Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival has revealed the full lineup of 130 films for the Sept. 14-22 festival, and according to Tammy Frick, “it's going to be a great year.”
“That's the best part, is getting it out there, so we can start talking about the films,” she said at the Wednesday lineup reveal at SilverCity Sudbury Cinemas, where the film festival takes place.
Frick said she's “exhausted, but in a good way” after finalizing the lineup and making some last-minute film additions.
As for this year's lineup, she said there's some “superb” films.
Gala films cover diverse topics including a violin prodigy in the backdrop of the Second World War (“The Song of Names”), the 1970s kidnapping of heiress Patricia Hearst (“American Woman”), a Chinese family visiting a dying grandmother who hasn't been told she's dying (“The Farewell”) and Judy Garland's later life (“Judy”).
Several of this year's gala films are subtitled foreign movies, but the Friday, Sept. 20 gala — the Canadian film “The Rest of Us” — was filmed in neighbouring city North Bay***.
It's about two mother-daughter duos who must contend with their grief and complicated relationships with one another when the person who connects them dies.
“The film that was shot in North Bay, 'The Rest of Us,' is particularly endearing,” Frick said. “It's a beautiful story of overcoming chaos to appreciate someone else's predicament.”
It's always “amazing” to show northern-shot films on the big screen, and Cinéfest screenings are a “bit of a reunion” for the cast and crew, she said.
Veteran Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan also has a gala spot with his film “Guest of Honour,” being screened Saturday, Sept. 21.
The film is about a father (David Thewlis) and daughter (Laysla De Oliveira) attempting to work through their complicated relationship, secret histories, and personal demons.
Taking place right after the Toronto International Film Festival, Cinéfest usually attracts a few special guests, but Frick said those names have yet to be confirmed.
If you'd like to check out the full slate of Cinéfest films, those are now available on the festival's website.
2019 Cinéfest galas:
Saturday, Sept. 14 — The Song of Names (Canada/UK/Germany/Hungary) — Nine-year-old Martin Simmonds first meets young Polish violin prodigy Dovidl Rapoport in 1939, when Martin’s family take Dovidl into the safety of their bohemian North London home. Dovidl and Martin become closer than brothers, though their friendship is laced with envy, compounded by the interest Martin’s music impresario father Mortimer takes in Dovidl, who becomes Mortimer’s young protégé.
Sunday, Sept. 15 — La belle époque (France) — A couple in crisis. He, disillusioned, sees his life upset the day an entrepreneur offers him to plunge back into the time of his choice. Film is in French with English subtitles.
Monday, Sept. 16 — The Last Full Measure (USA) — Thirty-four years after his death, Airman William H. Pitsenbarger, Jr. ("Pits") is awarded the nation's highest military honor, for his actions on the battlefield.
Tuesday, Sept. 17 — Il pleuvait des oiseaux (Canada) — Three elderly hermits live in the woods. While wildfires threaten the region, their quiet life is about to be shaken by the arrival of two women. A story of intertwined destinies, where love can happen at any age. Film is in French with English subtitles.
Wednesday, Sept. 18 — American Woman (USA) — Inspired by the headline-dominating kidnapping of heiress Patty Hearst in 1974, this atmospheric drama is a fictionalized re-imagining of her time in hiding, from the perspective of Jenny, a political activist assigned to take care of her.
Thursday, Sept. 19 — The Farewell (USA/China) — A Chinese family discovers their grandmother has only a short while left to live and decide to keep her in the dark, scheduling a wedding to gather before she dies. Film is in Mandarin, English, Japanese and Italian with English subtitles.
Friday, Sept. 20 — The Rest of Us (Canada) — Two mother-daughter duos must contend with their grief and complicated relationships with one another when the person who connects them dies. Filmed in North Bay.
Saturday, Sept. 21 — Guest of Honour (Canada) — A father (David Thewlis) and daughter (Laysla De Oliveira) attempt to work through their complicated relationship, secret histories, and personal demons, in Atom Egoyan’s latest exploration of unresolved personal trauma and its unintended consequences.
Sunday, Sept. 22 — Judy (UK) — Legendary performer Judy Garland arrives in London in the winter of 1968 to perform a series of sold-out concerts. Stars Renée Zellweger as Garland.
***Cinéfest originally provided incorrect information about where the gala film "The Rest of Us" was filmed. The story has now been corrected. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.
