September 23, 2008
Here’s a slug this Quillblogger didn’t expect to see: “A short film by writer/director Paul Quarrington.”
But, according to Open Book Toronto, (and as reported by Quill & Quire Omni this past summer) the acclaimed author of the Governor General’s Award-winner Whale Music and this year’s Canada Reads champ King Leary has ventured behind the camera to shoot his first short feature, Pavane, based on his latest novel, The Ravine.
Read the entire Quillblog post here
June 13, 2008
Trying to stand out on BookExpo Canada’s crowded convention floor is a challenge many of the annual trade show’s exhibitors face, but it’s one that can lead to some unconventional marketing strategies. This year’s event, running Sunday and Monday, features a number of ambitious promotional campaigns – including a film-festival teaser, a unique prize giveaway, and a racy flesh-and-blood mascot – all vying for attention.
…..
Another BEC event that’s hardly by-the-book is a preview of the Moving Stories Film Festival, a program of book-inspired short films that will tour Canadian literary festivals this fall. Run by BookShorts founder Judith Keenan and curated by Canada Reads-winning author Paul Quarrington, the screening on Sunday at 2 p.m. in the BookShorts Lounge will feature an animated short by English filmmaker Kate Jessop (based on a poem by Diana Syder) as well as
a more conventional BookShorts-produced film commissioned by self-published author James McCreath, who will be promoting his soccer-themed “novel of hope,” Renaldo, at BEC.
Quarrington – who wrote and directed a short film based on his novel The Ravine, which he says may be included in the final festival lineup – views the promotion as an expression of the commonality between literature and film. “I think the novel’s much more flexible and agile as a storytelling mechanism, but movies are so popular, and especially with some of the new media, access to them is going to be so pervasive that it’s good for the two to co-operate.”
Keenan hopes the promotion will spur a “flurry” of new entries before the festival’s July 10 submissions deadline (the final 90-minute lineup will be announced on July 30) and attract potential screening partners from across North America. So far, the fest is slated to play at six literary festivals in Canada (including fests in Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Ottawa); one U.S. retailer, Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, Arizona, has also signed on to host the program. “Ultimately, we’d like to get the booksellers on board and create community screening programs associated with their own outreach,” Keenan says, adding that she hopes to grab the attention of event planners at Indigo Books & Music at BEC.
For more information about Moving Stories Film Fest at BEC — watch this column on Sunday June 15!
May 22, 2008
Curator Paul Quarrington & Founder Judith Keenan
Present Moving Stories Preview June 15 @ 2:00pm
BookShorts, the seminal producer / distributor of media inspired by books, is excited to announce Moving Stories Film Festival, a 90-minute curated program of short films celebrating the written word. The films are being selected by Festival Programmer Paul Quarrington in consultation with prestigious Film Advisors, and have been submitted by artists around the world. From September to December 2008, Moving Stories will screen at public events hosted by film and literature festivals across North America. Confirmed hosts include St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival, Ottawa International Writers Festival; Winnipeg International Writers Festival; WordFest: Banff-Calgary International Writers Festival; Vancouver International Writers Festival and Toronto First Canadian Place. More host venues will be announced in July, along with details of special presentations organized by each venue in conjunction with their local screening. A preview of Moving Stories films will take place in the BookShorts Lounge at BookExpo Canada on Sunday, June 15 at 2:00pm. The event will be presented by Quarrington with Festival Founder Judith Keenan, and include authors and directors whose work is represented in the program. Programmers from host venues will be in attendance. Moving Stories will announce the final selection of films in July 2008.
Moving Stories Film Advisors include: the highly successful Canadian film producer Robert Lantos; award-winning filmmaker Sarah Polley; author Nino Ricci whose award-winning books have been adapted for the screen; top literary publisher and media champion Anne Collins, and director / animator Gary Thomas, who is now winning major industry and public acclaim for his work in adapting books to screen. Film submission guidelines, and information for producers interested in hosting Moving Stories, are available now at www.movingstoriesfilmfest.com.
In an era of media convergence, the Moving Stories program amplifies the natural affinities between film and literature, creating a forum, live and virtual, that allows audiences to appreciate the art of story through its presentation in more than one media. BookShorts’ objective in creating the screening program is to set a standard of excellence, for artists and for audiences. It looks to provide artists with meaningful opportunities to create and deliver exciting, original work, and have it seen by a public whose desire for entertainment is not constrained by platform.
Sherry Naylor
Publicity Director
Meisner, de Groot & Associates
Tel: 416-368-8253
E-mail: sherry@mdgassociates.com
May 5, 2008
2008 Confirmed Event Dates
Sep 28
Winnipeg, MB
THIN AIR 2008: Winnipeg International Writers Festival
http://www.winnipegwords.com
Oct 17-18
St. John’s, NL
St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival
http://www.womensfilmfestival.com
Oct 22
Ottawa, ON
Ottawa International Writers Festival Fall Edition
http://www.writersfestival.org
Oct 14
Banff 5nd Calgary, AB
WordFest: Banff-Calgary International Writers Festival
http://www.wordfest.com
Oct 25
Vancouver, BC
Vancouver International Writers Festival
http://www.writersfest.bc.ca
November 26
Toronto, ON
Pages Books & Music “This IS Not A Reading Series”
http://pagesbooks.ca/events.php?type=event&id=250
More Canadian and US host venues to be announced. Contact judith@bookshorts.com to request preview DVD and to enquire about hosting an event in your area, your library or bookstore!
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