Vancouver Hosts 2009 Canada International Film Festival

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 3, 2009 --

Vancouver, BC - - For one weekend only, February 7 – 8, 2009, the Canada International Film Festival (CFF) will showcase a diverse collection of North American and international feature films as well as thought-provoking shorts, documentaries, and animations. This year’s highlights include A Line in the Sand, which follows three New York detectives and their encounters with a homeless man who is arrested after urinating on the Mayor's limo, In Vivid Detail, a short film and unusual love story about an architect who suffers from Prosopagnosia—a neurological disorder that makes him incapable of recognizing faces, and Something to Eat, a Place to Sleep & Someone Who Gives a Damn, a documentary exploring the complex issues of homelessness in Metro Vancouver.

Just three years young, the CFF has already established itself as one of the top film festivals in Canada. “Our goal is to foster the creative interaction amongst independent filmmakers and audiences,” says Festival Coordinator, William Young. “Culturally diverse with a strong independent film community, Vancouver is the ideal city for such a festival and consistently attracts talented filmmakers from around the globe.”
The Canada International Film Festival’s diverse lineup has something for everyone—including kids!

Selected with children of all ages in mind, Midnight Matinee is an award-winning animated film that illustrates the artistic journey of a capricious camera and the personal discovery of its true potential.

All CFF films will be presented at Vancouver’s Firehall Arts Centre on February 8, 2009 (280 East Cordova Street, Vancouver). Individual screening tickets are $8. Several directors and VIP’s will be in attendance.

Juried and Audience Awards, including cash prizes for the Grand Jury Award, will be presented at the CLOSING NIGHT AWARDS CEREMONY, on Sunday, February 8, 2009 at 10pm at the Firehall Arts Centre.
(Film synopsis and screening times attached below)

About the CFF

Held each year Vancouver, BC, the festival brings the very best of world cinema to Canada and has exhibited films from over 90 countries around the world. The 2009 Canada International Film Festival will be held Saturday, February 7 to Sunday, February 8, 2009, at the beautiful Firehall Arts Centre, located in the heart of Vancouver. This year's program will showcase a wide variety of North American and international feature films as well as thought-provoking shorts, documentaries, music videos, animations, experimental films, student films, a screenplay competition, and more.

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For more information: www.canadafilmfestival.com
For media inquiries and interviews, please contact:
Lindsay Nahmiache / Publicist
Jive Communications in partnership with Mediatonic PR
Tel: 604.889.7996 / E-mail: lindsay@jivecommunications.ca

Interviews available with:
William Young – Festival Director

A Line in the Sand

The gripping story of one man’s fall from grace on the hard streets of New York City and how he ultimately finds redemption in the unlikeliest of places. A homeless man, known only as “Banzai”, is haunted by the wreckage of his past. But it’s not until he is jailed for an altercation with police that the full extent of his dark secret comes to light. A secret that stuns the detectives, forces them to confront their own beliefs of right and wrong, and leads them to question whether Banzai’s personal torment can be punishment enough.
Winner of the Best Feature and Audience Award at the Santa Monica International Film Festival. Directed by Jeffrey Chernov. Produced by Philippe DuPuy.

In Vivid Detail (short)

Directed by Canadian filmmaker, Dara Bratt, In Vivid Detail is a short film and unusual love story that follows Justin, an architect who suffers from Prosopagnosia—a neurological disorder that makes him incapable of recognizing faces. Justin and Leslie must decide whether their new relationship can overcome the obstacles ahead of them as they try to cope with this bizarre but real condition, meanwhile raising the question: How is beauty measured?
Produced by Sharon Barnes.

Something to Eat, a Place to Sleep & Someone Who Gives a Damn
A documentary short addressing the issue of homelessness in Metro Vancouver. Homelessness has reached epidemic proportions, having increased by 19% between 2005 and 2008. According to the 2008 Homeless Count, there are 2,592 street and sheltered homeless in Metro Vancouver. Something to Eat, a Place to Sleep & Someone Who Gives a Damn goes beyond the rhetoric, the politics, and the prejudices and gives a voice to the homeless and those who work with them.

Directed by Les Merson.

Midnight Matinee (animated short)
Winner of the Best Short Film Award at the Edmonton International Film Festival, Midnight Matinee is a stop-motion animated film that illustrates the artistic journey of a capricious camera and the personal discovery of its true potential.
Directed by J. Scott Portingale.


SELECT CFF 2009 SCREENINGS – BY TITLE
(Full screening schedule available at: www.canadafilmfestival.com)

Features:
A Line in the Sand Sunday, February 8, 11:05am, Firehall Arts Centre

Shorts:

In Vivid Detail
(Short Film Block) Sunday, February 8, 4:50pm, Firehall Arts Centre

Midnight Matinee
(Short Film Block) Sunday, February 8, 12:45pm, Firehall Arts Centre

Something to Eat, a Place to Sleep & Someone Who Gives a Damn Sunday, February 8, 7:55pm, Firehall Arts Centre

More information can be found online at http://www.mediatonicpr.com

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