Stars: E.R. Ruiz, Cindy Nicholsen, David Roche, Dawn Shaw, Robin L’Houmeau, Debbie Lynch-White, Dean Perseo, Noémie Kocher | Written by Joelle Bourjolly, Alexandre Franchi | Directed by Alexandre Franchi
Happy Face is a very different kind of film. Beginning as a personal concept and going on to an Indiegogo campaign, using crowdfunding as a way to make it happen, Alexandre Franchi (The Wild Hunt) went out of his way, with passion and a desire, to create a film that promotes diversity and shows real people with real disabilities and facial differences on screen in a way that isn’t presented as farcical, nor overly saccharine, nor merely tragic. The courage of these individuals is something Franchi explores, showing them, as he mentioned in his campaign, as people not just with disfigurements, but people with their own personal desires, relationships and insecurities. What a beautiful idea, what a novel approach.
The story itself...
Happy Face is a very different kind of film. Beginning as a personal concept and going on to an Indiegogo campaign, using crowdfunding as a way to make it happen, Alexandre Franchi (The Wild Hunt) went out of his way, with passion and a desire, to create a film that promotes diversity and shows real people with real disabilities and facial differences on screen in a way that isn’t presented as farcical, nor overly saccharine, nor merely tragic. The courage of these individuals is something Franchi explores, showing them, as he mentioned in his campaign, as people not just with disfigurements, but people with their own personal desires, relationships and insecurities. What a beautiful idea, what a novel approach.
The story itself...
- 1/14/2021
- by Chris Cummings
- Nerdly
An advocacy drama that doesn’t forget it needs to tell an interesting story in order to win viewers over, Alexandre Franchi’s Happy Face sometimes risks going too far in its tale of a support group for disfigured people: Though Franchi and cowriter Joelle Bourjolly have thought their metaphors through, they might have picked, say, either Cervantes or Dungeons & Dragons as a window into the trials of those who feel like monsters. The occasional screenwriting surplus aside, this modest production largely succeeds, making the most of performers — some established actors, some first-timers — who come as they are: Instead of FX makeup,...
- 12/31/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
An advocacy drama that doesn’t forget it needs to tell an interesting story in order to win viewers over, Alexandre Franchi’s Happy Face sometimes risks going too far in its tale of a support group for disfigured people: Though Franchi and cowriter Joelle Bourjolly have thought their metaphors through, they might have picked, say, either Cervantes or Dungeons & Dragons as a window into the trials of those who feel like monsters. The occasional screenwriting surplus aside, this modest production largely succeeds, making the most of performers — some established actors, some first-timers — who come as they are: Instead of FX makeup,...
- 12/31/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Happy Face In Select Theaters January 1, 2021 On Demand And Digital iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Xbox, Vudu, Direct TV, Dish Network and all major cable providers. January 5, 2021 Director Alexandre Franchi’s award-winning thriller Happy Face hits theaters and digital this January. Direct from a lauded festival run, the powerful film combines a thrilling story while exploring the …
The post Happy Face – January 1, 2021 Release / Facial Equality -Thriller appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
The post Happy Face – January 1, 2021 Release / Facial Equality -Thriller appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
- 12/11/2020
- by Adrian Halen
- Horror News
In his latest interview/podcast, host Stuart Wright talks Happy Face with co-writer/director Alexandre Franchi.
In a therapy workshop for those with facial differences, there is an imposter. Whereas all the other members in the group — including its body-conscious and confidence-lacking leader — must return to a world that rejects them for lack of beauty, Augustine hides a secret. Under his bandages, he is really Stan. His face no longer distorted, he’s an attractive and imaginative teenager who plays D&d, picks up girls at bars, and lately has the difficult task of taking care of his cancer-stricken mother. Stan’s visits to the group are his way of learning to cope with the disease that is physically destroying a once-beautiful woman, and with his overwhelming guilt in being unable to face her. When the members of the group find out about Stan’s deception, he strikes a deal to...
In a therapy workshop for those with facial differences, there is an imposter. Whereas all the other members in the group — including its body-conscious and confidence-lacking leader — must return to a world that rejects them for lack of beauty, Augustine hides a secret. Under his bandages, he is really Stan. His face no longer distorted, he’s an attractive and imaginative teenager who plays D&d, picks up girls at bars, and lately has the difficult task of taking care of his cancer-stricken mother. Stan’s visits to the group are his way of learning to cope with the disease that is physically destroying a once-beautiful woman, and with his overwhelming guilt in being unable to face her. When the members of the group find out about Stan’s deception, he strikes a deal to...
- 9/23/2019
- by Stuart Wright
- Nerdly
Stars: E.R. Ruiz, Cindy Nicholsen, David Roche, Dawn Shaw, Robin L’Houmeau, Debbie Lynch-White, Dean Perseo, Noémie Kocher | Written by Joelle Bourjolly, Alexandre Franchi | Directed by Alexandre Franchi
Happy Face is a very different kind of film. Beginning as a personal concept and going on to an Indiegogo campaign, using crowdfunding as a way to make it happen, Alexandre Franchi (The Wild Hunt) went out of his way, with passion and a desire, to create a film that promotes diversity and shows real people with real disabilities and facial differences on screen in a way that isn’t presented as farcical, nor overly saccharine, nor merely tragic. The courage of these individuals is something Franchi explores, showing them, as he mentioned in his campaign, as people not just with disfigurements, but people with their own personal desires, relationships and insecurities. What a beautiful idea, what a novel approach.
The story...
Happy Face is a very different kind of film. Beginning as a personal concept and going on to an Indiegogo campaign, using crowdfunding as a way to make it happen, Alexandre Franchi (The Wild Hunt) went out of his way, with passion and a desire, to create a film that promotes diversity and shows real people with real disabilities and facial differences on screen in a way that isn’t presented as farcical, nor overly saccharine, nor merely tragic. The courage of these individuals is something Franchi explores, showing them, as he mentioned in his campaign, as people not just with disfigurements, but people with their own personal desires, relationships and insecurities. What a beautiful idea, what a novel approach.
The story...
- 8/25/2019
- by Chris Cummings
- Nerdly
This year marks the festival’s 20th anniversary.
This year’s FrightFest, the annual UK genre festival, has unveiled a line-up that features 20 world premieres including films from the Soska Sisters (American Mary) and Tom Paton (Black Site).
The Soska Sisters, Jen and Sylvia, are screening their second feature Rabid, their re-imagining of David Cronenberg’s 1977 film. Paton’s Stairs is a sci-fi horror about a special ops squad that find themselves trapped on a never-ending stairwell.
Also screening are Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark, produced by Guillermo del Toro and directed by André Øvredal’s, and Crawl,...
This year’s FrightFest, the annual UK genre festival, has unveiled a line-up that features 20 world premieres including films from the Soska Sisters (American Mary) and Tom Paton (Black Site).
The Soska Sisters, Jen and Sylvia, are screening their second feature Rabid, their re-imagining of David Cronenberg’s 1977 film. Paton’s Stairs is a sci-fi horror about a special ops squad that find themselves trapped on a never-ending stairwell.
Also screening are Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark, produced by Guillermo del Toro and directed by André Øvredal’s, and Crawl,...
- 7/4/2019
- by Tofe Ayeni
- ScreenDaily
Platform will screen features The Elephant Queen, Hala at Sicilian festival.
The Taormina Film Festival (June 30-July 6) in Sicily will celebrate the first TV series in its 65-year history when Octavia Spencer flies in on behalf of Apple TV+’s forthcoming true-crime drama Truth Be Told.
The series will debut on the Apple TV app this autumn. Series executive producer/star Spencer will attend the Italian festival, where she will receive the Taormina Arte Award and highlight the series, which is inspired by a true-crime novel by Katherine Barber.
Apple will screen two of its films at the festival. Mark Deeble...
The Taormina Film Festival (June 30-July 6) in Sicily will celebrate the first TV series in its 65-year history when Octavia Spencer flies in on behalf of Apple TV+’s forthcoming true-crime drama Truth Be Told.
The series will debut on the Apple TV app this autumn. Series executive producer/star Spencer will attend the Italian festival, where she will receive the Taormina Arte Award and highlight the series, which is inspired by a true-crime novel by Katherine Barber.
Apple will screen two of its films at the festival. Mark Deeble...
- 6/14/2019
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Platform will screen features The Elephant Queen, Hala at Sicilian festival.
The Taormina Film Festival (June 30-July 6) in Sicily will celebrate the first TV series in its 65-year history when Octavia Spencer flies in to discuss Apple TV+’s forthcoming true-crime drama Truth Be Told.
The series will debut on the Apple TV app this autumn. Series creator and executive producer/star Spencer will attend the Italian festival, where she will receive the Taormina Arte Award and talk about the series, which is inspired by a true-crime novel by Katherine Barber.
The Taormina Film Festival (June 30-July 6) in Sicily will celebrate the first TV series in its 65-year history when Octavia Spencer flies in to discuss Apple TV+’s forthcoming true-crime drama Truth Be Told.
The series will debut on the Apple TV app this autumn. Series creator and executive producer/star Spencer will attend the Italian festival, where she will receive the Taormina Arte Award and talk about the series, which is inspired by a true-crime novel by Katherine Barber.
- 6/14/2019
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
Sicilian festival will screen the first TV series in its 65-year history.
The Taormina Film Festival (June 30-July 6) in Sicily will screen the first TV series in its 65-year history, Apple TV+’s forthcoming drama Truth Be Told.
Apple will offer a first-look at the series, which will debut on the Apple TV app this autumn. Series creator and executive producer/star Octavia Spencer will come to Taormina to present the series, which is inspired by a true-crime novel by Katherine Barber.
Apple will also show preview footage of See starring Alfre Woodard, and The Morning Show starring Jennifer Aniston,...
The Taormina Film Festival (June 30-July 6) in Sicily will screen the first TV series in its 65-year history, Apple TV+’s forthcoming drama Truth Be Told.
Apple will offer a first-look at the series, which will debut on the Apple TV app this autumn. Series creator and executive producer/star Octavia Spencer will come to Taormina to present the series, which is inspired by a true-crime novel by Katherine Barber.
Apple will also show preview footage of See starring Alfre Woodard, and The Morning Show starring Jennifer Aniston,...
- 6/14/2019
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
The 21st annual Boston Underground Film Festival will take place from March 20th–24th. Buff's lineup for this year aims to provide festival-goers with five days of extraordinary films, including Hail Satan?, The Unthinkable, Canary, and many more. Also in today's Horror Highlights: a trailer and poster for both Blood Craft and Division 19.
Boston Underground Film Festival Lineup Revealed: "New England cinephiles! Spring festival season kicks off in two weeks when the 21st annual Boston Underground Film Festival returns to Harvard Square, bringing with it a five-day film frenzy to the Brattle Theatre and Harvard Film Archive from March 20th through the 24th. This year’s program includes a fierce and fresh collection of transgressive, unholy, and unthinkable underground cinema, along with a few outsider-odyssic festival favorites from near and far (in space and time)!
Buff marks the occasion of its decadent and debaucherous 2-1 with the number...
Boston Underground Film Festival Lineup Revealed: "New England cinephiles! Spring festival season kicks off in two weeks when the 21st annual Boston Underground Film Festival returns to Harvard Square, bringing with it a five-day film frenzy to the Brattle Theatre and Harvard Film Archive from March 20th through the 24th. This year’s program includes a fierce and fresh collection of transgressive, unholy, and unthinkable underground cinema, along with a few outsider-odyssic festival favorites from near and far (in space and time)!
Buff marks the occasion of its decadent and debaucherous 2-1 with the number...
- 3/8/2019
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
Slamdance 2019: ‘Happy Face’ Directed by Alexandre Franchi, Montreal 1992. The film is in Quebecois French and English.The main character is a troubled boy trying to figure out / escape from his family problems.
Emotionally estranged from his seriously ill cancer-stricken mother, Stan, a strange quixotic 19-year-old, dons a face deforming disguise and joins a therapy workshop for physically disfigured patients in a misguided attempt to reconnect with her.
Desperate to become less shallow, the handsome teenage boy deforms his face with bandages and attends a support group for physically and facially disfigured people.
He is drawn into their plight as the withdrawn deformed ones who yearn for normal lives.
The drama of the film follows Stan’s attempts to get the half dozen deformed individuals to get past their withdrawal and confusion about their situation. When he’s exposed as a ‘fake’ deformed person he refuses to be kicked out of...
Emotionally estranged from his seriously ill cancer-stricken mother, Stan, a strange quixotic 19-year-old, dons a face deforming disguise and joins a therapy workshop for physically disfigured patients in a misguided attempt to reconnect with her.
Desperate to become less shallow, the handsome teenage boy deforms his face with bandages and attends a support group for physically and facially disfigured people.
He is drawn into their plight as the withdrawn deformed ones who yearn for normal lives.
The drama of the film follows Stan’s attempts to get the half dozen deformed individuals to get past their withdrawal and confusion about their situation. When he’s exposed as a ‘fake’ deformed person he refuses to be kicked out of...
- 2/27/2019
- by Peter Belsito
- Sydney's Buzz
Discussions about inclusion have been more common over the last few years and while the entertainment industry is slowly moving in the right direction, it's still far from where it needs to be especially when it comes to representing people with disabilities. Enter Alexandre Franchi.
Franchi first made a huge splash a decade ago with The Wild Hunt (review), a thriller set among a group of LARPers. Happy Face is also the story of a group of outsiders but in this case, those outsiders are a group of individuals that can't hide from the rest of society.
Happy Face stars Robin L'Houmeau as Stan, a handsome young man who changes his appearanc...
Franchi first made a huge splash a decade ago with The Wild Hunt (review), a thriller set among a group of LARPers. Happy Face is also the story of a group of outsiders but in this case, those outsiders are a group of individuals that can't hide from the rest of society.
Happy Face stars Robin L'Houmeau as Stan, a handsome young man who changes his appearanc...
- 2/4/2019
- QuietEarth.us
The 25th anniversary edition of the Slamdance Film Festival kicks off Jan. 25-31 in Park City, Utah, with a line-up of world premieres, guest speakers and filmmaking seminars all geared toward fresh storytellers who are looking for their cinematic breakthroughs.
This year, further underscoring a desire for world cinema, there are 11 narrative and nine documentary features that will be showcased in competition, from Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Germany, India, Italy, Kenya, Poland, South Africa and the U.K., alongside the U.S. All competition films are feature-length directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1 million, and lack American distribution.
Founded by current president Peter Baxter, as well as Jon Fitzgerald, Shane Kuhn, Dan Mirvish and Paul Rachman, Slamdance has screened more than 2,000 films over the years, with notable alumni including Christopher Nolan (whose 1999 drama “Following” debuted at the fest), Oren Peli (“Paranormal Activity”), Bong Joon-ho (“Okja”), Lynn Shelton (“Outside In”), Ari Aster...
This year, further underscoring a desire for world cinema, there are 11 narrative and nine documentary features that will be showcased in competition, from Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Germany, India, Italy, Kenya, Poland, South Africa and the U.K., alongside the U.S. All competition films are feature-length directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1 million, and lack American distribution.
Founded by current president Peter Baxter, as well as Jon Fitzgerald, Shane Kuhn, Dan Mirvish and Paul Rachman, Slamdance has screened more than 2,000 films over the years, with notable alumni including Christopher Nolan (whose 1999 drama “Following” debuted at the fest), Oren Peli (“Paranormal Activity”), Bong Joon-ho (“Okja”), Lynn Shelton (“Outside In”), Ari Aster...
- 1/24/2019
- by Nick Clement
- Variety Film + TV
In our exclusive clip from Happy Face, we hear from people who are often shut out of the cultural conversation, not necessarily because of what they say, but because of their outward appearance. Set in Montreal, the film will enjoy its U.S. premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival later this week. Here's the brief synopsis: "A teenager deforms his face with bandages and attends a therapy workshop for disfigured patients in a misguided attempt to reconnect with his manipulative disease-ravaged mother." Alexandre Franchi and Joëlle Bourjolly wrote the screenplay; Franchi directed. The cast includes Robin L'Houmeau, Debbie Lynch-White, David Roche, E.R. Ruiz, Alison Midstokke, Cindy Nicholsen, and Noémie Kocher. Watch the exclusive clip below, along with the official trailer. Happy Face will screen at Slamdance...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 1/23/2019
- Screen Anarchy
The Slamdance Film Festival has unveiled its 25th anniversary narrative and documentary feature film competition programs, as well as the lineup for its new breakouts section.
The narrative lineup includes the coming-of-age drama “Spiral Farm,” starring Piper De Palma, daughter of director Brian De Palma, who is making her feature debut as a teenage girl growing up on a commune where life is disrupted by the arrival of two outsiders, a father and son. Amanda Plummer (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”), Teo Halm (“Earth to Echo”), and Jade Fusco (“Youth in Revolt”) co-star.
The festival, launched in 1995 as an alternative to Sundance, has included showings of such notable titles as Oren Peli’s “Paranormal Activity.” The fest, which takes place at the Treasure Mountain Inn in Park City, Utah, from Jan. 25 to Jan. 31, will screen 18 movies including 10 world premieres, four North American premieres, and four U.S. premieres.
Slamdance alumni include Joe and Anthony Russo,...
The narrative lineup includes the coming-of-age drama “Spiral Farm,” starring Piper De Palma, daughter of director Brian De Palma, who is making her feature debut as a teenage girl growing up on a commune where life is disrupted by the arrival of two outsiders, a father and son. Amanda Plummer (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”), Teo Halm (“Earth to Echo”), and Jade Fusco (“Youth in Revolt”) co-star.
The festival, launched in 1995 as an alternative to Sundance, has included showings of such notable titles as Oren Peli’s “Paranormal Activity.” The fest, which takes place at the Treasure Mountain Inn in Park City, Utah, from Jan. 25 to Jan. 31, will screen 18 movies including 10 world premieres, four North American premieres, and four U.S. premieres.
Slamdance alumni include Joe and Anthony Russo,...
- 11/26/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Festival to run in Park City, Utah, from January 25-31.
The Slamdance Film Festival organisers have unveiled the narrative and documentary feature competition line-ups, as well as the new Breakouts section for the festival’s 25th edition in January.
The feature competition programme boasts 18 premieres, including 10 world, four North American, and four Us debuts from an array of global filmmakers hailing from Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Germany, India, Italy, Kenya, Poland, South Africa, and the UK.
All competition films are feature-length directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1m, and without Us distribution. Films in both categories are eligible for the Audience Award,...
The Slamdance Film Festival organisers have unveiled the narrative and documentary feature competition line-ups, as well as the new Breakouts section for the festival’s 25th edition in January.
The feature competition programme boasts 18 premieres, including 10 world, four North American, and four Us debuts from an array of global filmmakers hailing from Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Germany, India, Italy, Kenya, Poland, South Africa, and the UK.
All competition films are feature-length directorial debuts with budgets of less than $1m, and without Us distribution. Films in both categories are eligible for the Audience Award,...
- 11/26/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Sherlock and Doctor Who director among filmmakers with projects at Amsterdam forum which is a partnership between the Cannes Marché and Montreal’s Fantasia.
A total of 12 projects will participate in the inaugural Frontières Finance & Packaging Forum, set to take place February 16-18 in Amsterdam.
Initiated as part of the recent partnership between Fantasia International Film Festival and the Cannes Marché du Film, the event is an offshot of the Frontières International Co-Production Market (which takes place at Montreal’s Fantasia festival in July).
The forum will see industry experts assessing the dozen genre projects from a packaging perspective, analysing finance, marketing and distribution strategies.
Among the selected projects is a feature from Sherlock and Doctor Who director Rachel Talalay, House Of Stairs, and works from producers including Jonathan Bronfman (The Witch), Katie Holly (Love And Friendship) and Phyllis Laing (The Haunting In Connecticut).
The projects originate from eight different countries: Canada, France, Ireland...
A total of 12 projects will participate in the inaugural Frontières Finance & Packaging Forum, set to take place February 16-18 in Amsterdam.
Initiated as part of the recent partnership between Fantasia International Film Festival and the Cannes Marché du Film, the event is an offshot of the Frontières International Co-Production Market (which takes place at Montreal’s Fantasia festival in July).
The forum will see industry experts assessing the dozen genre projects from a packaging perspective, analysing finance, marketing and distribution strategies.
Among the selected projects is a feature from Sherlock and Doctor Who director Rachel Talalay, House Of Stairs, and works from producers including Jonathan Bronfman (The Witch), Katie Holly (Love And Friendship) and Phyllis Laing (The Haunting In Connecticut).
The projects originate from eight different countries: Canada, France, Ireland...
- 12/15/2016
- ScreenDaily
New projects from Rook Films’ Andy Starke and Paz Brothers [pictured] among first wave of projects unveiled for sixth edition of Fantasia’s co-production market.
Frontières International Co-Production Market will include TV shows for the first time at its upcoming edition.
Following its third European edition at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (Bifff), Frontières returns to Fantasia International Film Festival for its sixth edition, running July 21-24 in Montreal.
The first wave of projects announced include two TV series: House Of Psychotic Women and Untold Horror.
House Of Psychotic Women is based on the book by Canadian author Kier-La Janisse, who will also produce alongside Rook Films’ Andy Starke (Sightseers, The Duke Of Burgundy). Sean Hogan has written the pilot episode.
Untold Horror from Rue Morgue magazine editor-in-chief Dave Alexander will be an eight-part documentary series about the greatest horror movies never made. Directed by Bob Barrett, the series is written by Alexander and Mark Pollesol.
New...
Frontières International Co-Production Market will include TV shows for the first time at its upcoming edition.
Following its third European edition at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (Bifff), Frontières returns to Fantasia International Film Festival for its sixth edition, running July 21-24 in Montreal.
The first wave of projects announced include two TV series: House Of Psychotic Women and Untold Horror.
House Of Psychotic Women is based on the book by Canadian author Kier-La Janisse, who will also produce alongside Rook Films’ Andy Starke (Sightseers, The Duke Of Burgundy). Sean Hogan has written the pilot episode.
Untold Horror from Rue Morgue magazine editor-in-chief Dave Alexander will be an eight-part documentary series about the greatest horror movies never made. Directed by Bob Barrett, the series is written by Alexander and Mark Pollesol.
New...
- 5/13/2016
- by ian.sandwell@screendaily.com (Ian Sandwell)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: 40 Canadian and international producer teams selected for Omdc’s eighth annual Toronto co-financing market.
New films by Donald Petrie, Timo Vuorensola, Baltasar Kormakur [pictured], Nick Broomfield, Gillies Mackinnon are some of the 40 selections for the eighth Omdc’s International Financing Forum. (Full list below)
The Ontario Media Development Corporation’s feature film co-financing market will be held Sept 8-9, running concurrently to Tiff.
The two-day event includes one-on-one producer meetings, a top-level panel discussion, roundtable meetings, a networking luncheon, and a networking reception.
The initiative focuses on English language feature film projects being developed by international and Canadian producers, who meet with executives including sales agents, financiers, distributors, agents and executive producers – from companies including Beta Cinema, Big Beach, Cinetic, eOne, Film4, Film Nation, TF1, Wild Bunch and William Morris Endeavor.
The Canadian-produced projects selected this year include Nick Broomfield’s fiction feature film debut The Catastrophist to star Freida Pinto and John C Reilly and to...
New films by Donald Petrie, Timo Vuorensola, Baltasar Kormakur [pictured], Nick Broomfield, Gillies Mackinnon are some of the 40 selections for the eighth Omdc’s International Financing Forum. (Full list below)
The Ontario Media Development Corporation’s feature film co-financing market will be held Sept 8-9, running concurrently to Tiff.
The two-day event includes one-on-one producer meetings, a top-level panel discussion, roundtable meetings, a networking luncheon, and a networking reception.
The initiative focuses on English language feature film projects being developed by international and Canadian producers, who meet with executives including sales agents, financiers, distributors, agents and executive producers – from companies including Beta Cinema, Big Beach, Cinetic, eOne, Film4, Film Nation, TF1, Wild Bunch and William Morris Endeavor.
The Canadian-produced projects selected this year include Nick Broomfield’s fiction feature film debut The Catastrophist to star Freida Pinto and John C Reilly and to...
- 8/27/2013
- by wendy.mitchell@screendaily.com (Wendy Mitchell)
- ScreenDaily
The Toronto International Film Festival is a ludicrous bounty of cinematic riches, showcasing hundreds of potentially amazing films both old and new. That it’s all crammed into only 10 days means it’s too much for any one mere mortal to even get a proper grasp of. With that “problem” in mind, here’s a painstakingly narrowed list of 30 to try and catch.
Antiviral
David Cronenberg’s son Brandon’s first feature, Antiviral may well sate the appetites of Cronenberg fans who lament the director’s late-career turn into (relatively) middlebrow fare. The creepy teaser promises eerie, creeping body horror, artfully executed, of the sort Daddy used to make.
The ABCs of Death
Horror anthologies are always a tantalizing prospect, but rarely do the segments come together to form a satisfying whole; usually, a weak effort or two sours the bunch. The ABCs of Death might well be the most ambitious film of its kind,...
Antiviral
David Cronenberg’s son Brandon’s first feature, Antiviral may well sate the appetites of Cronenberg fans who lament the director’s late-career turn into (relatively) middlebrow fare. The creepy teaser promises eerie, creeping body horror, artfully executed, of the sort Daddy used to make.
The ABCs of Death
Horror anthologies are always a tantalizing prospect, but rarely do the segments come together to form a satisfying whole; usually, a weak effort or two sours the bunch. The ABCs of Death might well be the most ambitious film of its kind,...
- 8/30/2012
- by Simon Howell
- SoundOnSight
“The Wild Hunt” is a Canadian production from 2009, which having enjoyed a successful and award winning run at festivals now arrives on region 2 DVD. Marking the debut of writer director Alexandre Franchi, the film is set in the world of LARPing, or for the uninitiated (this reviewer included), Live Action Role Playing, which basically involves people dressing up as fantasy characters and running around in the woods with rubber weapons. Having been compared to “Lord of the Flies”, the film revolves around the premise of LARPers taking things too far, leading to violent and tragic consequences. The plot kicks off with a young guy called Erik Magnusson (Ricky Mabe, “Trailer Park of Terror”) falling out with his girlfriend Evelyn (Tiio Horn, “The Theatre Bizarre”) over her leaving for a weekend to join in a Larp game with his older brother Bjorn (Mark A. Krupa, “The Last Templar”). After sulking for a while,...
- 10/9/2011
- by James Mudge
- Beyond Hollywood
The Fantasia Film Festival is officially over and we here at Sound On Sight will always remember it as the year of brilliant first time features with the likes of Bellflower, Absentia, Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark, You Are Here, Beyond The Black Rainbow, Attack The Block and Retreat, to name a few. The final audience numbers are yet to be confirmed, but Fantasia estimates it has welcomed more than 100,000 audience members in the past three and a half weeks. 150 international directors, actors and producers came to present their films and we had a great time meeting new faces and drinking the nights away with some of the filmmakers. I can’t stress how fun the festival is and highly I recommend our international readers who love genre cinema to one day travel here to Montreal, and check it out.
This year’s fest opened big with the...
This year’s fest opened big with the...
- 8/8/2011
- by Kyle Reese
- SoundOnSight
The 2011 Fantasia International Film Festival has come to an end and as usual was a rousing success with more than 100,000 audience members. In addition 150 international directors, actors, and producers presented their films at the fest. Read on for the wrap-up and winners from this year's various competitions.
From the Press Release: sThe festival opened with a bang with the Canadian premiere of Red State by director Kevin Smith. This was only the first in a long line of sensational special events that took place over the course of the festival. Among those was the incredible homage to the great John Landis (Burke And Hare), marked by the presentation of Fantasia’s new trophy “Le Cheval Noir.” Mirroring our strong launch, the festival closed with the Canadian premiere of Guillermo del Toro’s Don’T Be Afraid Of The Dark. Other memorable events included: the homage to André Link and John Dunning...
From the Press Release: sThe festival opened with a bang with the Canadian premiere of Red State by director Kevin Smith. This was only the first in a long line of sensational special events that took place over the course of the festival. Among those was the incredible homage to the great John Landis (Burke And Hare), marked by the presentation of Fantasia’s new trophy “Le Cheval Noir.” Mirroring our strong launch, the festival closed with the Canadian premiere of Guillermo del Toro’s Don’T Be Afraid Of The Dark. Other memorable events included: the homage to André Link and John Dunning...
- 8/7/2011
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Directed by: Alexandre Franchi
Written by: Alexandre Franchi, Mark A. Krupa
Cast: Mark A. Krupa, Ricky Mabe, Tiio Horn, Trevor Hayes
As humans we are in constant conflict with ourselves.
We are constantly fighting against the social confines we find ourselves in (i.e. having a job, paying rent, monogamy) and our greater animal instincts, those supposed primal urges that we have been taught to so neatly oppress. This is exactly where humor and terror collide in Alexandre Franchi's The Wild Hunt, a movie that continually teases its audience as to where our social boundaries are drawn.
Based in and around the world of Larp, The Wild Hunt examines the blurred lines that occur when a scruffy hipster named Erik (Ricky Mabe) crashes a weekend long event in hopes of retrieving his girlfriend, Lyn(Tiio Horn), who's been distancing herself from Erik for some time. Also at the weekend...
Written by: Alexandre Franchi, Mark A. Krupa
Cast: Mark A. Krupa, Ricky Mabe, Tiio Horn, Trevor Hayes
As humans we are in constant conflict with ourselves.
We are constantly fighting against the social confines we find ourselves in (i.e. having a job, paying rent, monogamy) and our greater animal instincts, those supposed primal urges that we have been taught to so neatly oppress. This is exactly where humor and terror collide in Alexandre Franchi's The Wild Hunt, a movie that continually teases its audience as to where our social boundaries are drawn.
Based in and around the world of Larp, The Wild Hunt examines the blurred lines that occur when a scruffy hipster named Erik (Ricky Mabe) crashes a weekend long event in hopes of retrieving his girlfriend, Lyn(Tiio Horn), who's been distancing herself from Erik for some time. Also at the weekend...
- 7/10/2011
- by Alexandra West
- Planet Fury
The Wild Hunt is a film about a large scale role playing/reenactment game which turns too real. Filmed in Canada by Alexandre Franchi this film is a great eye opener to all things to do with film, game, role play or any other fantasy, This film captures the potential danger of the very thin line between the two worlds of real and make belief that people start to cross. The story is good at giving you a sheer 'shock' and a 'not now whats next' at…...
- 6/29/2011
- Horrorbid
On a list of very good movies I've seen this year The Wild Hunt ranks high. Suspenseful, full of dread, and genuinely intelligent it would be easy to say this is a film better than it has a right to be. The truth is that director Alexandre Franchi and fellow screenwriter Mark A. Krupa have crafted a complex tragedy set in an narrative environment that would have completely overwhelmed most attempts to tell a story. Erik's girlfriend leaves him for someone involved in Live Action Role Play. Deciding to win her back he ventures into a secluded wooded village built especially for the gamers he becomes an unwilling part of the game. The genius of the film is that what the game actually is, is...
- 6/13/2011
- Screen Anarchy
I was really curious when grumblings started emerging from the depths of Canadian film circles about Alexandre Franchi’s feature film debut The Wild Hunt. The buzz was extremely positive and the story, a mix of fantasy action and adventure, caught my attention immediately and when I finally caught up with the film in early 2010, I was blown away. Farachi’s film was a melting pot of styles and ideas and I loved every second of it.
I’ve been singing the film’s praises for a year but few outside of Canada, where the film is already available on DVD, have seen it – until now. As of today, The Wild Hunt is screening on cable, video-on-demand (Comcast, Time Warner, Verizon, At&T, etc.) as well as broadband video-on-demand (iTunes, Xbox, Playstation, Vudu, etc.). I highly recommend checking it out.
And if you need a little taste of what you’re in for,...
I’ve been singing the film’s praises for a year but few outside of Canada, where the film is already available on DVD, have seen it – until now. As of today, The Wild Hunt is screening on cable, video-on-demand (Comcast, Time Warner, Verizon, At&T, etc.) as well as broadband video-on-demand (iTunes, Xbox, Playstation, Vudu, etc.). I highly recommend checking it out.
And if you need a little taste of what you’re in for,...
- 4/19/2011
- QuietEarth.us
FilmBuff is releasing two films on VOD platforms before their DVD release. Both Alexandre Franchi’s award-winning thriller The Wild Hunt (which premiered at Toronto in 2009) will be available April 19 on Comcast, Time Warner, Verizon, At&T, iTunes, Xbox, Playstation, Vudu (and more), whereas the DVD will be released June 7. John Carney & Kiernan Carney’s sci-fi comedy (and Tribeca hit in 2010) Zonad will be available June 21 via the same platforms, and on DVD July 19. FilmBuff's Matt Dentler says: "In the home entertainment market, there’s no one distribution outlet that conquers all right now, and we feel strongly that when you have the right film it makes sense to treat each window and platform as an event. Both of these films are ...
- 4/6/2011
- Thompson on Hollywood
Cinetic's VOD distribution arm FilmBuff has announced that Alexandre Franchi's "The Wild Hunt" and John and Kiernan Carney's "Zonad" will be released on VOD before they head to DVD. The French thriller "The Wild Hunt" premiered at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival; John Carney's sci-fi follow-up to his Oscar-winning "Once," "Zonad" premiered at last year's Tribeca Film Festival. "The Wild Hunt" will be released on VOD in April and ...
- 4/6/2011
- Indiewire
It’s always tricky for the Sound On Sight staff to choose their favourite films each year. Since we have contributors across the globe and because many movies have different release dates in various countries, there’s always a few movies that not everyone on our team has the opportunity to watch. These films have a disadvantage. since half of the team can’t vote for them, and so sometimes their is one or two great films that just don’t make it in. However I do believe that each and every year the eclectic mix of movies that appear on our list, really does show how much ground we cover. On our list this year you will find three Canadian films, several genre films, a few foreign language films and a bit of the mainstream. Each Sound On Sight critic submits a list of their ten favourite films in order of preference.
- 12/29/2010
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
The 2010 edition of the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival has just announced their complete Noves Visions program. The program where the festival places the young, edgy material, this is the big discovery program of the festival. Here's the announcement!
Noves Visions, The Most Indie
And Daring Section At Sitges 2010
The 43rd Sitges - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, that will take place 7 to 17 October, presents its lineup for the Noves Visions section:
Noves Visions - FICCIÓ Section
Exploration of new territories in narration, placing emphasis on both thematic and formal aspects of films that are a vision of the present as well as a disturbing premonition of times to come.
A Horrible Way To Die (Adam Wingard, USA)
Chatroom (Hideo Nakata, UK)
Dispongo De Barcos (Juan Cavestany, Spain)
Earthling (Clay Liford, USA)
Everything Will Be Fine (Christoffer Boe, Denmark)
Finisterrae (Out of competition. Sergio Caballero, Spain)
Isolation (Stephen T. Kay,...
Noves Visions, The Most Indie
And Daring Section At Sitges 2010
The 43rd Sitges - International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia, that will take place 7 to 17 October, presents its lineup for the Noves Visions section:
Noves Visions - FICCIÓ Section
Exploration of new territories in narration, placing emphasis on both thematic and formal aspects of films that are a vision of the present as well as a disturbing premonition of times to come.
A Horrible Way To Die (Adam Wingard, USA)
Chatroom (Hideo Nakata, UK)
Dispongo De Barcos (Juan Cavestany, Spain)
Earthling (Clay Liford, USA)
Everything Will Be Fine (Christoffer Boe, Denmark)
Finisterrae (Out of competition. Sergio Caballero, Spain)
Isolation (Stephen T. Kay,...
- 9/24/2010
- Screen Anarchy
Chicago – In a summer where even the most mainstream sect of the moviegoing public has begun turning its back on lazy mass-marketed mediocrity, it’s especially refreshing to be faced with the 17th Annual Chicago Underground Film Festival. The edginess, unpredictability, and even sporadic clumsiness of this festival’s offerings sharply contrast with the slick, routine pictures that often pass for “independent” filmmaking these days.
The films at Cuff are always exhilaratingly alive and defiantly uncommercial. This year’s festival offers a typically diverse smorgasbord of independent, experimental and documentary features, including several titles that are already gaining buzz as potential cult classics. Filmmakers and film lovers will unite at The Gene Siskel Film Center during the festival’s week-long run, from June 24th to the 28th, with repeat screenings continuing through July 1st. We’ll be providing coverage of the festival until closing night, so make sure to tune...
The films at Cuff are always exhilaratingly alive and defiantly uncommercial. This year’s festival offers a typically diverse smorgasbord of independent, experimental and documentary features, including several titles that are already gaining buzz as potential cult classics. Filmmakers and film lovers will unite at The Gene Siskel Film Center during the festival’s week-long run, from June 24th to the 28th, with repeat screenings continuing through July 1st. We’ll be providing coverage of the festival until closing night, so make sure to tune...
- 6/24/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
The Chicago Underground Film Festival is always a special occasion, but the 17th edition of this venerable institution, which runs on June 24 – July 1, is a little bit extra special. This year, Cuff will be honoring the lifelong underground film champion Jonas Mekas with their Lifetime Achievement Award!
Mekas will be in attendance at the festival at will appear at several screenings in his honor. On the 25th, there will be a screening of the new documentary Visionaries: Jonas Mekas and the (Mostly) American Avant-Garde, at which director Chuck Workman, Mekas and underground film historian Fred Camper will participate in a Q&A. Then, on the 26th, several of Mekas’ own films will screen and he’ll be presented with his award.
As for the rest of the fest, Cuff usually has some sort of unifying theme, at least as far as the features go. It’s not typically a stated theme,...
Mekas will be in attendance at the festival at will appear at several screenings in his honor. On the 25th, there will be a screening of the new documentary Visionaries: Jonas Mekas and the (Mostly) American Avant-Garde, at which director Chuck Workman, Mekas and underground film historian Fred Camper will participate in a Q&A. Then, on the 26th, several of Mekas’ own films will screen and he’ll be presented with his award.
As for the rest of the fest, Cuff usually has some sort of unifying theme, at least as far as the features go. It’s not typically a stated theme,...
- 6/3/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 7th annual Calgary Underground Film Festival is ready to start off with a bang this year on April 12 and then continue through to April 18. Opening night will see the results of the festival’s wildly popular 48-hour Movie Making Challenge, where registered teams were given a genre, a prop and a line of dialogue; then sent out to craft perfect cinematic masterpieces in just two short days.
Then, the rest of the fest is dedicated to some of the wildest films made in both the fest’s home country of Canada and from around the world, including Indonesia, Serbia, the UK and the U.S.
If you’re attending the festival, there’s one incredibly fun documentary you need to see: Michael Petersen’s Eddies: The Documentary, about the craziest beer commercial-making competition in the world — that happens to take place right in Calgary every year! Petersen profiled several...
Then, the rest of the fest is dedicated to some of the wildest films made in both the fest’s home country of Canada and from around the world, including Indonesia, Serbia, the UK and the U.S.
If you’re attending the festival, there’s one incredibly fun documentary you need to see: Michael Petersen’s Eddies: The Documentary, about the craziest beer commercial-making competition in the world — that happens to take place right in Calgary every year! Petersen profiled several...
- 4/7/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
After a run at the latest Toronto International Film Festival and the Festival du nouveau cinéma, Alexandre Franchi's anticipated debut feature The Wild Hunt will hit Canada's theatres on April 9, 2010. However, note that it will only be a limited release.
This independent film was made on a shoestring budget and Franchi co-wrote the script with Mark Antony Krupa.
The film was shot in Montreal and Biccoline, Québec. It brings us into the world of larpers, people who participate in a live role playing game that takes place in the Middle Age (sort of). Evelynn (Kaniehtiio Horn) leaves Montreal for a while just to take place in this kind of make-believe game. Obviously, Erik (Ricky Mabe), her boyfriend, feels that she's disconnected from him and would like to talk her out of the game. Besides, as Evelynn tries to get out of the game, the larpers will do what they...
This independent film was made on a shoestring budget and Franchi co-wrote the script with Mark Antony Krupa.
The film was shot in Montreal and Biccoline, Québec. It brings us into the world of larpers, people who participate in a live role playing game that takes place in the Middle Age (sort of). Evelynn (Kaniehtiio Horn) leaves Montreal for a while just to take place in this kind of make-believe game. Obviously, Erik (Ricky Mabe), her boyfriend, feels that she's disconnected from him and would like to talk her out of the game. Besides, as Evelynn tries to get out of the game, the larpers will do what they...
- 4/2/2010
- by anhkhoido@hotmail.com (Anh Khoi Do)
- The Cultural Post
Quickcard Review
The Wild Hunt
Directed by: Alexandre Franchi
Cast: Mark A. Krupa, Tilo Horn, Ricky Mabe
Running Time: 1 hr 35 min
Rating: unrated
Complete Coverage – 33rd Portland International Film Festival
Plot: A live action role-playing event goes out of whack after being infiltrated by Erik, a guy looking for his girlfriend. His entrance leads to a series of events that send the game spiraling down an unexpected and dangerous track.
Who’S It For? You don’t have to know anything about role playing to enjoy this film. I don’t and I still found it fascinating.
Overall
It’s not often that I see something new in a movie, plot wise. Though the idea of adults medieval role playing isn’t new to film, Role Models dealt with it in a comedic way, Franchi explores the emotional side. Like a movie about actors acting, the characters in The Wild Hunt...
The Wild Hunt
Directed by: Alexandre Franchi
Cast: Mark A. Krupa, Tilo Horn, Ricky Mabe
Running Time: 1 hr 35 min
Rating: unrated
Complete Coverage – 33rd Portland International Film Festival
Plot: A live action role-playing event goes out of whack after being infiltrated by Erik, a guy looking for his girlfriend. His entrance leads to a series of events that send the game spiraling down an unexpected and dangerous track.
Who’S It For? You don’t have to know anything about role playing to enjoy this film. I don’t and I still found it fascinating.
Overall
It’s not often that I see something new in a movie, plot wise. Though the idea of adults medieval role playing isn’t new to film, Role Models dealt with it in a comedic way, Franchi explores the emotional side. Like a movie about actors acting, the characters in The Wild Hunt...
- 2/14/2010
- by Megan Lehar
- The Scorecard Review
Year: 2009
Directors: Alexandre Franchi
Writers: Alexandre Franchi, Mark Antony Krupa
IMDb: link
Trailer: link
Review by: Marina Antunes
Rating: 9.5 out of 10
A forest. It’s dark. Men circle a fire and chant a call to the gods of times past. This is a ritual that opens a door to something dark within the soul. A battle is brewing between the Celts and the Vikings and the legendary “wild hunt” will mark the beginning of the end, the frenzied hunt before the final battle.
The joy of Alexandre Franchi’s The Wild Hunt is that it’s not simply a story of a legendary war but also a tale of doomed romance. Really, Franchi’s film manages to be a lot of things. Usually, when a film stretches itself this wide, something goes wrong: you lose focus, the story gets unwieldy and hard to follow but Franchi and co-writer Mark Antony Krupa...
Directors: Alexandre Franchi
Writers: Alexandre Franchi, Mark Antony Krupa
IMDb: link
Trailer: link
Review by: Marina Antunes
Rating: 9.5 out of 10
A forest. It’s dark. Men circle a fire and chant a call to the gods of times past. This is a ritual that opens a door to something dark within the soul. A battle is brewing between the Celts and the Vikings and the legendary “wild hunt” will mark the beginning of the end, the frenzied hunt before the final battle.
The joy of Alexandre Franchi’s The Wild Hunt is that it’s not simply a story of a legendary war but also a tale of doomed romance. Really, Franchi’s film manages to be a lot of things. Usually, when a film stretches itself this wide, something goes wrong: you lose focus, the story gets unwieldy and hard to follow but Franchi and co-writer Mark Antony Krupa...
- 2/4/2010
- QuietEarth.us
Last week Dread Central's own Heather Wixson (aka The Horror Chick) and Brian Dreads packed up and headed off to the snow-covered hills of Park City, Utah for both the Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals.
On Saturday night Slamdance held its press event at the Treasure Mountain Inn, and the red carpet was packed with up and coming filmmakers and actors as well as some veterans to the genre.
While at the Slamdance event, Dread Central had the opportunity to talk with the cast and crew of the horror comedy The Scenesters, which focuses on a serial killer stalking hipsters in Los Angeles' Silver Lake neighborhood.
Also, we took some time to talk with the creators and cast of The Last Lovecraft, a cool new flick centered around the last descendant of the legendary H.P Lovecraft.
The geek out moment for yours truly came when it was time to...
On Saturday night Slamdance held its press event at the Treasure Mountain Inn, and the red carpet was packed with up and coming filmmakers and actors as well as some veterans to the genre.
While at the Slamdance event, Dread Central had the opportunity to talk with the cast and crew of the horror comedy The Scenesters, which focuses on a serial killer stalking hipsters in Los Angeles' Silver Lake neighborhood.
Also, we took some time to talk with the creators and cast of The Last Lovecraft, a cool new flick centered around the last descendant of the legendary H.P Lovecraft.
The geek out moment for yours truly came when it was time to...
- 2/3/2010
- by thehorrorchick
- DreadCentral.com
The 16th annual Slamdance Film Festival just wrapped up in Park City and gave out 10 awards to 12 films and 1 screenplay. There are jury awards, audience awards and two sponsored awards. Out of the 91 films that screened this year, here’s the full list of award winners:
Grand Jury Awards
Grand Jury Sparky Award for Best Narrative Film
Snow and Ashes, dir. Charles-Olivier Michaud
Special Jury Mention: One Hundred Mornings, dir. Conor Horgan
Grand Jury Sparky Award for Best Documentary Film
American Jihadist, dir. Mark Claywell
Grand Jury Sparky Award for Best Animated Short
Seed, dir. Ben Richardson and Daniel Bird
Grand Jury Sparky Award for Best Narrative Short
Prvi Dan Mira (First Day of Peace), dir. Mirko Rucnov
Special Jury Mention for a short documentary film: Bout That Bout, dir. Nico Sabenorio
Audience Awards
Audience Sparky Award for Best Narrative Film
The Wild Hunt, dir. Alexandre Franchi
Audience Sparky Award...
Grand Jury Awards
Grand Jury Sparky Award for Best Narrative Film
Snow and Ashes, dir. Charles-Olivier Michaud
Special Jury Mention: One Hundred Mornings, dir. Conor Horgan
Grand Jury Sparky Award for Best Documentary Film
American Jihadist, dir. Mark Claywell
Grand Jury Sparky Award for Best Animated Short
Seed, dir. Ben Richardson and Daniel Bird
Grand Jury Sparky Award for Best Narrative Short
Prvi Dan Mira (First Day of Peace), dir. Mirko Rucnov
Special Jury Mention for a short documentary film: Bout That Bout, dir. Nico Sabenorio
Audience Awards
Audience Sparky Award for Best Narrative Film
The Wild Hunt, dir. Alexandre Franchi
Audience Sparky Award...
- 1/30/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
By Wrap Staff
Slamdance, that other Utah independent film festival, handed out its hardware on Friday.
Winning the top prize at the festival was Charles-Olivier Michaud's "Snow and Ashes." The documentary award went to Mark Claywell's "American Jihadist."
Alexandre Franchi's "The Wild Hunt" and Adam Barker's "Mind of the Demon: The Larry Linkogle Story" were among the audience award winners.
The annual festival received ...
Slamdance, that other Utah independent film festival, handed out its hardware on Friday.
Winning the top prize at the festival was Charles-Olivier Michaud's "Snow and Ashes." The documentary award went to Mark Claywell's "American Jihadist."
Alexandre Franchi's "The Wild Hunt" and Adam Barker's "Mind of the Demon: The Larry Linkogle Story" were among the audience award winners.
The annual festival received ...
- 1/29/2010
- by Dylan Stableford
- The Wrap
Canada’s many feature and short filmmakers at the Sundance Film Festival gathered this weekend to celebrate at Shabu Restaurant on Main Street. From far left to far right, first row: Alexandre Franchi (The Wild Hunt), Diego Maclean (The Art Of Drowning), Jamie Travis (The Armoire), Cordell Barker (Runaway), Paul Raphael (Tungqijuq), Betty Palik (Rocksteady), Lixin Fan (Last Train Home), Brigitte Hubmann (Telefilm Canada), Sheila De La Varende (Telefilm Canada). From far …...
- 1/27/2010
- Indiewire
No doubt about it, Alexandre Franchi's The Wild Hunt was one of the big successes of this year's Toronto International Film Festival. Set in the world of LARPing - large scale fantasy role play games - Franchi's debut feature could easily have simply played to the cult crowd but he aimed higher than that and ended up with a film that begins with a quirky hook but ends with a deadly serious finish that turned an awful lot of heads and set a lot of tongues talking.
With the film about to have its Us debut at Slamdance, expect more of the same there. But don't just take my word ... Franchi has just sent a pointer to the freshly completed trailer for the film, now available on the official website and embedded below. Take a look.
With the film about to have its Us debut at Slamdance, expect more of the same there. But don't just take my word ... Franchi has just sent a pointer to the freshly completed trailer for the film, now available on the official website and embedded below. Take a look.
- 1/19/2010
- Screen Anarchy
If you didn’t know any better, looking at the stills and the first part of the trailer for Alexandre Franchi’s The Wild Hunt, you’d think the film was some sort of period Viking epic. In part, that’s completely accurate but the film which has been gaining accolades in Canada (it’s part of Canada’s Top 10) and will soon be screening at Slamdance, is much more than a “typical” period action drama.
This one doesn’t have aliens to mark it as different but Franchi’s film presents a much higher calibre version of Darkon. Yes, it’s LARPing taken to the highest form. Taking part both in the world within the game and the real world, The Wild Hunt combines reality and game-play to tell the story of a guy in search of his girlfriend who has abandoned their relationship to fully immerse herself in the game.
This one doesn’t have aliens to mark it as different but Franchi’s film presents a much higher calibre version of Darkon. Yes, it’s LARPing taken to the highest form. Taking part both in the world within the game and the real world, The Wild Hunt combines reality and game-play to tell the story of a guy in search of his girlfriend who has abandoned their relationship to fully immerse herself in the game.
- 1/18/2010
- QuietEarth.us
The Slamdance Film Festival begins in two weeks and many of the films are looming darkly. The Wild Hunt, from Darclight Entertainment, blurs genres, but centrally the film is one of lost love and the danger of blurring reality with fantasy. Much of The Wild Hunt takes place during a medieval re-enactment in which newcomer Erik (Ricky Mabe) finds the egos of the players out-of-control. This flick also stars Kyle Gatehouse (Killer Wave), Trevor Hayes (The Dead Zone), and Mark Antony Krupa (Shake Hands with the Devil) and a trailer is below. Watch the theatrical clip till the end when The Wild Hunt reveals its true horrific colours.
A synopsis for The Wild Hunt here:
"A modern medieval saga, The Wild Hunt tells the story of Erik Magnusson, a young man who decides to follow his estranged girlfriend Evelyn into a medieval re-enactment game when he discovers that she has...
A synopsis for The Wild Hunt here:
"A modern medieval saga, The Wild Hunt tells the story of Erik Magnusson, a young man who decides to follow his estranged girlfriend Evelyn into a medieval re-enactment game when he discovers that she has...
- 1/15/2010
- by Michael Ross Allen
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Slamdance, which runs concurrently with Park City’s Sundance Film Festival, has announced its 2010 line-up, and there are several choices that look to make genre fans sit up and take notice.
Variety provided the names of the ten narrative and eight documentary feature films that are, in the spirit of the fest’s motto, “by filmmakers, for filmmakers.” Although not all of them are horror related, in the interest of keeping you guys fully informed on all the latest indie happenings (and because some of the docs just sound so damn interesting with topics like William Burroughs and Bolivian women wrestlers!), the full list follows:
Narrative Competition:
Cummings Farm (Andrew Drazek) - Comedy about three couples who try group sex at a lakeside strawberry farm, naively hoping it will lead to enlightenment; with Laura Silverman.
Drones (Amber Benson & Adam Busch) - A man discovers a universal threat to his life,...
Variety provided the names of the ten narrative and eight documentary feature films that are, in the spirit of the fest’s motto, “by filmmakers, for filmmakers.” Although not all of them are horror related, in the interest of keeping you guys fully informed on all the latest indie happenings (and because some of the docs just sound so damn interesting with topics like William Burroughs and Bolivian women wrestlers!), the full list follows:
Narrative Competition:
Cummings Farm (Andrew Drazek) - Comedy about three couples who try group sex at a lakeside strawberry farm, naively hoping it will lead to enlightenment; with Laura Silverman.
Drones (Amber Benson & Adam Busch) - A man discovers a universal threat to his life,...
- 12/10/2009
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
What's that? You can't wait to hear about the Irish post apocalyptic film One Hundred Mornings? Well you don't have to because we already have a review of it right here! Our own Alan Maxwell called it an "uncomfortably realistic vision of the breakdown of society." Yeah, it's good.
So continuing, part of the Slamdance lineup has been announced and it's got quite a few films we've featured.
Want something horrible in the forest? How about YellowBrickRoad?
Or maybe some William Burroughs? How about William S Burroughs: A Man Within?
Yup, the lineup for one of my favorite festivals is looking mighty fine as usual, and we'll be bringing you more shortly.
Partial lineup after the break!
Narrative Competition
Cummings Farm (Andrew Drazek) Comedy about three couples who try group sex at a lakeside strawberry farm, naively hoping it will lead to enlightenment; with Laura Silverman.
Drones (Amber Benson...
So continuing, part of the Slamdance lineup has been announced and it's got quite a few films we've featured.
Want something horrible in the forest? How about YellowBrickRoad?
Or maybe some William Burroughs? How about William S Burroughs: A Man Within?
Yup, the lineup for one of my favorite festivals is looking mighty fine as usual, and we'll be bringing you more shortly.
Partial lineup after the break!
Narrative Competition
Cummings Farm (Andrew Drazek) Comedy about three couples who try group sex at a lakeside strawberry farm, naively hoping it will lead to enlightenment; with Laura Silverman.
Drones (Amber Benson...
- 12/10/2009
- QuietEarth.us
The competitive lineup for the 2010 Slamdance Film Festival (of which Fangoria is a media sponsor) has been revealed via an announcement on Variety. "As in years past, competing films are by first-time feature directors working with limited budgets and without domestic theatrical distribution in place. Among the 18 titles, 11 are world premieres." the trade reports.
Fright fans may recall that Oren Peli's recent hit Paranormal Activity played the fest in 2008. As always, Slamdance will run side-by-side with the Sundance Film Fest in Park City Utah, January 21-28, 2010. While there's plenty of genre fare to be seen, we've got the entire list of films for you to browse below.
Narrative Competition
“Cummings Farm” (Andrew Drazek) Comedy about three couples who try group sex at a lakeside strawberry farm, naively hoping it will lead to enlightenment; with Laura Silverman. “Drones” (Amber Benson & Adam Busch) A man discovers a universal threat to his life,...
Fright fans may recall that Oren Peli's recent hit Paranormal Activity played the fest in 2008. As always, Slamdance will run side-by-side with the Sundance Film Fest in Park City Utah, January 21-28, 2010. While there's plenty of genre fare to be seen, we've got the entire list of films for you to browse below.
Narrative Competition
“Cummings Farm” (Andrew Drazek) Comedy about three couples who try group sex at a lakeside strawberry farm, naively hoping it will lead to enlightenment; with Laura Silverman. “Drones” (Amber Benson & Adam Busch) A man discovers a universal threat to his life,...
- 12/10/2009
- by no-reply@fangoria.com (James Zahn)
- Fangoria
[Our thanks to Andrew David Long for the following review.]
Alexandre Franchi just might be a genius, and his first feature shows the same lyric creativity and the same commitment to themes of imagination he displayed in his stellar collection of short films (Fata Morgana, Troll Concerto, etc.), all while suggesting - contrary to his earlier works - that reality must eventually destroy fantasy.
Viking reenactment enthusiast Bjorn (Mark Antony Krupa reveling in the chance to go berserk on camera) has abandoned his brother Erik (Ricky Mabe, also appearing in The Trotsky at Whistler this year) and ailing father in order to live in his fantasy world. When Erik's prevaricating girlfriend Lynn (Kaniehtiio Horn, again with The Trotsky) is lured to the camp of Celtic Shaman Murtagh (Trevor Hayes) Erik ventures into the woods to try to get her back. There are, of course, consequences to interfering with someone else's fantasy: when The Wild Hunt begins its turn to the...
Alexandre Franchi just might be a genius, and his first feature shows the same lyric creativity and the same commitment to themes of imagination he displayed in his stellar collection of short films (Fata Morgana, Troll Concerto, etc.), all while suggesting - contrary to his earlier works - that reality must eventually destroy fantasy.
Viking reenactment enthusiast Bjorn (Mark Antony Krupa reveling in the chance to go berserk on camera) has abandoned his brother Erik (Ricky Mabe, also appearing in The Trotsky at Whistler this year) and ailing father in order to live in his fantasy world. When Erik's prevaricating girlfriend Lynn (Kaniehtiio Horn, again with The Trotsky) is lured to the camp of Celtic Shaman Murtagh (Trevor Hayes) Erik ventures into the woods to try to get her back. There are, of course, consequences to interfering with someone else's fantasy: when The Wild Hunt begins its turn to the...
- 12/9/2009
- Screen Anarchy
Every year around this time the Toronto International Film Festival announces their picks for Canada's Top Ten: A selection of what they consider to be the best ten Canadian produced shorts and features from the previous year. And, true to form, last night was announcement time. No big surprises, really, and no late additions either. Without further ado, here are the lists:
The top ten Canadian feature films of 2009 are (in alphabetical order, including future release dates where applicable):
Cairo Time - Ruba Nadda (Mongrel Media)
Carcasses - Denis Côté (FunFilm Distribution)
Crackie - Sherry White (Kickham East)
Defendor - Peter Stebbings (Alliance Films, early 2010)
La Donation - Bernard Émond (E1 Entertainment, January 2010)
J'ai tué ma mère - Xavier Dolan (K-Films Amérique, February 2010)
Passenger Side - Matthew Bissonnette (KinoSmith, March 2010)
Polytechnique - Denis Villeneuve (Alliance Films)
The Trotsky - Jacob Tierney (Alliance Films, May 2010)
The Wild Hunt - Alexandre Franchi (Tva Films,...
The top ten Canadian feature films of 2009 are (in alphabetical order, including future release dates where applicable):
Cairo Time - Ruba Nadda (Mongrel Media)
Carcasses - Denis Côté (FunFilm Distribution)
Crackie - Sherry White (Kickham East)
Defendor - Peter Stebbings (Alliance Films, early 2010)
La Donation - Bernard Émond (E1 Entertainment, January 2010)
J'ai tué ma mère - Xavier Dolan (K-Films Amérique, February 2010)
Passenger Side - Matthew Bissonnette (KinoSmith, March 2010)
Polytechnique - Denis Villeneuve (Alliance Films)
The Trotsky - Jacob Tierney (Alliance Films, May 2010)
The Wild Hunt - Alexandre Franchi (Tva Films,...
- 12/8/2009
- Screen Anarchy
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