CALGARY FILM FESTIVAL
Gala features Hank Williams biopic
An American biopic about country legend Hank Williams will open the Calgary International Film Festival, one of five gala films announced Tuesday morning that include Paul Gross’s modern war film Hyena Road and a documentary about Edmonton act The Smalls.
I Saw the Light, starring British actor Tom Hiddleston as the troubled country pioneer, is already being positioned as an Oscar contender by Sony Picture Classics
It’s the first time in years that a non- Canadian film will open the festival, which will run from Sept. 23 to Oct. 4 at various downtown theatres. It will be shown at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, a first for the festival, and a day earlier than normal. I Saw the Light will screen Wednesday, Sept. 23, stretching the festival to 12 days.
On Thursday, Sept. 24 a gala screening of Hyena Road will take place at the Grand. Calgary native Paul Gross, who wrote, directed and stars in the film, will be in attendance.
No other guests have been confirmed for the galas yet, but executive director Steve Schroeder says the festival has invited I Saw The Light cast and writer- director Marc Abraham for the opening gala.
“We are very excited about this one,” Schroeder says. “It’s one of the bigger films, from an American or international standpoint, that we’ve ever had the privilege to open the festival with.”
Landfill Harmonic, a documentary about a Megadeath- loving group of Paraguayan children that play instruments made of garbage taken from the slums of Cateura, will screen as the Green Carpet Gala at the Globe Cinema on Sept. 29, while A Christmas Horror Story starring William Shatner is scheduled for the Black Carpet Gala at the Globe on Oct. 1.
Now in its fourth year, the Green Carpet Gala focuses on environmental documentaries and has proven to be a favourite for filmgoers.
Landfill Harmonic, directed by Brad Allgood and Graham Townsley, won the Audience Choice Award this year at SXSW Film Festival.
“This is a film that audiences love,” said Schroeder. “The environmental message is crystal clear, it’s really strongly conveyed. It’s a powerful film — and eye- opener. But it’s also a really watchable, engaging human drama.”
Hyena Road is Gross’s followup to his 2008 Alberta- shot First World War film, Passchendaele, and co- stars Rossif Sutherland, Allan Hawco and Christine Horne.
Set in Afghanistan, Hyena Road is about Canadian soldiers, including snipers, engaged in modern warfare.
“It’s very gritty,” Schroeder said. “It’s very Canadian, on the one hand, yet people who are into ( the) American Sniper or Zero Dark Thirty type of genre will be well satisfied by this movie. It’s a great modern war movie.”
A Christmas Horror Story also has a Calgary connection. One of the segments in the anthology film is directed by ex- Calgarian Grant Harvey.
Local talent will also be front andcentre for the festival’s closing film. The Smalls: Forever Is a Long Time chronicles 2014’ s reunion tour of the Edmonton punk- metal band, which includes bassist Corb Lund.
It’s the feature debut by local filmmakers John Kerr and Trevor Smith, who used to be the head of programming at the Calgary International Film Festival.
“It’s a great closer,” said Schroeder.
“Putting Alberta content and local content ( in the festival) is a priority for us. Anything good shot in Alberta, we want to take our best shot at showing it.”