Female Eye at Eight
(February 24, 2010 - Toronto, Ontario) - The 8th Annual Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF) has announced their 2010 line-up of films including their Opening Night Gala Feature Film Presentation. The five day festival gets underway on March 24th in downtown Toronto with A Wake, from Canadian director Penelope Buitenhuis. The Female Eye, established in 2001, is Ontario's only annual international independent film Festival showcasing films directed by women. The Closing Night Gala, Nothing Special, marks the feature film debut for American director Angela Garcia Combs and will screen on Sunday, March 28th at 5:30PM.
The opening film, A Wake will have its world premiere at the Female Eye. The 93-minute feature stars Nicholas Campbell, Graham Abbey, Sarain Boylan, Raoul Bhaneja, Martha Burns, Krista Sutton and Kris Turner. After the sudden death of their infamous director, members of a formerly renowned theatre company come together for his wake. His grieving widow welcomes the thespians to their country house, but the mystery behind their strained relationships is revealed when old rivalries and jealousies erupt, exposing a myriad of secrets and lies.
The other bookend, Nothing Special, will have its North American Premiere at the Feamle Eye. It's a dark yet funny tale of a beautiful young woman at a crucial turning point in her career and her relationship with her bi-polar mother. The film stars Julia Garcia Combs, Karen Black and Barbara Bain. Hollywood Icon, Karen Black, will be presented with the Female Eye Best Actor Award (2010). Black is only the second actor to be presented with this prestigious award. The first recipient, Elisabeth Moss, was honoured in 2003 with the award for her role in the feature film Virgin. Moss is now highly renowned for her role in the hit AMC series Mad Men. Festival organizers have confirmed that both lead actor Julia Garcia Combs and co-star Karen Black will be on hand with the director for an audience Q & A following the screening.
In addition to these gala premieres, the Festival will also host the Canadian Premiere of 16 to Life from director Becky Smith. The film tells the story of Kate (Hallee Hirsh), a rural American teenager whose angst about sexual inexperience drives a comic quest for love and understanding on a birthday to end all birthdays. Kate’s irreverent fantasies of sexual awakening and guilt, fueled by obsessive reading of books on eclectic subjects (currently the Chinese Cultural Revolution) drive this explosive day. Kate is turning 16 and has never been kissed. This first feature from Emmy-nominated writer/director Becky Smith puts a wry, witty, and unpredictable ensemble cast in a small-town locale reminiscent of a Capra comedy. 16 To Life features Hallee Hirsh, Theresa Russell and none other than Carson Kressley (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy).
Canadian Actor and Screenwriter Sherry White made her directoral debut in 2009 with a film titled Crackie. White has just been nominated for a Writers Guild of Canada Award for her screenplay. The film is about seventeen-year-old Misty, who dreams of ditching her harsh-tongued grandmother (Bride), starring Canada’s funny lady, Mary Walsh who has raised Misty since she was four, by running off to find her real mother (Gwennie) who deserted her. But when Gwennie turns up unexpectedly and wreaks havoc in their lives, Mitsy is forced to decide whether the woman who raised her is her enemy, or her strongest ally. Crackiescreens on Friday, March 26th at 7PM. The first of two features on that night.
Crackie will be followed by the North American Premiere of the debut Feature film Mall Girls from Polish director, Katarzyna Roslaniec which will screen on Friday, March 26th at 9PM. Shopping Malls - contemporary temples of consumerism, colorful shops windows, shiny jewelry, expensive cosmetics, and the newest fashion. Here Milena and her friends spend their free time. Rich men pay for their shopping in exchange for sex. Alicja, a new girl, joins the group of girls. At first she feels alienated, but soon she becomes one of them. Alicja and Milena start to bond and there is an affectionate relationship between them. At the same time Micha?, Alicja's peer, falls in love with her. He becomes a rival for Milena.
In addition to the features, the Female Eye will also present a number of documentary films including Till You're Told to Stop from UK director Ruth Somalo. Screening on Saturday, March 27th at 5pm, the film follows the award winning singer-songwriter James Blunt from the very start of his musical career in 2004, right through to his worldwide success with the 14 million-selling debut album, “Back To Bedlam”. It’s the making of a global pop phenomenon as you’ve never seen it before.
All film screenings will take place at the Rainbow Cinemas Market Square, 80 Front Street East in downtown Toronto. For advance tickets, visit TicketBreak.com or call 1-866-9-GET-TIX. Screening Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door.
There will be more news as the opening date approaches, but for more information about the festival, visit The Female Eye Film Festival online.