The Truth makes world premiere at Cinéfest

The final lineup for the 24th edition of Cinéfest has been released.

One of the highlights is the Monday night gala showing of The Truth. Shot partially in Sudbury last fall, the film is making its world premiere on home soil.

Starring Andy Garcia, Forrest Whitaker and Eva Longoria, The Truth is about a retired CIA spy turned political talk show radio host hired by a whistle-blower to investigate her company's involvement in the massacre of a village in South America.

Risking his life, Garcia's character, Jack Begosian, returns to the field hoping to uncover the truth and find survivors that will testify to the monstrosities they have witnessed, but soon realizes he has landed in the middle of a political battlefield.

“People have been asking about it,” said Patrick O'Hearn, managing director of Cinéfest. All those who caught the hype can catch the film Sept. 17 at Silver City.

The Truth isn't the only film with a local connection screening at this year's festival. For the first time ever, Cinéfest will begin with a feature film shot right here in Greater Sudbury.

The Riverbank, which most Sudburians will know as Tracing Iris, is scheduled to open the festival Sept. 15.

Festival director Tammy Frick said after watching the film, it was the obvious choice for launching into a week of Canadian, international and independent film.

“Our audiences are going to love it,” she said. “It has that feel of 'northern Ontario.' The cinematography is beautiful.”

The film's producer, Paul Stephens, and its director, John L'Ecuyer, were both at the media event to announce the film's vital role at Cinéfest.

Stephens said when it screens in Sudbury, The Riverbank will make its “world premiere.”

The film was shot locally, using about 80 per cent local crew members. Stephens said he enjoyed his visit to Sudbury.

“The community really opened their arms to us,” he said. “We had a wonderful experience here.”

Along with showcasing the growing film industry in Greater Sudbury, this year's edition of Cinéfest will continue to illustrate what's happening in film at a variety of levels.

A number of local shorts are featured in the Northern Connections: Shorts section of the festival. Some hometown projects include Chris Chitaroni's Abiogenesis, John Alden Milne's The Runner and Steve Gagne's Con Game.

On top of films with links to the city, Cinéfest is screening a number of world cinemas flicks, Aboriginal programs, documentaries and has a solid lineup of gala presentations to look forward to, including The Angels' Share, Midnight's Children, A Royal Affair, Old Stock, Inch' Allah, Still and A Late Quartet.

For a full lineup of films screening during the festival, as well as a schedule, visit www.cinefest.com. Tickets can also be purchased online or by phoning 705-688-1234. All films screen at Silver City.

The lineup includes:

Canadian Shorts I:
Balcony Affair
Broken Heart Syndrome
Free Door
Little Mao
Tales from the Deep
Sperm Dad
Wait for Rain

Canadian Shorts II:
Angela Wright
The Beard
Braids
Frost
The Offering
Rhonda's Party
Safe Room

Canadian Shorts III:
Assembly
Big Drive
Bydlo
Combustion
Fraction
Le grand ailleurs et le petit ici (Here and the Great Elsewhere)
Kali the Little Vampire
Kaspar
Les Conquérants
The Yodeling Farmer

Northern Connections – Shorts:
Abiogenesis (Chris Chitaroni)
Cataract (Greg Zehna and Jeremy Shantz)
Con Game (Steve Gagne)
Manhood (Shawna Steele)
Morning Zombies (Lewis Hodgson)
The Runner (John Alden Milne)
The Transistor (Miranda Morris)
Thorn (Greg Zehna and Jeremy Shantz)
Utopia? (Ryan Ongaro)

Comedy Shorts from Around the World:
Bear
Believe the Dance
Buyer's Market
Dad Drives: Better Late than Never
Dr. Breakfast
I am You Grandma
Las Palmas
Show Me Yours
Stronger
The Master Cleanse
What If Famous People Weren't Famous: Prince

Films from the imagineNATIVE film commission are also screening. The lineup includes:
?E?Anx (The Cave)
Digital Smoke Signals
Eu-Tha-Na-Sia
Freek Üwhency
Honey for Sale
Moss Origins
Pride
Savage
Seven Seconds
Tomorrow