telefilm Canada is pleased to announce that the Canadian film industry will be returning to the Shanghai International Film Festival for a fourth consecutive year. Canada is set to present ten films during the event where it has, for the first time, two features in official competition: A Gun & A Ring directed by Lenin M. Sivam and Maïna by Michel Poulette. Seven Canadian films have been chosen for the International Panorama section of the Festival as part of the The Best of Canada focus, and one film in the Spectrum section.
An essential gateway to the Asian market, the Shanghai International Film Festival (June 15 to June 23, 2013) marks its 16th edition this year. Last year, Micheline Lanctôt’s film Pour l’amour de Dieu (For the Love of God)won the Jury Grand Prize.
Fu Wenxia, managing director of the Shanghai International Film Festival, said: “This is my first year as Managing Director and I am thrilled to see a large selection of Canadian films programmed during this 16th edition of our Festival. My congratulations go out to all the selected Canadian films screening in competition and as part of our program The Best of Canada. I wish the two films competing for the Golden Goblet Award, Maïna and A Gun & A Ring, much success in Shanghai and I look forward to welcoming all the Canadian delegation at our festival soon!”
Anick Poirier, vice-president of international sales for Les Films Séville, which is presenting three Canadian films at the Festival this year (Maïna, Inch’Allah and All That You Possess), said, “’We are thrilled that the Shanghai Film Festival supports Canadian cinema so consistently. We are very proud of the films we are representing this year as it shows a diversity of culture and talent. Shanghai is a prestigious festival and being part of its selection is a great honour.”
Among other activities, the Festival will hold a number of news conferences, including one with Chinese media to mark the opening of The Best of Canada and one specifically for the Canadian films in official competition.
Official competition (Golden Goblet Awards)
A Gun & A Ring
World premiere
Director: Lenin M. Sivam
Production: Eyecatch Multimedia
International distribution: Eyecatch Multimedia
Maïna
World premiere
Director: Michel Poulette
Production: Films Maïna
International distribution: eOne Films International
The Best of Canada
Blood Pressure
Director: Sean Garrity
Production: Flying Horse Films
International distribution: Alpha Violet
Inch’Allah
Director: Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette
Production: micro_scope
International distribution: eOne Films International
La Légende de Sarila 3D (The Legend of Sarila 3D)
Asian premiere
Director: Nancy Florence Savard
Production: CarpeDiem Film & TV, Productions 10e ave
International distribution: Cinema Management Group
Picture Day
Asian premiere
Director: Kate Melville
Production: Snitch Pictures, Foundry Films
International distribution: H2O Motion Pictures
Rouge sang (The Storm Within)
Asian premiere
Director: Martin Doepner
Production: Ciné Télé Action
International distribution: Ciné Télé Action International
Rebelle (War Witch)
Director: Kim Nguyen
Production: Item 7
International distribution: Films Distribution
Tout ce que tu possèdes (All That You Possess)
Director: Bernard Émond
Production: ACPAV
International distribution: eOne Films International
Spectrum
Laurence Anyways
Director: Xavier Dolan
Production: Lyla Films, MK2
International distribution: MK2
7th Annual Project Market
As part of the 7th Annual Project Market, the Co-production Film Pitch and Catch will present 22 projects suitable for co-production with China, including a Canadian project. In 2012, 483 business meetings involving 712 buyers and representatives took place during the event.
Pear Tree Blossoms
Production: GreenGround Productions