The Toronto Fall Season kicks off at Marshall McLuhan

On November 17th, 2009, we kicked off our fall season in Toronto, and things suddenly got so hectic that I no longer had time to write. Now I'm catching up.

The first day of our Toronto run of festivals was at Marshall McLuhan CSS. We've been to McLuhan a few times, and it's always a blast. The volunteers are always amazing, and the turnout we had was pretty spectacular. Imagine 600 students attentively watching Meatballs in a school gym outfitted with a huge screen and powerful digital projector? At McLuhan, they didn't need to imagine it. Meatballs was our Morning Gala, and REEL CANADA Executive Director Jack Blum was on hand along with REEL CANADA Facilitator Norma Dell'Agnese to answer questions after the film. Jack and Norma both happen to be stars of Meatballs, which is currently celebrating it's 30th anniversary, and remains one of Canada's most popular films ever.

Here are Jack and Norma being introduced by a couple of super-star student volunteers:


Meanwhile, across the hall, producer Niv Fichman was wowing students after a screening of The Red Violin with his stories of what it takes to get a film made in Canada. Niv brought the famous violin for show & tell, and left with a few would-be filmmakers' screenplays in his hands.



Tara Spencer-Nairn, the star of New Waterford Girl and Corner Gas (among many other movies and TV shows) was kind enough to participate in a special "spotlight appearance" that we cooked up, which gave her a chance to talk to students about what it's like to work in the film industry, and answer their questions. Tara showed a few clips of her work and let the students guide the discussion. It was an informative, eye opening chat, and we sure hope she'll come out to do it again sometime!

Here's Tara with Niv Fichman and that famous violin:


In the afternoon, young environmental activist and journalist Emily Hunter came to talk to students about conservation, ecology and doing something about the issues you believe in, after a screening of Sharkwater. Check out more about Emily and her work on her website. Here she is after an inspiring Q&A with about 500 students.



The most overwhelming and incredible part of the day came at the end, when the talented, beautiful and incredibly sweet [mega-superstar] Lisa Ray came to present Deepa Mehta's Water, in which she starred. Lisa is an internationally renowned actress, and she's probably one of the most gracious and lovely guests we've ever been lucky enough to host. Lisa is currently battling a rare form of cancer, and you can read more about her incredibly inspiring journey and outlook on life on her blog, http://lisaraniray.wordpress.com. While Lisa mainly talked about her work and not her personal life, her very presence was an inspiration and a reminder of the resilience, grace and strength people are capable of showing during difficult times. For me personally, meeting Lisa Ray was probably the most affecting moment ever at REEL CANADA.

Here's Lisa with a group of fans at Marshall McLuhan, holding the school mug they've just presented her with.



Stay tuned tomorrow for a post about our day at Monarch Park CI.

PROM NIGHT IN MISSISSIPPI Opens Tonight

Hi everyone,

We still haven't had time to sift through our photos and videos from the amazing day we had in Windsor earlier this week, but I wanted to update you on a great festival that we just had at Northern Secondary School in Toronto.

Northern is a REEL CANADA alumni - with two festivals under their belt, this year the school took on the challenge of mounting their own festival with a bit of help from us. The school organized their own projectors, screens and crew to staff the screening rooms, and showed four films today to a group of senior media, drama and English students. We provided REEL CANADA catalogues, DVDs, facilitators, lots of advice, and of course, help in finding some very cool guests.

Citizen Duane, a comedy about a young man who decides to run for mayor of his town, played to a packed house. Actor Devon Bostick (currently starring in Saw VI, for the horror fans) came out to the school to talk to students about his experiences in the film business, which he's been in since he was in grade one.

An enthusiastic crowd was on the edge of their seats for a screening of Pontypool, which was preceeded by a terrific short film called Deadspiel - a truly Canadian take on the zombie genre, in which the zombies are all members of a curling team. Director Jay Molloy was on hand to answer questions about his award winning short, which was recently named Best Zombie Short at the Toronto's Zombie Short Film Festival.

We also played One Week, and producer Avi Federgreen talked to students about working in the Canadian film business, and how he abandoned a lucrative career in computers to pursue his passion of working in film. An inspiring discussion for the aspiring filmmakers in the crowd.

The big story of the day, though, was our screening of the new Canadian documentary Prom Night in Mississippi.

In 1997, Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman offered to pay for the senior prom at Charleston High School in his home town in Mississippi under one condition: the prom had to be racially integrated. His offer was ignored. In 2008, Freeman offered again. This time the school board accepted, and history was made. Canadian filmmaker Paul Saltzman followed the students, teachers and parents in the lead-up to this very big day in the history of a small town.


Saltzman came out to Northern with his producer, Patricia Aquino, to talk to students about the film. Prom Night in Mississippi opens theatrically in Toronto tonight, so students at Northern got a sneak peak at this doc hours before the public audience. Tonight, Morgan Freeman himself will be coming into town for a special benefit screening to kick off the film's release. If you'd like to see the film for yourself, here are some upcoming screening times at theatres around the GTA:

Kennedy Commons 2
(Kennedy Rd & 401, 416-335-5323)
Nov 13, 2009 - 3:35 , 5:45 , 7:55 , 10:05
Nov 14, 2009 - 11:15 AM , 1:25 , 3:35 , 5:45 , 7:55 , 10:05
Nov 15, 2009 - 11:15 AM , 1:25 , 3:35 , 5:45 , 7:55 , 10:05
Nov 16, 2009 - 3:35 , 5:45 , 7:55 , 10:05
Nov 17, 2009 - 3:35 , 5:45 , 7:55 , 10:05
Nov 18, 2009 - 3:35 , 5:45 , 7:55 , 10:05
Nov 19, 2009 - 3:35 , 5:45 , 7:55 , 10:05

SilverCity Mississauga
(Hwy 5, east of Hwy 403, 905-569-3373)
Nov 13, 2009 - 12:15 , 3:50 , 6:40 , 9:20
Nov 14, 2009 - 12:15 , 3:50 , 6:40 , 9:20
Nov 15, 2009 - 12:15 , 3:50 , 6:40 , 9:20
Nov 16, 2009 - 3:50 , 6:40 , 9:20
Nov 17, 2009 - 3:50 , 6:40 , 9:20
Nov 18, 2009 - 3:50 , 6:40 , 9:20
Nov 19, 2009 - 3:50 , 6:40 , 9:20

Varsity
(55 Bloor St W, 416-961-6303)
Nov 13, 2009 - 1:30 , 4:10 , 9:30
Nov 14, 2009 - 1:30 , 4:10 , 7:00 , 9:30
Nov 15, 2009 - 1:30 , 4:10 , 7:00 , 9:30
Nov 16, 2009 - 1:30 , 4:10 , 7:00 , 9:30
Nov 17, 2009 - 1:30 , 4:10 , 7:00 , 9:30
Nov 18, 2009 - 1:30 , 4:10 , 7:00 , 9:30
Nov 19, 2009 - 1:30 , 4:10 , 7:00 , 9:30

For more info, you can also check out the film's website, www.promnightinmississippi.com.

Feore Your Consideration...

My colleague Mark and I are currently at the train station in Windsor waiting for our ride back home after an amazing festival day here. It's been a long and really fantastic couple of days, so stay tuned here for photos and reports about it in the coming days.

Meanwhile, here's a little story for you. While setting up for our REEL CANADA Festival here in Windsor, I noticed a star for Colm Feore (a Windsor native) on their walk of fame:



The star was right in front of the (really beautiful) Capitol Theatre, where we were holding our event:



By coincidence, we were screening on of Colm Feore's films there in the afternoon. Bon Cop Bad Cop:



At the end of the screening, our Facilitator Norma Dell'Agnese asked the students to name the (American) sci-fi film that Feore co-starred in with Vin Diesel. The sharp Windsorites got it right away. Hint: this was outfit ...



While Colm was unfortunately unable to be with us in Windsor for this screening, he has been a great supporter of REEL CANADA, and has come out to schools in the past. Here he is with some student volunteers at Parkdale C.I. in Toronto last year:



That's it for our little photo-spotlight on Windsor's own Colm Feore. Next up on the RC blog, we'll share some video clips with you of a Windsor Q&A with filmmakers Adam Brodie and Dave Derewlany (check them out at www.adamanddave.com).

WINDSOR FILM CHOICES ANNOUNCED!

As I mentioned a couple of days ago, we're launching our season with a nine school event in Windsor, Ontario, on Tuesday - in fact, less than three days away!

We're heading out there on Monday November 9th to set up our travelling roadshow in the beautiful and historic Capitol Theatre in downtown Windsor. On the morning of November 10th, students from nine high schools across he public and Catholic school boards will be descending on the place to watch three films over the course of the day.

Windsor's films are going to be:

Bon Cop Bad Cop

This action packed comedy about two very different policement who are thrown together to solve a crime committed right on the Quebec / Ontario border is sure to be a hit. When it was added to our catalogue in Season Three, it was REEL CANADA's #1 film of the year - and it's remained popular ever since.


How She Move

How She Move is an inspirational story with a solid dance core which is full of wild choreography and booming rhythms. The best news is, we're bringing two of the talented young dancer / actors from the film to talk to the students! If we're lucky, maybe they'll even dance for us.



Pontypool

Scary, spooky and suspenseful, Pontypool plays with words and meanings and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end! At least one of the stars of Pontypool will be with us in Windsor ... possibly a couple! Wait until the 10th for the final reveal.


As a special bonus, we will also be featuring the short films of Toronto based comedians and filmmakers Adam & Dave. You can check out their stuff at www.adamanddave.com. They'll be with us in Windsor to show some of their short films and talk to students.

Check back here next week for exclusive photos, interviews and reviews of the Windsor event!

OUR FIFTH ANNIVERSARY SEASON!

Dear friends,

It has been a very hectic summer and early fall at REEL CANADA headquarters. We've been busy moving into a fabulous new office (here's a picture I took of my desk, on my phone - I'm especially pleased about the amazing poster for the Canadian classic The Rowdyman that I managed to find - it stars Gordon Pinsent, who is also in the REEL CANADA film Away From Her):




It's been a while since we have written to you, so let me update you on our fabulous Fall Season plans.

First of all, check out the beautiful cover of our Fifth Edition catalogue. You might recognize Joshua Jackson on the front cover. He stars in One Week, one of the awesome Canadian films that we've added to our catalogue this year.



We're going to be launching our Fall Season in Windsor Ontario with a nine school event at their historic Capitol Theatre on November 10th - less than a week away!!!

The following week, we're kicking off our Toronto dates, with the following four schools:

--> Marshall McLuhan C.S.S. on Tuesday November 17th

--> Monarch Park C.I. on Thursday November 19th

--> Woodlands School (in Mississauga) on Tuesday November 24th

--> Ursula Franklin Academy on Thursday November 26th.

In the next couple of days, I'll be announcing each school's film selections and giving you a sneak peek at the special guests and workshops we have in store for them.

But wait, there's more!

On December 2nd, we'll be doing an event in Pemberton, B.C., in association with the Whistler Film Festival. We're thrilled to be going to this new community, and we can't wait to bring you the scoop on that event.

That's it for now. Stay tuned for my next post, which will reveal the film picks from the students in Windsor.

- Kat