Program #6 Sunday 9-30 11:30 a.m.
II
Director: Annie Bradley
Writer: Ashleigh Rains
Producer: Ashleigh Rains & Kristin Somborac
Cinematographer: Jeremy Benning
Production Designer: Ashleigh Rains & Kristin Somborac
Editor: Kye Meecha
Synopsis:
II is a short dance film about a long love story. Set backstage in the moments before a wedding, II (pronounced “two”), follows the relationship between a Mother (Evelyn Hart) and Father (Rex Harrington) as they prepare for their daughter’s wedding. II examines a lifelong partnership and endless love on the brink of change.
FILM WEBSITE: www.iithefilm.com
Biographies:
DIRECTOR - ANNIE BRADLEY
A multiple award winning director, writer and Sundance Alumna, Annie Bradley’s passionate vision always paints a compelling story. She has directed over 70 short films, music videos, commercials, and multiple episodes of television. Chosen for the 2009 TIFF TALENT LAB, the CFC 2008 SHORT DRAMATIC FILM PROGRAM, and the 2007 DIRECTOR’S LAB at the CANADIAN FILM CENTRE she is also the recipient of the 2005 Wallace Studios WIDC Alumnae Award, a 2004 KODAK NEW VISION AWARD and attended the 2003 WOMEN IN THE DIRECTOR’S CHAIR program. Annie’s television directing credits include multiple episodes of A&E’s URBAN LEGENDS and PSYCHIC INVESTIGATORS, Canwest’s COLD BLOOD and US Discovery’s WORLDS GREENEST HOMES and DUAL SUSPECTS. Her dramatic short film PUDGE, which premiered at TIFF , has screened at over 30 festivals on the international circuit; sold to Cinefil Imagica (Japan), The Sundance Channel, Movieola, Canwest Global, TMN and the CBC, with pending sales in Taiwan and Australia. Garnering a multitude of nominations, PUDGE was awarded a PLATINUM REMI at WORLDFEST in Houston, ACTRESS-BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SHORT FILM at the 30th ANNUAL YOUNG ARTIST AWARDS in Los Angeles and recently nabbed BEST DRAMATIC SHORT at the CINECITA FILM FESTIVAL . Her multiple award winning film, “TONGUE BULLY” featuring two time Dora Award winner Learie E. A. McNicolls, was shot in Havana, Cuba, screened at over 30 festivals including the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL, and opened the DANCE ON CAMERA FILM FESTIVAL at the Lincoln Centre in NYC. Garnering the MOST CREATIVE SHORT, at the FEAR NO FILM FESTIVAL, the JURY AWARD OF DISTINCTION at the AMERICAN DANCE FESTIVAL, and a GRAND PRIZE of CINEMATOGRAPHY from the RHODE ISLAND INTL FILM FESTIVAL it was featured in AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER, sold to ATOM FILMS at Sundance, and has aired internationally. Currently Annie is developing multiple feature and television projects through her company THE HEAT MANSION. They include the TV Series “MURDER IN MUSKOKA” based on the best selling crime novel series The Murdoch Murders and the features HANDiCAP and THE ASTRONOMY OF SELF, which is set in Buenos Aires.
WRITER / PRODUCER - ASHLEIGH RAINS
Toronto-based producer/actor/writer Ashleigh Rains is a graduate of Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Drama. Ashleigh studied at Canada’s National Ballet School for eight years and performed The Nutcracker with The National Ballet of Canada for six. Her acting career began with Equity Showcase Theatre, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Centre for the Arts. Select film and television credits include Flashpoint (CTV/CBS), Dan for Mayor (CTV), Warehouse 13 (SyFy), Murdoch Mysteries (Shaftesbury), Roxy Hunter and the Myth of the Mermaid (Nickelodeon), Mayday (Discovery), Save the Last Dance 2 (MTV/Paramount), Catacombs (Lionsgate) and several television and film productions with the Canadian Film Centre. Ashleigh has also performed in numerous theatrical productions and television commercials. In addition to developing, producing and directing a series of theatrical pieces, Ashleigh recently co-produced the music video for the song “Never Ever Ever Ever Again” by Siskiyou. Ashleigh is the recipient of a Bravo!FACT grant for her short film “II” .
PRODUCER - KRISTIN SOMBORAC
Toronto-based producer Kristin Somborac has been working in the film business since 1998. She is a graduate of the 2008 Producer’s Lab at the Canadian Film Centre, where she co-produced the multiple award-winning short “How Eunice Got Her Baby” starring Gordon Pinsent, Aaron Poole and Kate Corbett. Currently, she has a one-hour dramatic series in development with InSight Television and is developing several other feature film and television projects. Recently Kristin produced and directed a short animated film entitled “The Colombo Plan” featuring the poems of John Robert Colombo and the illustrations of Matt James. She also produced the music video for Luxury Bob’s song “Really Nice Guy”, directed by John L’Ecuyer which was awarded Best Music Film at the 2010 Connecticut Film Festival and Best Music Video at the 2010 Cabbagetown Short Film and Video Festival. When not working, Kristin likes to cook with her family and continue her eternal quest for the perfect snowboarding terrain.
LEAD ACTRESS (MOTHER) - EVELYN HART
Award-winning ballerina Evelyn Hart is an international renowned dancer and one of Canada’s most treasured artists. Evelyn began her dance training at the Dorothy Carter School of Dance in London when she was fourteen. She briefly attended the National Ballet School before coming to Winnipeg to study at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School in 1973. In 1980, Evelyn won a Bronze Medal at the World Ballet Concours in Japan. Later that year, Evelyn came to international attention when she became the first Canadian to be awarded a Gold Medal at the International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, as well as the rarely awarded Certificate of Exceptional Artistic Achievement. With the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Evelyn has toured throughout North America, Europe and Asia. A popular guest artist, she has also appeared with numerous leading ballet companies on stages throughout the world. Evelyn Hart is the recipient of the Order of Canada and is a member of Canada’s Walk of Fame.
LEAD ACTOR (FATHER) - REX HARRINGTON
During his 20-year career as a dancer, Rex Harrington galvanized and thrilled audiences around the world with his magnetic stage presence and powerful gift for dramatic characterization. Renowned both at home and internationally for his portrayals of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Siegfried and Rothbart in Swan Lake, Albrecht in Giselle and Prince Florimund in The Sleeping Beauty, Mr. Harrington’s name is synonymous with ballet at its most charismatic. As well as enjoying a successful international career as a guest artist, dancing with such companies as Teatro alla Scala, San Francisco Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet, and with such remarkable ballerinas as Ekaterina Maximova, Carla Fracci and Alessandra Ferri, Mr. Harrington also created many seminal roles as a dancer. Among these are the central role in James Kudelka’s The Four Seasons, an Elder in Mr. Kudelka’s The Contract (The Pied Piper), Lewis Carroll in Glen Tetley’s Alice, the Young Gentleman in Mr. Tetley’s La Ronde, as well as lead roles in ballets by such choreographers as Jean-Pierre Perreault, William Forsythe and Jiří Kylián. A native of Peterborough, Ontario, Mr. Harrington studied at Canada’s National Ballet School. He joined The National Ballet of Canada in 1983, became a Principal Dancer in 1988 and retired from the stage in 2004. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2000 and was given a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2005. In 2006, he received an Honourary Degree from York University and was appointed to the position of Artist-in-Residence with the National Ballet. Mr. Harrington returned as a guest judge on CTV’s So You Think You Can Dance in 2009.
Biographies:
DIRECTOR - ANNIE BRADLEY
A multiple award winning director, writer and Sundance Alumna, Annie Bradley’s passionate vision always paints a compelling story. She has directed over 70 short films, music videos, commercials, and multiple episodes of television. Chosen for the 2009 TIFF TALENT LAB, the CFC 2008 SHORT DRAMATIC FILM PROGRAM, and the 2007 DIRECTOR’S LAB at the CANADIAN FILM CENTRE she is also the recipient of the 2005 Wallace Studios WIDC Alumnae Award, a 2004 KODAK NEW VISION AWARD and attended the 2003 WOMEN IN THE DIRECTOR’S CHAIR program. Annie’s television directing credits include multiple episodes of A&E’s URBAN LEGENDS and PSYCHIC INVESTIGATORS, Canwest’s COLD BLOOD and US Discovery’s WORLDS GREENEST HOMES and DUAL SUSPECTS. Her dramatic short film PUDGE, which premiered at TIFF , has screened at over 30 festivals on the international circuit; sold to Cinefil Imagica (Japan), The Sundance Channel, Movieola, Canwest Global, TMN and the CBC, with pending sales in Taiwan and Australia. Garnering a multitude of nominations, PUDGE was awarded a PLATINUM REMI at WORLDFEST in Houston, ACTRESS-BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SHORT FILM at the 30th ANNUAL YOUNG ARTIST AWARDS in Los Angeles and recently nabbed BEST DRAMATIC SHORT at the CINECITA FILM FESTIVAL . Her multiple award winning film, “TONGUE BULLY” featuring two time Dora Award winner Learie E. A. McNicolls, was shot in Havana, Cuba, screened at over 30 festivals including the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL, and opened the DANCE ON CAMERA FILM FESTIVAL at the Lincoln Centre in NYC. Garnering the MOST CREATIVE SHORT, at the FEAR NO FILM FESTIVAL, the JURY AWARD OF DISTINCTION at the AMERICAN DANCE FESTIVAL, and a GRAND PRIZE of CINEMATOGRAPHY from the RHODE ISLAND INTL FILM FESTIVAL it was featured in AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER, sold to ATOM FILMS at Sundance, and has aired internationally. Currently Annie is developing multiple feature and television projects through her company THE HEAT MANSION. They include the TV Series “MURDER IN MUSKOKA” based on the best selling crime novel series The Murdoch Murders and the features HANDiCAP and THE ASTRONOMY OF SELF, which is set in Buenos Aires.
WRITER / PRODUCER - ASHLEIGH RAINS
Toronto-based producer/actor/writer Ashleigh Rains is a graduate of Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Drama. Ashleigh studied at Canada’s National Ballet School for eight years and performed The Nutcracker with The National Ballet of Canada for six. Her acting career began with Equity Showcase Theatre, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Centre for the Arts. Select film and television credits include Flashpoint (CTV/CBS), Dan for Mayor (CTV), Warehouse 13 (SyFy), Murdoch Mysteries (Shaftesbury), Roxy Hunter and the Myth of the Mermaid (Nickelodeon), Mayday (Discovery), Save the Last Dance 2 (MTV/Paramount), Catacombs (Lionsgate) and several television and film productions with the Canadian Film Centre. Ashleigh has also performed in numerous theatrical productions and television commercials. In addition to developing, producing and directing a series of theatrical pieces, Ashleigh recently co-produced the music video for the song “Never Ever Ever Ever Again” by Siskiyou. Ashleigh is the recipient of a Bravo!FACT grant for her short film “II” .
PRODUCER - KRISTIN SOMBORAC
Toronto-based producer Kristin Somborac has been working in the film business since 1998. She is a graduate of the 2008 Producer’s Lab at the Canadian Film Centre, where she co-produced the multiple award-winning short “How Eunice Got Her Baby” starring Gordon Pinsent, Aaron Poole and Kate Corbett. Currently, she has a one-hour dramatic series in development with InSight Television and is developing several other feature film and television projects. Recently Kristin produced and directed a short animated film entitled “The Colombo Plan” featuring the poems of John Robert Colombo and the illustrations of Matt James. She also produced the music video for Luxury Bob’s song “Really Nice Guy”, directed by John L’Ecuyer which was awarded Best Music Film at the 2010 Connecticut Film Festival and Best Music Video at the 2010 Cabbagetown Short Film and Video Festival. When not working, Kristin likes to cook with her family and continue her eternal quest for the perfect snowboarding terrain.
LEAD ACTRESS (MOTHER) - EVELYN HART
Award-winning ballerina Evelyn Hart is an international renowned dancer and one of Canada’s most treasured artists. Evelyn began her dance training at the Dorothy Carter School of Dance in London when she was fourteen. She briefly attended the National Ballet School before coming to Winnipeg to study at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School in 1973. In 1980, Evelyn won a Bronze Medal at the World Ballet Concours in Japan. Later that year, Evelyn came to international attention when she became the first Canadian to be awarded a Gold Medal at the International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, as well as the rarely awarded Certificate of Exceptional Artistic Achievement. With the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Evelyn has toured throughout North America, Europe and Asia. A popular guest artist, she has also appeared with numerous leading ballet companies on stages throughout the world. Evelyn Hart is the recipient of the Order of Canada and is a member of Canada’s Walk of Fame.
LEAD ACTOR (FATHER) - REX HARRINGTON
During his 20-year career as a dancer, Rex Harrington galvanized and thrilled audiences around the world with his magnetic stage presence and powerful gift for dramatic characterization. Renowned both at home and internationally for his portrayals of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Siegfried and Rothbart in Swan Lake, Albrecht in Giselle and Prince Florimund in The Sleeping Beauty, Mr. Harrington’s name is synonymous with ballet at its most charismatic. As well as enjoying a successful international career as a guest artist, dancing with such companies as Teatro alla Scala, San Francisco Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet, and with such remarkable ballerinas as Ekaterina Maximova, Carla Fracci and Alessandra Ferri, Mr. Harrington also created many seminal roles as a dancer. Among these are the central role in James Kudelka’s The Four Seasons, an Elder in Mr. Kudelka’s The Contract (The Pied Piper), Lewis Carroll in Glen Tetley’s Alice, the Young Gentleman in Mr. Tetley’s La Ronde, as well as lead roles in ballets by such choreographers as Jean-Pierre Perreault, William Forsythe and Jiří Kylián. A native of Peterborough, Ontario, Mr. Harrington studied at Canada’s National Ballet School. He joined The National Ballet of Canada in 1983, became a Principal Dancer in 1988 and retired from the stage in 2004. He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2000 and was given a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2005. In 2006, he received an Honourary Degree from York University and was appointed to the position of Artist-in-Residence with the National Ballet. Mr. Harrington returned as a guest judge on CTV’s So You Think You Can Dance in 2009.
