Atlantic Film Festival to screen 180+ films

Over 180 films are to feature at the 33^rd annual Atlantic Film Festival (AFF), running September 12-19, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Joining the Festival’s Gala program is the Atlantic Gala, Gia Milani’s All the Wrong Reasons, a locally produced drama in which four troubled young adults deal with post-traumatic experiences.

The Invisible Woman [pictured] has been unveiled as the festival’s Closing Gala presentation. Directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes, The Invisible Woman tells the story of a secret love affair between Charles Dickens and Nelly Ternan.

The 2013 Rogers Special Presentations will feature ten of the newest and most anticipated films of year. Newly announced additions include civil war drama Copperhead; Jason Priestly’s directorial feature debut Cas & Dylan; and Jonathan Sobol’s heist film, The Art of the Steal, starring Kurt Russell and Jay Baruchel.

Also selected are Joseph Gordon Levitt’s Don Jon; Parkland, which looks at the aftermath of the JFK assassination in the local hospital; Richard Ayoade’s The Double, starring Jesse Eisenberg and Mia Wasikowska; Jeremiah Chechik’s The Right Kind of Wrong; and Palme d’or winner Blue is the Warmest Colour directed by Abdellatif Kechiche.

The Atlantic Focus program will witness the world premiere of John Walker’s anticipated documentary, Arctic Defenders, which looks at the role of the Inuit in the sovereignty of Canada’s Far North, as well as Jason Young’s Bad Coyote, Geoff D’Eon’s Zoo Revolution, Christopher Richardson’s Regret, and Jeffrey St. Jules’s Let the Daylight into the Swamp.

The AFF is announcing a new program, Cinéma En Français S.V.P., which will feature 18 French-language film presentations.

Also new this year is the AFF Industry Day, celebrating the industry and craftspeople, and offering them a chance to meet and network.

Throughout the festival, AFF will host several special events and parties to celebrate the movies, the people and the city of Halifax.