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At this week’s Frontières Market with buzzy project “Worm,” Montreal-based Type One Films will produce the sequel to 2022’s “The Diabetic,” with director Mitchell Stafiej back at helm.

Playing Fantasia last year, “The Diabetic” was well reviewed by most critics who caught it.

“It was one of the few Canadian films about disability made in recent memory. It not only explores disability thematically, but looks and feels ‘disabled’ as well: Shot with Hi8 cameras and transferred to 16mm,” Stafiej said.

“I realized, after watching it a little while ago, that I am not quite finished with these characters. I’m very curious about where they might end up if they see each other again. I also think that Matt [played by Travis Cannon] deserves some more attention and development. The first film is all about what Alek wants. But what about Matt?”

In “The Diabetic 2,” Alek (James Watts) and Matt go...

MidWest WeirdFest have announced the full program for 2023. The 7th annual film festival – a cinematic celebration of of all things fantastic, frightening, paranormal, and just plain weird – takes place March 3rd – 5th, 2025 at the Micon Downtown Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Among the fest’s fantastic line-up of horror, sci-fi, underground and documentary cinema, are several fantastic films that will be premiering at the event. One of these is Braek (pictured above), a genre-bending crime caper come rural horror movie. Says Braek director John Fallon:

The making of Braek was a suicide mission and I couldn’t have pulled it off without my small yet efficient cast/crew. Better to go to war with 15 lions than a 100 sheep as they say. We are very proud to have our USA premiere at Midwest WeirdFest, a festival that I’ve always esteemed. Braek is more than just another ‘home invasion’ type...

“Face Off” helmer John Woo will receive a Career Achievement Award during Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival, about to celebrate its 26th edition. The Hong Kong filmmaker is currently working on “Silent Night,” starring Joel Kinnaman and Kid Cudi.

“I defy anyone to watch ‘Bullet in the Head,’ ‘Hard Boiled’ or ‘The Killer’ and not walk away wanting to break down the shots and make a movie. His use of camera movement, close-ups, the ways he would block and choreograph, it’s astonishing to look at,” Fantasia’s artistic director Mitch Davis told Variety, noting the “unexpected poetry” of Woo’s work.

“They are such unconventionally soulful films. I wish we could somehow unleash a flock of doves in the cinema when he steps onto the stage. Backlit.”

The festival, which will unspool July 14 – Aug. 3, has also unveiled its first wave of titles, starting with a selection of world...

Genre festival to run in Montreal from July 14-August 3.

Fantasia International Film Festival will host first wave world premieres for the likes of Rebekah McKendry’s Glorious and Satoshi Miki’s Convenience Story and a career achievement award for John Woo at the upcoming in-person summer edition.

Set to run in Montreal from July 14-August 3, the event will include workshops, and launch events. Screenings and select events will take place in Concordia Hall Cinema, with additional screens at Cinémathèque Québécoise, Cinéma du Musée and McCord Museum. The full line-up will be unveiled in June.

Woo, whose credits include Hard Boiled,...

Hong Kong director John Woo is slated to receive a career achievement award at the 2022 Fantasia International Film Festival, which will return to theaters for its 26th edition. The Fantasia Festival is set to run from July 14 to August 3 in Montreal.

“Face/Off” director Woo recently made headlines for helming the English language remake of “The Killer,” his 1989 classic film, for Peacock. Woo also makes his return to the U.S. film market with dialogue-free action thriller “Silent Night,” starring Joel Kinnaman as a father who ventures into the underworld to avenge his young son’s death. Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi, Harold Torres, and Catalina Sandino Moreno additionally star.

Woo returned to making movies in China after helming 2003’s “Paycheck” starring Ben Affleck. The director recently completed Chinese features “The Crossing” and sequel “The Crossing 2” in 2014 and 2015, respectively, before helming the 2017 police-thriller “Manhunt.”

Woo’s honor at Fantasia will be followed...

The documentary festival is also launching a fifth competition strand at its 2017 edition.

Scandi documentary festival Cph:dox (Mar 16-26) has unveiled the films in its usual four competitions as well as introducing a new competition section.

World premieres announced across the competitions include Bridgend director Jeppe Rønde’s The John Dalli Mystery [pictured], a Kafkaesque story with Mikael Bertelsen and Mads Brügger; Do Donkeys Act?, a film about unruly donkeys narrated by Willem Dafoe; Accidental Anarchist, about the British former diplomat Carne Ross who has transformed into an anarchist; Sigrid Dyekjær’s A Modern Man, about violinist and model Charlie Siem; and Ben Rivers’ Urth, about the failed ecosystem Biosphere 2.0 in Arizona.

Read Screen’s festival preview here.

Other high profile documentaries to screen at the event include Matthew Heineman’s Cartel Land follow up City Of Ghosts.

New competition Next:wave is launched to highlight international emerging talents “who have the courage to take chances and stand out.”

The...

Best known in music circles as the lead - and only constant, really - in Canadian music act Dirty Beaches, Alex Zhang Hungtai takes the lead in Mitchell Stafiej's indie drama A. Hungtai plays musician Konrad in the midst of a vicious bender as he attempts to finish a new record. Says Stafiej about his latest effort: Through all of my films, I work tirelessly to portray a very specific truth that I understand and care about deeply. This truth is usually related to suburbia, youth issues and mental health. There have been so few works that accurately depict what it feels like to be in an alcoholic bender; the fear, the chaos, and the complete lack of control. I wanted to create a piece that truly...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Executives today announced the 15 finallists in the Micro-Budget Production Program for 2015-2016 representing all regions of the country.

Telefilm Canada brass also said at a press conference at Toronto’s Tiff Bell Lightbox that the Talent Fund will subsidise the Program, while Technicolor is offering free digital distribution encoding services to finallists who want it.

This is the third annual round of projects in the Micro-Budget Production Program, which supports emerging filmmakers seeking to produce their first feature-length films.

The scheme places emphasis on the use of digital platforms and developing their potential for distribution and audience engagement. Budgets for these projects must not exceed $250,000.

“In just three years, the Micro-Budget Production Program has already proven it can deliver,” said Telefilm Canada executive director Carolle Brabant (pictured). “It’s discovered inspiring new talent, several of whom have made it on the festival circuit.

“I’m thinking for example of Christian Sparkes, whose film Cast No Shadow...

The 42nd Edition of Montreal’s Festival du Nouveau Cinema is just days away and the weight of an incredibly diverse and exciting program can intimidate even the most weathered cineaste. Combining the very best of big name and upcoming filmmakers, the festival has built its reputation on giving attention to groundbreaking and avant-garde cinema. Though sometimes eclipsed by the international selections, perhaps the greatest asset of the Fnc is its showcase of local talent. Every year, the Focus program takes a special look at the very best of independent and fresh cinema from Quebec and Canada.

Bringing together 18 feature length films and a wide selection of narrative and experimental shorts, this year’s line-up is strong and eclectic. For those who may not know what to see in this section, I have selected five films that I think are particularly interesting and worthwhile. Be sure to add your own recommendations in the comments below!

Textbook Videos Presents 11th YoungCuts Film Festival

The YoungCuts Film Festival is pleased to announce 2012′s Top 100 short films by the world’s best young filmmakers. Lead sponsor TextbookVideos.com will present the films in Montreal’s De Seve Theatre at Concordia University on Friday October 12th and Saturday, October 13th.

The Beautiful Dead by Spencer Ryerson (Can)

*****

On Friday, October 12th, the day’s first screening is at 1Pm and features the best short films by the Festival’s youngest participating filmmakers who are 19 and under. At 3 Pm, the always popular Animation and Music screening is presented. The 5Pm screening presents a theme of “Growth” and includes films from 6 different countries. The 7Pm screening features 12 films grouped loosely by a theme of “Loneliness”, and includes a bloc of gay-positive films from 4 different countries. The evening concludes with the 9Pm Master Class screening which presents the best films by young filmmakers aged 25 to 29.

On Saturday,...