TIFF announces Canada’s Top Ten Films for 2009

Telefilm Canada – A Partner in Success

Montreal, December 9, 2009 – Telefilm Canada is proud to have participated in all ten of “Canada’s Top Ten” feature films of 2009. An annual event created in 2001 by TIFF as a way to honour excellence in Canadian filmmaking, Canada’s Top Ten feature and short films were selected by a jury comprised of industry professionals and filmmakers.

“It is a great source of pride to be a partner in the celebrated works of these filmmakers from across the country,” stated Michel Pradier, Director of Project Financing, Telefilm Canada. “These films reflect diversity of genre, come from both emerging and established filmmaking teams and are, quite simply, good strong films which have clearly resonated with audiences.”

A long time supporter of TIFF and its year-round initiatives, Telefilm is delighted that TIFF Cinematheque will screen Canada’s Top Ten films over eight days, starting January 14 and running until January 21, 2010. TIFF Cinematheque, one of five divisions of TIFF, is a year-round screening programme dedicated to presenting the history of world cinema on the big screen.

"Canada’s Top Ten provides the opportunity to discover and celebrate these films," said Piers Handling, CEO and Director of TIFF. "By screening the Top Ten selections at TIFF Cinematheque and in cities around the country we provide a unique opportunity for the public to see the best films of the year. It’s essential for the Canadian public to stand behind the efforts of these audacious filmmakers."

Canada’s Top Ten feature films for 2009:

Cairo Time – Ruba Nadda (Distributor: Mongrel Media)
Carcasses – Denis Côté (Distributor: FunFilm Distribution)
Crackie – Sherry White (Distributor: Kickham East)
Defendor – Peter Stebbings (Distributor: Alliance Films)
La Donation – Bernard Émond (Distributor: E1 Entertainment)
J’ai tué ma mère – Xavier Dolan (Distributor: K-Films Amérique)
Passenger Side – Matthew Bissonnette (Distributor: KinoSmith)
Polytechnique – Denis Villeneuve (Distributor: Alliance Films)
The Trotsky – Jacob Tierney (Distributor: Alliance Films)
The Wild Hunt – Alexandre Franchi (Distributor: TVA Films)

Telefilm 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 Canada Feature Film Fund, the Canadian Television Fund and the Canada New Media Fund. Visit www.telefilm.ca.  

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Media inquiries:
Alejandra Sosa – Communications Officer & Press attaché
(416) 973-6436 or 1-800-463-4607,
sosaa@telefilm.ca