Strong Canadian Presence at Venice International Film Festival

A Dangerous Method by David Cronenberg, in competition; The Moth Diaries by Mary Harron, Gala presentation; Marécages by Guy Édoin, Critics Week; Café de Flore by Jean-Marc Vallée and Another Silence by Santiago Amigorena, Venice Days

Montréal, July 28, 2011 – Telefilm Canada congratulates the Canadian industry for its outstanding presence at the upcoming Venice International Film Festival, with five films officially selected: A Dangerous Method by David Cronenberg, in competition for the Golden Lion; The Moth Diaries by Mary Harron, with a Gala presentation; Marécages by Guy Édoin at the Critics Week, competing for the Lion of the Future – Luigi de Laurentiis Venice Award and the KINO Audience Award; and Café de Flore by Jean-Marc Vallée and Another Silence by Santiago Amigorena in the Venice Days section.

“In past years, Venice has showcased Canadian cultural success with films like C.R.A.Z.Y., Incendies and Barney’s Version,” said Carolle Brabant, Executive Director of Telefilm Canada. “We will be back in the spotlight this year with seasoned directors and a bright new talent. Four international coproductions and a first feature – that’s a diverse and promising line-up. Telefilm is proud to help promote these works, which have the great honour of being part of the 2011 official selection at Venice.”

All of the Canadian films featured at the Festival, which runs August 31-September 10, 2011, were supported through the Canada Feature Film Fund administered by Telefilm Canada.

68. Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica

Competition
A Dangerous Method (Germany-Canada coproduction)
Based on a book by John Kerr
Director: David Cronenberg
Producer: Plausible Communications Corporation (Canada), Lago Film GmbH (Germany)
Distribution in Canada: Entertainment One Films Canada
International sales: HanWay Films

This film raises the veil on the turbulent relationships between fledgling psychiatrist Carl Jung, his mentor Sigmund Freud and Sabina Spielrein, the troubled young woman who comes between them. Starring Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender and Vincent Cassel.

Out of Competition – Gala presentation
The Moth Diaries (Canada-Ireland coproduction)
Based on a novel by Rachel Klein
Director: Mary Harron
Producer: Strada Films Inc., Media-Max Inc. (Canada), Samson Films (Ireland)
Distribution in Canada: Alliance Films Inc.
International sales: Wild Bunch International Sales

The Canadian director best known for American Psycho has adapted Rachel Klein’s cult novel for this film. A young girl haunted by her father’s suicide suspects her boarding school roommate of being a vampire. Starring Scott Speedman, Lily Cole, Sarah Bolger and Sarah Gadon.

Orizzonti
Black Mirrors at the National Gallery (court métrage)
Director: Mark Lewis

Critics Week
Marécages
Director: Guy Édoin
Producer: Max Films
Distribution in Canada: Métropole Films Distribution, Mongrel Media

Nine films, including seven in competition, were selected for this Festival section devoted to first features from around the world. Marécages is the only film from North America this year. The director’s feature debut was guided by producer Roger Frappier. On a drought-parched dairy farm in the Eastern Townships, a dramatic event throws the Santerre family into turmoil. Forced to confront one another, they also have to learn how to forgive. Starring Pascale Bussières, Gabriel Maillé, Luc Picard, François Papineau, Angèle Coutu and Denise Dubois.

The Giornate degli autori – Venice Days
Venice Days is an autonomous section of the Festival focusing on the best of independent, innovative cinema. Fourteen films were selected this year, including two from Canada.

Café de Flore (Canada-France coproduction)
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Producter: Item 7 (Canada), Crazy Films (Canada), Monkey Pack Films (France)
Distribution in Canada: Alliance Vivafilm
International sales: Films Distribution (France)
Jean-Marc Vallée returns to Venice Days, where C.R.A.Z.Y.’s brilliant career took off in 2005. An epic love story unfolds between 1960s Paris and present-day Montréal, at once tragic and lyrical, troubling and, despite all odds, full of hope. The mystical film chronicles the intertwined fates of Jacqueline, a young Parisian mother raising an only child, Antoine, a Montréal DJ, and the women in his life. Their connection: awkward, imperfect and incomplete human love. Starring Vanessa Paradis, Kevin Parent, Hélène Florent and Evelyne Brochu.

Another Silence (France- Canada-Argentina-Brazil coproduction)
Director: Santiago Amigorena
Distribution in Canada: Les Films Séville
International sales: Celluloid Dreams

In this thriller by Paris-based Argentine writer-director Santiago Amigorena (A Few Days in September), Mary, a Toronto police officer, finds her husband and son brutally murdered. She quickly links the crime to Pablo Molina, a drug dealer she had put away the year before. Driven by despair and a thirst for revenge, Mary tracks the killer, Molina’s 20-year-old nephew, to Argentina. Starring Marie-Josée Croze, Amber Goldfarb, Antoine Benz, Tony Nardi and Aaron Parry.
 

About Telefilm Canada
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. Telefilm also administers the Canada Media Fund’s programs. Visit www.telefilm.ca.

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For more information:
Andréane Leblanc, Advisor, External Communications
Telefilm Canada
514 283-6363, ext. 2066
leblana1@telefilm.ca
http://twitter.com/telefilm_canada

At Venice 
Laurent Boyé, Jazo P.R., press attaché
jazopr@me.com