2010 festival

Departures named 2010 Whitehead Award Winner

9th Annual Whitehead International Film Festival
January 15-18, 2010

The jury determined that of the ten films screened, the one most excellently exhibiting the five criteria for The Whitehead Award is the Japanese film, Departures, directed by Yajiro Takita.

Criteria 1:  Artistic Excellence
The jury applauds the film’s fine cinematography, use of symbols, its creative juxtaposition of indoor/outdoor scenes, its use of music, and its stunning depiction of the sacred ritual of encoffinment.

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Showtime: Sunday, January 17, 2010, 3:00pm

Director: Andrea Staka
Original Title: Das Fräulein
Country: Germany

Ruža left Belgrade more than 25 years ago to seek a new life in Zurich. Now in her fifties, she has completely detached herself from the past. She owns a cafeteria and maintains an orderly, joyless existence. Mila, a waitress there, is a good-humored Croatian woman who also emigrated decades ago, but, unlike Ruža, she dreams of returning to a house on the Croatian coast. Both of them receive a jolt when Ana, a young, itinerant woman who has fled Sarajevo, breezes into the cafeteria looking for work. Ruža hires her but is annoyed by Ana's impulsive and spirited efforts to inject life into the cafeteria. Gradually the acrimony will dissipate, as Ana, who hides a tragic secret under her passionate spirit, begins to thaw Ruža's chill, and their relationship will change both women in ways they never anticipated.

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Showtime: Monday, January 18, 2010, 7:00pm

Director(s): This Lüscher
Country: Switzerland

On a Swiss alp a man watches the finals of the european football-championship 2008 with Switzerland playing. Just before the game ends, there is a heavy bang and the TV turns black. The man discovers that the ball from the game is stuck in his satellite dish. Suddenly HE is in control of the outcome of the game. Read more »

Showtime: Monday, January 18, 2010, 2:00pm

Director(s): Emmanuel Shirinian
Country: Canada

Rabbi Yosef Slomon’s life has become very ordinary. His grooming rituals are indistinguishable from his prayers at the synagogue. The once vibrant Rabbi has become ineffectual until a catchy, ubiquitous pop tune invades his sould and threatens to send him scrambling to the dance floor or back to the Torah. Read more »

Showtime: Monday, January 18, 2010, 10:00am

Director(s): Annie Bradley
Country: Canada

When Violet, a 12-year-old chubby black girl moves into foster care in Regent Park, she has to start all over; new school, new rules, and a new roommate too. The kids at school hassle her about her ratty coat and Violet’s fists fly, landing her in trouble. She vows to get a new one in time for her birthday and so she ventures to a wealthy neighbourhood in search of a job. There she meets Edith, a rich, eccentric elderly white lady who never leaves her mansion. Edith hires Violet under the pretense of preparing for a party as her beloved maid has passed away. Gradually they form a most unlikely friendship, Read more »