NEWS

Producers Patricia Gomez Zlatar and Anne-Marie Gélinas are extremely pleased to announce the online premiere of the satire horrifique, SLAXX, directed by Elza Kephart (Graveyard Alive, Go in the Wilderness, the vampire television series, Sweet Blood (in dev.)) starring Romane Denis (True North, Nomades II, Charlotte a du fun, Les Pays d’en Haut), Brett Donahue (Private Eyes, Bad Blood, The Other Kingdom), Sehar Bojani (The Handmaid’s Tale, Sex & Ethnicity, Coroner), Stephen Bogaert (The Umbrella Academy, It Chapter Two, It, X-Men: Apocalypse), and Kenny Wong (Transplant, Pretty Hard Cases, Dystonia). The film will drop on March 18 in the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand on Shudder, and on March 23 in Canada on Google, iTunes, Amazon Prime, and Illico. The movie was rated 100% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.

FilmRise, the New York-based film and television studio and streaming network, and WaZabi Films, a full-service international sales agent, have announced the acquisition of the full-length feature film BEANS by FilmRise for the U.S.. The coming-of-age story about a twelve-year-old Mohawk girl forced to grow up fast during the 1990 Indigenous uprising known as the Oka Crisis was awarded 2^nd Runner Up of the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival and is an Official Selection at Berlinale 2021, Generation section.

EMAfilms and the Canadian Film Centre (CFC) are proud to share that the critically acclaimed and award-winning coming-of-age drama, BEANS, has been named one of TIFF Canada’s Top Ten features of 2020. This annual list, compiled by the TIFF programming team, features films from “some of Canada’s most important emerging and established voices and represents the stories of our nation right now.”

The debut narrative feature from the seasoned documentary and TV series director Tracey Deer premieres at TIFF 2020 today as part of the TIFF Next Wave Discovery section. Deer’s fierce and fiery feature is a timely testament to the universal spirit of overcoming systemic racism and injustice

BEANS, inspired by true events, a Mohawk girl on the cusp of adolescence must grow up fast and become her own kind of warrior during an armed stand-off known as the 1990 Oka Crisis. Torn between innocent childhood and reckless adolescence; she struggles to build her own identity amidst the chaos of the uprising and the injustice of a world that sees her as “different” even in her own land.

“Even though BEANS takes place in Canada in the early ‘90s, its universal message can still be heard loud and clear across the world today. I made the film to inspire, to open hearts and minds, and to give a voice to people that feel unheard” shares the director.

The film is produced by EMA’s Anne-Marie Gélinas and Mongrel Media will release the film in Canada.  “I feel fortunate to be part of this journey and witness first-hand the courage and resilience Tracey had to bring this story to the big screen; and I am grateful that TIFF chose the film” says Gélinas.

Sales outfit WaZabi Films has picked up the world rights excluding Canada.  “Beans is a very timely film.  We are excited to share Tracey’s voice with the world.  The spirit of the film aligns with the diverse voices we are hearing standing up for what is right”  state WaZabi co-presidents Anick Poirier and Lorne Price.

The film is written by Tracey Deer and Meredith Vuchnich, with cinematography by Marie Davignon, editing by Sophie Farkas Bolla, music by Mario Sévigny and Sound by Sylvain Bellemare.

Following TIFF, the film will be screened at Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF).

Director Phil Sheerin’s feature, The Winter Lake, a film noir, premieres today at Galway Film Fleadh.

After making a grim discovery in a seasonal lake, Tom (Anson Boon) a withdrawn teenager discovers the truth about his neighbours, a father and daughter harbouring sinister secrets.

« It’s a dark family drama with sinister undertones. The tone of the film is quite oppressive but it’s also a beautifully looking film. All of the cast are incredibly empathetic. Anyone that has watched it feels for everyone.  No matter how extreme the story got, that people believed it. » says Phil Sheerin.

After Galway Film Fleadh, The Winter Lake will be shown at Cinéfest Sudbury.