Country of Maple’s Film Charm |Screening list of FOCUS CANADA released

The Canadian film industry is known as the “Northern Hollywood”. Thanks to its favorable geographical location, strong producing expertise and policy support from the local government, numerous Hollywood movies have chosen to be filmed and produced in the Country of Maple, such as the X-Men series and Deadpool of Marvel, Twilight that sweeps the whole world, The Revenant which wins the Oscar for Leonardo DiCaprio… Meanwhile, the Canadian filmmakers are also working hard to gain their position in the Cinema of the United States.
 
For the recent years, the film collaboration between China and Canada has been getting closer: many scenes of Finding Mr. Right are shot in Canada, while the Shanghai Vancouver Film School is also making attempts to develop film talents with international views. The Film Coproduction Treaty between the Government of Canada and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, which entered into force this May, is expected to raise the cooperation between the two countries to a higher level. According to the Treaty, the coproduction in the two countries is entitled to the same treatment as national citizens, including government tax subsidies, financial support and so on.
 
As one of the major events of SIFF Global Village Panorama, the FOCUS CANADA this year will show a number of new Canadian films. Let’s appreciate together the charm of light and shadow in the Country of Maple.

Screening List

The Last Breath / The Cyclotron / Boost / Kiss and Cry / The Child Remains / Chokeslam / Juggernaut / Hollow in the Land

Film Profile

The Last Breath

Directed by: Annabel Loyola
Written by: Annabel Loyola
Genre: Documentary

The hospital in the documentary Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal, was founded by Jeanne Mance in 1642 – the same period when the city was born. Just before its 375-year-old birthday, the hospital is going to be torn down. The feature brings the audience to the world interwoven with life and death, love and relationship, by depicting the courage and agility shown by the medical staff during the last days of the hospital. The director hopes to draw people’s attention to the trivial yet touching things happening at the place.
 
The director Annabel Loyola had worked in the film & TV industry of Paris and Montreal for nearly 20 years, and then decided to instruct and produce her own projects. In 2010, her first documentary feature, as well as her first story about Jeanne Mance, La folle entreprise, was awarded by the Historic Site and Museum of Montreal and also won a series of recognition from multiple film festivals home and abroad. The Last Breath is her second documentary feature.

The Cyclotron

Directed by: Olivier Asselin
Written by: Olivier Asselin
Starring: Paul Ahmarani/ Olivier Barrette/ Lucille Fluet
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ History

The Allied spy Simone must find and execute a Berlin scientist Emil who has discovered the way to build an atomic bomb earlier than the US. The scientist escapes with the secret, and is found by Simone on a night train heading Switzerland. Meanwhile, the German army is tracing Emil and tries to make him reveal the secret before he goes out of the country. Things get complicated when the quantum mechanics get intertwined in the chase.

Boost

Directed by: Darren Curtis
Written by: Darren Curtis
Starring: Nabil Rajo / Jahmil French/ Ntare Guma/ Fanny Mallette
Genre: Drama/ Action

Hakeem is the son of an East African immigrant couple, living in Parc-Ex, Montreal. He works in his uncle’s garage and earns extra money by providing luxurious sports cars for the local gangster. His good friend persuades Hakeem to work on his own, but everything becomes out of control. His life starts changing from then on.

Kiss and Cry

Directed by: Sean Cisterna
Written by: Willem Wennekers
Starring: Sarah Fisher/ Luke Bilyk/ Sergio Di Zio/ Brittany Bristow
Genre: Drama/ Romance/ Music/ Biography/ Sports

A romantic drama based on the story of Carley Allison, a promising 18 year old figure skater and singer who made medical history in her fight against a rare sarcoma. The leading actress Sarah Fisher and Carley Allison are also good friends in real life.

The Child Remains

Directed by: Michael Melski
Written by: Michael Melski
Starring: Suzanne Clément/ Allan Hawco/ Shelley Thompson
Genre: Suspense/ Thriller

An expectant couple\'s intimate weekend turns to terror as they discover their secluded country inn is a haunted maternity home where infants and mothers were murdered. The film is adapted from a famous true incident. There are also many scenes in the movie that pay tribute to classic thrillers in the film history.

Chokeslam

Directed by: Robert Cuffley
Written by: Robert Cuffley, Jason Long
Starring: Chris Marquette/ Amanda Crew/ Michael Eklund
Genre: Comedy

The mild-mannered deli clerk Corey finally meets again his high school sweetheart, a notorious female professional wrestler Sheena. Although she’s got a new boyfriend, Corey is still fascinated by her. Chokeslam is a film about pursuing true love in one’s own way despite pains and hurts, and also shows how dangerous it is to date with a bad-tempered wrestler.

Juggernaut

Directed by: Daniel DiMarco
Written by: Daniel DiMarco
Starring:  Amanda Crew/ David Cubitt/ Ty Olsson
Genre: Drama/ Family/ Crime

After a lengthy absence, the small town outlaw Saxon returns to his hometown, violently obsessed with the notion that his mother\'s death was not a suicide. He plans a revenge and even turns his brother into an enemy. Between them, stands their father Leonard, who is a priest. Saxon’ return makes Lenard caught into a belief crisis. As a story on revenge, obsession and sibling rivalry, Juggernaut explores the dark sides a malfunctioning family may walks into.

Hollow in the Land

Directed by: Scooter Corkle
Written by: Scooter Corkle
Starring: Dianna Agron/ Rachelle Lefevre/ Shawn Ashmore
Genre: Drama/ Suspense/ Thriller

When the infamous Keith Miller is put in jail for murder, his families are also paying the price. One year later, someone finds a body in a trailer park nearby; meanwhile, Keith’s son Braydon is missing and becomes the chief suspect. His stubborn sister Alison sets out to find her missing brother before him being arrested by the police. However, as she keeps investigating, more and more people die mysteriously. Soon Alison makes herself a suspect…