Located in Toronto, Arkitekt Films is a boutique production company specializing in groundbreaking narrative and documentary films. info@arkitektfilms.com
Arkitekt Films, Architect Films, Arkitekt Productions, Arkitekt Pictures, Toronto Production Companies, Canadian film, Canadian short films, Canadian filmmakers, Feature films, “Erin Chisholm”, “Matt Barrington”, “Mark Van de Ven”, “Jeff Vanderwal”, Award-Winning, Documentary, Narrative, Drama, Cutting-Edge, Perennial, Seek, “Say Something”, “Carnival of Resistance”, “Us Chickens”, Gitch, “Broken Heart Audio”, AF
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Earlier this month, Arkitekt Films' short drama
Perennial headed to Hollywood and it didn't return empty-handed. Screened over the weekend at the 1st Annual Show Off Your Short Film Festival at Raleigh Studios in Los Angeles, California,
Perennial - which centres on a young woman who dreams of escaping her rural upbringing - swept its nominations, winning Best Drama and Best Actress for Kathleen Munroe's spectacular performance as Carly.
"Winning an award in Hollywood within a few weeks of moving to LA was a nice welcome. It means a great deal to see a project that has been dear to me since reading the script get the reception it did in Los Angeles," said Munroe. "As an actor, I'm constantly searching for interesting, complicated characters like this one and I'm honoured to have had the chance to play Carly in this beautiful film, grateful for Mark (Van de Ven)'s sensitive direction and nuanced writing."
The Show Off Your Short Film Festival received almost 400 entries and screened just over 80 movies. Some of the other notable films shown at the festival were the Academy Award-nominated drama
Binta and the Great Idea and The Extra, starring Ryan Stiles and Jonathan Taylor Thomas.
"I use short films to experiment with new ideas and story-telling techniques," mused
Perennial director and Arkitekt co-founder Mark Van de Ven. "So, to have this one play so well in Hollywood well, that's both exciting and unexpected."
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A double dose of good news has arrived for Arkitekt Films'
Gitch: both the Ontario Arts Council and the City of Brampton have awarded the comedy project generous production grants. Arkitekt co-founder Mark Van de Ven's hilarious script tells the story of a Ph.D. student who moves in with his girlfriend and becomes obsessed with a strange, exhibitionist neighbour.
"Mark's script is sharp, thoughtful, and poignantly comic," said Simon Reynolds, who will direct the film. "Voyeurism is so important to the medium of film and this story takes a hilarious approach to the idea of spying-and the fear of being caught doing it."
Gitch will be the third short for Reynolds; his previous offerings,
White Light and Uriah, have played festivals across North America and in Europe. Reynolds also has over 20 years experience as an actor, playing major roles opposite Julianne Moore, Michael Douglas, and Jennifer Connolly and working with esteemed directors like Mike Figgis and Walter Salles.
"Simon knows film from every angle-he's not only worked in the business for his entire life, but he is a student of film history," said Arkitekt co-founder and
Gitch producer Jeff Vanderwal. "We're lucky to have such an emerging talent directing this film."
The Ontario Arts Council was established in 1963 to foster the creation and production of art for the benefit of all Ontarians. The City of Brampton is a rising force in the Ontario arts scene; their growing Brampton Indie Arts Fair, held each winter in the beautiful Heritage Theatre, featured artist Istvan Kantor this year.
Added Reynolds: "The Toronto arts scene gets tunnel vision sometimes-it's hard not to, considering how difficult it is to get funding. But there are cool things happening in unexpected places. Don't give up. Persistence meets opportunity eventually."
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The Canada Council for the Arts is helping Arkitekt Films bring Us Chickens to life. The short dramatic script by Mark Van de Ven has been awarded full funding from the esteemed agency.
"To have my work honoured by the Canada Council-an agency that has played such a vital role in the Canadian arts scene-is an unbelievable feeling," enthused Van de Ven, who will also direct the film. "It gives you a real sense of being situated within a tradition."
Us Chickens is the story of Claire, a five-year-old girl who sees the farm world that surrounds her as a big game, even while her family crumbles around her. Said Van de Ven: "Complex, interesting stories about people from rural environments are tough to find, and fully rounded portraits of kids? They're even more rare. Children in films are usually portrayed as one-dimensional 'innocents' with absolutely no texture-or as mini-adults who are wise beyond their years. That's just not how I remember childhood."
The film is scheduled to shoot in Mount Albert, Ontario, in summer 2007. Erin Chisholm is slated to produce the film, with cinematography by Max Armstrong-reuniting the team from the award-winning short Perennial.
"This is the script that first interested me in working with Mark-it's been a favourite for both of us for a while now. Seeing it come to the screen is going to a lot of fun," said Chisholm.
Canada Council is entering it's 50
th year of giving Canadians access to their own stories by supporting artists across the country. Their mandate is to foster the development of the arts in Canada through grants, services and awards to professional Canadian artists and arts organizations.
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Director Jeff Vanderwal's latest dramatic short has been completed and is ready for audiences. The stark psychological drama-about a man battling his own mind while trying to solve a mystery-had a longer than usual post-production schedule as a result of Vanderwal's decision to edit the film himself.
"For me it was a very personal story. It had been knocking around in my head for a long time and so it was important that it end up on the screen in as pure a form as possible," mused Vanderwal, who also wrote the script.
The film also functioned as a reunion of sorts for the cast and crew, with long-time Arkitekt collaborator Max Armstrong working as Director of Photography, and Brendan Gall, who studied theatre along with Vanderwal, starring as the troubled Marvin.
"It was great to write a film for actors you know, and having everyone there as collaborators on the story really helped bring a challenging tale to life. I'm very happy with how it turned out and I'm looking forward to seeing what audiences think of it," added Vanderwal.
With any luck, the wait won't be long.
Seek is heading into local and international film festivals now.
"Working on
Seek was a remarkably unique-and sometimes terrifying-experience," said Gall. "I'm honoured to have been a part of it. I think the final result was well worth the risks we took along the way."
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Kathleen Munroe is being honoured for her spectacular performance in Arkitekt Films'
Perennial by Canada's longest-running festival. The illustrious Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival has announced that Munroe is up for a Golden Sheaf award for Best Female Performance for playing the role of Carly, a young woman struggling with the weight of her memories and dreams while living a rural existence.
"Though I'm L.A.-based now, my love of Canadian filmmaking remains. I have such faith in our industry, so this nomination is a real honour," said Munroe.
Kathleen Munroe, best known for her role in the ABC Family drama,
Beautiful People, is currently gracing the screen on the TMN dramatic series,
Durham County, and will soon be seen in the Guy Ritchie crime series,
Suspect, also starring Carrie-Anne Moss.
"I hope I have the chance to keep playing such challenging characters in Canadian films throughout my career-and to work with the quality of writing and direction that I experienced on this project."
The Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival, held in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, is entering its 60th year. The first Golden Sheaf award was handed out in 1958 and has become the jewel of Canadian short film awards. 2006 winners included Gordon Pinsent, Mary Walsh, and Academy Award nominee Deepa Mehta.
"What an amazing honour for both Kathleen and the film. We were incredibly fortunate to get such a talented actress who is, I think, on the verge of becoming a real star," added director Mark Van de Ven.
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Arkitekt Films is pleased to announce the first Canadian public screening of their short drama
Perennial at the Winnipeg International Film Festival, being held from June 1-9, 2007.
Perennial tells the story of a young woman struggling with the weight of her memories and dreams while living a rural existence.
"To have
Perennial screening at the Winnipeg International Film Festival is a real treat for me. It feels like a hometown premiere for a girl born and raised in Minnedosa," said Manitoba native and
Perennial producer Erin Chisholm.
The Winnipeg International Film Festival is expanding in 2007, increasing from four days to nine and introducing an expanded screening schedule, in addition to industry workshops and expanded seminars. This year's edition boasts 143 films from 19 different countries, including 58 Canadian films.
Laughed Chisholm, "For the first time ever, my parents can attend a public screening of my work - and at an international event, no less. It's incredible."
Perennial will have two screenings at WIFF, both at the Prairie Theatre Exchange: Sunday, June 3 at 2:30 PM and Friday, June 8 at 9:30 PM. In addition to Erin Chisholm's parents, director Mark Van de Ven will be in attendance for the second screening.
Added Van de Ven, "I've heard that Winnipeg has an incredibly knowledgeable and enthusiastic film community-I can't wait to see what they think of
Perennial."
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WINNIPEG WELCOMES PERENNIAL
May 10, 2007
PERENNIAL UP FOR GOLDEN SHEAF
April 23, 2007
SEEK POST-PRODUCTION WRAPS
April 15, 2007
CANADA COUNCIL AWARDS US CHICKENS
April 10, 2007
HERE COMES THE GITCH
April 1, 2007
HOLLYWOOD HONOURS PERENNIAL
February 12, 2007
contentTxt=All news items are for immediate release. For more information, please contact
Erin Chisholm by e-mail at
erinc@arkitektfilms.com or by telephone at
416-465-4422.
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Producer
erinc@arkitektfilms.com
Small-town Manitoba may not seem like a hot-bed for filmmaking, but Erin Chisholm knew early on that she wanted to be a part of that industry. Beginning the process with a Film Studies degree from Carleton University and carrying through her production training at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary, she was always drawn to the perspectives and voices unraveled in films from her own country.
After completing university, she developed a successful career as a visual researcher in the Toronto documentary industry where she has had the opportunity to work with some of the brightest voices in Canadian documentary. Her professional relationship with Mark Van de Ven and Jeff Vanderwal began when she did the visual research for
Carnival of Resistance. Their mutual admiration led her to continue working with Mark and Jeff by, first, taking a co-producing role on
Say Something and, then, to become the lead producer on
Perennial. She remains, as she began, committed to playing a role in the development, production and promotion of quality documentary and dramatic films in Canada.
contentTxt=At Arkitekt, we believe that the best films are not just built, they are crafted. Through the collaboration of passionate individuals, we strive to make films that will stand out in the busy skyline of the motion picture industry.
How do we do that? By focusing on what drew each of us to filmmaking in the first place: a good story well told. There is an intangible power found in a story flickering across a screen for an audience; the potential for complex, interesting characters to unlock something deeper in a viewer is immense. Entertainment is part of it, yes, but there is also much more: we want to make films that resonate. That requires a delicate blend of brilliant, bold, and important stories mixed with the proper storytelling technique; at Arkitekt, we are equipped to tackle this exciting challenge.
Arkitekt is rooted in a partnership between Jeff Vanderwal and Mark Van de Ven known once upon a time as Resistance Pictures. Formed in 2001, Resistance split its time between documentary, shorts, and corporate video. With Jeff busy directing for History Television and Discovery, Mark formed Perennial Productions in 2005 along with Erin Chisholm to focus on dramatic productions. With the added infusion of producer Matt Barrington to bolster business affairs, the two companies have now come together as Arkitekt to build towards the next level: a Canadian production company devoted to making finely crafted films that will impact both within these borders and internationally.
The mix of talents and personalities at Arkitekt is our major strength. We are a collective of art and business, a melding of contrasting abilities that gives us an edge when approaching each project. Our experience gives us insight into the challenges of the Canadian film industry; our ingenuity, energy, and determination turn limitations into possibilities.
Though Arkitekt is made up of very different people, a common thread connects us: we are all film lovers as well as filmmakers. With that in mind, there is a simple standard for every Arkitekt film: we have to love watching it as much as you will.
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Director / Producer
jeffv@arkitektfilms.com
Jeff Vanderwal is a man who desperately needs a creative outlet. Growing up, he studied acting and theatre, while keeping a steady sideline as a drummer.
After university, Jeff learned the ins and outs of the entertainment industry by working as a production coordinator, camera operator, and editor. The wide variety of skills he acquired did not distract him from his first love: directing. In 2001, he co-founded Resistance Pictures with Mark Van de Ven. Their first production:
Carnival of Resistance, had its world premiere at the Sheffield International Documentary Festival where it was extremely well received - up to and including the small riot it caused.
Jeff moved further into the documentary world by writing and directing a number of episodes for the acclaimed History Television series Turning Points of History, including the multi award winners
The Great Atlantic Air Race and
Passchendaele. He also helped produce several award winning documentaries, including
Offspring,
The Last Just Man and The Bomber's Dream.
Missing the creative challenge of mixing it up with actors, Jeff returned to dramatic storytelling in 2004, directing and co-producing the short
Say Something. He followed that up with the darkly haunting
Seek, a film he wrote, directed, and edited.
Driven by his love for the challenge and complexity of filmmaking, Jeff is now developing his work for a broader canvas. He is currently developing a number of feature length documentary and dramatic productions, and he still plays drums every chance he gets.
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Writer / Director / Editor
markv@arkitektfilms.com
Certain he was on the path to becoming a corporate lawyer, Mark accidentally fell in love with film and headed in a completely different direction. Pursuing a film studies degree at the University of Western Ontario and taking basic production training in England at Royal Holloway led him to success at his first public screening: his uniquely experimental
Mark: A Documentary not only won an award but also caused a complete stranger to approach Mark to thank him for making the film. Oddly, it was the second of these events that left Mark hooked for life.
After university, Mark moved to Toronto, where he focused on script writing while also working in the documentary industry on productions for the NFB, MTV, and Alliance-Atlantis. After forming Resistance Pictures with Jeff Vanderwal, he decided he didn't believe all those people who said he should pick one discipline and run with it: he found that combining writing, directing, producing, and editing-both documentary and drama-provided a better route towards filling his insatiable need to fully understand the craft of filmmaking.
Since then, he has worked as an editor on numerous projects, including an episode for History Television's award-winning
Turning Points of History and two films with emerging director Simon Reynolds. After starting with documentary, he directed his first drama,
Perennial, in 2006. His scripts have been honoured by Slamdance and the Worldwide Short Film Festival, and have been awarded grants from the Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts.
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Producer
mattb@arkitektfilms.com
Matt Barrington grew-up in a film, television and theater family. Spending his summers working in the Toronto media arts industry, he gained an intimate understanding of the power of these mediums. Matt studied English and Economics at McGill University and graduated with a BFA in film studies from Concordia University-a combination of business and film that gave him the perfect foundation for a career as a producer. While in Montreal, Matt worked as a production manager and producer on both short and feature dramas before moving to Los Angeles to try his hand in the Hollywood production scene. While working there, he was exposed to the world of big-budget filmmaking and the challenges of getting these films off the ground.
In 2005, Matt returned to Toronto with a refreshed outlook on the Canadian film market and it's untapped potential. Since then, Matt has worked on shows for the CBC and with numerous writers, developing both feature fiction and documentary films.
Matt brings to Arkitekt a strong belief that financial challenges equal opportunities for creativity, as well as a willingness to do whatever it takes to bring the story from the page to the screen-and from there into an international marketplace.
Us Chickens, Gitch, Perennial, Carnival of Resistance, Amariah Faulkner, Brittany Allen, Christine Brubaker, James Downing, Marc Bendavid, Matthew Edison, Jeananne Goossen, Bruce Horak, Kathleen Munroe, Max Armstrong, Vin Bolton, Darryl Webster, David Engle