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F.A. Entertainment of Los Angeles, in conjuction with the Island Media Arts Coop, and other Island sponsors, presents the 1st annual PEI International Film Festival (PEI/iff) this September 20-21 in Charlottetown.
The festival takes place over a two-day period, beginning the day the Atlantic Film Festival ends, and showcases films from around the world, including world premieres for over a dozen films. It will be hosted by The Guild.
One of the festival highlights will be “Northumberland Screenings” honouring films and filmmakers from PEI and concluding with the “Red Clay and Maple Leaf Awards” for Outstanding PEI and Canadian Filmmakers. A full festival schedule will be announced shortly, and information can be reached at www.peifilmfest.com.
PEI/iff welcomes PEI’s own Claire Rankin in the opening night film. Canadian actress Claire Rankin has been demanding attention for her portrayal of Dr. Kate Heightmeyer, the resident psychologist on the hit television Sci-Fi series StarGate: Atlantis. She is also known to Sci-Fi fans for her sexy manipulative character of “Alice” opposite Robert Duncan MacNeil on Star Trek Voyager.
Raised on PEI, Claire is a trained dancer and singer. She began her professional dance career as a teenager by touring across Canada in a production of Anne of Green Gables. From there she became a member of the Stratford Shakespearean Festival. A production of Les Miserables where Claire played the role of “Cossette” followed and soon after that she decided to pursue film and television.
Playing real-life character Robin Jansen in the story of speed skater Dan Jansen’s life brought her to the attention of Hollywood executives and she soon found herself guest starring on such shows as Chicago Hope, Ally McBeal, The District, The Drew Carey Show and Without A Trace.
Most recently she starred in the film One Of Our Own in which Variety called her performance “razor sharp” and “harrowing.” Prince Edward Island in conjunction with F.A. Entertainment, IMAC and other Island sponsors welcomes Claire Rankin and One Of Our Own as the official opening night film.
Claire currently makes her home in Los Angeles with her husband, actor Josh Randall.
Also scheduled for its Canadian Premiere is the film noir/thriller Cat City starring Brian Dennehy (Ratatouille, Romeo & Juliet), Rebbeca Pidgeon (Shopgirl, The Spanish Prisoner) and Julian Sands (Ocean’s Thirteen, Leaving Las Vegas).
Other titles include Beyond The Fences, The Funeral…again!, Un Bon Gars, Skiptracers, Builder of Worlds, The Roymann Closure, The Same House, How To Prepare For A Date, Armed For The Challenge, Second Sight, I’s In The Blood, Banana Who?, Nobody, The Human Error, Pretty Ugly People, The Scavengers, Embargo, Anybody’s Baby, For a Few Marbles More, Beyond The Call, Vanaja, Invoice, Longshots, A Lion’s Tale, The Cave: An Adaptation, Justice Undone, Hooked, Cat City, Kodiak, Regret, Vengeance, Hooked on Speedman, and One of Our Own. Script Finalists (in competition):Vera, The Eighth Man, Sara and Avonlea, Louisiana Blood, The Knuckleballer. Finalists not in competition: The Ace of Aces, Emulsion.