The Over The Top Festival Announces Award-Winning Film line-up

Toronto – In its eighth year, Over The Top Festival - Canada's cutting edge arts festival celebrates theatre, art, music, and film in clubs, theatres and galleries across Toronto. The Festival’s film program returns with ten critically acclaimed powerhouse titles that have previously been selected for such prestigious festivals as Cannes, Sundance, and Berlinale. Eight of the ten films are Canadian premieres. From May 21st to 24th, Toronto audiences will screen a cross section of innovative and exciting world cinema. Jeff Wright, Over The Top film programmer comments, “From vikings and exploding bodies all the way to virtual sex, we wanted to give even the most discerning film-goer a run for their money,” He adds, “It’s a chance to see some incredible films that you wouldn’t normally have access to.” OPENING NIGHT FILM White Lightnin’ D: Dominic Murphy, UK, 84 min (2008) - Canadian Premiere Vice Films brings us Jesco - ‘The Dancing Outlaw’ bounced in and out of reform schools and insane asylums as a child for excessive drugs use and wild behavior. In order to harbor his outlandish behavior, his father D-Ray taught him the art of Appalachian Mountain dancing. Jesco begins touring across the bar scene where he meets the love of his life, Cilla. We follow Jesco’s trials and tribulations as he paves his own war path. Official Selection: Sundance ‘09, and Berlinale ‘09 Thursday, May 21, 7:00pm, The Royal Cinema (608 College Street W) TOKYO! Co-presented by the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. D: Michael Gondry, Leos Carax, Bong Joon-Ho, Japan, 112 min (2008) - Toronto Premiere Do cities shape us? Or do we shape cities? Three filmmakers set out amongst the streets of Tokyo to give individual views of a city that truly never sleeps. Gondry, Carax, and Joon-Ho give explicit looks into the humanity within a culturally saturated city. Official Selection: Cannes International Film Festival, Fantastic Fest, and Calgary Underground Film Festival Thursday, May 21, 9:15pm, The Royal Cinema (608 College Street W) Visioneers Co-presented with Eye Weekly D: Jared Drake, USA, 90 min (2008) - Canadian Premiere The Jeffers Corporation is the largest company in the history of corporations. Mindless productivity keeps employees in line until one day, workers start to spontaneously combust due to unhappiness. Employee George Washington Winsterhammerman (Zach Galifianakis), fears that this will soon be his fate, prompting him to revaluate the quality of his life. AFI Film Festival 2008 Winner: CineVegas 2008 – Audience Award (Narrative Feature) Friday, May 22, 7:00pm, NFB, John Spotton Theatre (150 John St.) Severed Ways: The Norse Discovery of America D:Tony Stone, USA, 109 min (2008) -Canadian Premiere In the year 1007 AD two Viking are attacked and left for dead. We follow their struggle for survival in the vast forests of the New World. One Viking leads a spiritual quest while the other reverts to his more primal instincts to survive. Official Selection: Los Angeles Film Festival Friday, May 22, 8:50pm, NFB, John Spotton Theatre (150 John St.) CLOSING NIGHT FILM co-presented by Twitch PVC-1 D: Spiros Stathoulopoulos, Columbia/Greece, 85 min (2007) - Canadian Premiere Based on a true story in Columbia, a woman and her family is faced with difficult and threatening acts of terrorism. When demands are not met, the mother is fitted with a bomb and is faced with the struggle of survival. Official Selection: Cannes 2007 (Director’s Fortnight) Winner: FIPRESCI for Best Film in the International Competition Saturday, May 23, 7:00pm, NFB, John Spotton Theatre (150 John St.) SHORT FILM PROGRAM Co-presented by CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival Saturday, May 23, 4:00pm, NFB, John Spotton Theatre (150 John St.) I Am So Proud Of You D: Don Hertzfeldt, USA, 22 min (2008) - Toronto Premiere Viewers get a glimpse into the mind of Bill, the film’s animated, stick-figure protagonist. Bill’s thoughts are brought to life as he reminisces about family, life and his own mortality. Official Selection: Sundance Film Festival OOOM: Out Of Our Minds D: Tony Stone, USA, 30 min (2009) - Canadian Premiere Three time periods, one connection: Blood. A fantasy world where a Viking heart, a car crash and a bleeding forest connect. Using music rather than dialogue, the film tells a universal tale in striking optics. Official Selection: Sundance 2009 thumbnail. D: William Hoffman, USA, 20 min (2008) - Canadian Premiere “Condoms and dog bones!!!” Days of sending love letters are long gone, only to be replaced by raunchy texts and girls posting footage of boyfriends confessing sexual secrets on YouTube. Prize Winner: Best Short (Director’s Choice) - Boston Underground Film Festival EBay and Bald Static D: Chad VanGaalen, Canada, 2 min and 12 min (2009) - World Premiere Trying to summarize the latest animated shorts by Sub Pop recording artist, Chad VanGaalen is pointless, but expect a skateboarder jumping over a crucified Jesus’ massive erection in Ebay, and a sprawling abstract sci-fi story told with various types of animation (hand-drawn, stop motion, etc.) in Bald Static. Both films feature new music composed and performed by VanGaalen.


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Inspiration, animation, and documentation. The Over The Top Festival is returning for its eighth year celebrating theatre, arts, music and film. Running from May 21-24, The Over The Top Festival hits clubs, theatres and galleries across Toronto. In its third year, the film program screens ten titles that were previously selected at Cannes, Sundance and Berlinale among other festivals. The 2009 edition of Over The Top showcases eight Canadian premieres. Purchase tickets online at Ticketweb, in person, at Soundscapes or Rotate This and for the first time, all-inclusive wristbands are available by emailing tickets@overthetopfest.com.

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