FILM CIRCUIT Newsletter

Transcription

1 PRESENTS FILM CIRCUIT Newsletter WINTER 2014 Big News from Grand Rock WINTER

2 IN THIS ISSUE Letters... 2 Film Circuit at a Glance... 4 By the Numbers Film Circuit Speaks... 6 Guests Guest Calendar...8 Upcoming Festivals... 9 Festival Wrap-up Canadian Film Highlights Short Films at the Festival Managing Your Series Spotlight On: Bancroft Social Media: On Your Schedule TIFF Bell Lightbox Highlights Film Circuit Staff Like us on Facebook! facebook.com/filmcircuittiff LETTERS Director of Film Programmes, TIFF Bell Lightbox Winter is the time for cinema. Sure, summer gets all of the attention, what with its blockbusters, franchises and big box-office returns, but, as a season, summer is about movies. Winter is about movies as art movies that play at film festivals, movies that are critically acclaimed, movies that go on to win gold statues at lavish gala events, movies that define cinema. These are the types of movies that find their audience and their champions on Film Circuit. Among this season s many highlights are Mommy, the latest from Quebec auteur Xavier Dolan and Canada s entry into the Foreign Language Oscar race; Mr. Turner, Mike Leigh s gorgeous portrait of the famous British landscape artist J.M.W. Turner; and another Oscar-buzz title, the Dardenne Brothers Two Days, One Night. There are great documentaries, too: this season delivers Monsoon, Sturla Gunnarsson s stunning evocation of India; Red Army, a riveting look at the Soviet Union s hockey dynasty of the 1970s and 80s; and Trick or Treaty?, the latest film about First Nations rights by acclaimed director Alanis Obomsawin. This close of 2014 also marks a change for Film Circuit: one of our close colleagues, Matt MacKinnon, has left us in order to bring his passion for cinema to bricks and mortar as programmer for a new cinema in Kitchener. As Matt joins the ranks of exhibitors, I m assured that another classic cinema venue is in capable, movie-loving hands. We wish Matt all the best, and we will continue to deliver the type of programming he championed. Jesse Wente Manager, Film Circuit Brisk temperatures and long nights make for a perfect time to retreat into the comfort of your local cinema. This season has been busy for Film Circuit, with the launch of our inaugural Film Circuit Summit at the Toronto International Film Festival, and our preparations to celebrate our 20th anniversary in the coming months. Our success is due to the continued dedication of our devoted and enthusiastic volunteers across the country, and we would not be celebrating 20 years without your support. On behalf of each of us at Film Circuit, we thank you. As Jesse mentioned, this season got off to a bittersweet start as we said goodbye to one of our core members, Matt MacKinnon. While I m sure our industry colleagues and Film Circuit partners were equally saddened to learn of Matt s departure, his knowledge and passion for film will be put to good use as he pursues his dream as an independent cinema owner in his hometown of Kitchener-Waterloo. Congratulations Matt! From all of us here at Film Circuit, we wish you a wonderful holiday season, and a joyous 2015! Meaghan Brander Follow us on

3 Film Circuit Farewell I joined TIFF in 2007 as a Film Circuit Intern. From rolling posters into mailing tubes, I soon graduated to tracking down boxoffice reports as the Administrative Assistant, and eventually to Programming, where I m pretty sure I booked The King s Speech into every Circuit town across Ontario. Fast-forward to 2014, and I m leaving TIFF to open an independent movie theatre in my hometown of Kitchener-Waterloo. To say this would not be possible without the experience and many friendships I ve gained from my time with Film Circuit would be a understatement. Thanks to everyone I ve crossed paths with over the past several years your dedication, passion and commitment is the cornerstone of Film Circuit s success, and an inspiration to my new adventures in self-employment.* Matt MacKinnon *This farewell note entitles you to one free small popcorn. A Note from Print Traffic We re all very excited for the Film Circuit Winter Season. The Farmer s Almanac has predicted extreme weather for the next few months. Please remember this when shipping out your films. Storms can cause significant delays to transit schedules. Please be aware and let us know if you anticipate any issues. Many of you have been sending us Digital Readiness Forms. We are collecting these to keep on hand for future labs that may not have your server information. If you have not sent us a form recently but have the information handy, please send it to one of us in Print Traffic and we will keep it for our records. Having access to the theatre certificates can help avoid last-minute KDM issues. Have a wonderful season! Jennifer MacFarlane Manager, Print Traffic Happy Winter from TIFF Marketing! Thank you so much to everyone who attended the Marketing Roundtables & Talks during the 2014 Film Circuit Summit and at Sudbury s Cinéfest! There was great discussion on the challenges of marketing with little-to-no budget, as well as getting new audiences to our cinemas. One of the things to always keep in mind is that whenever we face a challenge, new opportunities can always be developed! If your screenings usually sell out and therefore don t have much room to grow, but you are also concerned about getting a younger audience to your screenings, try to think outside the box! Bring the screenings to the audience. Engage students to assist with promotion by giving them free access to your screenings, and start reaching out more through social media these are cheap, cost-efficient ways of getting the word out there without killing your budgets. I m happy to chat more! Feel free to contact me any time if you want to brainstorm ideas! ehiggins@tiff.net Erin Higgins Senior Marketing Manager, TIFF A Note from Communications We at TIFF are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Film Circuit. It is an exciting time as this unique programme continues to grow, and to reach communities across the country. Many Film Circuit groups are celebrating milestone anniversaries as well this year, providing an opportune time to engage media with stories about where you ve been and where you re heading. In this edition s Managing Your Series section (see page 15), I offer a few suggestions on approaching media with news of your anniversary or series milestone. Happy Anniversaries! Geneviève Parent Senior Communications Manager, Toronto International Film Festival & Canadian Programming, TIFF WINTER

4 FILM CIRCUIT AT A GLANCE British Columbia Campbell River Chilliwack Courtenay Cranbrook Creston Duncan Fernie Fort St. John Gibsons Golden Grand Forks Invermere Kamloops Kelowna Langley Maple Ridge McBride Merritt Mission Nanaimo New Westminster North Vancouver Penticton Port Moody Powell River Prince George Prince Rupert Quadra Island Qualicum Beach Quesnel Revelstoke Salmon Arm Smithers Surrey Trail Vancouver Vanderhoof Vernon West Vancouver Williams Lake Alberta Banff Blairmore Calgary Canmore Cochrane Drumheller Edmonton Fahler Fort McMurray Grande Prairie High River Jasper Lethbridge Medicine Hat Nordegg Olds Peace River Pincher Creek Red Deer Rocky Mountain House St. Albert Spruce Grove Sylvan Lake Saskatchewan Estevan Moose Jaw Prince Albert Saskatoon Manitoba Boissevain Brandon Flin Flon Gimli Portage La Prairie Ontario Ajax Alliston Ancaster Arnprior Aurora Bancroft Barrie Bayfield Belleville Bracebridge Brantford Brockville Burlington Cambridge Campbellford Chatham Cobourg Collingwood Cornwall Elliot Lake Fenelon Falls Forest Georgina Goderich Gravenhurst Haliburton Halton Hills Hamilton Hanover Huntsville Kincardine Kingston London Madoc Markham Meaford Midland Milton Newmarket Niagara-on-the-Lake North Bay Oakville Orangeville Orillia Orleans Oshawa Owen Sound Palmerston Parry Sound Pembroke Perth Peterborough Picton Port Hope Renfrew Richmond Hill Sarnia Sault Ste. Marie Simcoe Sioux Lookout Smiths Falls St. Catharines Stittsville Stouffville Stratford Thunder Bay Tillsonburg Timmins Uxbridge Welland Windsor Woodstock Quebec Hudson Montreal Potton Newfoundland Grand Falls-Windsor New Brunswick Fredericton Saint John Woodstock Nova Scotia Annapolis Royal Bridgewater Liverpool New Glasgow Wolfville Prince Edward Island Charlottetown Summerside Nunavut Iqaluit Welcome New Groups! Film Circuit would like to extend a warm welcome to the following groups who have joined the team this year. Potton, QC (September 2014) Parry Sound, ON (October 2014) Timmins, ON (November 2014) Iqaluit, NU (November 2014) 4 FILM CIRCUIT Newsletter

5 BY THE NUMBERS Film Circuit s Top 10 highestgrossing films of 2014 January 1 September 30, Philomena 2. Gabrielle 3. The Lunchbox 4. Inside Llewyn Davis 5. Le Week-End 6. Wadjda 7. The Invisible Woman 8. Cas & Dylan 9. Nebraska 10. The Grand Seduction Film Circuit attendance leaders of 2014 January 1 September 30, 2014 Collingwood...10,342 Charlottetown... 9,086 Vernon...7,835 Ancaster... 7,278 Barrie... 7,121 Thunder Bay...5,738 Niagara-on-the-Lake... 5,494 Wolfville... 5,085 Salmon Arm...4,722 Belleville... 4,656 Film Circuit s most-requested films of Winter 2015 Please contact your programmer for availability. Big News from Grand Rock Red Army Force Majeure Mommy Two Days, One Night Mr. Turner October Gale Film Circuit s Top-Grossing, Single-Booking Film of 2014 January 1 September 30, 2014 Film: Philomena Attendance: 851 Community: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario Gross: $10, Film Circuit Milestones for th Anniversary Cinefest Durham Oshawa, Ontario First screenings: The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain Vanya on 42nd Street Il Postino (The Postman) cinésarnia Sarnia, Ontario First Screenings: Farinelli Le Confessional 15th Anniversary Livery Film Fest Goderich, Ontario First Screening: This Is My Father London Museum London, Ontario First Screening: Central Station Brock University Film Society St. Catharines, Ontario First Screening: Tango Kamloops Film Society Kamloops, British Columbia First Screening: An Ideal Husband Langley Film Nights Langley, British Columbia First Screening: Three Seasons Kitchen Stove Film Series Penticton, British Columbia First Screening: The Winslow Boy Quesnel Film Club Quesnel, British Columbia First Screening: Three Seasons Shuswap Film Society Salmon Arm, British Columbia First Screening: The Winslow Boy Vernon Film Society Vernon, British Columbia First Screening: Three Seasons Philomena Mommy The Grand Seduction The Lunchbox Red Army Denotes Canadian film WINTER

6 FILM CIRCUIT SPEAKS Supporting the next generation of Canadian filmmakers Kelowna Film Society In 2014, the Kelowna Film Society gave out a total of $7,200 in academic bursaries to film students and local filmmakers. One such director completed a 28-minute film and now needs support to submit it to festivals. Another young filmmaker is preparing to make a music video based on a young aboriginal girl s experience in a residential school. The Kelowna Film Society committee was overwhelmed by the talent demonstrated in the applications. The professional camera KFS bought is also being put to good use. Ruth Mellor Chair of the Kelowna Film Society Kelowna, BC Pictured from left to right: Malibu Taetz, Chelsea McIvoy (filmmaker), Patrick Parry, Kiano Zamoni (filmmaker), Brenda Gilbert (KFS Board), Bo Rouck Spinning Reels Bracebridge Local students Josh Ronson, Michelle Hollingshead and Melinda Wilson were the proud recipients of Spinning Reel s 5th Year Bursary for post-secondary studies in film. Presented with their awards at a ceremony attended by friends and family, each student received $1,000 towards film studies. The students expressed their appreciation for the bursaries, which will help defray housing, equipment and other expenses. Receiving this money has taken a load of stress off my back, and has given me a lot of confidence toward my first coming year at college, said recipient Josh Ronson. Thank you. Ronson plans to submit a film about violence against women to an upcoming local film night. Maria Duncalf-Barber Spinning Reels Bracebridge, ON Left to right: Sandy Yudin, Josh Ronson, Maria Duncalf-Barber, Michelle Hollinshead, Melinda Wilson 2014 Film Circuit People s Choice Awards Voting for the Film Circuit People s Choice Awards begins in January! Remind your audience before each screening to visit tiff.net/filmcircuit and vote for their favourite Canadian and international film. Last year s awards went to Jason Priestley s Cas & Dylan and Woody Allen s Blue Jasmine, respectively. Congratulations to Reel Alternatives in Vanderhoof, BC, who won a free screening for having the largest audience-voter turnout. Cas & Dylan 6 FILM CIRCUIT Newsletter

7 GUESTS Heartbeat Heartbeat in Charlottetown Filmworks Summerside volunteers welcome Tanya Davis and Meaghan Brander. From left: Margi Kean, Greg Weeks, Anne Farrell, Frank Gaudet, Tanya Davis, Meaghan Brander, Charmaine Comeau, and Ron Chambers. The hearts worn by the Filmworks group represent the theme of the film: follow your heart to overcome fear, find your passion, and realize your dreams. A warm hometown reception for Heartbeat s Tanya Davis Summerside, PEI provided a warm homecoming for our own Tanya Davis, poet, singer-songwriter, and star of the film Heartbeat, which screened at Cineplex Cinemas Summerside on October 15 as part of the Filmworks Summerside film series. The audience, which included Tanya s parents, family, and many friends and former teachers, was delighted with the film and particularly appreciated the post-screening Q&A. Tanya s natural sense of humour and easy rapport with the audience was very engaging, eliciting a variety of interesting questions. The star discussed the vulnerability she has felt as a musician performing in a film, but said the process became less painful over time. There were several questions about locations and shooting schedules in Halifax, a well-known and much-loved city for most of us. And we had a great laugh when one young man asked about the intricacies of the boob-wrangling scene with Cathy Jones. Tanya wrote to us afterwards to say: It was a lovely night, I was so happy to be there. I felt very well cared for and loved and respected. It was a good homecoming for me, simply lovely. This was the first time Filmworks Summerside hosted a guest, and Film Circuit certainly helped to smooth the way. The idea, suggested by Film Circuit programmer Laura Good, was perfect for our community. Ming-Jenn Lim handled all of the organization and kept us fully informed, and Meaghan Brander, Manager of Film Circuit (who also has a connection to PEI, having grown up in Charlottetown), was onsite to help host Tanya and her family. It truly was a lovely night, thoroughly enjoyed by our group and our community. Charmaine Comeau Filmworks Summerside Summerside, Prince Edward Island West Wind: The Vision of Tom Thomson in Barrie Events such as this gathering in Barrie should make you proud of the programming opportunities that TIFF Film Circuit provides. There was a very keen crowd, most of which arrived early for the brunch prior to the screening, and everyone stayed for an in-depth Q&A! The audiovisual elements were great too, thanks to the superb projection and sound at the Mady Centre, and were able to share newly discovered photos of Tom Thomson thanks to a family who lives outside of Barrie. It was clear how proud and excited the organizers were about their festival, the films programmed and the many associated events. A tremendous feeling of community filled the theatre. So thanks to you for your continuing outreach work! It means so much to these communities. Nancy Lang Co-producer/Researcher, West Wind: The Vision of Tom Thomson Peter Raymont Co-director/Producer, West Wind: The Vision of Tom Thomson Tanya Davis and Derek Martin Tanya Davis and Meaghan Brander arrived in Charlottetown the day after the wonderfully successful screening of Heartbeat in Summerside. After a convivial dinner with City Cinema and Charlottetown Film Society volunteers and board members at Sirenella, we made our way to the cinema. Volunteer Susan Flynn shares her experience: Recently I received an invitation to attend a dinner and screening of Heartbeat, a new Canadian film starring Tanya Davis and directed by Andrea Dorfman. Most people in the audience knew Tanya and were spellbound watching her soulful, artistic portrayal of a woman exploring the realms of love. Born in Summerside, PEI, Tanya is a quintessential poet, singer-songwriter, musician and actress now living in Halifax. The film takes place at the peak of autumn, and viewers are treated to a tapestry rich in colours and scenic images of Halifax. The camera creatively captures the settings from ground- and sky-level views, connecting with the environment in innovative ways. The inclusion of animation provides another layer to the depth and rhythm of Heartbeat. I left feeling joyful, enlightened and proud of the incredible talent involved in the making of this Maritime production. It is a must-see. Derek Martin City Cinema, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island WINTER

8 2014 GUEST CALENDAR DATE GUEST RELATION TO FILM FILM COMMUNITY PROVINCE January 6, 2014 Drew Taylor & Larry Weinstein Co-Directors Our Man In Tehran Ancaster ON January 8, 2014 Tony Whelan & Denis Theriault Producer/Actor All the Wrong Reasons Saint John NB January 11, 2014 Paul Saltzman Director The Last White Knight Milton ON January 13, 2014 Drew Taylor & Larry Weinstein Co-Directors Our Man In Tehran Oakville ON January 13, 2014 Jennifer Baichwal Director Watermark Picton ON January 20, 2014 Drew Taylor & Larry Weinstein Co-Directors Our Man In Tehran Orangeville ON January 22, 2014 Drew Taylor & Elena Semikina Director/Producer Our Man In Tehran Belleville ON January 29, 2014 Jennifer Baichwal Director Watermark Hamilton ON January 29, 2014 Nick de Pencier Composer Watermark Hamilton ON January 29, 2014 Edward Burtynsky Producer Watermark Hamilton ON January 29, 2014 Fraser Ash Producer Our Man In Tehran Wolfville NS January 31, 2014 Edward Burtynsky Director Watermark Barrie ON February 1, 2014 Larry Weinstein Director Our Man In Tehran Barrie ON February 11, 2014 Jody Shapiro Director Burt's Buzz Campbell River BC February 26, 2014 Edward Burtynsky Director Watermark St. Catharines ON February 27, 2014 Louise Archambault Director Gabrielle Kingston Canadian Film Festival ON February 28, 2014 Richie Mehta & Andrew Lockington Director/Composer Siddharth / SOCAN: Music in Film Workshop Kingston Canadian Film Festival ON February 28, 2014 Ingrid Veninger Director The Animal Project / Career Event Kingston Canadian Film Festival ON February 28, 2014 Jacob Switzer Actor The Animal Project Kingston Canadian Film Festival ON February 28, 2014 John Switzer Sound The Animal Project Kingston Canadian Film Festival ON February 28, 2014 Emmett Webb Actor The Animal Project Kingston Canadian Film Festival ON February 28, 2014 Mark Montefiore Producer Cas & Dylan Kingston Canadian Film Festival ON February 28, 2014 Calvin Thomas Director/Writer The Oxbow Cure / Career Event / Low Budget Filmmaking Panel Kingston Canadian Film Festival ON February 28, 2014 Yonah Lewis Director/Writer The Oxbow Cure / Career Event / Low Budget Filmmaking Panel Kingston Canadian Film Festival ON February 28, 2014 Lev Lewis Writer/Composer The Oxbow Cure / Career Event / Low Budget Filmmaking Panel Kingston Canadian Film Festival ON March 1, 2014 Matt Johnson Director The Dirties / Career Event / Low Budget Filmmaking Panel Kingston Canadian Film Festival ON March 1, 2014 Maxwell McCabe-Lokos Actor The Husband Kingston Canadian Film Festival ON March 1, 2014 Liz Marshall & Jo-Anne McArthur Director & Writer/Actor The Ghosts in Our Machine Kingston Canadian Film Festival ON March 1, 2014 Renaud Gauthier & Marie-Claire Lalonde Director/Producer Discopathe Kingston Canadian Film Festival ON March 1, 2014 Robert Vroom Producer/Cinematographer Three Night Stand Kingston Canadian Film Festival ON March 1, 2014 Don McKellar Director/Actor In Conversation With Kingston Canadian Film Festival ON March 3, 2014 Jennifer Baichwal & Elizabeth Klinck Director/Visual Researcher Watermark Collingwood ON March 13, 2014 Jennifer Baichwal Director Watermark Port Moody BC April 2, 2014 Mark Montefiore & Jessie Gabe Producer/Writer Cas & Dylan / Student Event St. Catharines ON May 9, 2014 Frederic Bohbot Producer The Lady in Number 6 Hudson QC May 10, 2014 Jean Marc-Vallée Director Dallas Buyers Club Hudson QC May 14, 2014 Steven Bray Producer Siddharth Oshawa ON June 11, 2014 Jonathan Hayes Director Algonquin Belleville ON June 20, 2014 Elizabeth Klinck Visual Researcher Arctic Defenders Barrie ON September 25, 2014 Jonathan Hayes Director Algonquin / Student Event North Bay ON October 1, 2014 William Allinson Director Slow Win Uxbridge ON October 13, 2014 Jonathan Hayes Director Algonquin Hudson QC October 15, 2014 Tanya Davis Actor Heartbeat Summerside PEI October 16, 2014 Tanya Davis Actor Heartbeat Charlottetown PEI October 19, 2014 Daniel Perlmutter Director Big News from Grand Rock Barrie ON October 19, 2014 Judy Holmes Producer Big News from Grand Rock Barrie ON October 19, 2014 Michael McNamara Producer Big News from Grand Rock Barrie ON October 26, 2014 Peter Raymont & Nancy Lang Director/Producer West Wind: The Vision of Tom Thompson Barrie ON November 1, 2014 Maxime Giroux Director Felix and Meira Windsor ON November 2, 2014 Daniel Perlmutter Director Big News from Grand Rock Windsor ON November 2, 2014 Judy Holmes Producer Big News from Grand Rock Windsor ON November 2, 2014 Michael McNamara Producer Big News from Grand Rock Windsor ON November 3, 2014 Madeleine Grant Director The Backward Class Windsor ON November 6, 2014 Daniel Perlmutter Director Big News from Grand Rock Cambridge ON November 7, 2014 Albert Shin Director In Her Place Windsor ON November 7, 2014 Sturla Gunnarsson Director Monsoon Cambridge/GRFF ON November 8, 2014 Daniel Perlmutter & Ennis Esmer Director/Actor Big News from Grand Rock Haliburton ON November 8, 2014 Katie Boland Actor Gerontophilia Windsor ON 8 FILM CIRCUIT Newsletter

9 2014 GUEST CALENDAR DATE GUEST RELATION TO FILM FILM COMMUNITY PROVINCE November 8 Ennis Esmer Actor Big News from Grand Rock Haliburton ON November 8 Sturla Gunnarsson Director Monsoon Windsor ON November 11 Don McKellar Director The Grand Seduction Markham ON November 12 Daniel Perlmutter Director Big News from Grand Rock Midland ON November 12 Judy Holmes Producer Big News from Grand Rock Midland ON November 12 Michael McNamara Producer Big News from Grand Rock Midland ON November 12 Meredith MacNeill Actor Big News from Grand Rock Midland ON November 12 Ennis Esmer Actor Big News from Grand Rock Midland ON November 12 Peter Keleghan Actor Big News from Grand Rock Midland ON November 12 Leah Pinsent Actor Big News from Grand Rock Midland ON December 6 Daniel Perlmutter Director Big News from Grand Rock Collingwood ON December 6 Ennis Esmer Actor Big News from Grand Rock Collingwood ON UPCOMING FESTIVALS Communities from coast to coast are currently gearing up for their Winter and Spring festivals. Chances are that one is taking place near you, so be sure to see some films and show your support! For a complete list of Film Circuit festivals and activities, please visit tiff.net/filmcircuit. NFS Film Festival Cobourg, ON January 30 February 1, 2015 northumberlandfilm.ca Barrie Film Festival Reel Stories Barrie, ON February 6 8, 2015 barriefilmfestival.ca Powell River Film Festival Powell River, BC February 2015 prfilmfestival.ca Shuswap International Film Festival Salmon Arm, BC February 20 28, 2015 shuswapfilm.net Kingston Canadian Film Festival Kingston, ON February 26 March 1, 2015 kingcanfilmfest.com Vernon International Film Festival Vernon, BC February 27 March 5, 2015 vernonfilmsociety.bc.ca Kamloops Canadian and International Film Festival Kamloops, BC March 5 14, 2015 kamloopsfilmsociety.org WINTER

10 FESTIVAL WRAP-UP Delegates and guests at the annual Film Circuit Cocktail. Toronto International Film Festival September 4 14, delegates from 61 Film Circuit communities representing 6 provinces travelled to attend the inaugural Film Circuit Summit at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. This year, we expanded the Summit s weekend screenings and events to include professional development programming, where Film Circuit delegates shared successes and challenges on a variety of topics. Popular screenings included the Soviet hockey documentary Red Army, and the uplifting British activist film Pride. This year s annual Film Circuit Cocktail was held at The Citizen, giving delegates the opportunity to connect with each other, Film Circuit staff and film industry guests. The Imitation Game was named the winner of the Grolsch People s Choice Award, Felix and Meira took home the Canada Goose Award for Best Canadian Film, Bang Bang Baby won the City of Toronto Award for Best Canadian First Feature, and The Weatherman and the Shadowboxer picked up the award for Best Canadian Short Film. Thank you to everyone who made the trip to Toronto to join us. Plans are already well underway for next year, when we celebrate the Festival s 40th anniversary. We hope to see you then! tiff.net/festival Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival September 13 23, 2014 Celebrating its 26th year, Cinéfest Sudbury welcomed over 50 Film Circuit delegates representing 18 communities across Ontario. Visiting delegates were once again invited to attend our annual festival brunch, with Film Circuit and TIFF staff Meaghan Brander, Matt MacKinnon, Ming-Jenn Lim, and Senior Marketing Manager Erin Higgins on hand to answer questions and provide feedback to delegates. Elsa and Fred was named Cinefést s 2014 Audience Choice Winner for Best Feature Film, while I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story received the Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary. Special thanks once again to Tammy Frick, Patrick O Hearn, and the entire Cinéfest team for a wonderful week and congratulations on a fantastic festival! cinefest.com Calgary International Film Festival September 18 28, 2014 The 15th annual Calgary International Film Festival saw record attendance, with over 25,000 film fans enjoying the nearly 200 feature films, documentaries and short films on offer. Audience Choice Awards were given out to Whiplash (Best Narrative Feature), and Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story (Best Documentary Feature). Congratulations to Steve Schroeder, Bruce Fletcher, Brenda Lieberman and the entire CIFF team, and thank you for once again hosting Film Circuit. calgaryfilm.com 10 FILM CIRCUIT Newsletter

11 Round-table sessions at the inaugural Film Circuit Summit. Whiplash Elsa and Fred Atlantic Film Festival September 11 18, 2014 The 34th Atlantic Film Festival brought another incredible slate of local and international films to historic downtown Halifax. Standout tiles included Elephant Song, My Old Lady, Whiplash and Canada s entry to the Academy Awards, Xavier Dolan s Mommy, which also had the honour of winning AFF s Best French Canadian Film Award. Other highlights included the Best Atlantic Feature Award, which was presented to Cast No Shadow, and the Best Atlantic Original Score Award, which went to composer and star Tanya Davis for Heartbeat. We would like to extend a huge thank you to Executive Director Wayne Carter, Program Director Jason Beaudry, and their incredible team for hosting Film Circuit delegates from our locations in Fredericton NB, Wolfville NS, New Glasgow NS and Summerside PEI! atlanticfilm.com Vancouver International Film Festival September 25 October 10, 2014 One of the largest film festivals in North America, the 33rd annual Vancouver International Film Festival presented an astonishing 341 films (including 212 features) from 75 countries. The lineup included highlights from the world s top festivals as well as new local discoveries. The Most Popular Canadian Feature Film Award was presented to Jacob Tierney for his sharp comedy-drama, Preggoland. Audiences also voted for Glen Campbell: I ll Be Me, winner of the Most Popular International Documentary Award, and All the Time in the World, which took home the Most Popular Canadian Documentary Award. Sincere thanks to Alan Franey, Jacqueline Dupuis and their team for hosting nearby TIFF Film Circuit locations! viff.org WINTER

12 CANADIAN FILM HIGHLIGHTS It s quite possible that 2014 was one of the strangest years in Canadian cinema ever. And even in the leanest, most pedestrian years, Canadian film has never once wanted for strange saw the release of not one but two films boasting the Trailer Park Boys: Warren P. Sonoda s Swearnet: The Movie, where the Boys doubled down on the Boys premise by playing their supposedly real selves as opposed to their fictional onscreen personae. The film shattered the world record for most cuss words in a feature. The second film? Trailer Park Boys: Don t Legalize It, which follows Ricky (Robb Wells) as he journeys to Ottawa to stop the legalization of his country s favourite herb because it will hurt his fledgling business. Atom Egoyan, one of Canada s best known and most exportable auteurs, had a commercially successful release with the Ryan Reynolds vehicle, The Captive despite a less than rapturous response from the critics at Cannes. There were not one, or two, but three Canadian musicals at the Toronto International Film Festival: Jeffery St. Jules hyper-stylized, campy sci-fi fusion Bang Bang Baby (which won the Best Canadian First Feature prize); Andrea Dorfman s charming Heartbeat, whose heroine is a lovelorn wannabe folk singer in Halifax; and Kris Elgstrand s Songs She Wrote About People She Knows, a sharp satire and quasi-musical about what happens when art therapy goes too far. But there were musical themes elsewhere, too in Murray Foster s The Cocksure Lads Movie, which follows a Merseybeat-type band lost in the wilds of contemporary Toronto, and in Andrew Huculiak s atmospheric, sometimes surreal Violent (a doubleprize winner at the Vancouver International Film Festival), which features a score by Huculiak s Vancouver-based band, We Are the City. Though Canada is known for its comedic output, there are far fewer essential Canadian comedies than you d expect or so we thought, until this year, when we saw a slew of smart, diverse comedies. There was Jacob Tierney s VIFF audience prize-winner Preggoland, about a live-at-home thirtysomething who fakes a pregnancy to ingratiate herself with her family and friends; Pat Mills Guidance, a hilarious reprobate comedy following a broken-down child actor who passes himself off as a high-school guidance counsellor; Nik Sexton s How To Be Deadly, the bigscreen installment of Newfoundland YouTube sensation Donnie Dunphy, a dirtbike-driving pothead with spectacularly arrested development; and, of course, David Cronenberg s caustic look at Hollywood, Maps to the Stars. Quebec continued its strong streak with Stéphane Lafleur s Cannes hit, Tu dors Nicole, and Maxime Giroux s star-crossed romance, Felix and Meira, the Best Canadian Feature Film winner at the Toronto International Film Festival. There was the now familiar brigade of filmmakers who ventured into American and/or international productions. This year s list included Lixin Fan, whose latest documentary, I Am Here, was produced in China and looked at the most popular game show there, an American Idol-type competition called Super Boy; Jean-Marc Vallée (Wild, starring Reese Witherspoon, is considered one of the best American movies of the year); Philippe Falardeau (The Good Lie, starring Reese Witherspoon); and Atom Egoyan (Devil s Knot, also starring Reese Witherspoon!). Now you have the makings of a Jeopardy category: Non-Canadian Films (Directed by Canadians) Starring Reese Witherspoon. Meanwhile, one of the icons of Canadian indie and documentary cinema, Ron Mann, paid luminous tribute to Hollywood s most prolific rebel with Altman. And the most singular development came when Canada got as close as it ever has to winning the top prize at Cannes: the Palme d Or. Instead, Xavier Dolan ended up sharing the Jury Prize for his celebrated, gut-wrenching and technical masterpiece Mommy, which is now Canada s official Oscar submission. Here s hoping for even stranger and more singular things next year. Steve Gravestock Senior Programmer, TIFF Maps to the Stars Mommy Tu dors Nicole 12 FILM CIRCUIT Newsletter

13 SHORT FILMS AT THE FESTIVAL At this year s Toronto International FIlm Festival, we received a record-breaking amount of Canadian short film submissions. The sheer quantity of submissions reaffirmed our energetic and highly productive Canadian film industry, and it resulted in a competitive and quality lineup. Most interestingly, nearly half of the selection featured first-timers to the Festival. Bold, new voices shared the screen alongside acclaimed and established filmmakers like Torill Kove (Me and My Moulton), Matthew Rankin (Mynarski Death Plummet), and Robin Aubert (Sur le ciment). The award for Best Canadian Best Short Film went to returning filmmaker Randall Lloyd Okita s The Weatherman and the Shadowboxer: a hybrid of live action and animation rendered in spellbinding visuals, and featuring a compelling narrative about family dynamics. Precisely the kind of cinema that makes Canada s shorts travel across the globe so successfully. Me and My Moulton Magali Simard Manager, Film Programmes Short Cuts Programmer Celebrating the best in Canadian cinema. Jan 2 11, days. 10 films. $10 a ticket. Tickets on sale December 10 December 3 for TIFF Members TIFF prefers Visa. Join the party at tiff.net/ctt #TIFFCTT ONLY AT PRESENTING SUPPORTER MEDIA PARTNER WINTER

14 MANAGING YOUR SERIES Start a Season with a Financial Base by Offering Memberships and Season Passes This year we are focusing on tools Film Circuit organizers can leverage to establish a stable financial base for a screening series. For many of organizers, ticket sales make up a bulk percentage of the financial revenue, however sales can be affected by unpredictable factors, such as programming, weather, local social calendar, global events, etc. Below, we outline two methods that can help you kick off each season with a small savings fund a fund that can help cover your series through an unexpected downturn. At the end of the year, a good reinvestment idea is to put the fund towards special events, or host a volunteer appreciation event. We took a look at the various memberships and season pass models that are being used successfully by Film Circuit groups and we present some key tips, ideas and practices below. Audience at the Kingston Canadian Film Festival. MANAGING YOUR SERIES Memberships By offering a membership program to your patrons, you are giving them a chance to invest personally in the local cultural community, help support independent and Canadian cinema, and ensure the future of the screening series. Key Tips Memberships range from the term of a season (Fall/Winter Spring/Summer) to the full year. To target couples, some groups offer a dual membership at a slight discount than if one were to buy two memberships separately. If you are implementing a membership program, this is a great opportunity for you to target your programming, marketing, sponsorship, and events. Membership forms help you get to know your patrons: you find out your audience demographics, their contact information, their preferred film genres, how they heard about the series, and why they attend. Include a detachable membership form as a flap in your printed programme guide for the season something your audience can easily fill out, detach and submit at a screening. Potential Member Benefits Savings off regular ticket prices, discounts off Season Passes Discounts or benefits with your Film Circuit group s local business partners (coffee shops, restaurants, book stores, spas, other cultural programs/events). This is a great cross-promotion for you and the local business. Raffle prizes courtesy of sponsors A Refer a Friend membership discount Invitations to special members-only events, like closing night screening parties at the end of a season Recognition in an annual printed piece, like a programme guide Blu-ray borrowing privileges. Depending on availability, offer a two-day loan of past films for those who weren t able to attend the screenings. 14 FILM CIRCUIT Newsletter

15 Season Passes There are a number of benefits to offering a Season Pass: you are better equipped to predict your audience numbers for popular screenings and you are taking some of the burden off the ticket-selling administration on the night of the screening. From the customer s point of view, you are offering your loyal audience a chance to see all the films at a discounted rate, and an opportunity to support the future of the series. Key Tips Although the Season Pass offers your patrons a savings from regular single-ticket prices, be conscious of how much of a discount you are offering. Don t think of your series as a discount offering you are providing a premium service by screening films that your audience may not be aware of, and would not otherwise see in your community. Start selling your Season Passes before your series goes on hiatus for the Winter/Summer. In addition, the best time to sell Season Passes is right after a film screening especially following a crowd-pleasing season opener. Consider keeping a sales table open after screenings to encourage people to sign up before they leave the theatre. Consider offering an early-bird special discount for patrons who purchase a Season Pass before the first screening of the season, or a discount for patrons purchasing as a duo. What if patrons are unwilling to commit to a Season Pass because they are not sure they can make it to all the screenings? Allow the Season Pass to be interchangeable: when they can t attend a screening, the purchaser can share the pass with a family member or friend. This also gives you the opportunity to reach somebody new who might not usually attend the series. Break down the length of time covered by the passes. Many locations sell a membership for the entire screening year (Sept May/June), and feedback has been that patrons do not want to make such a long commitment. Consider offering Half-Season Passes (Winter: Sept Jan; Spring: Feb May/June) for those who aren t able to plan as far in advance, and offer these passes at a slightly higher rate. Consider this a general guide to Memberships and Season Passes, and how they might benefit your Film Circuit group. To discuss and brainstorm a solution tailored to your series, please contact Ming-Jenn Lim (mjlim@tiff.net)! Publicizing Your Anniversary Here are a few suggestions on how to approach media with news of your anniversary: 1. Stats: Fun, bite-sized tidbits of information put your achievement into context and provide great content. Examples: number of films screened, number of guests, number audience/group members over the years, total funds raised for local charity. Quirky stats are always welcome TIFF frequently receives requests for the amount of popcorn served or metres of red carpet used. 2. Stories: Do you have a story about a guest who shared something special with the audience or had a connection to the community? Is there a volunteer who s been with the group since its inception? These stories add a personal element. A top-10 list of memorable moments is a great hook for media. 3. Growth: What s in store for your group? Are you expanding, or welcoming guests in coming months? Media will be looking for timely information to include. 4. Photos: Visuals to accompany a story make the piece more dynamic. For groups coming up on an anniversary, it s a great time to start thinking about the story you want to tell. To share your anniversary news with us or for more ideas, contact Geneviève Parent (gparent@tiff.net) Film Circuit Achievement Awards Launching in early 2015, this new initiative is intended to recognize the tremendous effort, time, and dedication put forth by you, our Film Circuit partners, in bringing films to your community. We regularly hear of the many creative techniques you are using to promote and distinguish your series and screenings, and we d like to celebrate your achievements! The list of awards, as well as criteria and timelines for applications, will be available on our website as of the new year. Winners will be announced during the Film Circuit Summit at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. Stay tuned! MANAGING YOUR SERIES WINTER

16 SPOTLIGHT ON: BANCROFT North of 7 Film Fest audience before a recent screening. MANAGING YOUR SERIES Creative Sponsorships and Special Events to Engage Audiences Hospice North Hastings operates the North of 7 Film Fest through Film Circuit and is located in the small town of Bancroft in central Ontario. The total population of North Hastings is 13,500 and it has one of the lowest socio-economic levels in Ontario. This makes fundraising very challenging. Our small Hospice, which offers programs such as Home Visiting Volunteers, an R&R Day Program, a Medical Equipment Loan Cupboard, and a Residential Hospice, serves approximately 900 clients annually. The Hospice has been operating the Film Circuit group for three-and-a-half years and the benefits are twofold: we raise funds and we have a platform to promote Hospice awareness. We generally book four films at a time. Our promotion includes print materials posters and small flyers that include the film title, date, and a brief synopsis and an newsletter with an embedded film trailer, which we send out the week in advance of the screening. Our older patrons really like the flyers and keep them on their fridge! Community engagement is key for our Film Circuit group. In addition to selling season passes, we provide special gift certificates to patrons who bring a new guest to a screening. This past year, we also received a grant which will enable us to promote volunteering and inclusion in events for seniors. The in-cinema experience is unique and friendly. As patrons arrive at the theatre, they can enjoy our wine bar and complimentary snacks. In the cinema, we always screen a preshow DVD that highlights what the Hospice does for the community; previews upcoming film trailers; and thanks our financial and in-kind sponsors and donors. We are always on the lookout for community sponsors who relate to the film s subject or theme. For our All Is Lost screening, we partnered with a sports and marine store. We give great press to our sponsors and make sure that they are mentioned (and thanked) on our Facebook page, in our radio ads, and at the screening, where we often have them stand up for a round of applause! Sponsors often provide special perks and prizes for our patrons. During our pre-screening chat with our audience, which includes announcements about local events and a film trivia portion, we award sponsor prizes for All Is Lost, one lucky winner received a floatation device and a paddle! Other sponsors include an accounting firm, who donated wine bottles with calculators, or local restaurants who offered $50 gift cards. The big part is to have fun with the trivia and to get involved! We are continually adding on events to the Film Circuit screening. Last December, we held a pre-screening bazaar featuring local artisanal crafts, and movie-goers got some holiday shopping done! This December, we re hosting a Wreaths for Hospice auction and party in the lobby of the theatre, where audiences can bid on handmade Christmas wreaths donated by patrons. This will really give the lobby a Christmas feeling! I think our audiences like that we have fun! If Hospice teaches you one thing, it is to enjoy and make the most of every moment of your life. Heather Brough North of 7 Film Fest Bancroft, ON 16 FILM CIRCUIT Newsletter

17 SOCIAL MEDIA: ON YOUR SCHEDULE At the Film Circuit Summit, I spoke to many delegates about managing social media profiles and websites at the roundtable sessions Building Community and Conversations Online: Strategies for Web and Social Media Presences. Many of you are already doing clever and creative things to engage your audiences online and promote your programming. Some great ideas were shared, along with common challenges. Chief among the issues: Time. Updating and monitoring your film society s Facebook page, Twitter accounts and other platforms can be overwhelming, and we all have a variety of other demands to balance. With a bit of planning, and by taking advantage of free tools, you can use your time more efficiently to maintain an active social media presence. Start with a plan Develop a social media calendar: mark down your screening dates and work backwards from those deadlines. A week prior to the screening, share the film s trailer; three days before, post a positive review; and the day before, share a still and synopsis of the film, along with the link to buy tickets. Try to devote an hour every week or two to writing out your posts. Make sure to gather any images, reviews, or other links that you want to share. Posts with visuals, such as a video or photo, are more dynamic and likelier to engage your followers our FTP site is a great resource for film stills and other materials. Once you have all your content ready, it s time to queue up your posts. Use tools Facebook offers the timeline feature for Pages, allowing you to assign the date and time you wish to publish a certain post. Compose your post as if you were going to publish live, then click the clock icon to specify the time you want to post, and hit Schedule. You can schedule multiple posts up to six months in advance. You can also schedule posts in the past! Share a memorable guest visit, an anniversary or a great photo on your timeline to document your group s history. If your organization is active on Twitter, try using free tools such as Hootsuite or TweetDeck to schedule advance tweets. These tools can also help you monitor discussions online: you can see saved searches for the name of your organization, upcoming films, or guests. Once scheduled, you can edit a post, modify the timing, or delete it altogether if something is no longer relevant. Is it working? Free tools like Facebook Insights will let you see how many people are visiting your page and clicking on your links. Take notice of which posts seem to be most popular: for instance, trailers may get a greater response than film reviews. Likewise, take note of the time of your post. No response to your 10pm updates? It may be best to save them until the next day, scheduling the posts for early morning, lunch, or after work, when people are checking social media. If you have questions about how to schedule posts and tweets, or other social media subjects, please azimmer@tiff.net. I m always interested in hearing how you are doing, and I m happy to help. See you online! Alison Zimmer Coordinator, Film Circuit Some posts are not well suited to be scheduled in advance. Below are a few examples of things that are best to post in real time. Timely updates Did a film you screened just win an award? Is an exciting guest confirmed to attend your next film screening? Is there a great new review you d love to share? Did you just announce your upcoming season? Quickly communicate exciting developments to your followers as they happen! Notices of cancellation, delays, or other screening issues Winter is coming and, along with it, inevitable inclement weather conditions which may cause cancelled or delayed screenings. Your followers will likely check your accounts in bad weather to see if a screening is going ahead as planned. Update them as soon as you know the answer. Compliments, questions and complaints Increasingly, customer service queries are being directed to businesses via social media. It s important to monitor your accounts for posts or messages and respond to them in a timely manner. Regardless of the type of post a question on how to purchase tickets, a customer service complaint, or feedback on a previous film your followers will expect and appreciate a prompt reply. When appropriate, offer to carry on the discussion in private provide an address or connect with them via direct message. Film Circuit Summit round-table session on Social Media. MANAGING YOUR SERIES WINTER

18 TIFF BELL LIGHTBOX HIGHLIGHTS Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition October 31, 2014 January 25, 2015 Drawing on extensive archives from Kubrick s home and workplace, the exhibition features rare photographs and letters, original props and costumes, screenplays, production materials, and cameras from his nearly 50-year career. Priceless items such as the Starchild from 2001: A Space Odyssey, the dresses of the ghostly sisters from The Shining, the Born to Kill helmet of Private Joker from Full Metal Jacket, and the authentic model of the War Room in Dr. Strangelove are just a few of the many pieces on display. Visitors will also learn about Kubrick s famously uncompleted projects Napoleon and The Aryan Papers. Materials such as research papers, costume designs, and shooting scripts document how far Kubrick had developed these projects, and testify to his comprehensive and meticulous working style. The exhibition also spotlights Kubrick s early documentary shorts and his work as a photojournalist for Look Magazine from 1945 to Dr. Strangelove Stanley Kubrick: A Cinematic Odyssey October 31, 2014 January 25, 2015 Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Stanley Kubrick, this retrospective of Kubrick s cinematic oeuvre includes a rare screening of the director s early short films. Upcoming special events include Full Metal Jacket introduced by film critic Adam Nayman on December 12, and The Killing introduced by Jesse Wente, TIFF s Director of Film Programmes, on January 18. The Shining Mel Brooks: It s Good to Be the King November 15 December 20, 2014 Now approaching his ninetieth year, the irrepressible original King of All Media who is one of the rare individuals to realize the EGOT dream of winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony has attained showbiz immortality with a threedecade cinematic career of pricelessly hilarious jokery. Brooks first film, the Oscar-winning The Producers (1968), kicks off our nine-film focus on the icon s legacy, which includes the comedy classics Blazing Saddles (1974), Spaceballs (1987), and Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993). Stanley Kubrick on the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey 18 FILM CIRCUIT Newsletter

19 E, DAT TO NS TAR TIO O S IBI ONT EXH TOR F S TIF T OF BES EST THE IGG SO E B S AL T H IT #KUBRICK TIFF TIFF prefers Visa. Reitman Square, 350 King Street West This exhibition is organized by the Deutsches Filmmuseum, Frankfurt am Main, Christiane Kubrick, Jan Harlan and the Stanley Kubrick Archive at the University of the Arts London, with the support of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Sony-Columbia Pictures Industries Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., Universal Studios Inc., and SK Film Archives LLC. WINTER Jack Nicholson in THE SHINING (USA 1980) Warner Bros. GET YOUR TICKETS TIFF.NET/KUBRICK

20 FILM CIRCUIT Film Circuit TIFF Bell Lightbox Reitman Square 350 King Street West Toronto, ON M5V 3X Press 3 for Film Circuit STAFF Meaghan Brander Manager, Film Circuit Programmes films for Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Nunavut mbrander@tiff.net (416) Ming-Jenn Lim Senior Coordinator, Film Circuit Programmes films for Atlantic Canada, development of new and existing communities,guest requests and bookings mjlim@tiff.net (416) Laura Good Senior Programming Coordinator, Film Circuit Programmes films for Ontario, Quebec and all short-film programming lgood@tiff.net (416) Alison Zimmer Coordinator, Film Circuit Programmes films for Blu-ray and Francophone locations. Oversees social media, publications and festival registrations, distributes all promotional material, box office information, shipment back billing and administrative fees azimmer@tiff.net (416) Jennifer MacFarlane Manager, Print Traffic Handles Mongrel Media jmacfarlane@tiff.net (416) Steven Landry Senior Coordinator, Print Traffic Handles Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros, filmswelike, Video Services Corp. slandry@tiff.net (416) Logan MacDonald Print Traffic Assistant Handles eone Films, KinoSmith, Pacific Northwest Pictures, A71, D Films, most independents and all short films lmacdonald@tiff.net (416) ext Geneviève Parent Senior Communications Manager, Festival & Canadian Programming, TIFF Publicist for all Film Circuit locations gparent@tiff.net (416) Erin Higgins Senior Marketing Manager, TIFF Marketing support for all Film Circuit locations ehiggins@tiff.net (416) Mommy