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An Exceptional Year for Canadian Films at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival

04 September 2009

Montreal, September 7, 2009 – Telefilm Canada is pleased to announce that nine Canadian feature films have been officially selected for the 14th edition of the Pusan International Film Festival, which takes place in Pusan, South Korea from October 8 to 19, 2009.

“Telefilm recognizes Pusan as a valuable venue for Canadian filmmakers to showcase their work to international audiences,” states Sheila de la Varende, Director, International & National Business Development. “Participation in Pusan supports our efforts to increase foreign sales, encourage co-production, and raise the profile of Canada’s industry on the international scene, all of which are critically important to building a sustainable, vibrant film industry in this country.”

In 14 years, Pusan has become one of Asia’s most important film festivals, to which a market component, the Asian Film Market, was added in 2006. Telefilm has been organizing screenings for Pusan’s selection committee and facilitating the selection of Canadian films for this important international festival since 2005.

MIDNIGHT TO 4 AM, a Canada/Singapore/South Korea feature film project, has been selected to be part of the pitching sessions of the 12th Pusan Promotion Plan, the financing forum component of the Pusan Festival. The project is an omnibus feature length film, composed of six short stories by six directors, produced by Cine-Asie Creatives from Montréal.

Director and producer Peter Wintonick will be giving a masterclass and mentoring projects with the Pusan documentary wing called “AND”, the Asian Documentary Network, and with Pusan’s Asian Film Fund.

The following films have been officially selected for the festival:

World Cinema Section
UN ANGE A LA MER (dir. Frédéric Dumont; Production Company: Dragons Films, Palomar; Sales Agent: E1 Entertainment; Belgium/Canada) – Asian premiere;

CAIRO TIME (dir. Ruba Nadda; Production Company: Foundry Films; Sales Agent: E1 Entertainment; Canada) – International premiere;

COLE (dir. Carl Bessai; Production Company: Raven West Films; Canada) – International premiere;

DEDE, A TRAVERS LES BRUMES (dir. Jean-Philippe Duval; Production Company: Max Films, Zone 3 Sales Agent: Max Films International; Canada) – International premiere;

LA DONATION (dir. Bernard Emond; Production Company: ACPAV; Sales Agent: E1 Entertainment; Canada) – Asian premiere.

Wide Angle Section (Documentary)
PILGRIMAGE (dir. Peter Wintonick & Mira Burt-Wintonick; Production Company: Necessary Illusions Productions; Sales Agent: Films Transit International; Canada) – Asian premiere.

Flash Forward Section (Competition)
CHICAGO HEIGHTS (dir. Daniel Nearing; Production Company: 923 Films; USA/Canada) – International premiere.

Midnight Passion Section
STOIC (dir. Uwe Boll; Production Company: Brightlight Pictures; Sales Agent: Brightlight Pictures; Canada) – Asian premiere;

TRICK’R TREAT (dir. Michael Dougherty; Production Company: Bad Hat Harry Productions; Sales Agent: Warner Bros.; USA/Canada).

Developing and promoting the Canadian audiovisual industry
Telefilm Canada is a federal cultural agency dedicated to developing and promoting the Canadian audiovisual industry. Telefilm provides financial support to the private sector to create distinctively Canadian productions that appeal to domestic and international audiences. The Corporation also administers the funding programs of the Canadian Feature Film Fund, the Canadian Television Fund and the Canada New Media Fund. Visit www.telefilm.ca.

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For additional information, please contact:
Alejandra Sosa
Communications Officer and Press Attaché, Telefilm Canada
416-973-6436, ext. 2505 or 1-800-463-4607
sosaa@telefilm.ca