Canadian films on the international stage: Telefilm announces that five
Canadian films will be presented in Locarno Festival's official selection;
another six films featured at Karlovy Vary last week

MONTREAL, July 15 /CNW Telbec/ - Telefilm Canada announces that five Canadian directors will premiere at the 63rd edition of the Locarno Film Festival, held August 4 to August 14, 2010. Two features, Curling from filmmaker veteran Denis Côté and L.A. Zombie (Germany / USA / France) from director Bruce Labruce, have been accepted to the prestigious International Competition, where they will be among the 20 films from around the world competing for the "Pardo d'oro" prize (The Golden Leopard). The Festival's official line-up was unveiled yesterday in the Italian-Swiss town of Locarno.

"Locarno has a long and important history as a hotbed for the new generation of international filmmakers," said Sheila de La Varende, Director, National and International Business Development at Telefilm Canada. "So many Canadian productions competing on this prestigious world stage is proof of our unique voice and artistic vision."

"Under three different artistic directions at the Festival, my work has always been encouraged and respected," said Canadian filmmaker and Locarno veteran Denis Côté. "Without Locarno, the international visibility for my films would have been altogether different. It manifests as highly cinephile, which I am eternally grateful."

Denis Côté has won five awards in five years at Locarno, including for the films Les États Nordiques (2005), Nos vies privées (2007) and Elle veut le chaos (2008).

Other Canadian films selected to present at this year's Festival include:

    
    Filmmakers of the Present Competition - competition for emerging
    filmmakers
    Ivory Tower - Adam Traynor
    Jo pour Jonathan - Maxime Giroux
    You are There - Daniel Cockburn

    Jeonju Digital Project (short films)
    Les Lignes ennemies - Denis Côté
    

Again this year, Telefilm organized screenings in Montreal for programmers at Locarno to present Canadian films submitted for the 2010 edition of the Festival.

Canada at Karlovy Vary

Last week, from July 2 to July 10, six Canadian films were presented at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic. Catherine Martin's Trois temps après la mort d'Anna made its world premiere in the Official Selection, the only North American film featured in the Festival's Competition this year. Meanwhile, Patrick Demers' feature film debut Jaloux had its world premiere in the Forum of Independents Competition.

Other Canadian films at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival included:

    
    Open Eyes - features the latest outstanding work
    Les Amours imaginaires - Xavier Dolan

    Horizons - featuring recent productions from around the world
    Chloe - Atom Egoyan

    Another View - featuring films with unusual artistic approaches
    Tucker and Dale Vs Evil - Eli Craig (Canada / USA)

    Focus on Belgium
    Mr. Nobody - Jaco Van Dormael, (Canada / Belgium / France / Germany)
    

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 products that appeal to domestic and international audiences. Telefilm also administers the Canada Media Fund. Visit www.telefilm.gc.ca.

For further information: Eva Hartling, Senior Advisor, External Communications, Telefilm Canada, 514-283-0838, ext. 2090, [email protected], www.twitter.com/telefilm_canada