During the last week of August 2001, Chlotrudis
Awards hosted a special pre-release screening of the new Lot47
Films release, waydowntown. The film, released last
year in Canada, will hit the U.S. theaters in October. Director
Gary Burns and actor Don McKellar (Last Night, Highway
61, The Red Violin) were in attendance to introduce
the film, and participate in a question and answer session
afterwards. The event was held at the Coolidge
Corner Theatre in Brookline, MA before an enthusiastic
crowd. Pictured left are Burns (left) and McKellar on stage
at the Coolidge answering post-viewing questions.
Burns
is a highly-acclaimed Canadian filmmaker whose previous
features, The
Suburbanators and Kitchen
Party gained recognition at the Sundance and Toronto
International Film Festivals. McKellar has previously been
nominated for Chlotrudis Awards in the Best Director, Supporting
Actor and Original Screenplay categories. Pictured right,
McKellar signs his autograph for an enthusiastic fan.
waydowntown tells the story of a group of office workers
who wage a month’s salary on who can stay indoors the longest.
The wager takes place throughout a city’s downtown where they
work and all the buildings are connected by glassed-in bridges.
As the 24 days of confinement pass, the game unravels and insanity
ensues. waydowntown has been heralded “The most original and
impressive Canadian movie of the year!” by The Toronto Star.
All proceeds from the event will support Chlotrudis Awards, a Boston-area
nonprofit organization that celebrates independent and non-mainstream
films. Through its annual awards ceremony and film festival, Chlotrudis
Awards recognizes artistic merit and filmmaker vision. By distinguishing
creative, quality films, Chlotrudis Awards seeks to encourage moviegoers
to support independent film, and to increase awareness of innovation
in film. After the event, McKellar, Chlotrudis Awards President, Michael
Colford, and Burns smiled for the camera.Watch the waydowntown
trailer.