EyeSteelFilm News

February 8th, 2008: UP THE YANGTZE OPENS IN CINEMAS!

2008-02-03T10:16:00.000-05:00

�Outstanding ... gorgeously shot and as gripping as an epic novel�
-Liam Lacey, THE GLOBE AND MAIL
�A gloriously cinematic doc�
-John Anderson, VARIETY

SYNOPSIS: In China, the mighty Yangtze is known simply as �The River.� It is about to be transformed by the biggest hydroelectric dam in history, the Three Gorges Project. At the river�s edge, a girl named Yu Shui says goodbye to her family as the floodwaters rise towards their small homestead. She is leaving to work on a cruise line that takes tourists on a "Farewell to the Three Gorges Tour", where visitors get to wave goodbye to 5000 years of civilization. It's "The Love Boat" meets "Apocalypse Now". The Three Gorges Dam � contested symbol of the Chinese economic miracle � provides the epic backdrop for Up the Yangtze, a dramatic feature documentary on life inside modern China. 95 minutes, 35mm.

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Named one of Canada's Top Ten Films, winner of best Canadian Documentary at the Vancouver Film Festival, UP THE YANGTZE opens its theatrical run in Canada on February 8th, 2008. Presented in glorious 35mm in Dolby 5.1 Surround , UP THE YANGTZE is a cinematic immersion in China's rapidly changing landscape.

Please show your support by coming out OPENING WEEKEND. Documentaries don't last long in theaters without your SUPPORT!

Opens:
Toronto, February 8th, 2008: CUMBERLAND Cinemas - 159 Cumberland St. (at Avenue Rd.) tel. (416) 964-9359
Vancouver, February 15th: THE RIDGE - 3131 Arbutus. tel. (604) 738-6311
Montreal, February 22nd: AMC FORUM - 2313 Ste-Catherine Ouest tel. (514) 904-1250
Ottawa, February 29th: BYTOWNE - 325 Rideau tel. (613) 789-3456

U.S. release is slated for April 2008 by Zeitgeist

"Restores your faith in the documentary film medium�
� MATTHEW HAYS, MONTREAL MIRROR (full review)

FURTHER SCREENINGS:

February 1 � Canada�s Top Ten, TIFFG, Cinematheque Ontario, Toronto
February 3 - Empire Theatres Empress Walk, 5095 Yonge Street, Toronto
February 6 � Doc Soup, Hot Docs, Bloor Cinema, Toronto
February 8 � Cineplex Odeon, Toronto (open run)
February 15 � Ridge Cinema, Vancouver (open run)
February 9 - Powell River Film Festival, Evergreen Theatre, Powell River, BC
February 14-16 - The Capitol Theatre, Nelson, BC
February 22-March 1, Salmon Arm Film Festival, Salmon Arm, BC
February 22 � AMC Forum, Montreal (open run, date tbc)
February 22 � Quartier Latin, Montreal (French version) - (open run, date tbc)
February 22 - Port Moody Film Society Canadian Film Festival (www.pmfilm.ca)
February 27- Village Cinemas, Whistler, BC
February 28-March 2 - Kingston Canadian Film Festival
February 29-March 4 - Bytowne Cinema, Ottawa
March 6-9 - London Canadian Film Festival (www.londoncanfilmfest.ca)
March 7-13 - Princess Cinemas, Waterloo, ON
March 24 - Cine-Club Laval, Quebec (French version)
March 27 - MUN Cinema Series, Memorial University, St.John's, NFLD
March 28 - April 2 - Cinematheque Winnipeg, Dave Barber
April 3 - Sackville Film Society, Vogue Cinema, Sackville, NB
April 10 - Cape Breton Island Film Series, Empire Sydney Theatres, Sydney, NS
April 26 - CNC Theatre Film Group, College of New Caladonia, Prince George, BC
May 7 - Galaxy Theatre, Brockville, ON

International Festival schedule

Sundance Film Festival
From January 17, 2008 to January 27, 2008
Park City, USA
International Film Festival
From January 24, 2008 to February 03, 2008
Santa Barbara, USA
Big Sky Documentary Film Festival
From February 14, 2008 to February 20, 2008
Missoula, USA
One World International Human Rights Film Festival
From March 05, 2008 to March 13, 2008
Prague, Czech Republic
International Film Festival
From March 06, 2008 to March 16, 2008
Cleveland, USA
Thessaloniki Documentary Festival
From March 07, 2008 to March 16, 2008
Athens, Greece
Human Rights Watch International Film Festival
From March 13, 2008 to March 21, 2008
London, England
International Film Festival
From March 17, 2008 to April 06, 2008
Hong Kong, China
DocAviv - International Documentary Film Festival
From April 03, 2008 to April 13, 2008
Tel Aviv, Isra�l
Golden Gate Awards Competition & International Film Festival
From April 24, 2008 to May 08, 2008
San Francisco, USA
New Zealand Film Festival
From July 11, 2008 to August 03, 2008
Wellington, New.Zealand

January 17, 2008: ZEITGEIST ACQUIRES �UP THE YANGTZE�, SET FOR SUNDANCE

2008-01-19T12:48:00.000-05:00

Zeitgeist Films has acquired UP THE YANGTZE, which will be premiering in the U. S. Friday in the World Cinema Documentary Competition at the Sundance Film Festival.

UP THE YANGTZE is the first feature-length documentary directed by Yung Chang. It was produced by Mila Aung-Thwin, John Christou and Germaine Ying Gee Wong. A late April 2008 release is planned.

Filmmaker Yung Chang goes back to the Yangtze River where his grandfather grew up and documents the end of a way of life. Chang takes viewers on a cruise ship which offers farewell tours of the about-to-be-flooded river. In Upstairs-Downstairs style, the comfortable lives of the perhaps well-intentioned but oblivious western passengers are contrasted with the difficult lives of the young Chinese crew. Back on land Chang�s camera gives viewers remarkable access to scenes including a demonstration against the government�s relocation policy, and a family assembling their humble possessions as the floodwaters rise.

Variety�s John Anderson calls UP THE YANGTZE �A gloriously cinematic doc. Chang's gorgeous meditation is more concerned with the project's collateral human damage: old farmers evicted, young people in servitude to Western tourists, all brought about by an endeavor whose collective weight may ultimately tilt the Earth's axis.�

Zeitgeist�s Co-President Nancy Gerstman said �We are so proud to be distributing this stunning and heartbreaking true epic of life inside modern China. Like the rest of the world we�re fascinated and horrified by the destruction caused by the Three Gorges Dam, and UP THE YANGTZE gives an insiders� perspective, with compassion and dark humor.�

�UP THE YANGTZE is part of the growing body of work at the National Film Board of Canada offering an astonishing look at the changing face of our planet. We�re proud that it has joined another acclaimed NFB co-produced documentary, MANUFACTURED LANDSCAPES, in the Zeitgeist roster� said Sayedali Rawji, Interim Director General of NFB English Program.

In 2007 Zeitgeist released Philip Groening�s INTO GREAT SILENCE and Jennifer Baichwal�s MANUFACTURED LANDSCAPES. Along with UP THE YANGTZE, Zeitgeist�s 2008 releases include several other films by first-time filmmakers: Shira Geffen and Etgar Keret�s Camera d�Or-winning JELLYFISH and Guido Santi and Tina Mascara�s Telluride Film Festival hit CHRIS & DON: A Love Story.

January 10, 2008: THE COLONY is a QUEBEC GOLD SHORT

2008-01-10T18:13:00.000-05:00

The award winning short film THE COLONY by Jeff Barnaby is playing EVERYDAY at 14h45 and 21h30 at the Ex-Centris from January 11th to the 17th as part of a selection of the most celebrated and award winning short films from Quebec.

Best Short Film at the Whistler Film Festival
Best Canadian Short at imagineNATIVE
Best Short Film at Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival

December 11, 2007: TIFF's Top Ten Canadian Films: EyeSteelFilm has two!

2007-12-11T22:59:00.000-05:00

EyeSteelFilm congratulates our directors Yung Chang (Up the Yangtze) and Jeff Barnaby (The Colony) on being named to the Toronto International Film Festival Group's annual Top Ten Canadian Film list!

Yung Chang�s luminous documentary focuses on the people who live alongside China�s Yangtze River, many of whom are being uprooted as a result of the Three Gorges Dam project. Hauntingly photographed by Wang Shi Qing, the stories are simultaneously heartbreaking and affirming.

Panel Statement: Visually engrossing, storytelling which presents the micro and macro aspects of our time, Up The Yangtze works on every cinematic level.
- Terrance Odette

Playing next at the Sundance Film Festival, the film will be released in North American theatres in early 2008.

Following his award-winning film, From Cherry English, Jeff Barnaby�s second short is a gritty depiction of deception, desolation and decay. Born of an imaginative script and proficiently executed, this powerful film witnesses cockroaches and chainsaws wreak havoc during one man�s descent into madness.

Panel Statement: The Colony is very dark, taking a long look at some serious issues in the lives of its' characters. Jeff Barnaby is not afraid, however to make light of interpersonal relationships or to press on the extremes of horror-film gore. It really is a lot to consume in one short film... ... ... but well worth the ride.
- Jeph Scanlon

Next festival, Clermont-Ferrand.

December 6, 2007: OpenSourceCinema.org remix on Pitchfork

2007-12-06T21:10:00.000-05:00

Pitchfork ran a great mini review on the OpenSourceCinema "GirlTalk remix contest", where a class of Concordia University kids rotoscoped a scene from our doc. Check it out here. For those of you who don't know, OpenSourceCinema is a website that remixes, distributes films created by EyeSteelFilm's Brett Gaylor. We're using it as a tool to make Basement Tapes, a feature documentary about the battle over copyright in the music industry. Go to the site and give it a try. It's about booty shakin', not couch potatin'.

December 1st, 2007: UP THE YANGTZE SELECTED TO SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL!

2007-12-05T17:07:00.000-05:00

UP THE YANGTZE, director Yung Chang's documentary tribute to the the Three Gorges Dam, has been selected to the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. The feature length doc will also be released theatrically in North America in spring 2008. Screening dates coming soon!

UP THE YANGTZE INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE

2007-11-21T16:11:00.000-05:00

UP THE YANGTZE in the Joris Ivens Competition - IDFA - Amsterdam

JURY FINALIST

Munt 12 Fri 23 Nov. 16:00 (Industry/Press)
Tuschinski 2 Fri 23 Nov. 22:00
Tuschinski 5 Sat 24 Nov. 18:00
Munt 11 Tue 27 Nov. 21:45
Munt 10 Sat 01 Dec. 10:30

Filmmaker and producers in attendance.

UP THE YANGTZE at the Global Visions Film Festival

2007-11-01T11:45:00.000-04:00

The award winning documentary UP THE YANGTZE by Yung Chang screens on Saturday, November 3rd at 7pm at the Paramount Theater 10233 Jasper Ave, Edmonton. Filmmaker in attendance.

THE COLONY won BEST CANADIAN SHORT DRAMA

2007-10-24T16:07:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Jeff Barnaby who won BEST CANADIAN SHORT DRAMA at the ImagineNATIVE Film Festival in Toronto.

Citation from Doreen Manual of Capilano College�s Independent Indigenous Digital Filmmaking Program:

"The Colony is definitely the best Canadian Short Drama that I have seen this year.
In October I spent 16 days viewing films at the Vancouver International Film Festival before attending the ImagineNative Film Festival and I can say with complete confidence that The Colony was well deserving of this award. I was completely blown away at the incredible acting, lighting, and cinematography of this remarkable film. The Director Jeff Barnaby is a remarkable filmmaker who has the ability to capture through human resource and technology the very human elements of life and internal struggle. I was shocked and then stunned by the dark reality depicted in this film, it served to open me up and send me into a cascade of emotions. I love it when a film can do that for me."

THE COLONY will be screened at the AMERICAN INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL in San Fransisco on Wednesday November 7 at 7pm at the Landmark Embarcadero Center Cinema.

UP THE YANGTZE won BEST CANADIAN DOCUMENTARY

2007-10-18T16:11:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Yung Chang who won the BEST CANADIAN DOCUMENTARY AT THE VANCOUVER FILM FESTIVAL.

This award, sponsored by the National Film Board of Canada, goes to director Yung Chang of Qu�bec for UP THE YANGTZE. The jury commented, �This brilliantly shot and edited documentary, at times humourous and at other times heartbreaking, dramatizes the complexities of cross-cultural communication and, through its focus on the massive Three Gorges Dam project, subtly shows the terrible human cost of China�s rapid modernization.�

The internationally accredited jury, which includes film scholar and Screen International critic Peter Brunette, international film specialist, interpreter and Kinograph film translator Robert Grey, and acclaimed Boston Phoenix film critic Gerald Peary chose the winner from 10 films in competition.

Shorts from the UNDERGROUND - The Colony

2007-10-17T12:16:00.000-04:00

If you're in Toronto, you can see The Colony at the ImagineNATIVE Film Festival on Friday October 19 2007 at 9:00PM - Al Green Theater.
Filmmaker in attendance.

A grim and masterfully fractured Kafka-esque tale of a man�s drug and despair-fuelled descent into hell. Not for the squeamish.

Montreal Premiere : The Colony at the Festival du Nouveau Cinema

2007-10-16T18:51:00.000-04:00

The Colony ****
"To watch." John Griffin, The Gazette

Music by Tom Waits.

FOCUS QU�BEC/CANADA
Wednesday Oct. 17 at 5:20pm
Saturday Oct. 20 at 7:20pm
Filmmaker in attendance.
v.o. with French subtitles
Parallel Theater - Ex-Centris

Help spread the word!
Join the Facebook Group!
Watch the teaser

EYESTEELFILM 5 @ 7 au FNC

2007-10-11T15:55:00.000-04:00

EyeSteelFilm invites YOU to our 5@7 party at the Festival du nouveau cinema (FNC) on Monday, October 15th at the S.A.T., 1195 St. Laurent.

EyeSteelFilm is a Montreal-based production company dedicated to socially engaged cinema (SPIT: Squeegee Punks in Traffic, Chairman George, Punk the Vote!) .

Along with our partners from the National Film Board, we'll be showing clips from our new projects, including our new media sites HOMELESSNATION.org and OPENsourceCINEMA.org.

We'll be selling silk-screened T-shirts to raise money for HomelessNation.org, the not-for-profit organization that networks shelters and drop-ins across the country and teaches media skills to Canada's homeless community.

Please join us!

EyeSteelFilm VOUS invite � notre 5@7 au Festival du Nouveau Cin�ma (FNC) le LUNDI 15 Octobre � la S.A.T., 1195 St-Laurent.

EYESTEELFILM est une maison de production montr�alaise d�di�e au cin�ma engag� (S.P.I.T.: Squeegee Punks in Traffic, Chairman George, Punk The Vote!).

En collaboration avec nos coll�gues de l'Office National du Film, nous pr�senterons des extraits de nos nouveaux projets, notamment nos sites web HOMELESSNATION.org et OPENsourceCINEMA.org.

Des T-shirts s�rigraphi�s seront mis en vente pour une lev�e de fonds en faveur de HomelessNation.org, l'organisation sans but lucratif qui relient les abris et les refuges � travers le pays et qui apprend � la communaut� itin�rante � d�velopper des comp�tences techniques.

Joignez-vous � nous!

Montreal Premiere : Up The Yangtze at the Festival Nouveau Cinema

2007-10-08T16:35:00.000-04:00

3 times SOLD OUT in Vancouver by popular demand!

Up The Yangtze ****
"There have been, and will be, many films dealing with the flooding of China's Yangtze River. This one is not to be missed... Extraordinary." Globe and Mail

FOCUS QU�BEC/CANADA
Sunday Oct. 14 - 3:15pm SOLD OUT
Monday Oct. 15 - 7:20pm SOLD OUT
v.o. with French subtitles
Ex-Centris
Filmmaker in attendance.

Tell your friends.

Join the Facebook Group!
Visit the Movie website

Punk Le Vote! @ Montreal FILM POP

2007-10-03T16:41:00.000-04:00

If you haven't had the chance to see PUNK THE VOTE! yet, it's screening Friday October 5th, 2007 at 9pm.

Tickets $7 general, $5 students and seniors.
At the Portuguese Association, 4170 St-Urbain (just south of Rachel).

LATIN AMERICAN Premiere for Punk Le Vote!

2007-10-01T18:45:00.000-04:00

The Festival Internacional de Cine Documental de la Ciudad de M�xico screens Punk Le Vote! in the BEST TV DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION. Filmmaker in attendance.

CINEMEX INSURGENTES III / Wednesday Oct.3rd at 7:00PM
JAIMA DOCSDF / Thursday Oct. 4th at 4:30PM
CINEMEX ALTAVISTA / Friday Oct. 5th at 6:00PM

WORLD PREMIERE for UP THE YANGTZE

2007-09-27T23:35:00.000-04:00

UP THE YANGTZE just had its WORLD PREMIERE at the Vancouver International Film Festival on Saturday, Oct. 30th at 7PM. The audience response was amazingly strong. Both scheduled screenings were sold out days before the Premiere so they have added a third screening due to popular demand.

Tuesday, Oct. 2nd at 1:30PM
Pacific Cin�math�que, 1131 Howe Street (at Helmcken)
Filmmaker in Attendance

Sunday, Oct. 7th at 11:00AM (RUSH ONLY)
Pacific Cin�math�que
Filmmaker in Attendance

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ITALY Premiere for Chairman George

2007-09-19T15:21:00.000-04:00

The program UN MONDO DI MUSICA screens Chairman George on Friday, September 21st, 2007 at 6:30PM at the MILANO DOC FESTIVAL. This is an international documentary festival on art, architecture, cinema, theater, corporate cinematography, music and dance.

Punk Le Vote! @ the Calgary International Film Festival

2007-09-12T18:19:00.000-04:00

Realilty Reels, CIFF�s program of feature-length documentaries from Canada and around the world presents PUNK LE VOTE! on Thursday, September 27 at 9:30 pm at The Plaza. Roach is in the place!

Click To Play

Punk Le Vote! au Festival International du cin�ma francophone en Acadie

2007-08-31T17:28:00.000-04:00

Anim�e par Roach, la s�ance Cin�ma et activisme regroupe des courts m�trages documentaires explorant des ph�nom�nes sociaux tels que l�itin�rance, la pauvret� et la lutte des classes. Chaque bloc de films sera suivi d�une br�ve s�ance de discussion entre Roach et le public.

Lundi 24 septembre 2007 � 20h00
Cin�-Bistrot du FICFA, Centre culturel Aberdeen
Entr�e libre avec le don d�un aliment non-p�rissable ou d�un v�tement pour enfant.

EyeSteelFilm @ the 2007 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

2007-08-29T12:28:00.001-04:00

In the follow-up to his award-winning film, From Cherry English, Jeff Barnaby directs THE COLONY, a gritty depiction of deception, desolation and decay where cockroaches and chainsaws wreak havoc during one man's decent into madness. In the Short Cuts Canada program in competition for Best Canadian Short Film.

The Colony Teaser

A World Premiere!
Tuesday Sept. 11 - 9:45 pm - Cumberland 3
Wednesday Sept. 12 - 3:45 pm - Cumberland 3

2007 CTV Canadian DOCUMART Winners!

2007-08-10T14:03:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to John Christou and Omar Majeed, winners of the first and second prizes, respectively at the CTV Canadian Documart Pitching Competition in the 2007 Banff World Television Festival.
Watch the demos of Boy Genius & Bobby Fischer by John Christou and Taqwacore by Omar Majeed. You can also download a one-page description of the film.

TEXAS Premiere for BONE!

2007-06-20T15:42:00.000-04:00

Contemporary Dance/Fort Worth programs BONE at the prestigious Museum of Modern Art on Saturday, July 7 at 3pm. The 4th annual Modern Dance Festival at the Modern is curated by the choreographer Kerry Kreiman.

DUTCH Premiere for BONE!

2007-05-22T12:34:00.000-04:00

International Dance Film Festival CINEDANS programs BONE in competition on Saturday, July 7th at 16:30 pm in Amsterdam.

SPAIN Premiere for BONE!

2007-05-17T15:05:00.000-04:00

Castilla Y Leon International Art Film Festival screens BONE on Tuesday, June 12th at 5:00 pm in Salamanca, a world heritage city.

The overall programme will offer a 130 shows, including fields such as dance, indoor theatre, street performences, electronic music, graffiti and dance films. This year's motto is NEW LOOKS, NEW LANDS.