Otherworldly: The Art Of Canadian Costume Design Set To Open At TIFF Bell Lightbox
Free exhibition focuses on the work of Canadian costume designers in celebrated fantasy, science fiction and horror films; presented in partnership with CAFTCAD and complemented with special guests
Toronto – TIFF Bell Lightbox announced today the new free exhibition set to open this fall in the building’s Canadian Film Gallery. Running from September 2, 2011 through March, 2012 and presented in partnership with the Canadian Alliance of Film and Television Costume Arts and Design (CAFTCAD), Otherworldly: The Art of Canadian Costume Design will explore and celebrate some of the most extraordinary achievements in Canadian costume design. From the breathtaking dream worlds of The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, to the comic-book realms of Bulletproof Monk, the genres of sci-fi, horror and fantasy have had a long history in Canadian film and Canadian costume designers and crafts-people have consistently brought these otherworldly visions to life. Otherworldly: The Art of Canadian Costume Design is curated by Sylvia Frank, Director of TIFF’s Film Reference Library and Special Collections.
“As costume design continues to gain popular recognition as a distinct art form, it’s a thrill to partner with CAFTCAD on this new exhibition,” said Frank. “Costume designers in these genres must imagine how a person might realistically live in implausible environments – creating garments for post-apocalyptic wastelands or worlds without sun. From the lockdown pod from Skinwalkers to the homemade superhero outfit from Defendor, the costumes and artifacts visitors will see are a testament to the unbridled imagination of Canadian designers and to the efforts of all the people – milliners, breakdown artists, dyers, jewellers, cutters, buyers and stylists – who help to realize their ideas.”
“We at CAFTCAD are extremely proud of the reputation that Canadian costume designers have earned on both a national and international level; moreover, we are equally honoured to collaborate with TIFF on this unique exhibition at the Canadian Film Gallery at TIFF Bell Lightbox,” said Luis Sequeira, President, CAFTCAD. “This exhibition, the first one of its kind in Canada, features both classic and up-and-coming projects all designed by Canadians demonstrating that we have a world class talent base in this country.”
Otherworldly: The Art of Canadian Costume Design will feature a collection of costumes, sketches, artifacts and photos from the following films and their respective Canadian designer(s):
Bulletproof Monk – Delphine White
Defendor – Gersha Phillips
Ginger Snaps 3: The Beginning – Alex Kavanagh
Hank and Mike – Joanna Syrokomla
Johnny Mnemonic – Olga Dimitrov
Orphan – Antoinette Messam
Repo! The Genetic Opera – Alex Kavanagh
Saw VI – Alex Kavanagh and Leslie Kavanagh
Silent Hill 2: Revelations – Wendy Partridge
Skinwalkers – Antoinette Messam
Splice – Alex Kavanagh
Survival of the Dead – Alex Kavanagh
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus – Monique Prudhomme
The Thing – Luis Sequeira
Videodrome – Delphine White
In conjunction with Otherworldly: The Art of Canadian Costume Design, TIFF Bell Lightbox presents three special events that celebrate the achievements and creativity of Canadian costume designers currently working in fantasy, horror and science fiction films, welcoming costume designer Alex Kavanagh (the Saw series, Splice), art / visual effects artist Amro Attia (Splice, Silent Hill, The Borgias,) and costume designer Monique Prudhomme (The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Juno) to TIFF Bell Lightbox.
From Concept to Reality: Creating an Extraordinary Creature Called “Dren”
Special guests Amro Attia and Alex Kavanagh
Wednesday, October 12 at 7:00 pm
TIFF presents a rare, intimate salon-style session with creature designer Amro Attia and costume designer Alex Kavanagh, as they take audiences behind the scenes of Vincenzo Natali’s Splice and discuss the process involved in the development of its genetically altered protagonist, “Dren.”
- Curatorial Perspectives Tour
Saturday, October 29 at 11:00 am
Sylvia Frank, Director of TIFF’s Film Reference Library and Special Collections and curator of Otherworldly: The Art of Canadian Costume Design, offers an exclusive guided tour of the exhibition and an in-depth look at its creation, including its original conception, the selection process and design parameters.
- The Reality of Fantasy
Special guest Monique Prudhomme
Monday, November 14 at 7:00 pm
TIFF welcomes Academy Award®-nominated costume designer Monique Prudhomme (nominated for her work in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus) to present the keynote talk for Otherworldly: The Art of Canadian Costume Design, which will focus on the process of creating fantastical costumes by finding, adapting and transforming elements from contemporary fashion, vintage pieces and specially selected materials. Prudhomme will also address Ontario post-secondary students and faculty at a Higher Learning session on November 15.
TIFF Bell Lightbox will also offer learning opportunities and educational resources tied to the exhibition this fall, allowing elementary and secondary students to explore the world through film and teachers to enrich the curriculum.
- Half-Day: Exhibition Tour and Character Costume Presentation
In this half-day programme, classes will tour the exhibition and take part in a presentation on the role of costumes in film. Using film scripts, images and costume displays, students will examine how clothing influences perception and social roles, both on screen and in daily life. Character archetypes will be addressed and students will discover how costume choices affect the interpretation of some of film’s most famous character types ($8 per student, for groups of any size).
- Full-Day: Exhibition Tour and Hands-On Workshop
This day-long programme includes a tour of the exhibition and a hands-on workshop, in which classes will experience the artistry of costume creation firsthand. Students will engage in script analysis, fabric deconstruction and the application of visual arts techniques – all tools used by costume designers when approaching a design. Further exploration of the science fiction/fantasy or horror film genres will be facilitated through a visual arts-based activity. (Price: $12 per student, for groups of 12 to 32 students).
Ticket Sales and booking information for the special events and workshops will be available at tiff.net in late September 2011.
The Canadian Film Gallery is generously supported by Presenting Partner the Ontario Media Development Corporation, Lead Sponsor, Bell, and Major Sponsors RBC and BlackBerry.
TIFF is generously supported by Lead Sponsor Bell, Major Sponsors RBC and BlackBerry, and Major Supporters the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, and the City of Toronto.
About TIFF
TIFF is a charitable cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world through film. An international leader in film culture, TIFF projects include the annual Toronto International Film Festival in September; TIFF Bell Lightbox, which features five cinemas, major exhibitions, and learning and entertainment facilities; and innovative national distribution program Film Circuit. The organization generates an annual economic impact of $170 million CAD. TIFF Bell Lightbox is generously supported by contributors including Founding Sponsor Bell, the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the City of Toronto, the Reitman family (Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel and Susan Michaels ), The Daniels Corporation, Major Sponsor and official bank RBC, Major Sponsor BlackBerry and Visa†. For more information, visit tiff.net.
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For information, contact the TIFF Communications Department at 416-934-3200 or email proffice@tiff.net or Cynthia Amsden at roundstone@gmail.com
For images, please log onto: http://press.tiff.net/