QUEBEC CINEMA COMES TO SYDNEY

Possible Worlds, Sydney’s 5th Canadian Film Festival, will showcase award-winning French language cinema from Quebec when it unfolds August 2^nd – 9^th 2010. For the full program visit www.possibleworlds.net.au.

Ricardo Trogi’s 1981 is a cheeky, semi-autobiographical comedy for anyone who grew up in the 1980s. Starring Jean-Carl Boucher and Sandrine Bisson, 1981 tells the comedic story of eleven-year-old Ricardo. Vintage goalie helmets, Star Wars sheets and original Sony cassette Walkmans set the scene in this wry, nostalgic feel-good movie about growing up in Quebec. 1981 is Ricardo Trogi’s third hit after Quebec-Montreal and Horloge Biologique.

1981’s Sydney Premiere will take place Friday 6th August at 6:30pm at Dendy Opera Quays, 9/2 East Circular Quay, Sydney. Tickets are $14, available at www.dendy.com.au or 9247 3800.

Polytechnique is the dramatic recreation of the terrible night of Dec. 6, 1989, when gunman Marc Lépine shot and killed 14 women at Montreal’s École Polytechnique. The hate crime shocked the nation, provoked endless debate and prompted the strengthening of Canadian gun laws. Eschewing the voyeuristic, Denis Villeneuve’s approach is sober and thoughtful: “every shot felt like a moral decision”. The result is a stunningly acted, intelligently constructed black & white drama that moves beyond mere re-enactment to become a powerful tribute to the very values the gunman struggled with: equality of the sexes and respect for human life. Following great reviews at Cannes, Polytechnique went on to win an incredible 9 Genies (Canada’s equivalent to the Oscars) including Best Picture.

The Australian Premiere of Polytechnique will take place Friday 6th August at 8:30pm at Dendy Opera Quays, 9/2 East Circular Quay, Sydney. Tickets are $14 available at www.dendy.com.au or 9247 3800.

I Killed My Mother(J’ai Tué Ma Mère) is a bold and furious coming-of-age tale about 17-year-old Hubert, who is confused and obsessed with his love/hate relationship with his mother. As he drifts through the mysteries of adolescence – artistic discoveries, sexual experimentation and rebellious defiance – his passive aggressive mother hovers ceaselessly, threatening to ruin the fun. Only 19 when he made I Killed My Mother, Xavier Dolan took Cannes by storm. He was recently awarded the Sydney Film Prize at the Sydney Film Festival. His visual flair, unflinching honesty and intuitive grasp of cinematic language combine to a striking effect. Hilarious, sensual and high-strung, I Killed My Mother gets under the skin with its spot-on portrayal of teenage arrogance and family dysfunction.

I Killed My Mother screens Sunday 8^th August at Dendy Newtown, 261-263 King St, Newtown. Tickets are $14 available at www.dendy.com.au or 9550 5699.

Possible Worlds, Sydney’s 5^th Canadian Film Festival, showcases the best new films made in Canada. The Festival unfolds August 2nd – 8th 2010, running a week of film premieres, filmmaker Q&A’s, industry talks and of course, parties. Welcoming prestigious filmmakers to Sydney, the Festival is a meeting point for the Canadian and Australian film industries, while providing a rare chance for locals to watch the best new Canadian films and meet the artists. For the full program visit www.possibleworlds.net.au.