Edmonton International Film Festival 2009

OH, CANADA! It is 1981. Ricardo feels the effects of the family’s move to a new neighborhood as only an 11-year-old can. His classmates appear to come from more modest means than his own, so he creates a new identity that puts his honour on the line. To avoid being discovered for who he really is, Ricardo decides to invent a situation which he will have to maintain absolutely if he wants to make his place. Until this game of ‘truth’ becomes too difficult to play, little Ricardo is faced with the decision to reveal his real identity.

WORLD PREMIERE! On Saturday, Sept. 25, an eclectic, driven, group of Albertans will have taken up our challenge to produce a short film in just 24-hours. We give them a genre and a prop, then off they go! All films handed over 24-hours later must be family-friendly and under 5-minutes. Tonight’s screening is our jury’s choice for Top 10. And until the credits of the final film rolls, no one in the theatre knows whose film made it. Audiences then select their favourite flick for a cash prize from MATRIX Video , and Best Female & Male actors each receive cash thanks to ACTRA . Produced with additional support from Alberta Film . Come for the fun. If you’re reading this before the festival, and you’ve got the chops to take on our 24/One Challenge , you have until noon on Monday, Sept. 21st to sign up online (only) at: www.edmontonfilmfest.com

Philip is being bullied at his new school. As his father is in prison, it falls to his mother to sort out his nasty classmates, which she does with stunning aplomb.

Sgt. Gray has all the time in the world to do very little. Life can play cruel tricks on people. In the end, it all averages out in shades of grey.

WORLD CINEMA Takemura has no friends or family. He's a student with no particular ambitions. In other words, he isn't going anywhere…fast! And to top it off, he’s carrying a debt of 800,000 yen. Fukuhara, a surly debt collector with a glorious mullet, is on his case almost daily. One day, after roughing Takemura up, Fukuhara gives him an ultimatum-72 hours to pay up, or else. Takemura barely has his wits about him again when he runs across Fukuhara a second time…but this time the thug has a different proposal-a walk. That's right, in exchange for a million yen, Takemura must accompany Fukuhara on a walk across the city of Tokyo. Starting in a distant corner of the city, they begin their trek towards downtown, striking up a conversation. It's at this point that Fukuhara admits the reason for this lengthy walk, and that he intends to turn himself in at Kasumagaseki police station (because, he says, it's the finest in town!). The pair's itinerary, however, is hardly a quick and direct one. The disparate duo drift here and there, hanging out and coming across a host of eccentric personalities, creatures of the urban jungle's various habitats. As their walking, talking and trading truths continues, the arrangement between Takemura and Fukuhara starts to transform into friendship.

A cow, listening to the radio discussion on a potentially dangerous disease affecting livestock herds, gets a rude awakening.

What defines a father is what he leaves behind. A universal story of regret, of reconciliation, and of hope. This beautiful film explores the complexity of a father’s relationship with his son.

A toon-hating executive has a hare raising experience when he meets an out-of-work toon rabbit.

A powerful new film about advertising and inspiration that reveals the work and wisdom of some of the most influential advertising creatives of our time -- people who've profoundly impacted our culture, yet are virtually unknown outside their industry. Exploding forth from advertising's "creative revolution" of the 1960s, these artists and writers all brought a surprisingly rebellious spirit to their work in a business more often associated with mediocrity or manipulation: George Lois, Mary Wells, Dan Wieden, Lee Clow, Hal Riney and others featured in ART & COPY were responsible for "Just Do It," "I Love NY," "Where's the Beef?," "Got Milk," "Think Different," and brilliant campaigns for everything from cars to presidents. They managed to grab the attention of millions and truly move them. Visually interwoven with their stories, TV satellites are launched, billboards are erected, and the social and cultural impact of their ads are brought to light in this dynamic exploration of art, commerce, and human emotion.