THE LEO AWARDS and PACIFIC CINÉMATHÈQUE proudly present TALKBACK A FILM ARTIST SALON WITH LEO AWARDS 2008 NOMINEES FILM FESTIVAL 2008 THURSDAY, MAY 22 @ CINEMA 319 at PACIFIC CINÉMATHÈQUE Join First Weekend Club for an evening of intimate The Leo Awards, the annual celebration of excellence in made-in-B.C. film and television, were established in conversations with some of BC’s finest filmmaking talent 1998 to honour the best of B.C. film and television, and are presented each year at a gala awards ceremony. at the the swanky Cinema 319 at 319 Main Street. Since 2003, they have been a project of the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Foundation of British Columbia, a non-profit society formed to celebrate and promote the achievements of the B.C. film and television industry. Keep your movie ticket stub from any of the Leo Award Film Festival screenings at Pacific Cinémathèque and your THURSDAY, MAY 15 admission fee to the Talkback will be waived. The Leo Awards Film Festival provides an opportunity for members of the general public to share in the impressive FEATURE LENGTH DRAMA accomplishments of our B.C. filmmakers. Public screening of this year’s Leo Awards nominees in several program Visit www.firstweekendclub.ca for event details and categories — encompassing features, documentaries, short dramas, and student productions — will be presented updates on featured guests. FRIDAY, MAY 16 over five days, May 15-19, at Pacific Cinémathèque. The 10th Annual Leo Awards Celebration and Gala Awards DOCUMENTARY Ceremony will take place the following weekend, May 23 & 24, at the Westin Bayshore Vancouver. (HISTORY/BIOGRAPHY/SOCIAL/POLITICAL)

FEATURE LENGTH DRAMA SUNDAY, MAY 18 MONDAY, MAY 19 DOCUMENTARY DOCUMENTARY DOCUMENTARY NORMAL (NATURE/ENVIRONMENT/ADVENTURE/ (HISTORY/BIOGRAPHY/SOCIAL/POLITICAL) (NATURE/ENVIRONMENT/ADVENTURE/ CANADA 2007. DIRECTOR: CARL BESSAI SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY) SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY) CAST: CARRIE-ANNE MOSS, KEVIN ZEGERS, I AM THE CANADIAN DELEGATE CALLUM KEITH RENNIE, TYGH RUNYAN, CAMILLE SULLIVAN SATURDAY, MAY 17 SAVING LUNA SHORT DRAMA CANADA 2007. DIRECTOR: WESLEY LOWE. DOCUMENTARY CANADA 2007. SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST: The latest film from versatile Carl Bessai (Emile, Centigrade · A man living in a beat-up camper trailer Wesley Lowe’s inspiring documentary tells the story SHE’S A BOY I KNEW (ARTS/PERFORMING ARTS) DIRECTORS: SUZANNE CHISHOLM, MICHAEL PARFIT Lola, Unnatural and Accidental) was named Best CANADA 2007. DIRECTOR: GWEN HAWORTH wakes up one morning to find himself rolling down of B.C.’s Douglas Jung (1924-2002), a World War STORIES FROM THE WEST Winner of Best Documentary honours at the 2008 Victoria a desert highway into a nightmare. Director: Colin II veteran who was Canada’s first Chinese Canadian Western Canadian Feature at the 2007 VIFF. Voted Most Popular Canadian Film at the 2007 The film explores the emotional aftermath of a DREAMS OF FLIGHT Film Festival, Saving Luna relates the enchanting true Cunningham. 15 mins. Member of Parliament. Jung’s story embodies COAST TRAIL VIFF, Vancouver filmmaker Gwen Haworth’s CANADA 2007. DIRECTOR: JASON BOURQUE CANADA 2007. DIRECTOR: MARTIN DE VALK. story of an orca calf that became separated from his the struggles (and victory) of many early Chinese tragic accident that claimed a teenaged boy’s life. autobiographical documentary offers an intimate, BATTLE IN SEATTLE USA/CANADA 2007. DIRECTOR: STUART TOWNSEND pod in 2001 and wound up lost and lonely in Nootka Canadians. Born and raised in Victoria at a time This heart-pounding documentary captures the Catherine (Carrie-Anne Moss), the victim’s mother, engaging exploration of family ties as it chronicles After years of living as a recluse, studying reindeer has lost the ability to connect with rest of her in the Yukon, surveying the Arctic polar shelf, CAST: CHARLIZE THERON, MARTIN HENDERSON, Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Killer when ethnic Chinese were denied the rights of full sweat, stamina, and down-right stubbornness Haworth’s male-to-female gender transition through WOODY HARRELSON, ANDRÉ BENJAMIN, family. Jordie (Kevin Zegers) was driving the car in and skippering the first private vessel to sail the whales are social animals, and Luna began befriending citizenship, Jung nonetheless volunteered to fight required to negotiate the challenges of B.C.’s world- the voices of her anxious but loving parents, sisters, MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ, RAY LIOTTA members of the local human population. His presence for his country. The wartime service of Jung and renowned West Coast Trail, located on a wild and which his best friend was killed. Walt (Callum Keith ex-wife, and best friend. As all concerned are forced Northwest Passage from Pacific to Atlantic, Sven The feature directing debut of Irish actor Stuart soon became the subject of controversy, as various others like him saw Chinese Canadians finally gain remote coast of Vancouver Island. Smelly socks and Rennie), a failed writer in the midst of a mid-life to re-examine their preconceptions of sexuality and Johansson had a groundbreaking idea. Inspired Townsend follows multiple storylines as it human interests clashed over what Luna represented: equal rights, including the vote, in 1947, opening muddy boots mingle with flickering night fires and crisis, was behind the wheel of the other vehicle gender, family bonds are strengthened. Archival by form and movement in nature, this hermit dramatizes five days that rocked Seattle and the a spirit presence, a cuddly friend, an ecological cause, the door for Jung’s groundbreaking political career. the unparalleled magic of the majestic Pacific as involved. “Courageous, unwavering and moving . . . footage and animation help illustrate the story. The turned choreographer created an innovative dance world in 1999 when tens of thousands of anti- a nuisance and hazard. “A valuable and deeply moving 48 mins. people from across Canada and around the globe Normal may be Bessai’s finest, most assured film to film also won the Women in Film and Television technique allowing performers to flout gravity globalization demonstrators took to the streets to study of interspecies contact” (Georgia Straight). test their physical, emotional, and psychological date” (Toronto I.F.F.). Colour, 35mm. 104 mins. Vancouver Artistic Merit Award given at VIFF. and dance in midair. Through his unique creative vision, Johansson has carved out a niche as one of protest a meeting of the World Trade Organization. “Relentlessly engaging . . . wrought with drama that prowess on the adventure of a lifetime. 48 mins. 70 mins. DogBoy · Raised on the streets by a pack of feral 7:15 PM Canada’s most original choreographers. And at the “Filmed largely in Vancouver, the movie tells the Hollywood couldn’t produce on its best days” (Victoria 7:30 PM canines, then confined to a bleak state orphanage, age of 83, he’s not slowing down. 48 mins. story of a group of ordinary people (from student F.F.). 94 mins. DogBoy must choose one way of life over another. 9:30 PM 7:30 PM activists to police) whose lives are changed radically DOCUMENTARY Director: Caroline Coutts. 10 mins. in the melee. The film comes out swinging with a (HISTORY/BIOGRAPHY/SOCIAL/POLITICAL) FEATURE LENGTH DRAMA 5:00 PM - ALL AGES WELCOME! DOCUMENTARY + veritable cornucopia of stars, including Charlize The Porcelain Man ·The turntable turns, the fish have TRIPLE BILL FOR SINGLE PRICE (HISTORY/BIOGRAPHY/SOCIAL/POLITICAL) Theron, Michelle Rodriguez, Woody Harrelson, been fed, the evening is normal. But after an odd Customers on Monday May 19 may attend all three Ray Liotta, and Andre 3000. Actual footage of the item is found in a glass of milk, things are normal screenings for the applicable single-bill ticket price. riots brings a welcome note of vérité to the action” STUDENT PRODUCTION no longer. Director: Mark Ratzlaff. 10 mins. (Vancouver I.F.F.). Colour, 35mm, in English. 99 mins. Ballad of a Thief · A shy nurse who loves writing poems Humongous, USA · Jane, running late after some but never shares them with anyone must make a daring morning nookie, decides to take the SUV to work, 7:00 PM move when her bag and poems are stolen. Director: like everyone else in the neighbourhood. Today, Rocco Trigueros. 13 mins. however, Nature’s had enough . . . Director: Christopher Elke. 9 mins. Left to Blossom · Twin tragedies have broken the bond DOCUMENTARY between mother Lynn and daughter Hannah. When Lynn Stan Maynard’s Best Day Ever · In a quick-fix world (HISTORY/BIOGRAPHY/SOCIAL/POLITICAL) discovers Hannah’s diary, it may be the only chance for of extreme makeovers, crash diets and speed HOPE CROSSING CANADA 2007. CANADA 2005. DIRECTOR: ROGER EVAN LARRY KILLER WHALE AND CROCODILE reconciliation. Director: Heath Affolter. 16 mins. dating, mild-mannered Stan enlists the help of CAST: SEBASTIAN SPENCE, CRYSTAL BUBLÉ, FRED EWANIUCK, CANADA 2007. DIRECTOR: PETER CAMPBELL DIRECTORS: THOMAS BUCHAN, STUART REAUGH. a “lifestylist” to turn his entire life around in 24 BIF NAKED, JO BATES THE SUICIDE TOURIST CONFESSIONS OF AN INNOCENT MAN CANADA 2007. JOHN ZARITSKY CANADA 2007. DIRECTOR: DAVID PAPERNY September · Twelve-year-old Andrea’s mom just called to Carvers from two of the world’s great carving hours. Director: David Tamkin. 33 mins. This documentary from first-time directors Stuart The first feature directed by television and music say that she’s not coming home, ever. An uncomfortable Reaugh and Thomas Buchan follows First Nations The Suicide Tourist explores the assisted suicide traditions come together to share each other’s Directed by Vancouver nonfiction filmmaker David video veteran Roger Evan Larry is a quirky, kinky, comedy about family and growing up. Director: Lindsay artist Ken Paquette, spouse Winnie Peters, and controversy through the compelling personal stories culture and learn about the myths and legends that Paperny, whose previous works include the Oscar- 9:00 PM sometimes comic film noir thriller. Daniel (Sebastian Allikas. 9 min. their five boys (ages 5 through 15) through a year of of several individuals travelling to Zurich’s Dignitas inform their art in Killer Whale and Crocodile. John nominated documentary The Broadcast Tapes of Dr. Spence), the cross-dressing son of a Vancouver wrenching change. The family lives on the Schkam clinic, where people from all over the world come Marston is a Coast Salish carver from Vancouver Peter, Confessions of an Innocent Man explores the Sweet Tooth · A revenge fantasy portrays the darkness mobster, promises his dying father than he will take Reserve across the river from the town of Hope, for a “dignified and painless” death. The film Island; Teddy Balangu hails from the Sepik River troubling case of William Sampson, the Canadian to which teens are prone before they learn how to love. DOUBLE BILL FOR SINGLE PRICE the family’s organized-crime business legitimate, B.C. After 18 years together, Ken and Winnie’s received a Special Mention at last fall’s VIFF from of Papua New Guinea. The cross-cultural exchange engineer who was imprisoned and tortured by the Director: Wayne Robinson. 23 mins, Customers on Sunday evening, May 18 may attend but soon finds himself in hot-and-heavy relationship troubled relationship dissolves. Rick, a tattooed the Canadian Documentary jury, which praised it forges a strong bond of friendship and proves a Saudi government and forced to confess to an both the 7:00 pm screening (Student Production) with a curvy hooker (Crystal Bublé, sister of crooner The Return · As an island ruled by power-mad Father ex-con, moves in as the boys’ new stepfather, as “an unflinching, quietly compassionate hymn source of great creative inspiration to both artists. act of terrorism and murder he did not commit. and 9:00 pm screening (Short Drama) for the Michael) intent on blackmail. Corner Gas regular Mothersbaugh prepares for the return of Jesus, three prompting eldest son Kenny to leave home, saying to life, full of moral complexity.” Vancouver-based 47 mins. Sentenced to a public beheading, Sampson applicable single-bill ticket price. Fred Ewaniuck and Vancouver rocker Bif Naked orphans plot their escape. Director: Marshall Axani. 23 he doesn’t want a white dad. Meanwhile, Ken sells director John Zaritsky won a 1982 Academy Award resorted to desperate measures to defy his captors co-star. “[Crossing] surprises and delights in mins. his paintings outside the local pub. The filmmakers for his documentary feature Just Another Missing and gain the attention of the Canadian government. unexpected ways . . . evocatively shot, wonderfully 5:00 PM lived with their subjects for a full year; the result Kid. 89 mins. “Heartbreaking as well as inspiring . . . a story of Three A.M. · A man suffering from post-traumatic stress cast and vastly entertaining” (Rob Salem, Toronto is an intimate, raw, honest, and deeply humanistic defiance, fortitude and the relentless pursuit of has a late-night encounter in a hospital with a stranger Star). Colour, 35mm. 109 mins. portrait of people, place and family pain. 56 mins. justice in the face of extreme circumstances” who helps him find salvation. Director: Doug Kerr. 16 9:00 PM (Vancouver I.F.F.). 89 mins. 9:30 PM mins. 8:15 PM 9:00 PM 7:00 PM