Canadian film is entering a ‘golden age’, according to the Stephen Hunt in the Calgary Herald. And he could well be right. As he points out, Canadian directors and actors are being recognised, with Sarah Polley’s Away From Her which was nominated for multiple Oscars, as well the runaway success of Juno, the marmite must-see film of the year. Juno was directed by and stars two Canadians, and is just one of the recent successes for the industry.
Show Canada is an event which tries to get more independent Canadian films into cinemas. Naturally, this year they are hoping for great things. John Dippong, of Telefilm Canada, which funds homegrown productions says the success is down to Canada simply producing better films. He adds: “As an industry, right across the country, we’re maturing. We’ve basically got a really strong product this year.”
Not only that, but our friends across the Atlantic seem have the Midas touch when it comes to film festivals – Adoration, by Canadian director Atom Egoyan will be in the running at Cannes, and even better, joint Brazilian/Canadian-made flick Blindness, directed by Fernando Meirelles, (best known for City of God) will open Cannes. The festival has only opened with a Canadian production once before, in 1980 with Fantastica. However, last year’s celebration of the moving image closed with the Canadian Days of Darkness. Looks like Cannes is starting as it means to go on, and if the quality of film is anywhere near that of Juno (whatever you think of it) Canada is clearly a nation to watch – literally.
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