The prolific idiosyncratic experimental filmmaker in many things Canadiana. So after a decade in the short form, Matthew Rankin has been in post production with his feature debut The 20th Century for the better part of 2018. With three short films selected at Sundance (Negativipeg, Tabula Rasa, and Mynarski Death Plummet) there is a definite Park City connection, but his last project The Tesla World Light preemed on the Croisette in 2017 and so this debut could be launched pretty much anywhere. The Winnipegger/Montrealer was featured during production on VICE in early 2017, so docu-fiction-animated hybrid photographed by filmmaker Vincent Biron (here is our sit-down with him for Prank) should be ready to go. This collage stars Dan Beirne, Mikhail Ahooja, Sarianne Cormier, Catherine St-Laurent (Stéphane Lafleur’s Tu Dors Nicole) and Brent Skagford.
Gist: Toronto, 1899. Aspiring politician Mackenzie King hesitates in love between a heroic soldier he believes himself destined to marry and a psoriasis-addled spinster and learns that with unrequited love, it’s never over until you’ve completely humiliated yourself.
Production Co./Producers: Voyelles Films‘ Gabrielle Tougas-Fréchette and Ménaïc Raoul (All You Can Eat Buddha).
Prediction: While this film could certainly land at any international film festival (Rotterdam, Cannes’ Critics’ Week, Locarno), we’re thinking a World Cinema Dramatic Competition slot or even NEXT section is a possibility with a Rotterdam showing shortly after.
U.S. Distributor: Rights Available. TBD (domestic). TBD (international)
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