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Celebrating standout Atlantic Canadian and national films and international award-winners, the 43rd Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF) will showcase 115 feature and short films, in a focused and more tightly curated program, at Halifax’s Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane from Thursday, September 14 to Thursday, September 21.
“Celebrating innovative and exciting talent and newly defined programming streams, festival goers will have close to 90 opportunities to watch world-class cinema together on the big screen,” says Lisa Haller, AIFF Director of Programming. “Comedy, thrillers, art house, and classic films; first time directors and auteurs - the festival is excited to showcase a diverse lineup with 64% of the entire selection Canadian, and 57% by female-identifying directors.”
The 2023 festival is thrilled to present four Gala Presentations:
Setting the tone for a vibrant celebration of cinema and regional talent, THE QUEEN OF MY DREAMS, directed by Fawzia Mirza and produced by Andria Wilson Mirza, Jason Levangie, and Marc Tetreaut, will take the spotlight as the Opening Night Gala on Thursday, September 14, 7 p.m. The Opening Night Gala Celebration will follow the screening at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, beginning at 9 p.m.
Still from Fawzia Mirza’s QUEEN OF MY DREAMS
“An incredibly vibrant, bold, and beautifully realized family story, depicting a South Asian mother-daughter dynamic, filmed in Pakistan and Cape Breton, the film stands out as completely original and unique,” says Haller. “Fawzia Mirza is a true talent to celebrate, and with exceptional lead performances by Amrit Kaur, Nimra Bucha and Hamza Haq, the film is mesmerizing.”
Still from Christian Sparkes’ SWEETLAND
SWEETLAND, directed by award-winning Newfoundland-based writer and director Christian Sparkes, and produced by Allison White, is this year’s Atlantic Gala. The highly anticipated drama is based on the acclaimed novel by Michael Crummey and stars Mark Lewis Jones (The Crown, Chernobyl), and Mary Walsh in a supporting role. The Atlantic Gala will take place on Friday, September 15, 7 p.m.
The Reel East Coast Shorts Gala, taking place on Sunday, September 17, 7 p.m., will elevate Atlantic talent, festival alumni and award-winning films, including the World Premiere of Newfoundland and Labrador documentary THE HEALING JAR by director Andrea Cass and New Brunswick alumni Todd Fraser’s FATHER ARCHIE.
Still from John Carney’s FLORA AND SON
Offering a charming, uplifting, and musically dazzling way to close the festival as the Closing Night Gala on Thursday September 21, 7 p.m. will be Sundance hit, FLORA AND SON, directed by John Carney and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Eve Hewson.
New this year, the Short Programmes will include a selection of films from Canada and around the world, celebrating a variety of genres and styles including documentaries, animation, international award winners, and more. There are eight programs, 56 short films, and 20 films representing Atlantic Canada. The program includes 27, the recipient of the Short Film Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Sundance standout THE VACATION, by Jarreau Carrillo, as well as the debut from Nova Scotian director Colby Conrad, ESCAPE THE USUAL.
Still from Rob McCallum’s MR. DRESSUP: THE MAGIC OF MAKE-BELIEVE
This year’s documentaries offer illuminating perspectives and behind-the-scenes access to social and political issues, personal journeys, music history, and the influence and impact of individual icons. The 2023 line-up will include Hot Docs Canadian award-winners I LOST MY MOM, directed by Denys Desjardins and SOMEONE LIVES HERE, directed by Zack Russell; the World Premieres of ANALOGUE REVOLUTION: HOW FEMINIST MEDIA CHANGED THE WORLD, directed by AIFF alumni Marusya Bociurkiew and NFB’s STOLEN TIME, directed by Helene Klodawsky; and the heartfelt documentary MR. DRESSUP: THE MAGIC OF MAKE-BELIEVE, directed by Rob McCallum, which celebrates the life of Ernie Coombs and the beloved CBC children’s show.
Spanning from Chile to Senegal, the Narrative New Waves program spotlights debut features from around the world and has everything from family drama and comedy to vampires and a chilling critique of colonialism. This stream includes the World Premiere of DOUBLES directed by Ian Harnanine, the Canadian Premiere of Dominican Republic’s BOCA CHICA directed by Gabriella Athena Moses, and Pakistani-Canadian thriller IN FLAMES, directed by Zarrar Kahn.
The World Cinema program includes brand new works from Canadian film legends, and acclaimed international favourites earning top prizes on the festival circuit including the World Premiere of comedy drama SUZE directed by Linsey Stewart and Dane Clark and the previously announced World Premiere of PEI’s WHO’S YER FATHER? directed by Jeremy Larter, as well as Canadian master Atom Egoyan’s psychodrama SEVEN VEILS, starring Amanda Seyfried, Justin Triet’s riveting Cannes Palm d’or Winner ANATOMY OF A FALL, and Dominic Savage’s CLOSE TO YOU, starring incredible performances by Elliot Page and Hillary Baack.
Still from Pascale Plante’s RED ROOMS
To satisfy genre fans, AIFF’s brand-new Late-Night Visions program will bring weird, wild, and boundary-pushing films to the big screen, including RED ROOMS by Pascale Plante that just opened Fantasia Film Festival, and winner of the SXSW’s Narrative Grand Jury Award, RAGING GRACE directed by Paris Zarcilla.
Celebrating seminal work, the Classics/Restored program will feature the 4K restoration of THE MOTHER AND THE WHORE by Jean Eustache and the newly restored print of the 1987 Atlantic film LIFE CLASSES directed by William D. MacGillivray.
Our In Focus program, created to honor the work of a filmmaker or icon, will pay respect to one of Canada’s most beloved and prolific actors, Gordon Pinsent, with screenings of JOHN AND THE MISSUS (1987) and THE GRAND SEDUCTION (2013). All Classics/Restored and In Focus screenings will be FREE for the public to enjoy.
Still from Don McKellar’s THE GRAND SEDUCTION
In addition to an incredible selection of films, AIFF is proud to offer a series of special events for 2023. Our industry events this year feature five panels that will cover a range of topical industry subjects including: Writing for Film in a TV World, Good Vibes Only, Casting Outside the Box, Docs That Matter: Telling the Stories of our Time Through Documentary Film. Panels take place at Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane in Theatre 2 at 3 p.m. from Sunday, September 17 to Thursday, September 21. All panels are FREE and open to the public.
This year, to celebrate our legacy and all the people who love film, we are hosting our first ever AIFF LOVE FILM Party on Saturday, September 16 at 9 p.m. at the Cable Wharf Kitchen & Patio on the historic Halifax Waterfront. This event is FREE. Other FREE parties include the Atlantic Gala Party at The Garden Halifax, September 17, 9 p.m. and the Closing Night Party at Pacifico Nightclub on September 21, 9 p.m.
"We're thrilled to invite industry and audiences to a fulsome line-up of panels, parties and special events, most of which are FREE," says Martha Cooley, AIFF Executive Director. "Now more than ever, we recognize the need to gather, to connect and to celebrate together."
For those outside Halifax, select Atlantic Canadian features and shorts will be available to stream via AIFF Online from September 14-24, giving online patrons an extra three days after the in-person festival is over to catch up on any films they may have missed. Tickets can be purchased for individual feature films, while the shorts can be accessed with the AIFF Online Shorts Pass.
This year the full Festival Pass gives passholders access to everything we will offer in person (excluding the Opening Night Gala Film and Opening Night Gala Celebration), and everything on AIFF Online.
The festival’s physical box office will be open in the upper lobby of Cineplex Cinemas Park Lane from September 11-13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and September 14-21 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Of special note, AIFF is offering a discount to film industry professionals through ACTRA, IATSE 667, IATSE 849, DGC Maritimes, Screen Nova Scotia, Film PEI, NIFCO, NB Film Coop and AFCOOP.
"In solidarity with the film industry, which is facing a difficult season due to labour disputes, we are offering a 15% off cast and crew discount for the festival," says Cooley. "This discount will be available through our industry partners, including local unions, film co-ops and film commissions."
Running concurrently with the festival is AIFF Partners. In its 26th year, Partners is a unique industry event focusing on film, television, and digital fiction projects from across Canada and around the world. Taking place from September 14-16, top Canadian and international industry players (including producers, investors, sales agents, funding agencies, broadcasters, and distributors) come together in Halifax for this co-production / co-finance market. Over the two days, selected attendees experience investor and co-production focused roundtable sessions, cutting edge panels; topics include: AI & Technology, Indigenous Representation and Co-Production with New Zealand, a personalized schedule of 1-21- meetings, and attend AIFF screenings and industry receptions.
In attendance will be 136 participants from 13 countries including a strong delegation from our spotlight region: New Zealand. Partners is welcoming back delegates from Ireland, Austria, France, Germany, Denmark, Chile, Australia in addition to California, and all corners of Canada. Included are 26 established producers from all four Atlantic provinces, as well as a group of 10 emerging producers, representing PEI, Newfoundland, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Producers will attend with more than 90 creative and commercial projects in development spanning various genres and regions, with the goal of moving their projects one step closer to production. For more information, visit: aiffpartners.ca
Our film lineup this year includes 115 titles that span genre, language and vision. You can browse the entire 2023 AIFF Film List here.
The Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF) is an eight-day celebration of film and filmmaking talent from around the world, turning Halifax into an international destination for movie-lovers and filmmakers alike. Discover a variety of regional, national, and international films that explore all corners of life, culture, entertainment, and the global human experience at AIFF. All film selections are chosen with our audience in mind and our special events are designed to bring our community together. A not-for-profit organization, AIFF began as a tiny, grassroots operation in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1981, relocating to Halifax the following year. Over four decades later, the Atlantic International Film Festival has evolved into one of Canada’s premier film festivals and a champion of Atlantic Canadian filmmakers. Whether for unabashed film-lovers, industry folks, or curious onlookers, AIFF is the place to engage and connect through the love of movies. AIFF is now a year-round celebration of film, growing beyond our cornerstone event in September to include AIFF Partners, AIFF Kids, and AIFF Outdoor. The 43rd annual Atlantic International Film Festival will take place this September 14 - 21, 2023.
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Media Contact:
Wendy Phillips, Phillips PR