Canada comes out in force at the 15th Shanghai International Film Festival with 20 films, including one in official competition

MONTREAL, June 7, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Telefilm Canada is pleased to announce that Canada's film industry will be back at the Shanghai International Film Festival for a third year running with an outstanding line-up of 20 films, including one feature—Micheline Lanctôt's Pour l'amour de Dieu (For the Love of God)—in official competition. Nineteen Canadian films will be screened in the festival's International Panorama section. This section will include nine documentaries that have been invited to compete for the Magnolia International Documentary Awards (MIDA), as well as 10 narrative films screening as part of Focus Canada, among them recent festival successes.

An essential gateway to the Asian market, the Shanghai International Film Festival (June 16 to 24) mark its 15^th edition this year.

"Telefilm Canada, in partnership with the Consulate General of Canada in Shanghai, is proud to promote Canadian creators and companies in Shanghai while at the same time helping them to develop international partnerships and build new audiences," said Sheila de La Varende, Director, Industry Promotion at Telefilm. "Acclaimed around the world, our film industry is renowned for its vitality and creativity, as shown by the variety of movies being screened at the Festival. I'm proud that festival organizers have put the spotlight on our documentaries, which are recognized for their daring and their interest in social issues."

Madame Liujun Tang, Managing Director of the Shanghai International Film Festival, added "Congratulations to the Canadian films participating in the Festival this year. These films will greatly boost collaboration between Canada and China. Canadian movies get more and more popular each year with local audiences in Shanghai. We appreciate the support shown by Telefilm Canada and its wonderful team."

For his part, Paul Barbeau, director and producer of Après la neige (Winter Passed) and producer of Roméo Onze (Romeo Eleven), both selected for the Festival, added: "This is a real honour. That a personal movie like Après la neige (Winter Passed), made on a shoestring budget, can have its world premiere at such a prestigious festival on the other side of the world is both truly surprising and a wonderful gift. For Roméo Onze (Romeo Eleven), which has already been shown at more than 20 film festivals, Shanghai is a perfect event to close the circle. We're confident that the festival and its very vibrant market will generate sales in Asia."

Among other activities, the Festival will hold several news conferences, including one with Chinese media to mark the opening of Focus Canada and one specifically for the Canadian film in official competition.

Official Competition (Golden Goblet Awards)
The Official Jury for 2012 will be chaired by French director and producer Jean-Jacques Annaud (The Lover, The Name of the Rose). Sixteen films are in official competition, including one Canadian film.

Pour l'amour de Dieu (For the Love of God)
Director: Micheline Lanctôt
Production: Sherpas Films, Lycaon Pictus
International distribution: Filmoption International
Supported by the Canada Feature Film Fund

Focus Canada
Focus Canada is presented as part of the Global Village program in the Festival's International Panorma section. Among the countries featured in the Global Village program are the UK, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan.

La Vallée des larmes (The Valley of Tears) - World Premiere
Director: Maryanne Zéhil
Production: Mia Productions
Focus Canada opening film

Après la neige (Winter Passed) - - World Premiere
Director: Paul Barbeau
Production: Reprise Films

Collaborator
Director: Martin Donovan
Production: Dviant Films, This Is That Productions
International distribution: eOne Films International
* Co-venture with the United States

Hit'n'Strum - International Premiere
Director: Kirk Caouette
Production: 4Branch Productions

I'm Yours
Director: Leonard Farlinger
Production: New Real Films

Killing Ruth - The Snuff Dialogues
Director: Nicholas Kinsey
Production: Cinegraphe Productions
International distribution: Carlton Films

Lucky 7 - International Premiere
Director: Stephen Hayes
Production: Boomerang Films

La Peur de l'eau (Fear of Water)
Director: Gabriel Pelletier
Production: Go Films
International distribution: eOne Films International
Supported by the Canada Feature Film Fund

Roméo Onze (Romeo Eleven)
Director: Ivan Grbovic
Production: Reprise Films
Supported by the Canada Feature Film Fund

Sur le rythme (On the Beat)
Director: Charles-Olivier Michaud
Production: Christal Films
International distribution: eOne Films International
Supported by the Canada Feature Film Fund

Magnolia International Documentary Awards (MIDA)
This program, included in the International Panorama section, is organized jointly by the Shanghai International Film Festival and the Shanghai Television Festival. The Television Festival committee is responsible for awarding prizes, while the International Film Festival is responsible for screenings, ensuring that the films benefit from major visibility throughout the festival. Following is a list of the Canadian films in the program:

• 40 Days at Base Camp, Dianne Whelan; Rebel Sister Productions
• A People Uncounted, Aaron Yeger; Urbinder Films
• Les États-Unis d'Afrique (United States of Africa), Yanick Létourneau; Péripheria Productions, National Film Board of Canada
• Payback, Jennifer Baichwal; National Film Board of Canada
• People of a Feather, Joel Heath; Sanikiluaq Running Pictures
• To Make a Farm, Steve Suderman; Orangeville Road Pictures
• Trente tableaux (In Pieces), Paule Baillargeon; National Film Board of Canada
• Waking the Green Tiger, Gary Marcuse; Face to Face Media
• We Ain't Rich or Famous but We're the Happy Pals, Jay Bajaj; Bajaj Films Productions

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.gc.ca and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/telefilm_canada.

Media inquiries:
Douglas Chow, Manager, External Communications
Telefilm Canada
514-283-0838, ext. 2225, or 1-800-567-0890
[email protected]