The 33rd annual Atlantic Film Festival (AFF) proudly launches its program of Atlantic Canadian film selections, including the much-anticipated Opening Gala, to be presented over eight days in Halifax, September 12-19.
"The Atlantic Canadian film selections are the heart of the Atlantic Film Festival year in and year out," said program director, Jason Beaudry. "We’re proud to begin the lead-up to the Festival by announcing the selection of over 80 Atlantic-produced films for this year’s program – a year-to-year increase of over thirty percent."
This year’s Opening Gala, sponsored by NBCUniversal, features the Atlantic premiere of Don McKellar’s, The Grand Seduction. Screening at Park Lane Cinemas on Thursday, Sept. 12, the film is about the small harbor of Tickle Cove that is in dire need of a doctor so that the town can land a contract to secure a factory which will save the town from financial ruin. Village resident Murray French (Brendan Gleeson) leads the search and when he finds Dr. Paul Lewis (Friday Night Lights’ Taylor Kitsch), he employs - along with the whole town - tactics to seduce the doctor to stay permanently. The Grand Seduction is a dramatic comedy of the highest international caliber, blending rural hijinx with heartbreaking humanity. Produced by Roger Frappier and Barbara Doran, The Grand Seduction is distributed in Canada by Entertainment One.
“I don't think I've ever laughed so much in my life making this film. No wonder ... when you're working with Brendan Gleeson, Mark Critch, Gordon Pinsent, Cathy Jones, Mary Walsh and Pete Soucy,” said Newfoundland producer Barbara Doran. “For many years I have admired the films of Roger Frappier and Don McKellar. It was a delight to work with them both.”
Following the Opening Gala film presentation, the Opening Night Gala, one of Halifax’s most anticipated parties, celebrates the start of eight days of fantastic films. Once again sponsored by NBCUniversal, the Opening Night Gala will take place at the Cunard Centre on Thursday, Sept. 12. Throughout the festival, the Atlantic Film Festival hosts several special events and parties to celebrate the movies, the people, and the Atlantic region. Further special events will be announced at the full program launch of the 33rd Atlantic Film Festival, August 20.
The CBC Atlantic Shorts Gala presents nine short films on Sunday, Sept. 15. The evening will feature works by an impressive cast of Atlantic Canadian filmmakers, including Lisa Rose Snow (NS), Emma Van Zeumeren (NS), Jillian Acreman (NB), Jesse Harley (NS), G. Patrick Condon (NL), Kevin A Fraser (NS), Stephen Arnold (NS), Stephanie Young (NS) and Harmony Wagner (PE).
Featuring the newest and most anticipated films of the year, moviegoers will want to be first in line to see the eight films comprising the 2013 Rogers Special Presentations. This year's lineup includes two films from Atlantic Canada: Jay Dahl’s edge-of-your-seat horror, There Are Monsters and the coming-of-age tale, Hard Drive, by Governor General’s Award-winning filmmaker, William D. MacGillivray.
This year’s Atlantic Focus Program spotlights a diverse group of feature-length films. Festival goers will experience enlightening documentaries by respected filmmakers: Teresa MacInnes and Kent Nason (Buying Sex) and Phil Comeau (Secretariat’s Jockey Ron Turcotte). Soak up thrills and suspense with Greg Jackson’sBunker 6 and Benjamin Steven’sWisp, and delight in the youthful drama of Hold Fast from director Justin Simms.
In addition to the CBC Atlantic Shorts Gala, the 2013 Atlantic Film Festival will present nine short film programs showcasing the best and brightest of Atlantic Canada’s emerging filmmakers. From drama and comedy to documentary and even an exclusively animated option, the Atlantic Shorts Program is sure to be one of the most popular propositions of the Festival.
"The Atlantic Film Festival is a celebration of film and filmmakers from our region and what a celebration we are having this year,” said executive director, Wayne Carter. “We are so fortunate to have such a vibrant and talented industry making important films for Atlantic Canada and the rest of the world.”
A complete list of the Atlantic Canadian program with film selections, filmmakers and schedule of screenings can be found online at atlanticfilm.com.
Tickets to the Opening Night Film and Opening Night Gala, as well as all Atlantic Canadian film programming, are available exclusively at the Atlantic Film Festival Online Box Office at atlanticfilm.com, beginning Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at noon.
The Atlantic Film Festival welcomes over one thousand film industry members each year. The Festival offers producers, directors, artists, musicians, composers, buyers and filmmakers the opportunity to come together and experience movies, music, keynotes, panel discussions and networking. This year the Atlantic Film Festival is introducing a new ‘All Access Industry Pass’. This pass allows access to all regular films, gala films, galas, receptions, special presentations, Industry day activities (New), the script development program as well as an industry contact list of participating industry members (by request only). The new ‘All Access Industry Pass’ is currently available at an Early Bird rate of $280.00 (including tax). The Early Bird deadline is August 21 at 5 p.m. Regular pricing will then follow at $330.00 (including tax) with sales and registration ending, August 28 at 5 p.m. Online sales and registration for the ‘All Access Industry Pass’ can be found online at atlanticfilm.com/festivals/atlantic-film-festival/all-access-industry-pass.
The full schedule of films and events for the 33rd Atlantic Film Festival will be announced Tuesday, August 20, 2013.