Piers Handling
Piers Handling
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French films are increasingly taking pride of place. The number of French films at the Festival is second only to the US and Canada.
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Business was brisk for a large number of titles, with distribution deals worldwide coming from most of our world premiere participants.
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American Beauty' really reinforced in Hollywood's eyes the idea that Toronto could actually break a film that was very important. They came here and gathered acclaim and critical support that lasted through the Oscars. Subsequent to that, virtually every year, we've had a significant number of films here that later came out with nominations and Oscars.
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Which is why they're in the large venues like the Ryerson and the Elgin. The press screenings are actually happening after their world premiere so the key press, the key buyers are in those public screenings and that is important.
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For me, ... there are no real taboos, as long as it's done with respect and sensitivity and the care and creativity of an artist. But is there a clear line between pornography of a sexual and violent nature, and art? It is a fine distinction and we'll probably argue about that to the end of our days.
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Obviously, ... politically in the United States there has been such a drift to the right that hasn't happened up here, as Canada has become much more tolerant and open.
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To allow Canadian filmmakers to stand shoulder to shoulder with their international counterparts.
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It's just a more uncertain world out there, ... There is more of a possibility of losing something, a loved one or a child. Maybe too there's an increasing sense of powerlessness, that we don't have as much control over the world as we used to five or 10 years ago.
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This project is a wonderful keepsake for anyone who loves Canadian cinema and wants to get a real behind-the-scenes feel of the festival,
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We didn't steer away from the Karla thing this year. We've seen the film. It was just that we decided, for artistic reasons, that we didn't want to screen it.
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We didn't steer away from the Karla thing this year,
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I think we have seen fewer international films that have dealt with explicit sexuality. It seems that the rest of the world has moved on from that, but maybe it's just a temporary aberration this year.
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People are concerned about their place economically and socially in the world as it undergoes enormous transformation right now.
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There are so many guests coming to the festival it's absolutely extraordinary.