Telefilm Canada To Partner On A Special Focus On Canadian Cinema Program At 2014 Palm Springs International Film Festival

PALM SPRINGS, Calif., Dec. 31, 2013 /CNW/ - The Palm Springs International Film Festival has announced that Telefilm Canada will once again partner with the Festival as the sponsor of this year's special Canadian Cinema showcase, "Focus on Canada" at the 25^th annual edition of the event. Telefilm Canada, the government cultural agency devoted to the development and promotion of the Canadian audiovisual industry, will host a day devoted to celebrating the creative strength and stylistic diversity of new Canadian cinema, capped by an event held at Lulu California Bistro on Sunday, January 5. The full "Focus on Canada" lineup includes 13 Canadian features, 9 of them marking their U.S. debuts at PSIFF. The Festival is scheduled from January 3-13, 2014.

"We're delighted to be partnering this year with Telefilm Canada, who've been –such a strong creative force in the emergence of Canadian cinema worldwide," said Festival Director Darryl Macdonald. "Canadian cinema has provided many of the highlights of this Festival over the course of our first 24 years, and it's fitting that for our 25^th, we join with Telefilm to celebrate the richness and diversity of Canada's vibrant, distinctive film culture by saluting this vintage year in its film production with the work of so many gifted new and accomplished talents.

"I am delighted that the Palm Springs International Film Festival is paying such a wonderful tribute to Canadian talent during its 25^th anniversary edition, which will be celebrated in dazzling style," said Carolle Brabant, Executive Director of Telefilm Canada. "Our partnership with the PSIFF allows us to showcase an outstanding Canadian program of films that includes Louise Archambault's Gabrielle, which represented Canada in the race for the 2014 best foreign-language film Oscar. The Festival generates significant promotional spinoffs, which will have a positive effect—in terms of audience-building and business opportunities—on the Canadian films being screened."

"Canada's extraordinary success on the international stage this year—as evidenced by the plethora of awards and sales activity— has inspired us to shine a spotlight on Canadian Cinema at the Palm Springs Film Festival this year," says Artistic Director Helen du Toit. "With Enemy and Prisoners (two films in one year!) starring some of Hollywood's biggest stars, Denis Villeneuve is now considered one of the world's hottest filmmakers. As a lead up to the Oscar race, we will be honoring Mathew McConaughey at our Black Tie Awards Gala this year for his performance in Jean-Marc Vallée's celebrated new film Dallas Buyers Club. Talent nurtured in Canada is launching at prestigious international festivals and finding distribution around the globe. Out of the 13 films we selected, over half already have US distribution, marking an increased interest from previous years. In the end the evidence is clear: the stars have aligned for Canadian Cinema. We applaud you!"

The Canadian film line-up includes the following films previously announced:

• Another House
• The Auction
• Empire of Dirt
• Enemy
• Gabrielle
• Gerontophilia
• The Grand Seduction
• The Manor
• Patch Town
• Sarah Prefers to Run
• Siddharth
• Stay
• Vic + Flo Saw a Bear

About Telefilm Canada
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 administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/telefilm_canada and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TelefilmCanada.

For more information, call 760-322-2930 or 800-898-7256 or visit www.psfilmfest.org.

SOURCE: Palm Springs International Film Festival

Steven Wilson, B|W|R Public Relations, 212.901.3920, [email protected], David Lee, PSIFF, 760.322.2930, [email protected], Douglas Chow, Manager, External Communications, Telefilm Canada, [phone] ext. 2225, or 1-800-567-0890, [email protected]

http://telefilm.ca

http://www.psfilmfest.org