JOHN LENNON DOCUMENTARY AT CMW FILM FESTIVAL

John Lennon Bio-Pic Nowhere Boy Anchors A Full Program Of Film Premieres at Canadian Music Week’s Film Festival

March 12 – 13, 2010 during Canadian Music Week


The 2010 edition of Canadian Music Week’s Film Festival is proud to announce an expanded two-day program, showcasing a diverse line-up of music-oriented films and documentaries. Opening night screenings will feature retro rock musicals like Streets of Fire and, in recognition of Paul Williams’ appearance at Canadian Music Week (Saturday, March 13), cult classic Phantom of The Paradise. The following day program will host a full day of film premieres capped by the Canadian debut of critically acclaimed John Lennon bio-pic Nowhere Boy. Screenings will take place on Friday, March 12 at the National Film Board of Canada and Saturday, March 13 at the Royal Cinema. Tickets and wristbands for the Canadian Music Week Film Festival are available at www.canadianmusicfest.com. Please see below for full program details.

FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2010
National Film Board of Canada Mediatheque, 150 John St., Toronto
7:00 p.m. Streets of Fire
(Dir. Walter Hill, USA, 1984, 93 minutes)

Walter Hill’s Streets of Fire depicts a world where rock stars are worshipped like gods and the streets are controlled by vicious gangs. A mercenary (Michael Pare) must act to free his rock star ex-girlfriend (Diane Lane) from the clutches of The Bombers, a motorcycle gang led by Willem Dafoe in one of the most charismatic roles of his career. With a soundtrack dominated by original songs from Jim Steinman – he wrote Meat Loaf’s Bat Out Of Hell – and featuring The Blasters, Maria McKee, Ry Cooder and members of Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band, Streets of Fire spawned the hit single I Can Dream About You.

9:00 p.m. Phantom of the Paradise
(Dir. Brian De Palma, USA, 1974, 92 minutes)

Brian De Palma’s re-imagining of Phantom Of The Opera as filtered through the lens of the 1970’s rock-opera is a lush, baroque affair. The story follows a young songwriter seeking revenge on an unscrupulous producer who has stolen his songs. This is Phantom as you have never seen it before, all coked up and full of 1970s glam swagger. At the centre of it all is Paul Williams, who not only plays the villainous Swan but also composed and produced the entire soundtrack.

SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 2010
The Royal Cinema, 608 College St., Toronto
1:00 p.m. Seperado!
(Dirs. Dyl Jones/Gruff Rhys, UK/Argentina/Brazil, 2009, 84 minutes)
*International Premiere

The directorial debut from Super Furry Animals front man Gruff Rhys is a blend of concert film, family history and anthropological study. Triggered by his desire to find a distant cousin, Rhys tours the Welsh communities of South America – established more than a hundred years ago and maintaining a distinctly Welsh flavour. The film is not just a fascinating portrait of an artist but also an engrossing look at the unique towns and villages he passes through along the way. Rhys’ sense of wonder throughout the journey is positively infectious.

“Star Trek meets Buena Vista Social Club in this psychedelic western musical ... a tour that takes in the theatres, nightclubs and desert teahouses of Wales, Brazil and the Argentine Andes as he discovers what became of his family, the Welsh Diaspora and its musical legacy.” – Britfilms.com

Co-presented by Hot Docs (http://www.hotdocs.ca)
http://www.separado.co.uk/

3:00 p.m. Michelle Gun Elephant Thee Movie - Last Heaven 031011
(Dir. Shuichi Banba, Japan, 2003, 119 minutes)
*North American Premiere

From 1991 until 2003, Thee Michelle Gun Elephant were one of the greatest bands on the planet. Absolutely massive stars in their native Japan, the band built a loyal following with their brand of punk blues and filmed their final performance in 2003. Six years later, guitarist Futoshi Abe died suddenly. The possibility of a reunion now put to rest, that final concert footage has been dusted off, remastered and cut into a touring film experience. It is the last chance for fans to see the band in action, and a final tribute to Abe. Whether you speak their language or not, the raw power of their music came through loud and clear.

Co-presented by Reel Asian. (http://www.reelasian.com)
http://www.thee.asia/move.html

5:00 p.m. Le Donk and Scor-Zay-Zee
(Dir. Shane Meadows, UK, 2009, 71 minutes)
*North American Premiere

BAFTA-winning director Shane Meadows indulges his lighter side with his latest film. Heavily improvised and shot as a mock-doc, the film is making its North American Premiere during Canadian Music Week.

Le Donk has hit rock bottom. The aspiring musician is a sub-par roadie and expectant father whose former girlfriend wants nothing to do with him. His last ticket to the big time may be aspiring English rapper Scor-Zay-Zee, but only if Donk can get Scorze on the bill of the big Arctic Monkeys show. Rude but well-intentioned, Le Donk spews venom on those who block his path to greatness, but has the decency to feel bad about it later.

“You could argue that Shane Meadows is up to his same old tricks with "Le Donk & Scor-Zay-Zee," but it's still a good trick.” Leslie Felperin, Variety

http://www.ledonk.com

7:00 p.m. When You’re Strange
(Dir. Tom DiCillo, USA, 2009, 90 minutes)
*Canadian Premiere

Narrated by Johnny Depp, Tom DiCillo’s When You’re Strange is an intimate look into the life and career of The Doors. Fresh interviews, vintage newsreels and hundreds of hours of rare, personal footage – much of which has never been seen before – brings viewers into the inner circle of one of rock’s most enigmatic and influential bands.

"Tom DiCillo's 'When You're Strange' is a meticulously crafted ode to one of music's greatest ensembles, The Doors. Watching the unreleased footage of Jim, John, Ray and Robby, I felt like I experienced it all through their eyes. Here, Jim has been resurrected to remind us that he remains one of the most significant poets to ever grace a stage, while the band behind him kept the music alive, adding fuel to an already raging ride into history.” - Johnny Depp

Co-presented by Hot Docs (http://www.hotdocs.ca)
http://www.whenyourestrangemovie.com/

9:00 p.m. Nowhere Boy
(Dir. Sam Taylor-Wood, UK/Canada, 2009, 98 minutes)
Special guest: TBA
*Canadian Premiere

Acclaimed photographer Sam Taylor-Wood could not have chosen a bigger subject for her feature film debut. Nowhere Boy depicts the early story of Beatles founder John Lennon, abandoned by his mother and struggling to find his place in the world. The film depicts key events that led this creative young man to pick up the guitar and form the world’s most beloved band.

“Sam Taylor-Wood’s handsome feature debut offers a new insight into the early life of John Lennon; in her eyes, the unexpectedly sparkling suburbs of post-war Liverpool come to rich life.” – Fionnuala Halligan, Screen International

http://www.nowhereboy.co.uk/

Tickets and wristbands for the Canadian Music Week Film Festival are available at www.canadianmusicfest.com.

Delegate passes and tickets for Canadian Music Week are available now and can be purchased by visiting www.cmw.net.

Canadian Music Week is Canada’s leading annual entertainment event dedicated to the expression and growth of the country’s music, media and entertainment industries. Combining five information-intensive conferences; a trade exposition; a film festival; four awards shows and the nation's largest New Music Festival – Canadian Music Fest - CMW spans a five-day period from March 10 to March 14, 2010 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel and various downtown Toronto venues, attracting participants from across the globe. For more information, visit www.cmw.net