Edmonton International Film Festival 2008

Nominated for a 2008 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Nikita Mikhalkov's 12 is a brilliant Russian remake of the courtroom clasic 12 Angry Men and screens as part of our World Cinema series. As in Sidney Lumet’s 1957 classic, 12 Angry Men , most of the action in 12 is confined to one jury room, where a dozen jurors are asked to decide the fate of a young man accused of murder. It’s seemingly an open and shut case, until one dissenting voice forces each juror to rethink his original opinion. That’s where the similarities end, for this is – at its core – a truly Russian story, with each character representing a different aspect of modern Russian society. The Russian justice system may seem worlds away from what is generally accepted in the democratic world, but the universal issues of humanity and racial-profiling presented here are relevant to everyone. Plus, it’s one hell of a cracker-jack thriller. 2008 Academy Award nominee for BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM.

She’s trying to roll a strike in the 12th alley. But there’s no 12th alley.

Our 24/One jury, made up of professional filmmakers and creative executives, will have spent many hours watching (and debating) the dozens of short films produced by the teams that took part in our annual 24-hour filmmaking challenge. Teams are made up of one to three people – Producer, Director, Writer – with limitless cast members, editors, set designers, etc. 24/One filmmakers are assigned a phrase, or a theme, to use within their short film on the opening Saturday of the festival (Sept. 27th) – then they’re off! Twenty-four hours later, they must deliver a complete, 5-minute (or less) short film – with credits and all the paperwork and release forms required by professional production crews. Today’s screening is the top 10 films. Audiences vote for the Matrix Video People’s Choice Award and cash prizes go to Best Male and Female Actors thanks to the support of ACTRA .

The Internet is flooded with e-mails promising money-making business proposals, lottery win notifications, and fabulous inheritances. This is the story of how one man's involvement with such an Internet scam ruined his life. The inclusion of real correspondence with the scammers gives an added level of realism to this expose film.

It’s the early spring of 1958. Fifteen year old Parry Tender (Jordan Gavaris) has lived in Goose Lake all his life. It isn’t much of a town; about two hundred folks in all give or take. Five hundred miles north of nowhere with its 4,000 foot gravel runway, Alberta’s Goose Lake is the perfect spot to airlift men and materials into Canada’s frozen north. It’s all very secret – all very boring – and no one wants out more than Parry, who isn’t asking for much. He only wants a little more than he already has: which is an old Cree grandfather named Peter George (August Schellenberg) and his best friend Stacey Luke (Justine Banszky). But when the pretty daughter of an American Air Force Colonel arrives in town, stealing Parry’s heart, Luke isn’t quite sure what will happen next. It’s a confusing Spring of love, loss and rock’n’roll. Edmonton Premiere. FILMMAKERS IN ATTENDANCE. 45rpm is in competition for the Citytv Canadian Feature Award , chosen by YOU – the audience. Vote online until noon on Saturday, October 4th at www.citytv.com.

Adam (Ulrich Thomsen) is a neo-Nazi thug who's been sentenced to community service in a small church in the countryside. His supervisor is Ivan (Mads Mikkelsen), a priest who's totally bereft of any sense of humor. When the sullen Adam, urged to decide what he wants to accomplish during his community service, says he wants to bake a pie, Ivan assigns him to guard a nearby apple tree and bake a pie when the fruit is ripe. Two other cons doing community service are: Gunnar (Nicolas Bro), a kleptomaniac with a history of sexually assaulting women, and Khalid (Ali Kazim), a permanently angry immigrant from Afghanistan who robs gas stations belonging to multinationals as a statement against capitalism. As he did in his previous concoctions, Flickering Lights and The Green Butchers , director Jensen doses out his usual mixture of gags, slapstick and bone-crunching violence, successfully managing to walk the thin line between political incorrectness and dark comedy. Finally making its long-awaited Edmonton debut, this outrageous black comedy is a true original. EDMONTON Premiere!

Downtown + Reggae = Party – Wednesday, October 1st 9pm - Close @ Red Star (10534 Jasper Ave.) Not sure what to do after catching tonight’s films? We’ve got an idea that makes sense - rock on over to Edmonton’s hippest downtown pub for fine libations and even finer beats. Plus you’re sure to run into some famous filmmakers while you’re there. * Post-screening party for Down to the Dirt. Show your REEL DEAL pass or movie ticket stub for entry into Red Star from Sep 26 – Oct 4th. Also, skip the line and get free cover at Halo on Friday and Saturday before 11pm.

The Martini Shoot Part DEUX! – Thursday, October 2nd 9pm - Close @ LUX (Commerce Place) What goes together better than martinis and Thursdays? Martinis and movies of course. Head over to LUX in Commerce Place, pre- and post- screenings, for food, fun and the best martini you can shake a movie ticket at. *Post-screening reception for Nerdcore Rising. Show your REEL DEAL pass or movie ticket stub for entry all night long.

Twist and Shout – Friday, October 3rd 9pm - Close @ Stir Lounge (10304 111 St.) Have you felt like you just wanted to stand up and dance this week? Well now’s your chance. Shake your hips on over to STIR to relax in the EIFF VIP area before you show-off your best moves on the dance floor after tonight’s screenings. *FAVA party and post-screening reception for Momma’s Man and What We Do is Secret. Show your REEL DEAL pass or movie ticket stub to skip the line, get free cover and entry into the EIFF VIP area all night long.