20 Canadian Films @Shanghai Intl Film Festival

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People, get your visas ready!

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 15th 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

Telefilm Supports The Production Of 9 Features With Total Funding Worth $14Million

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Telefilm Canada is announcing that it is supporting the production of nine new feature films (eight in English and one in French) through the Canada Feature Film Fund. A total of $14 million in funding will be allocated to these projects, which come from British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. This Q4 announcement pertains to projects where application deadlines are not applicable.

Western Region

The Colony
Director: Jeff Renfroe
Writer: Patrick Tarr
Production: Alcina Pictures
Distribution: Alliance Films

Winter continues and survivors of Colony Seven suspect the worst when they lose contact with the only other group of survivors. Sam, a mechanic with a tragic past, joins an expedition that discovers that the other group has been attacked by cannibals. In a race against time, Sam returns to his colony to restore hope to humanity. Starring Laurence Fishburne, Bill Paxton and Kevin Zegers.

Ontario-Nunavut Region

An Enemy
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Writer: Javier Gullon
Production: Rhombus Media
Distribution: Alliance Films

Based on José Saramago’s novel The Double, the film tells the story of a teacher who, upon discovering his own double while watching a DVD, seeks out the man. He ends up turning both of their lives upside down as the two men decide to find out who is the original and who the double. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

Home Again
Writer-director: Sudz Sutherland
Production: Hungry Eyes Film & Television
Distribution: Entertainment One Films

Three adults, raised abroad, are deported back to Jamaica, their native country. They learn that Jamaica has the highest per-capita murder rate in the world. The three embark on a journey filled with great obstacles, but along the way they find the most human of emotions: hope.

Inescapable
Writer-director: Rubba Nada
Production: Foundry Film
Distribution: Alliance Films

In Toronto, Adib receives devastating news: his daughter has disappeared in Damascus. He is forced to return to his homeland, which he hasn’t seen in 30 years, and confront his past. A thriller about a father’s desperate search for his child and about the chaos in a Middle East he had long left behind.

Old Stock
Director: James Genn
Writer: Dane Clark
Production: Sabbagh Productions
Distribution: Entertainment One Films

Involved in an accident that he can’t put out of his mind, Stock moves in with his grandfather in a seniors’ home, where he lives for two years before being kicked out. Thanks to Patti, a girl with a long criminal record, he realizes what he has to do. When his life again falls apart, Stock learns to look life in the eye and re-open his heart for a chance to move on.

Stage Fright
Writer-director: Jérôme Sable
Production: Serendipity Point Films
Distribution: Entertainment One Films

Scream meets Glee in this horror musical. A group of Glee-type teens are terrorized by a masked slasher while attending a prestigious musical-theatre camp. When the rehearsals begin, the blood starts to spill…

Wolves
Writer-director: David Hayter
Production: Copperheart Entertainment
Distribution: Entertainment One Films

Caleb is the star quarterback of his high-school football team. He’s faster and stronger than everyone else—and he also sometimes has trouble controlling his temper. What he doesn’t realize is that he comes from a bloodline of werewolves. One morning, he discovers the mutilated bodies of his adoptive parents. Assuming he is responsible for the carnage, Caleb begins his life on the run.

Quebec Region

Buddha’s Little Finger
Writer-director: Tony Pemberton
Production: Amérique Film
Distribution: Les Films Séville

In 1991, extremists try to seize power in the Soviet Union, and Pyotr Voyd wakes up in prison. His attempts to understand why he is in the custody of the secret police are further complicated by the fact that he constantly wakes up thinking he is a revolutionary poet from 1919.

Cyanure (French-language minority coproduction with Switzerland)
Writer-director: Séverine Cornamusaz
Production: Item 7
Distribution: Alliance Films

Full of hope, a young teen waits for his father to get out of jail. His dream to live life like a real family will be seriously jeopardized by a mother who is tired of waiting and a father whose long years of incarceration have rendered him alienated and irresponsible.

David Lambert Takes Home The Grand Golden Rail Award For Best Feature @Cannes

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We’re pleased to announce that the Belgium-Canada-France co-production Hors les murs (Beyond The Walls) from director David Lambert has won the Grand Golden Rail Award for Best Feature Film (Grand Rail d’Or) at the International Critics’ Week during the 65th Cannes Film Festival.

A group of film enthusiasts, members of the French railwaymen association Ceux du Rail, attends International Critics’ Week screenings and awards annually the Grand Rail d’Or for Best Feature Film and the Petit Rail d’Or for Best Short Film.

The International Critics’ Week, founded in 1962 and organized by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics, is the oldest parallel competitive section of the Cannes Film Festival. It showcases first and second feature films by directors from all over the world, and has remained true to its tradition of discovering new talent. Bernardo Bertolucci, Ken Loach, Wong Kar-wai, Jacques Audiard, Arnaud Desplechin, Gaspar Noé and François Ozon all started out at the Critics’ Week.

The International Critics’ Week presents a very selective programming so that the films can get a greater visibility.

About the film

Hors les murs (Beyond The Walls)
Director: David Lambert
Screenplay: David Lambert
Production: Boréal Films (Canada), Frakas Productions (Belgium), Productions Balthazar (France)

Paulo, a young pianist, meets Ilir, a double-bass player originally from Albania. It’s love at first sight. Confronted by Anka, Paulo finds himself out on the street. Despite Ilir’s misgivings, Paulo moves in with him. One day, when Paulo promises that he will love Ilir for the rest of his life, Ilir leaves the city and doesn’t return. A few days later, Paulo finds out that Ilir is in jail, and the two lovers embark on a heart-breaking relationship.

The Avengers, America's Wishful Thinking

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I don’t remember when was the last time I walked out of a 3D movie theatre in the middle of the film… Its a premiere… Right before the film started I was in awe with some of the trailer previews. A simple constellation shot in Prometheus brought me to tears, so it baffles me how you can mess up a film of such epic heights as Marvel’s The Avengers, but there you go, after half an hour, the blocking totally got on my nerves with all the low angles to make the characters look bigger than life. I wonder if they shot the same way in 2D but I wouldn’t have the patience, myself.

The next thing that got on my nerves is Robert Downey Jr., the smart ass with the best lines, whose character, Iron Man represents America’s wishful thinking, the archetype of the billionaire devoting his wealth into helping the world around him. That used to fly in 2010 but not anymore. Its not how human nature works and its why communism failed in the first place, so get over it! Its not gonna happen. Imagine Zuckerberg from Facebook dressed in a hero suit, flying around, fighting villains, risking his life to save the world! Wishful thinking!

Anything 3D with a team of superheros appearing in 10 previous blockbusters is a guaranteed blockbuster, but not sure if anyone is going to return to the theatre to watch this film twice or three times, like Avatar or even the Matrix which wasn’t even shot in 3D. There are unexplainable and inconsistent lengths in this film, dragging a non-existing story to 144 minutes!

Right after the aborted Avengers mission, Dark Shadows at the Imax Theatre appeared like a masterpiece. I learned that 3D alone can’t save a film. Technology seems to be creating many new issues for filmmakers.

And finally, I’m not into gossip, but just as I found the courage to admit to the world that I actually walked out on The Avengers, I was informed about a tweet Samuel Jackson posted in response to a negative review by New York Times film critic :

“#Avengers fans, NY Times critic AO Scott needs a new job! Let’s help him find one! One he can ACTUALLY do!”

lol

I’m feeling better already!
:)

Microsoft's E3 presser to stream through Xbox Live, Spike TV

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These days it may be easier to obtain credentials for the Cannes Film Festival than the E3 gaming conference in LA, but woe no more. Microsoft’s blowing the doors off of its upcoming E3 presser – at least virtually – with both Spike TV and Xbox Live streaming the event for all to see.

Spike and Xbox Live’s coverage begins one day ahead of the big show on Monday, June 4 – Microsoft likes to kick things off before anyone else at E3, you see. Interested parties can tune in at 12:30PM ET/ 9:30AM PT to catch the whole thing live.

Majesco Entertainment Announces E3 2012 Line-Up

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From NBA Baller Beats, the first motion-based participative basketball game that puts a real ball in players’ hands, to the next exciting iteration of the incredibly popular Zumba® Fitness video game franchise, Majesco Entertainment’s presence at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, June 5-7, is set to heat up the show floor with innovative and engaging motion-based experiences.

Raise your game with NBA Baller Beats, a fun, high energy and first-of-its kind participative basketball video game launching this fall exclusively on Kinect™ for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Don’t miss your chance to show your skills when Majesco Entertainment debuts the game at E3!

NBA Baller Beats gets players on their feet to master ball handling skills using a real basketball while playing to the beat of an exciting and diverse soundtrack. The Kinect motion sensor captures every movement of both player and ball to create an entirely new basketball gaming experience. Players train alongside their favorite NBA franchises unlocking songs, difficulty levels and over 100 posters and trading cards showcasing NBA players’ greatest moves. From hip-hop and rock to old school classics, the music is your guide as you become the ultimate baller.
After selling more than 6 million copies worldwide, the Zumba® Fitness video game franchise is breaking new ground in the fitness genre with an exhilarating new experience. Be there when Majesco reveals its next Zumba® Fitness game that’s set to hit store shelves this fall.

Zumba Fitness Rush Bollywood Style Pack will be released on May 15.

Actresses Sarah Gadon and Emily Hampshire To Receive Canadian Diamond Award @ Cannes

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Montreal, Canada, May 10, 2012 – Canada’s leading luxury jeweller Birks is today unveiling the two recipients of the inaugural Birks Canadian Diamond: actresses Sarah Gadon and Emily Hampshire were chosen by the Birks Selection Committee to receive the prestigious award. The Birks Canadian Diamond trophy will be presented to them at the Cannes Film Festival during Telefilm Canada’s first Tribute To Canadian Talent press event and reception on May 23. Birks created the award to recognize the accomplishments of up-and-coming Canadian talent who allow our country to be celebrated on the international stage.

“It is a great honour to present the first Birks Canadian Diamond to two young and successful Canadian actresses, Sarah Gadon and Emily Hampshire, who have both made their mark on the film industry with exceptional acting performances. Today their achievements bring them to the Cannes Film Festival as they both star in films selected by the Festival,” says Jean-Christophe Bedos, President and CEO of Birks. “Sarah and Emily’s talent can now be celebrated not only across Canada but around the planet. They are an asset to the Canadian film industry and help our country shine abroad.”

“Actors are the glue that holds together all the elements of a cinematic narrative for the audience. Sarah and Emily are two rising stars, who through their wonderful performances, elevate this very creative process,” says Carolle Brabant, Telefilm Canada’s Executive Director. “The two award recipients are also instrumental in the promotion of their films and in ensuring that these productions reach moviegoers. We are proud to recognize their talent with this partnership with Birks.”

The Birks Canadian Diamond
The Birks Canadian Diamond trophy draws inspiration from diamonds mined in Canada, which shine beyond our own frontiers to delight others around the world, much like film talent. The trophy includes a representation of THE BIRKS AMORIQUE DIAMOND®, Birk’s proprietary cut of diamond, available exclusively with diamonds mined in Canada.

The Birks Canadian Diamond, awarded for the first time, serves to recognize Canadians of different professional horizons whose talent and accomplishments have allowed Canada to be celebrated on the international stage. For the award’s inaugural edition, the Birks Canadian Diamond Selection Committee chose to recognize the work of film talent in conjunction with the 65th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, as this year marks one of the strongest Canadian selections ever at Cannes. The Selection Committee takes into account the impact of the nominees’ accomplishments and talent, the recognition they have already received from credible organizations as well as their peers, and the visibility they generate for Canada abroad.

Sarah Gadon
Sarah Gadon has made her mark on the Canadian and international film industry with a career she began at the age of 10. She recently wowed audiences with her performance in director David Cronenberg’s film “A Dangerous Method” (2011). This year marks a milestone for the young actress from Toronto: she will be attending the Cannes Film Festival as the star of two movies selected by the prestigious festival. David Cronenberg cast Gadon to play opposite Robert Pattinson in his thriller “Cosmopolis” in line for the coveted Palme d’Or, while she is also the female lead in Brandon Cronenberg’s directorial debut “Antiviral”, chosen for the Official Selection’s Un certain regard category.

Emily Hampshire
Emily Hampshire has seen her acting skills recognized by the Canadian Academy of Cinema and Television and the Canadian Actors Guild, and has received international accolades for her role opposite Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman in the Berlin Film Festival opener “Snow Cake” (2010). The Montreal-born actress starred in Canadian Jacob Tierney’s feature film success, “The Trotsky” (2009), before seeing David Cronenberg cast her for a role in his latest feature, “Cosmopolis”. Hampshire also makes an appearance in Xavier Dolan’s “Laurence Anyways”; a title selected in the Un certain regard category that marks the 23 year-old Quebec filmmaker’s third nomination at the Festival. Dolan asked the actress to perform a cameo in his latest feature as a prelude to the lead role he is currently writing for her in what will be his first English-language film, “Letters to a Young Actor”.

Telefilm’s Tribute To Canadian Talent is supported by Birks, Entertainment One, the Canadian Culture Centre in Paris and the house of couture ENVERS by Yves Jean Lacasse. The Hollywood Reporter is the event’s media partner.

Canadian Diamond Award To Be Presented At The 2012 Cannes Festival

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Canada’s leading luxury jeweller Birks and Telefilm Canada are proud to announce a new partnership to recognize Canadian film talent. Jean-Christophe Bédos, President and CEO of Birks, is announcing the creation of the Birks Canadian Diamond, an award celebrating individuals whose professional accomplishments allow Canada to shine beyond our country’s frontiers. The Birks Canadian Diamond’s first recipients will be awarded at Telefilm’s inaugural Tribute To Canadian Talent press event and reception on May 23 at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.

“It is with great pleasure that we are unveiling the Birks Canadian Diamond, an award created to celebrate the hard work and dedication of Canadians who excel in their craft or profession, allowing Canada to be applauded internationally,” said Jean-Christophe Bédos. “Through the creation of the Birks Canadian Diamond we wish to recognize that much like diamonds mined in Canada, pure Canadian talent shines beyond our own frontiers to delight others around the world,” he concluded.

“We are thrilled to see Birks join us in applauding Canadian filmmaking talent abroad,” says Carolle Brabant, Executive Director of Telefilm Canada. “This year is an extraordinary one for Canada at Cannes; what better moment for the creation of a tribute and an award that recognize the passion and energy that fuels Canadian cinema. This public-private partnership underlines our new corporate focus to increase our promotion and marketing of Canadian filmmakers,” she concluded.

The Birks Canadian Diamond, awarded for the first time, will serve to recognize Canadians of different professional horizons whose talent and accomplishments have allowed Canada to be celebrated on the international stage.

Canada at Cannes 2012
This year marks the 65th edition of the world’s most celebrated cinema event, the Cannes Film Festival, and Canada will be represented by the strongest contingent in recent history. Four Canadian directors find themselves part of the Official Selection: David Cronenberg (Cosmopolis) and his son Brandon (Antiviral), as well as Xavier Dolan (Laurence Anyways) and Chloé Robichaud (Chef de meute). In addition, the Canada-Belgium-France coproduction Beyond the Walls (Hors les murs) will compete in the Critics’ Week and the short With Jeff (Avec Jeff, à moto) will be welcomed to the Directors’ Fortnight.

About Birks
Birks was founded in 1879 and developed over the years into Canada’s bridal and diamond reference. Today, the Company is the premier retailer, designer and manufacturer of fine jewellery, timepieces and gifts. Birks & Mayors is a leading retailer with 58 luxury jewellery stores in Canada and the United States: 31 stores operate under the Birks brand in most major markets in Canada and 24 stores under the Mayors brand in Florida and Georgia, two retail locations in Calgary and Vancouver under the Brinkhaus brand and one retail location in Orlando under the Rolex brand. Visit www.birks.com.

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 www.telefilm.ca

Rossita Dove/Melody Swan

4 Canadian Films In Official Selection At Cannes 2012

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Cosmopolis by David Cronenberg, Laurence Anyways by Xavier Dolan, Antiviral by Brandon Cronenberg and Chef de meute by Chloé Robichaud will be shown as part of the Official Selection at the 65th Annual Festival de Cannes, which runs this year from May 16 to May 27.

1. In competition (feature length)

Cosmopolis
Directed by: David Cronenberg
Production: Prospero Pictures (Canada), Alfama Films (France)
Distribution: Entertainment One
International sales: Kinology

Starring Robert Pattinson and Sarah Gadon. New York City, not-too-distant-future: Eric Packer, a 28-year-old finance golden boy dreaming of living in a civilization ahead of this one, watches a dark shadow cast over the firmament of the Wall Street galaxy, of which he is the uncontested king. As he is chauffeured across midtown Manhattan to get a haircut at his father’s old barber, his anxious eyes are glued to the yuan’s exchange rate: it is mounting against all expectations, destroying Eric’s bet against it. Eric Packer is losing his empire with every tick of the clock. Meanwhile, an eruption of wild activity unfolds in the city’s streets. Petrified as the threats of the real world infringe upon his cloud of virtual convictions, his paranoia intensifies during the course of his 24-hour cross-town odyssey. Packer starts to piece together clues that lead him to a most terrifying secret: his imminent assassination.

2. Un Certain Regard

Antiviral
Directed by: Brandon Cronenberg
Production: Rhombus Media
Distribution: Alliance Films
International sales: TF1

Starring Caleb Landry Jones and Sarah Gadon. Syd March works at a clinic that sells viruses taken from sick celebrities to fans who want to be injected with them. On the side he supplies illegal samples of these viruses to piracy groups, smuggling them from his work in his own body. When he becomes infected with the disease that kills superstar Hannah Geist, he suddenly finds himself a target for collectors and rabid fans, and must unravel the mystery surrounding her death before he suffers the same fate.

3. Laurence Anyways
Directed by: Xavier Dolan
Production: Lyla Films, Les Productions Équinoxe (Canada), MK2 (France)
Distribution: Alliance Vivafilm
International sales: MK2

Starring Nathalie Baye, Suzanne Clément, Melvil Poupaud and Monia Chokri. Laurence Anyways is a tale of impossible love. On his 30th birthday, Laurence, who is very much in love with Fred, reveals to her, after much hesitation, his desire to become a woman.

4. In competition (short film)

Chef de meute
Directed by: Chloé Robichaud
Production: La boîte à Fanny

Clara’s overwhelming family can’t understand her solitary life, wishing she would find someone to grow old with. Following her aunt’s sudden death, Clara is put in charge of her pet. Little does she know that these are the first step to an unlikely, but empowering, friendship.

Tribeca Film Festival 2012 – A Twisted Hall Of Fame

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“If you’re one of those people who like to leave a movie theater feeling as if you’ve been punched, the Tribeca Film Festival stands ready to slug you.”, Neil Genzlinger (critic for the NYT)
I had to reblog because I couldn’t have said it better… Read the full article here: Tribeca Film Festival Blooms With Morbid Perversity.