News

Montreal, Sunday September 17, 2006 - Atopia is happy to announce that On the Trail of Igor Rizzi by Noel Mitrani won the Award For Best First Canadian Film at last night’s Closing Ceremony of the 31st Toronto International Film Festival. This prize, sponsored by CityTV, is accompanied by a $15,000 grant designated for the director.

A grief-stricken and destitute French ex-soccer player has moved to Montreal, the home town of his lost love, in an effort to recapture her presence. He is haunted by the regret of never having told her how much he loved her. To earn money he accepts to kill a certain Igor Rizzi…

Shot in Montreal in February of this year and starring French actor Laurent Lucas, (Harry, He’s Here to Help, The Ordeal, Lemming) as well as actors Isabelle Blais (The Barbarian Invasions, The Lovers), Pierre-Luc Brillant (C.R.A.Z.Y.) and Emmanuel Bilodeau (Soft Shell Man, Gaz Bar Blues), the films’ World Premiere was held at the prestigious Critics’ Week of the 63rd Venice International Film Festival. The film will be also be presented in the coming weeks at the 2006 International Film Festival of Namur as well as the 35th Festival of New Cinema in Montreal.

Co-produced by Atopia Production and StanKaz Films, Sur la Trace d’Igor Rizzi will be in theatres in Canada at the beginning of 2007 and distributed by Atopia Distribution. Atopia Export is representing the film internationally.

Atopia Distribution releases its in-house productions as well as a selection of equally insightful films to audiences across the USA and Canada. Daring and original, our films are critically-acclaimed features (S.P.I.T.: Squeegee Punks In Traffic by Daniel Cross, El Ring by Carl Valiquet & Richard Gravel, Jimmywork by Simon Sauvé, A Silent Love by Federico Hidalgo). In order to give our films the richest tour, Atopia Distribution screens them at major festivals around the world, then releases them in art-house and commercial theatres. This allows our titles to garner wide media exposure prior to being launched on DVD through retailers, as well as being sold on line.

Information: www.surlatracedigorrizzi.com and www.atopia.com

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Le réalisateur Noël Mitrani et le producteur Pascal Maeder sont disponibles pour entrevues.

Media Contact: Mélanie Mingotaud, 514-582-5272, mmingotaud@sympatico.ca

News posted Sunday, September 17, 2006.