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Telefilm applauds the 28th Atlantic Film Festival’s commitment to showcasing excellence in Canadian film

2008-2009 to be another outstanding year for Canadian cinema with Atlantic-Canadian films such as Growing Op, Down to the Dirt

Halifax, September 5, 2008 – Telefilm Canada is proud to partner with the 28th Atlantic Film Festival (AFF) and Strategic Partners, the Festival’s 11th annual co-production conference.

The 2008 Atlantic Film Festival will screen 22 Canadian feature-length dramatic films, and Telefilm Canada is proud to be an equity investor in 18 (82%) of them, including three by first-time directors:

• Michael Melski (NS): Growing Op – Sept. 12, Oxford Theatre
  • Atlantic Gala Premier, 2008 Atlantic Film Festival
• Justin Simms (NF): Down to the Dirt – Sept. 14, Oxford Theatre
  • Rogers Special Presentation, 2008 Atlantic Film Festival
  • Official selection, 2008 Toronto International Film Festival – Canada First showcase
• Ann Verrall (NS): Nonsense Revolution - Sept. 18, Park Lane 4

“This year continues a string of banner years for Canadian films.  From the 2008 Cannes opener and Canadian-international apocalyptic fantasy Blindness to the hilarious coming-of-age narco-comedy Growing Op, as well as promising works such as Down to the Dirt, Adoration and Nonsense Revolution, many of the exciting films being released in 2008-2009 are being showcased at the Atlantic Film Festival.  Telefilm is proud of these films and we encourage festival goers to be among the first to enjoy them,” said Wayne Clarkson, Executive Director of Telefilm Canada.

The Atlantic Film Festival annually showcases films from the Atlantic region, across Canada and around the world. This year’s festival will screen a record-breaking 254 feature, short and documentary films over the 10-day festival.

Telefilm traces its support of the Atlantic Film Festival to 1984, the year the Festival turned four and the Corporation opened its Atlantic Region office. The Corporation is also a proud founding partner of Strategic Partners.

Gordon Whittaker, the Corporation’s Atlantic Region Director, added: “Telefilm applauds the Atlantic Film Festival’s commitment to bringing the works of Canadian artists – including five first-time directors – to a growing and appreciative festival audience.  “The Festival strengthens this industry as a whole by drawing attention to Canadian productions, encouraging a diversity of voices, developing talent, and – through Strategic Partners – fostering creative collaboration and business deals.”

Some of the highlights at the 28th Atlantic Film Festival include:

• The Telefilm Canada Gala on September 13 featuring Atom Egoyan’s Adoration
• Justin Simms’ Down to the Dirt screening as part of the Rogers Presents series on September 14
• The directorial début of Michael Melski with Growing Op at the Atlantic Gala Premier on September 12
• September 18th Inspired Industry panel will use one of this year’s big Atlantic Canadian films – Growing Op – as a case study to examine how to find the right music for your film.

Telefilm-financed Canadian feature films at the 2008 Atlantic Film Festival
Please consult festival catalogue to confirm screening dates, times and venues

Developing and promoting the Canadian audiovisual industry
Telefilm Canada is a federal cultural agency dedicated to the development and promotion of the Canadian audiovisual industry. Telefilm provides financial support to the private sector to create distinctively Canadian productions that appeal to domestic and international audiences. The Corporation also administers the funding programs of the Canadian Television Fund.

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Media inquiries:
Michael Dunn, Communications Officer – Atlantic Region
902-426-8425 dunnm@telefilm.ca