Three Canadian debut features at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival

Actors Roy Dupuis, Antoine l'Écuyer and Eve Ringuette part of the Canadian delegation

MONTREAL, June 26, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - elefilm Canada is delighted that seven Canadian films—including three debut features—are on their way to the 50th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, which runs from July 3 to 11, 2015, in the Czech Republic. The debut features Le bruit des arbres (The Sound of Trees) by François Péloquin, Le dep by Sonia Bonspille Boileau and Sleeping Giant by Andrew Cividino, will be presented alongside 23 kilometres by Noura Kevorkian, The Forbidden Room by Guy Maddin and Evan Johnson as well as The Witch, a Canada-U.S. production by Robert Eggers. Francis Mankiewicz's Les bons débarras, originally released in 1980, will also be a part of the Canadian lineup.

The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is one of the oldest film festivals in the world.

"What's fantastic about the Canadian selection this year is that it exactly reflects our mission at Telefilm," said Carolle Brabant, Executive Director of Telefilm Canada, "which is to encourage new talent as well as seasoned filmmakers in equal measure.  In competition at Karlovy Vary will be the debut features by François Péloquin, Andrew Cividino and Sonia Bonspille Boileau. These films will be screened together with those by seasoned filmmakers, among them Guy Maddin and Francis Mankiewicz. For us at Telefilm, this Canadian lineup confirms that Canada's film industry is healthy, diversified and constantly evolving."

Ivana Novotna, Senior Programmer at Karlovy Vary, added: "I found this year's Canadian productions very strong and, therefore, I am extremely pleased and honoured that the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival is going to present three remarkable Canadian films in our Official Selection. The impressionistic debut The Sound of Trees, by Francois Péloquin, with convincing performances by Antoine L'Écuyer and Roy Dupuis, will compete for the Grand Prix—Crystal Globe in the Official Selection—Competition; a psychological Innu drama, Le dep, by the talented Sonia Bonspille Boileau, will be a part of the Forum of Independents—Competition; and finally, 23 kilometres, a personal and moving documentary film by Noura Kevorkian, who captures boldly but with great sensitivity her father's soul locked in his ill body, will be presented in the section Documentary Films—Competition. I cannot forget to mention how happy I am that straight after its success in Cannes, the Festival will be presenting the film Sleeping Giant, an engaging and powerful debut feature by promising director Andrew Cividino."

The Sound of Trees will have its international premiere in the Festival's Official Selection competitive section, with the event to be attended by the film's director, Francois Péloquin, producer Ziad Touma, co-writer Sarah Lévesque and stars Roy Dupuis and Antoine L'Écuyer. The Sound of Trees will open in Quebec theatres at the same time.

Le dep will have its world premiere screening in the Czech Republic, in the Forum of Independents competitive section. Attending the screening will be director Sonia Bonspille Boileau, actress Eve Ringuette and producer Jason Brennan. Bonspille, one of the first Aboriginal women filmmakers to earn international renown for a French-language film, received funding under the Aboriginal component of Telefilm's Micro-Budget Production Program. Launched three years ago, the Program targets emerging talent, supporting them in the production and promotion of their first feature-length film, with an emphasis on the use of digital platforms for distribution and audience engagement.

Andrew Cividino's Sleeping Giant, which was selected for the 54th Critics' Week at the Cannes Film Festival this past May, will be presented in the non-competitive Another View section.

Documentary filmmaker Noura Kevorkian, whose film 23 kilometres will also have its world premiere, in the Documentary Films competitive section, will also be part of the Canadian delegation.

The Forbidden Room, by Guy Maddin and Evan Johnson, has been selected for the non-competitive Imagina section, which presents films with an unconventional approach to narrative and style.

The Witch, by American Robert Eggers, will be shown in the Midnight Screenings section, which offers a selection of horror and action movies.

Les bons débarras will be screened in the Out of the Past section, which showcases great classic films.

About Telefilm Canada—Inspired by talent. Viewed everywhere.
Created in 1967, Telefilm is dedicated to the cultural, commercial and industrial success of Canada's audiovisual industry. Through its various funding and promotion programs, Telefilm supports dynamic companies and creative talent here at home and around the world. Telefilm also makes recommendations regarding the certification of audiovisual treaty coproductions to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund and the Talent Fund, a private donation initiative. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/telefilm_canada and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/telefilmcanada.

SOURCE Telefilm Canada

Media enquiries: Françoise Lapointe, Advisor, External Communications, Telefilm Canada  [phone], ext. 2028 or 1-800-567-0890  [email protected]