My Internship in Canada has been voted winner of the Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival People’s Choice Award. The 10-day celebration of Canadian cinema, screen talent, and creativity came to a close last night with Toronto audiences crowning Philippe Falardeau’s political satire their favourite pick from the festival’s 10 feature films.
Running January 8–17 at TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto, Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival attracted a record audience for its 15th edition, presenting an engaging lineup of events including screenings of the 10 best feature and short films of the year; introductions and Q&As with special guest filmmakers; educational and industry events; and onstage conversations with Kiefer Sutherland and Tatiana Maslany.
Vancouver’s The Cinematheque (January 8–17) and Montreal’s PHI Centre (January 8–16) also presented the Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival selection this month, and for the first time in the festival’s history a special simulcast screening of Patricia Rozema’s Into the Forest was presented simultaneously in all three cities, featuring an interactive Q&A with the film’s director.
Select films and guests will continue to tour major cities across the country with forthcoming screenings at the Winnipeg Film Group’s Cinematheque (January 15–February 28), Edmonton’s Metro Cinema (January 22–31), the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa (January 23, additional dates TBA), the Calgary International Film Festival at the Globe Cinema (February 4–7), and the Atlantic Film Festival in association with the Halifax Central Library (May 2–8).
Canada’s Top Ten Film Festival People’s Choice Award
The People’s Choice Award goes to My Internship in Canada (Guibord s’en va-t-en guerre), directed by Philippe Falardeau.
My Internship in Canada is a sharp political satire in which politicians, citizens and lobbyists go head-to-head while tearing democracy to shreds. Guibord is an independent Member of Parliament representing a vast county in Northern Quebec who unwillingly finds himself in the awkward position of determining whether Canada will go to war. Accompanied by his wife, daughter and Souverain (Sovereign) Pascal, an idealistic intern from Haiti, Guibord travels across his district in order to consult his constituents and face his own conscience.
Commenting on winning the People’s Choice Award, Director Philippe Falardeau said, “January 18 is supposed to be Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year. Well for me it sure isn’t! What a delight, and honestly what a surprise. I truly didn’t expect this. I want to thank the audience and Canada’s Top Ten for acknowledging our work. We might have launched a new genre in this country, the political comedy.”
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