Canada's Top 10 Films for 2007

Toronto – The Toronto International Film Festival Group (TIFFG) announced the top ten Canadian feature films, and for the first time, the top short films of 2007 at the annual Canada’s Top Ten industry event, hosted by actors Wendy Crewson and Luke Kirby. Public screenings with introductions and Q&As by filmmakers and panel discussions will be held from January 25 to February 5 at Cinematheque Ontario in Toronto.  Tickets go on sale December 12 on the website at topten.ca, by phone at 416-968-FILM, and at the Box Office, Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor Street West (main floor, north entrance). A selection of the films also screen in Vancouver, Ottawa and select Film Circuit communities.  Canada’s Top Ten features are chosen by two national panels of filmmakers, journalists, programmers, and industry professionals. 

"By expanding Canada’s Top Ten to include short films, we’re recognizing the immense range and talent demonstrated by filmmakers from across the country,” said Piers Handling, Director and CEO, Toronto International Film Festival Group.  “Both the Top Ten features and shorts demonstrate the exceptional vitality and the cinematic achievements of our industry.”

The top ten Canadian feature films of 2007 are (in alphabetical order):

L’ÂGE DES TÉNÈBRES – Denys Arcand (Alliance Odeon Films)

AMAL – Richie Mehta (Seville Pictures)

CONTINENTAL, UN FILM SANS FUSIL – Stéphane Lafleur (Christal Films Distribution)

EASTERN PROMISES – David Cronenberg (Alliance Odeon Films)

FUGITIVE PIECES – Jeremy Podeswa (Maximum Film Distribution)

MY WINNIPEG – Guy Maddin (Maximum Film Distribution)

A PROMISE TO THE DEAD: THE EXILE JOURNEY OF ARIEL DORFMAN – Peter Raymont (Films Transit)

THE TRACEY FRAGMENTS – Bruce McDonald (Alliance Odeon Films)

UP THE YANGTZE – Yung Chang (National Film Board of Canada and KinoSmith)

YOUNG PEOPLE ***censored*** – Martin Gero (Christal Films Distribution)

The top ten Canadian short films of 2007 are (in alphabetical order):

CODE 13, Mathieu L. Denis

THE COLONY, Jeff Barnaby

DUST BOWL HA! HA!, Sébastien Pilote

FARMER’S REQUIEM, Ramses Madina

LES GRANDS, Chloé Leriche

I HAVE SEEN THE FUTURE, Cam Christiansen

I MET THE WALRUS, Josh Raskin

MADAME TUTLI-PUTLI, Chris Lavis, Maciek Szczerbowski

POOL, Chris Chong Chan Fui

TERMINUS, Trevor Cawood

CANADA’S TOP TEN SCREENINGS AND PANEL DISCUSSIONS:  JAN. 25 - FEB. 5

All films screen with introductions and Q&As by filmmakers when available.  Three panel discussions are also featured.  Screenings and panel discussions take place at Cinematheque Ontario (Art Gallery of Ontario’s Jackman Hall, 317 Dundas Street West). 

Film and Music

Wednesday January 30 – 7:30 pm

Directors Bruce McDonald (THE TRACEY FRAGMENTS) and Cam Christiansen (I HAVE SEEN THE FUTURE) and their music supervisors discuss the use of music in their films such as how pieces are chosen, how they’re researched and the ones that get away. Featuring special guests from Canada’s independent music scene.

First Features: Shooting from the Hip

Saturday February 2 – 7:30 pm

Canada’s Top Ten filmmakers Richie Mehta (AMAL), Stéphane Lafleur (CONTINENTAL, UN FILM SANS FUSIL) and Martin Gero (YOUNG PEOPLE ***censored***) discuss their experiences making their debut features, sharing insight about taking their first major film projects from conception to production to screening. Moderated by EYE WEEKLY film critic Adam Nayman. 

The Producer as Auteur: Robert Lantos in Conversation

Tuesday, February 5 – 7:30pm

Robert Lantos, one of Canada’s most illustrious filmmakers and the producer of two of this year’s Canada’s Top Ten films, EASTERN PROMISES and FUGITIVE PIECES, discusses his career and his approach to producing films.

The 2007 Canadian Features Panel:

Canada’s Top Ten feature films are chosen by a 10-member, national panel of filmmakers, journalists, programmers, and industry professionals. 

Ken Eisner – film critic, The Georgia Straight

Roger Frappier – producer, LA GRANDE SÉDUCTION (2003), LA TURBULENCE DES FLUIDES (2002), MAELSTRÖM (2000), and JÉSUS OF MONTRÉAL (1989)

Cam Haynes – Director, Canadian Programming and Outreach, Toronto International Film Festival Group

Anne MacKenzie – script consultant, story editor and associate producer in film and television

Adam Nayman – film critic, EYE WEEKLY

Terrance Odette – filmmaker, SLEEPING DOGS (2006) and SAINT MONICA (2002)

Daniel Roby – filmmaker, LA PEAU BLANCHE (2004) and QUELQUES INSTANTS DE LA VIE D’UNE FRAISE (2003)

Darrell Varga - Canada Research Chair in Contemporary Film and Media Studies, Nova Scotia College of Art and Design

Shirley Vercruysse – producer, RADIANT CITY (2006), A PROBLEM WITH FEAR (2003), and WAYDOWNTOWN (2000)

David Weaver – filmmaker, SIBLINGS (2004) and CENTURY HOTEL (2001)

The 2007 Canadian Shorts Panel:

Canada’s Top Ten short films are chosen by a 5-member, national panel of filmmakers, journalists, programmers, and industry professionals. 

Bruce Kirkland – film critic, Toronto Sun

Danny Lennon - founder and director of Prends ça court!, the Montréal world short film series, journalist for Voir, and instructor at Montréal’s Institut National de l’Image et du Son (INIS)

Jeph Scanlon - Vice-President of the Kansas City Jubilee Film Festival, and Jubilee Festival Programmer

Agata Smoluch Del Sorbo – Canadian short film programmer, Toronto International Film Festival Group

Jamie Travis – award-winning filmmaker, THE SADDEST BOY IN THE WORLD (2006), THE PATTERNS TRILOGY (2005/2006), and WHY THE ANDERSON CHILDREN DIDN’T COME TO DINNER (2003)

Tickets go on sale December 12 on the website at topten.ca, by phone at 416-968-FILM, and at the Box Office, Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor Street West (main floor, north entrance). Ticket prices are as follows: All 10 films and one shorts screening: $65.00; single tickets general (film, shorts programme or panel)l: $8.00.  Prices do not include GST, building fund or service charge.  Please refer to our website tiffg.ca/content/aboutus for complete details on general pricing policies.

Established in 2001 by the Toronto International Film Festival Group, Canada’s Top Ten is an annual event devoted to celebrating and raising awareness of Canadian cinema.  The Top Ten films are chosen from features, shorts, documentaries, animation, and experimental films.  Each film must have either premiered at a major Canadian film festival or obtained a commercial theatrical release in Canada in 2007. 

The Toronto International Film Festival Group (TIFFG) is a charitable, not for profit, cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world. Its vision is to lead the world in creative and cultural discovery through the moving image.

Canada’s Top Ten is generously supported by the Government of Ontario.