3 Luxembourg co-productions make their world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival

Date of event
06/09/2017 - 16/09/2017

La 42^e he Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) from 7 to 17 September 2017 has selected the world premieres of Govinda Van Maele's "Gutland" (Les Films Fauves co-production), Nora Twomey's "The Breadwinner" (Melusine Productions co-production) and Saudi director Haiffa Al-Mansour's "Mary Shelley" (Bac Cinema co-production).
"Gutland"Stray Dogs, the first feature film by Luxembourg director Govinda Van Maele, is a majority co-production with Novak Prod (BE) and Propellerfilm (DE). Stray Dogs is in charge of international sales. Ciné Sud Promotion is handling the Canadian, US and international press for TIFF.
In this surreal rural thriller starring Frederick Lau and Vicky Krieps, a thief from a distant German town takes refuge in a small Luxembourg village. As he gradually finds his place in the community, it seems he's not the only one with a dark past to hide.
The film was made possible by the work of Luxembourg technicians Harald Rude (first assistant director), Narayan Van Maele (cinematographer), Audrey Hernu (set designer), Fabienne Adam (make-up artist), Jasmine Schmidt (hairdresser) and Nilton Martins (casting).
"The Breadwinner is a minority co-production of Melusine Productions/Studio 352 (Stéphan Roelants) with Ireland (Cartoon Saloon) and Canada (Aircraft Pictures) in partnership with producer Angelina Jolie.
2/3 of the film's animation was produced in Luxembourg at Studio 352.
The film tells the story of eleven-year-old Parvana, who has never known her country to be anything other than at war. A nightmarish war that forbids women to go out unless they are veiled or escorted by a man, father or husband. Parvana is old enough to be subject to these prohibitions, but she still has to find a way around them. Ever since the Taliban imprisoned her father, the family's survival in Kabul has depended on her alone.
"Mary Shelley is a minority co-production of Bac Cinema (David Grumbach) with the UK and Irish companies Parallel Films. The film was made with Luxembourg technicians Philippe Kohn (chief sound operator), Nicolas Tran Trong (chief sound editor), Caroline Koener (costume designer), Pascal Charlier (chief grip), Fredo Roeser (chief make-up artist)...
Mary Shelley looks back at the tumultuous and seminal love affair between the author of "Frankenstein" and the poet Percy Shelley, taking us into the genesis of her literary and intimate work.
For more information on the films supported by the Film Fund: