Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, November 23, 2011…The Shaw Festival is pleased to announce its seventh annual Festival Film Series line-up. This year’s Festival Film Series will launch with the screening of Woody Allen’s unapologetic love letter to the City of Light, Midnight in Paris on December 3 at 3 p.m. Eight feature films have been confirmed to date for the Festival Film Series, with four additional titles pending. All feature films will be screened at the Festival Theatre on Saturdays at 3 p.m.

The Festival Film Series will also be accompanied by a six-film documentary series beginning January 6. Documentaries are scheduled to screen on Fridays at 5:30 p.m. at the Festival Theatre.

Tickets are $11 per film. A 12-film Festival Film Pass is available for $115, a nine-film “Stocking Stuffer” is available for films showing in the New Year for $90 and a Documentary Pass is available for $60. All prices include HST. Seating is general admission. Advance tickets are available and same day tickets can be purchased at the Shaw Festival Box Office or by calling 1-800-511-SHAW (7429) or locally at 905-468-2172.

The Shaw Festival Film Series is made possible through its partnership with Film Circuit, a division of the Toronto International Film Festival Group. Film Circuit assists groups in smaller centres gain access to Canadian and international films. All profits from the Festival Film Series benefit the Shaw Festival.

The Shaw gratefully acknowledges the many residents of Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Friends of the Festival Film Series who have made this initiative possible, particularly major sponsors John and Carol Walker.

The Shaw Festival Film Series is generously supported by advertising sponsor Sun Media Niagara. 

Festival Film Series Schedule:

Feature Film Series

December 3: 
Midnight in Paris   
U.S.A., Spain, 2011
Rating: PG
Runtime: 100 minutes

A frustrated American writer longing for the Paris of old is magically whisked away each night at midnight to encounters with some of the great artists and thinkers of the 20th century. Starring Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Adrien Brody, Kathy Bates, Michael Sheen, Carla Bruni and Marion Cotillard. Directed by Woody Allen (Annie Hall, Stardust Memories, Match Point, Vicky Cristina Barcelona).

December 10:      
Sarah’s Key (Elle s’appelait Sarah)  
France, 2011
Rating: PG
Runtime: 113 minutes
Language: French, English
Subtitled

Sarah’s Key is the fictionalized account of the roundups in Paris that sentenced thousands of Jewish families to their deaths. Based on Tatiana de Rosnay’s bestselling novel of the same name, the film is a harrowing and profoundly moving tale about this terrible period in French history. Starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Mélusine Mayance, Niels Arestrup, Frédéric Pierrot, Michel Duchaussoy, Dominique Frot, Gisèle Casadesus, Aiden Quinn and Natasha Mashkevich. Directed by Gilles Paquet-Brenner (Les Jolies Choses (Pretty Things), Walled In, Gomez vs. Tavares).

December 17:      
50/50 
U.S.A., 2010
Rating: 14A
Runtime: 99 minutes

As far as movie formulas go, cancer and comedy shouldn’t mix. But 50/50 defies these odds by finding the perfect balance of humour and honesty. Based loosely on the life of screenwriter Will Reiser, 50/50 is an original story about friendship, love, survival and finding humour in unlikely places. Adam is a 27-year old nice guy who’s been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Luckily, he doesn’t have to face this dark journey alone: by his side are his best friend, his doctor and a therapist-in-training. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard and Anjelica Huston. Directed by Jonathan Levine (Shards, Love Bytes, All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, The Wackness).

December 31:      
The Trip 
U.K., 2011
Rating: NR
Runtime: 111 minutes

Take a sharply witty trip through the English countryside with two comedians as they eat, riff, jab and dissect adulthood, fatherhood, relationships, their careers and Michael Caine. Starring Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon and Claire Keelan. Directed by Michael Winterbottom (A Mighty Heart, Tristram Shandy). Coogan and Brydon reprise their fictionalized roles from 2005’s Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story for this hysterical road movie.

January 7:            
Jane Eyre  
U.K., 2011
Rating: PG
Runtime: 116 minutes
Language: English, French
Subtitled

This moving adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel holds true to the traditional narrative, but is infused with a contemporary vitality and spirit creating a breathtakingly powerful lyrical work of art. After a bleak and miserable childhood, Jane Eyre escapes her past and is hired as a governess for a wealthy young ward. Living happily in her new position, she meets the master of the house, the abrupt and cold Edward Rochester. They form an unlikely friendship and soon young Jane finds herself falling in love with the troubled older gentleman. A wildly emotional story of romance, drama and dark secrets. Starring Mia Wasikowska, Michael Fassbender and Judi Dench. Directed by Cary Fukunaga (Sin Nombre).

January 14:          
Starbuck 
Canada, 2011
Rating: 14A
Runtime: 109 minutes
Language: French
Subtitled

Inspired by the true story of a legendary bull who fathered hundreds of thousands of off­spring through artificial insemination, this colourful Québécois comedy follows a train wreck of a middle-aged man who’s just been informed that the sperm he once donated has fathered no less than 533 children, many of whom are now suing the clinic to determine the identity of their biological father, known only by the pseudonym Starbuck. Starring Patrick Huard, Antoine Bertrand, Julie le Breton.  Directed by Ken Scott (Sticky Fingers).

January 21:           
Beginners
U.S.A, 2010
Rating: 14A
Runtime: 104 minutes

When his seventy-one-year-old father comes out of the closet, Oliver must explore the honesty of his own relationships. Beginners is a moving and at times hilarious portrait of family, love, loss and self-discovery that deftly juggles two chronologies of two major points in the life of its main character. Starring Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer and Mélanie Laurent. Directed by Mike Mills (Does Your Soul Have a Cold?, Thumbsucker).

January 28:          
The First Grader 
U.K., 2011
Rating: PG
Runtime: 98 minutes
Runner-up for the People’s Choice Award at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival.

When the government of Kenya announces it will offer free primary education for the first time, eighty-four-year-old Kimani N’gan’ga Maruge shows up on the doorstep of a rural school ready for class. A member of the generation that liberated Kenya from British rule, fought for freedom and endured horrors at the hands of the colonizers, Maruge now only wants the education he never had the time or opportunity to obtain. A remarkable true story that speaks to the universal human desire to improve our lives by improving ourselves. Starring Naomie Harris and Oliver Musila Litondo. Directed by Justin Chadwick (The Other Boleyn Girl).

The feature films for the February 4, 11, 18 and 25 screenings will be confirmed at a later date.

Documentary Film Series

January 6:            
Bill Cunningham New York
U.S.A., France, 2010
Rating: PG
Runtime: 84 minutes

For decades, 80+ New York Times photographer Bill Cunningham, the Schwinn-riding cultural anthropologist, has been obsessively and inventively chronicling fashion trends and high society charity soirées for the Times Style section in his columns On the Street and Evening Hours. Documenting uptown fixtures, downtown eccentrics and everyone in between, Cunningham’s enormous body of work is more reliable than any catwalk as an expression of time, place and individual flair. A delicate, funny and often poignant portrait of a dedicated artist whose only wealth is his own humanity and unassuming grace. Featuring Bill Cunningham, Anna Wintour, Tom Wolfe, Brooke Astor, David Rockefeller and many others. Directed by Richard Press.

 January 13:          
The Topp Twins 
New Zealand, 2009
Rating: PG
Runtime: 84 minutes
Winner of the People’s Choice Award for Best Documentary at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival.

A hilarious and heart-warming look at Jools and Lynda Toppare, one of New Zealand’s most cherished and charmingly irrepressible performing duos and the world’s only yodeling, lesbian, country-and-western-singing twins. Against the larger canvas of seismic social change in New Zealand, the sisters’ lives are traced over fifty years, from their humble beginnings on a small dairy farm to their present-day stage success through a compilation of interviews, performance footage, home videos and newsreel archives. Part biopic, part concert film, part comedy, The Topp Twins is a funny and insightful study of how we define our identities personally, culturally and nationally. Featuring Lynda Topp and Jools Topp. Directed by Leanne Pooley (Being Billy Apple).

January 20:          
Buck 
U.S.A., 2011
Rating: PG
Runtime: 89 minutes

The richly textured and visually stunning film follows Buck Brannaman, a real-life “horse-whisperer”, from his abusive childhood to his phenomenally successful approach to horses. Possessing near magical abilities, Buck dramatically transforms horses – and people – with his understanding, compassion and respect. A truly American story about an unsung hero, Buck is about an ordinary man who has made an extraordinary life despite tremendous odds. Featuring Buck Brannaman and Robert Redford. Directed by Cindy Meehl.

February 3:          
Forks Over Knives
U.S.A., 2011
Rating: PG
Runtime: 90 minutes

Forks Over Knives examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods. Featuring Joey Aucoin, Neal Barnard and Gene Baur. Directed by Lee Fulkerson.

February 10:        
Page One: Inside The New York Times 
U.S.A., 2001
Rating: 14A
Runtime: 88 minutes

Join filmmaker Andrew Rossi as he goes behind-the-scenes inside the newsroom at The New York Times following journalists on the paper’s Media Desk — the department created to cover the transformation of the media industry. Featuring David Carr and Bruce Headlam. Directed by Andrew Rossi.

February 17:        
Project Nim  
U.K., U.S.A., 2011
Rating: PG
Runtime: 93 minutes

A provocative and surprisingly emotional saga documenting the extraordinary journey of Nim Chimpsky, a chimpanzee who in the 1970’s became the focus of a radical experiment aimed to prove that an ape could learn to communicate using sign language if reared and nurtured like a human child. Raising big questions about ethics, parenting strategies and what separates man from animal, the film follows Nim’s journey through human society, and the impact he makes on the people he meets along the way. Featuring Bob Angelini, Bern Cohen, Nim, Dr. Herb Terrace, Stephanie LaFarge, Reagan Leonard and Bob Ingersoll. Directed by James Marsh.

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In the spirit of Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond. 

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com/news  for other Shaw Festival media releases. 

Images from the films featured during the 2012 Shaw Festival Film Series are available.
The Shaw Festival also has an image bank features 300 dpi photographs of the 2012 season handbook photo illustrations, members of the Ensemble, photographs of our theatres, Bernard Shaw and the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. To access film publicity images or The Shaw’s image bank, please contact:

Odette Yazbeck 
Public Relations Director 
905-468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222
odette@shawfest.com     

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
905-468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, June 22, 2011 . . Have you ever worked or volunteered at The Shaw? Pack a picnic lunch, bring your families and come celebrate this momentous season at The Shaw’s 50th Reunion Day on August 1, 2011 between 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the Festival Theatre grounds. This is a wonderful and unique opportunity for former Shaw Festival company members, Ensemble members, board members and volunteers to walk down memory lane, reconnect with past friends and colleagues, meet the current Shaw Festival company and find out what the future holds for the Shaw Festival. Visit www.shawfest.com/50thReunionDay and complete the online form to RSVP and to receive updates regarding the 50th Reunion Day.

Details to note:
Shaw Festival 50^th Reunion Day
Open to past and present company members, Ensemble members, board members, volunteers and their families
Monday, August 1, 2011 – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
RAIN OR SHINE
Festival Theatre Grounds
10 Queen’s Parade, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario 

Refreshments will be available.

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In the spirit of Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com/news for other Shaw Festival media releases. 

For additional information, please contact:

Odette Yazbeck 
Public Relations Director 
905-468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222
odette@shawfest.com     

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
905-468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, May 2, 2011 . . . An inspiring Public Service Announcement,  currently running on television networks across Canada to celebrate the Shaw Festival’s 50^th season, was the product of a unique and unusual working partnership between the Shaw Festival’s artistic team and the production team from SpotDocs, a Toronto-based production house specializing in documentary style commercials.

The SpotDocs PSA production team worked in partnership with The Shaw’s creative team:  Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell worked closely with SpotDocs director Jay Ferguson, the Shaw Festival’s Musical Director Paul Sportelli wrote the music score and The Shaw’s Design Director William Schmuck created the look of the spot. It was a remarkable collaboration in an arena that usually has little to no integration.

“This PSA was a unique project for us and we were thrilled to be a part of it,” remarked SpotDocs Executive Producer Pamela McNamara. “It is rare to work with a client who has so many incredible creative resources to contribute. The partnership was so enjoyable. It was much more than a work project, it was an honour. We had worked on PSAs with the Shaw Festival the previous two seasons, so we were very familiar with the history and magic of this special client.”

Featuring Canadian artists, celebrities and personalities Seamus O’Regan, Erin Davis, Rick Mercer, Paul Gross, Sarah Slean, Karen Kain, Michael Kaeshammer, Ann-Marie MacDonald and Sheila McCarthy bestowing best wishes for The Shaw’s 50^th season, the distinctive association brought together two diverse mediums: the art of film making and the art of theatre, and resulted in a 30-second celluloid celebration of the Shaw Festival experience.

Versions of the Shaw Festival 50^th season PSA can be viewed via the following links: 

• Happy 50^th season Shaw Festival
• Happy 50th season Shaw Festival 2
• Happy 50^th Shaw Festival! Notable Canadians honour our 50^th season

The Shaw Festival’s milestone season began April 7, 2011 and runs until October 30, 2011. It features productions of Candida, My Fair Lady, Heartbreak House, Drama at Inish – A Comedy, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Admirable Crichton, On the Rocks, Maria Severa, The President, Topdog/Underdog, When the Rain Stops Falling and a special 50^th season two-day event, The Speed of Ideas: A Theatrical Forum with award-winning playwrights Tony Kushner and Suzan-Lori Parks and author and renowned theatre critic Michael Billington.

SpotDocs is the first commercial production house in Canada to be devoted entirely to the creation of documentary style commercials, web video and corporate video. For more information on SpotDocs, visit www.spotdocs.com.

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In the spirit of Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com/news for other Shaw Festival media releases. For more information, or to download images from our image bank to accompany this release, members of the media may contact:

Odette Yazbeck 
Public Relations Director 
905-468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222                   
odette@shawfest.com                                                      

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
905-468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, May 2, 2011 . . . The Shaw Festival announced the continuation of its Niagara Neighbours program with new performance dates. The exclusive ticket offer is extended annually to Niagara-area residents as an invitation to join in the celebrations of a new performance season.

“We are so pleased that we are able to continue to offer Niagara residents – our neighbours – an opportunity to experience four fabulous Shaw Festival productions from the 2011 season at a special price,” The Shaw’s Executive Director Colleen Blake said. “It’s our way of saying thank-you to our neighbours and of acknowledging their constant support of The Shaw through the years.”

Until May 21, Niagara-area residents can purchase $39 tickets* ($20* for students) to select performances between May 21 and June 10 of Bernard Shaw’s charming Candida and his epic masterpiece Heartbreak House; the Lennox Robinson comedy Drama at Inish – A Comedy and the Tennessee Williams sultry drama Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Tickets to preview performances of My Fair Lady are also available to May 27 for $53* (Blue seating).

Book online at www.shawfest.com or by calling 1-800-511-SHAW (7429) (locally 905-468-2172). Quote code 9970 to book. Book online and save on the handling fee.

*Prices do not include tax. Offer is based on availability, not applicable to previous purchases and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Blue seating only. Limit of six tickets per production.

The Shaw Festival’s Niagara Neighbours Program is proudly sponsored by Sun Life Financial.

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In the spirit of Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com/news for other Shaw Festival media releases. For more information, or to download images from our image bank to accompany this release, members of the media may contact:

Odette Yazbeck 
Public Relations Director 
905-468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222                   
odette@shawfest.com                                                      

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
905-468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com

Media Bulletin #3

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, April 15, 2011 . . . In celebration of its 50^th season and in its continued effort to bring the benefits and pleasure of live theatre to more young people, the Shaw Festival is proud to announce the continuation of its bus subsidy for school groups. 

Supported and funded in 2010 by the Marquee Tourism Events Program through Industry Canada, the Shaw Festival bus subsidy was received so enthusiastically by students and educators that the Festival decided to extend the initiative into its 2011 season. The bus subsidy, along with The Shaw’s study guides, pre-show and post-show chats and engaging backstage tours, allows The Shaw to deliver a high quality arts educational experience to students from across North America. The Shaw will reimburse 50% of the round-trip transportation to Niagara-on-the-Lake, to a value of up to $500, for Canadian and U.S. schools when a performance of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Admirable Crichton or Heartbreak House is booked during the 2011 season (a minimum group size of 30 tickets is required). Student tickets are $24 and $29 (plus tax and handling fee). For more information, please call the Group Sales office for details at 1-800-511-7429.

“It is our hope that experiencing theatre here at The Shaw will produce an appreciation for live performances that will inspire the next generation of theatre performers, creative teams and enthusiasts,” commented Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell.

“In these challenging economic times, The Shaw is thrilled to take a leadership role to ensure that more students can experience a live theatre performance,” added Executive Director Colleen Blake.

“Last November, the Shaw Festival provided a bus subsidy that gave our elementary students a fantastic opportunity to view professional, world-class theatre in their own backyard”, said Laurie Benson, from Prince of Wales School in Thorold. “Students were delighted with the Pulitzer Prize winning play, Harvey. For many of our students, it was the first time that they were able to see a production of this calibre. We look forward to being able to offer an encore theatre experience with the generous help of the Shaw Festival.”

Attending live theatre not only fosters a love for the creative arts, it has also been shown to help develop strong social and literacy skills, critical and creative thinking.

“The Shaw Festival is the most valuable resource in my teaching arsenal. The Shaw has so much to offer from outstanding curriculum driven resources, the Artist in the Classroom program, backstage tours, pre and post performance discussions and incredible student ticket prices,”explained Cheryl Caldwell, DSBN Curriculum Consultant: English, Literacy and ESL, 7-12. “The subsidized student bus initiative makes visiting the Shaw Festival an invaluable opportunity to enrich English and drama classes. More importantly, students recognize and appreciate the value of these performances and feel the experience was more immediate and interactive when comparing it to watching a movie.”

The Shaw Festival’s milestone season began April 7, 2011, runs until October 30, 2011 and features an array of diverse theatre on the Festival’s four Niagara-on-the-Lake stages. This momentous season also includes productions of My Fair Lady, Heartbreak House, Candida, The Admirable Crichton, On the Rocks, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Maria Severa, Drama at Inish – A Comedy, The President, Topdog/Underdog, When the Rain Stops Falling and a special 50^thseason two-day event, The Speed of Ideas: A Theatrical Forum featuring award-winning playwrights Tony Kushner and Suzan-Lori Parks and author and renowned theatre critic Michael Billington. For more information on our 50^th season celebrations, please visit www.shawfest.com/Home/Our-50th-Season. 

Visa Infinite is the official payment card of the Shaw Festival.

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In the spirit of Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com/news for other Shaw Festival media releases. For more information, or to download images from our image bank to accompany this release, members of the media may contact:

Odette Yazbeck 
Public Relations Director 
905-468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222                   
odette@shawfest.com                                                      

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
905-468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, February 23, 2011 . . . The return of the Shaw Ensemble and the start of rehearsals for the Alan Jay Lerner/Frederick Loewe musical My Fair Lady herald the much anticipated kick-off for The Shaw’s historic 50^th season. The well-loved musical is scheduled to have its first preview performance in the Festival Theatre on April 13 and tickets are selling well beyond expectations.

“This season serves as a homecoming of sorts for members of the My Fair Lady creative team,” remarked Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell. “Director Molly Smith returns to The Shaw fresh from her success with Arena Stage’s production of Oklahoma; video designer Adam Larsen returns after completing his work with the Alberta Ballet on their acclaimed premiere of Love Lies Bleeding; and Jock Munro and John Lott are welcomed back to design lighting and sound respectively. Designers Ken MacDonald and Judith Bowden unite to create the sets and costumes and we’re delighted to welcome Danny Pelzig, who makes his Shaw debut this season as choreographer.”

Over the next few weeks, rehearsals for Bernard Shaw’s Candida and Heartbreak House; Lennox Robinson’s Drama at Inish – A Comedy and Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof will also commence in preparation for preview performances in April and May.

“As the Company embarks on our milestone 50^th season, we are elated by the response we’ve received from our audiences; with some spring performances already sold-out,” commented Colleen Blake, Executive Director. The continued draw of the Shaw Festival for both Canadian and American tourists translates annually into a $106.6 million economic impact in the province of Ontario, confirming that The Shaw continues to be a significant provincial economic driver.

The 50^th season also includes productions of The Admirable Crichton, On the Rocks, Maria Severa, The President, Topdog/Underdog, When the Rain Stops Falling and a special 50^th season two-day event, The Speed of Ideas  – A Theatrical Forum featuring award-winning playwrights Tony Kushner and Suzan-Lori Parks and author and renowned theatre critic Michael Billington.

The Shaw Festival’s milestone season begins April 7, 2011 and runs until October 30, 2011.

Tickets for The Shaw’s 2011 season are available at www.shawfest.com or by calling 1-800-511-SHAW (7429) or locally 905-468-2172.

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In the spirit of Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com/news for other Shaw Festival media releases. For more information, or to download images from our image bank to accompany this release, members of the media may contact:

Odette Yazbeck 
Public Relations Director 
905-468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222                   
odette@shawfest.com                                                      

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
905-468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com

Media Bulletin #1

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, February 7, 2011. . . . The most talked about movie at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, winner of two Golden Globes and Oscar nominee for Best Picture, The Kids Are All Right, will be screened at the Festival Film Series in place of The King’s Speech on February 12, 2011 at 3 p.m. Due to a scheduling change, the award-winning documentary The Inside Job will now be shown on February 25, 2011 at 5:30 p.m.

Nic and Jules (three-time Academy Award nominee Annette Bening and four-time Academy Award nominee Julianne Moore) are married and share a cozy suburban Southern California home with their teenage children, Joni and Laser (Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson). As Joni prepares to leave for college, 15-year-old Laser presses her for a big favour. He wants Joni, now 18, to help him find their biological father; the two teenagers were conceived by donor insemination. Against her better judgment, Joni honours her brother’s request and manages to make contact with “bio-dad” Paul (Mark Ruffalo), an easygoing restaurateur. As Paul comes into the lives of the forthright four, an unexpected new chapter begins for them as family ties are defined, re-defined, and then re-re-defined.

Directed by Lisa Cholodenko (High Art, Laurel Canyon), The Kids Are All Right combines comedic surprise with poignant emotional truth in a funny, vibrant, and richly drawn portrait of a modern family.

Tickets for the Festival Film Series are $11 per person. Advance tickets and same day tickets can be purchased at the Shaw Festival Box Office or by calling 1-800-511-SHAW (7429) (locally 905-468-2172). Feature films are scheduled at 3 p.m. on Saturdays and documentaries screen at 5:30 p.m. on Fridays. For more information, visit www.shawfest.com/films.

The Festival Film Series is generously supported by advertising sponsor, The Standard, St. Catharines’ daily newspaper.

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In the spirit of Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com/news for other Shaw Festival media releases. For more information, or to download images from our image bank to accompany this release, members of the media may contact:

Odette Yazbeck 
Public Relations Director 
905-468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222                   
odette@shawfest.com                                                      

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
905-468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, December 14, 2010….Don’t be a Scrooge! Come celebrate the Season and honour Christmas in your heart by attending a dramatic reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, with musical interludes, presented by the Shaw Festival to benefit Bethlehem Projects of Niagara on Sunday, December 19 at 3 p.m. at St. Mark’s Anglican Church, 41 Byron Street, in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The annual presentation features Shaw Ensemble members Peter Millard as Scrooge, with Ijeoma Emesowum, Kelly Wong, Gabrielle Jones, Peter Krantz and Guy Bannerman. The Shaw’s Patty Jamieson, accompanied by the choir of St Mark’s Anglican Church, will sing songs of the Season.

Tickets are $12 for adults/$6 for children and are available through the Shaw Festival Box Office (905-468-2172) or at the door.

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In the spirit of Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com/news for other Shaw Festival media releases. For more information, or to download images from our image bank to accompany this release, members of the media may contact:

Odette Yazbeck 
Public Relations Director 
905-468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222                   
odette@shawfest.com                                                      

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
905-468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, November 25, 2010…In its continued commitment to bring acclaimed contemporary films and documentaries to the Festival Theatre through its partnership with The Film Circuit, a branch of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), The Shaw is pleased to announce its sixth annual Festival Film Series line-up. 

This year’s Festival Film Series will launch with the screening of Mao’s Last Dancer on December 4 at 3 p.m. Eleven films have been confirmed to date, with one additional title pending. The Festival Film Series will also be accompanied by a six film documentary series beginning January 14 with Joan Rivers –A Piece of Work. Feature films will be screened on Saturdays at 3 p.m. and documentaries are scheduled for Fridays at 5:30 p.m. All films will be screened at the Festival Theatre; seating is general admission.

Tickets are $11 per film. A twelve-film Festival Film Pass is available for $115 per person, or a nine-film “Stocking Stuffer” is available for $90. A Festival Documentary Pass for six films is $60. All prices include HST. Advance tickets are available now and can be purchased at the Shaw Festival Box Office or by calling 1-800-511-SHAW (7429) or locally at 905-468-2172.

TIFF’s very successful Film Circuit programme assists groups in smaller centres gain access to Canadian and international films. The Film Circuit has assisted over 170 local groups across Canada providing service and support to volunteers in communities who wish to build a film series and showcase films not locally available otherwise. All profits from the Festival Film Series benefit the Shaw Festival.

The Shaw gratefully acknowledges the many residents of Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Friends of the Festival Film Series who have made this initiative possible, particularly major sponsors John and Carol Walker.

The Festival Film Series is generously supported by advertising sponsor, The Standard, St. Catharines’ daily newspaper.
 

Festival Film Series Schedule:

Feature Film Series

December 4

Mao’s Last Dancer                                                               
Australia, 2009
Rating: PG   
Runtime: 117 minutes
Languages: English, Mandarin
Subtitled

A drama based on the autobiography by Li Cunxin. At the age of 11, Li was plucked from a poor Chinese village by Madame Mao’s cultural delegates and taken to Beijing to study ballet. In 1979, during a cultural exchange to Texas, he fell in love with an American woman. Two years later, he managed to defect and went on to perform as a principal dancer for the Houston Ballet and as a principal artist with the Australian Ballet. Starring Chi Cao, Bruce Greenwood, Kyle MacLachlan and Joan Chen. Directed by Bruce Beresford (Evelyn, Driving Miss Daisy, Black Robe).

December 11

Please Give                                                                               
USA, 2010
Rating: 14A
Runtime: 90 minutes

Kate has a lot on her mind: how to live well and be a good person, wife and mother when poverty, homelessness and sadness are always right outside the door. Plus, there are the neighbours: cranky, elderly Andra and the two granddaughters who look after her. A devastatingly funny take on modern life’s contradictions, good intentions and shaky moral bearings. Starring Amanda Peet, Catherine Keener, Rebecca Hall and Oliver Platt. Directed by Nicole Holofcener (Friends With Money, Lovely & Amazing, Walking and Talking).

December 18

El Secreto de Sus Ojos (The Secret In Their Eyes)                          
Argentina, Spain, 2009
Rating: NR
Runtime: 127 minutes
Language: Spanish
Subtitled
Winner of the 2010 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film

Newly retired from his career in Argentina’s criminal court, Benjamín Espósito begins writing a novel about an unsettled case from his past that continues to haunt him. In 1974, a beautiful young newlywed was raped and murdered and Espósito was sent to investigate the horrifying crime. A suspenseful crime drama with a love story at its core. Starring Ricardo Darin, Soledad Villamil, Pablo Rago and Javier Godino. Directed by Juan José Campanella (Luna de Avellaneda, El hijo de la novia).

 January 1

City Island
USA, 2009
Rating: PG
Runtime: 104 minutes
Winner of the Audience Award at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival

When prison guard and aspiring actor, Vince Rizzo reveals his biggest secret during his drama class, he inadvertently sets off a chain of events that turns his mundane suburban life into total chaos. A funny and touching family tale about the secrets of the past catching up with the lies of the present, and accepting that nobody’s perfect – least of all your loved ones. Starring Andy Garcia, Alan Arkin, Julianna Margulies and Emily Mortimer. Directed by Raymond De Felitta (Two Family House).

January 8

The Ghost Writer
France, Germany, UK, 2010
Rating: PG
Runtime: 128 minutes
Winner of the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 60^th Berlin International Film Festival

A gifted author hired to ghostwrite the memoirs of a controversial former British Prime Minister becomes a hunted man when he uncovers explosive secrets about the past. A taut, suspenseful thriller from the Academy Award-winning and Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or-winning director of The Pianist. Starring Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Kim Cattrall and Olivia Williams. Directed by Roman Polanski (Oliver Twist, The Pianist).

January 15

Nowhere Boy                                                                                                                    
UK, Canada, 2009 
Rating: 14A
Runtime: 98 minutes
Nominated for four British Academy Film Awards

Liverpool 1955: a smart and troubled fifteen year-old named John Lennon is hungry for experience. In a family full of secrets, two incredible women clash over him — Mimi, the buttoned-up Aunt who raised him, and Julia, the prodigal mother. Yearning for a normal family, John escapes into the new and exciting world of rock n’ roll where his fledgling genius finds a kindred spirit in the teenage Paul McCartney. Just as John begins his new life, tragedy strikes. But a resilient young man finds his voice – and an icon explodes into the world. Starring Aaron Johnson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Thomas Sangster and Anne-Marie Duff. Directed by Sam Taylor-Wood. Nowhere Boy is Taylor-Wood’s directorial feature film debut. 

January 22

Made in Dagenham 
UK, 2010
Rating: R
Runtime: 113 minutes
World Premiere: 2010 Toronto International Film Festival

Working in extremely impoverished conditions for long arduous hours and balancing their domestic lives, the women at the Ford Dagenham plant finally lose their patience when they are reclassified as “unskilled”. With humour, common sense and courage they take on their corporate paymasters, an increasingly belligerent local community, and finally the government itself.  The 1968 Ford Dagenham strike by 187 sewing machinists led to the advent of the UK’s Equal Pay Act in 1970. Starring Sally Hawkins, Jaime Winstone and Andrea Riseborough. Directed by Nigel Cole (Calendar Girls and Saving Grace).

January 29

Le Concert (The Concert)                                                                                               
France, Italy, Romania, Belgium, Russia, 2009
Rating: NR
Runtime: 119 minutes
Language: French, Russian
Subtitled
Winner of 2010 César Awards for Best Music Written for a Film and Best Sound.  

In the days of Brezhnev, Andrei Simoniovich Filipov was the greatest conductor of the Soviet Union and led the famous orchestra of the Bolshoi. Fired thirty years ago for refusing to discharge his Jewish musicians, Andrei is now a mere cleaning man at the Bolshoi. When he intercepts a fax inviting the Bolshoi to perform at the renowned Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, Andrei has a crazy idea: why not bring together his old musician friends, go to Paris and perform as the Bolshoi? They’ll defy destiny and take their revenge! But will they make it? Along the way, Andrei reunites with a beautiful violin virtuoso who holds the key to his past and to his future. Starring Mélanie Laurent, Dmitri Nazarov and Aleksey Guskov. Directed by Radu Mihaileanu (Live and Become, Train of Life).

February 5

Barney’s Version
Canada, Italy, 2010
Rating: NR
Runtime: 132 minutes

Take a ride through the life and memories of Barney Panofsky, a hard-drinking, cigar-smoking, foulmouthed 65-year old hockey fanatic and television producer, as he reflects on his life’s successes and (numerous) gaffes and failures as the final chapters of his own existence come sharply into focus. Starring Dustin Hoffman, Paul Giamatti, Rosamund Pike, Minnie Driver, Rachelle Lefevre and Scott Speedman. Directed by Richard J. Lewis (Whale Music, various TV directorial credits). Based on the prize-winning comic novel by Mordecai Richler.

February 12
(To be confirmed)

The King’s Speech
UK, Australia, 2010
Rating: R
Runtime: 118 minutes
Winner of the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival People’s Choice Award

The true story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George (“Bertie”) reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stutter and considered unfit to be king, Bertie engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue. Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country through WWII. Starring Helena Bonham Carter, Colin Firth and Michael Gambon. Directed by Tom Hooper (The Damned United, HBO’s Emmy-winning John Adams).  

February 19

Incendies
Canada, 2010
Rating: NR
Runtime: 130 minutes
Language: French, Arabic
Subtitled

A mother’s last wishes send twins Jeanne and Simon on a journey to Middle East in search of their tangled roots. A powerful and moving tale of two young adults’ voyage to the core of deep-rooted hatred, never-ending wars and enduring love. Starring Lubna Azabal, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, Maxim Gaudette and Rémy Girard. Directed by Genie and Jutra award-winner Denis Villeneuve (Polytechnique). Adapted from the acclaimed play by Wajdi Mouawad.

February 26

Another Year 
UK, 2009
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 129 minutes
Nominated for the Palme d’Or at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival

A married couple, who have managed to remain blissfully happy into their autumn years, are surrounded over the course of the four seasons of one average year by friends, colleagues, and family who all seem to suffer some degree of unhappiness. Starring Jim Broadbent, Leslie Manville and David Bradley. Directed by BAFTA-winning (and Oscar-nominated) Mike Leigh (Happy-Go-Lucky, Vera Drake, Secrets & Lies).

Documentary Film Series

January 14

Joan Rivers –A Piece of Work
USA, 2010
Rating: 14A
Runtime: 84 minutes

Take a year long ride with Joan Rivers in her 76th year of life and peel away the mask of an iconic comedian, laying bare both the struggle and thrill of living life as a groundbreaking female performer. The film exposes the private dramas of this irreverent, legendary comedian as she fights to keep her career thriving in a business driven by youth and beauty. With Joan Rivers, Jocelyn Pickett, Billy Sammeth and Kathy Griffin. Directed by Ricki Stern and Annie Sundberg (The Devil Came on Horseback, The Trials of Darryl Hunt).

January 21

Exit Through The Gift Shop
USA, UK, 2010
Rating: 14A
Runtime: 87 minutes

The incredible true story of how an eccentric French shop keeper turned documentary maker attempted to locate and befriend the renowned graffiti artist Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on its owner – with spectacular results. According to Banksy : “It’s basically the story of how one man set out to film the un-filmable. And failed.” Containing exclusive footage of Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Invader and many of the world’s most infamous graffiti artists at work, on walls and in interviews, the film debuted at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and quickly became the hottest ticket at the festival. This is the first film directed by Banksy.

January 28

Inside Job 
USA, 2010
Rating: PG-13 (course language)
Runtime: 120 minutes

The first film to provide a comprehensive analysis of the global financial crisis of 2008, which at a cost over $20 trillion, caused millions of people to lose their jobs and homes in the worst recession since the Great Depression, and nearly resulted in a global financial collapse. Made on location in the United States, Iceland, England, France, Singapore and China. Narrated by Academy Award® winner Matt Damon. Directed by Academy Award® nominated filmmaker Charles Ferguson (No End In Sight).

February 4

Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel 
Canada, 2009
Rating: 14A
Runtime: 135 minutes

An intimate look at the outspoken, flamboyant founder of the Playboy empire. With humour and insight, the film captures Hefner’s fierce battles with the government, the religious right and militant feminists. Rare footage and compelling interviews with a remarkable who’s who of 20th century American pop culture, present a brilliant and entertaining snapshot of the life of an extraordinary man and the controversies that surrounded him. Featuring Hugh Hefner, Joan Baez, Tony Bennett and Pat Boone. Directed by Academy Award® winner Brigitte Berman (Artie Shaw: Time is All You’ve Got).

February 11

Force of Nature: The David Suzuki Movie                                                                    
Canada, 2010
Rating: PG
Runtime: 120 minutes 

Canadian icon David Suzuki has narrated countless documentaries but has never been the subject of one, until now. The film begins at a sold-out speaking engagement addressing climate change in Vancouver, and proceeds to retrace Suzuki’s life up to the point that brought him to this speaking engagement. An emotional and enlightening journey highlighting the influences of his childhood, his family and everything that brought him to where he is today. Directed by Academy Award® nominated filmmaker Sturla Gunnarsson (Air India 182, Such a Long Journey, After the Axe).

February 18

Catfish
USA, 2010
Rating: 14A
Runtime: 94 minutes

In late 2007, filmmakers Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost sensed a story unfolding as they began to film the life of Ariel’s brother, Nev. They had no idea that their project would lead to the most exhilarating and unsettling months of their lives. A reality thriller that is a shocking product of our times, Catfish is a riveting story of love, deception and grace within a labyrinth of online intrigue. Featuring Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman and Megan Faccio. Directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman.

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In the spirit of Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

Please visit www.shawfest.com/news for other Shaw Festival media releases. For more information, members of the media may contact:

Odette Yazbeck
Public Relations Director 
905-468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222
odette@shawfest.com 

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
905-468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, July 7, 2010. . .This year’s Shaw Festival Town Previews of the Oscar Wilde social satire An Ideal Husband raised almost $7,500 and will benefit eight Niagara-on-the-Lake charitable organizations. The cheque presentation to representatives of the chosen organizations is taking place in the Festival Theatre lobby at The Shaw on Thursday, July 8 at 11 a.m. and is hosted by Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell and Executive Director Colleen Blake.

 The Niagara-on-the-Lake charitable organizations receiving support from the 2010 Town Previews program are:

• Music Niagara, $2,000: support for their 2010 concert series: Schumann and his Circle.
• The Friends of Fort George, $1,500: applied towards the expenses of summer student employment program at the Fort and at Brock’s Monument.
• The Niagara Pumphouse Visual Art Centre, $1,000: provide assistance with the cost of employing a student teacher for drop-in children’s summer classes.
• Willowbank School of Restoration Foundation, $1,000: funding for student recruitment school program.
• Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Palliative Care, $650: applied towards the purchase of specialized equipment for clients and their families. 
• Jack Custers’ Bird Sanctuary, $525: financial support for current projects and general maintenance.
• Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library, $500:  support for Summer Reading Club.
• Canadian Cancer Society (Niagara-on-the-Lake branch), $250: sponsorship of the 12^th Annual Golf for a Cure Tournament. 

The Town Previews offer Niagara-on-the-Lake residents the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets to preview performances and proceeds raised are then distributed to various Niagara-on-the-Lake charitable organizations who apply for funding.

The 2010 Season also includes Harvey, The Women, The Cherry Orchard, The Doctor’s Dilemma, John Bull’s Other Island, Age of Arousal, One Touch of Venus, Half and Hour and Serious Money.

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In the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com/news for other Shaw Festival media releases. For more information, or to download images from our image bank to accompany this release, members of the media may contact:

Odette Yazbeck
Public Relations Director
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222
odette@shawfest.com

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com