This morning, when the Oscar nominations were announced I did what I do every year, and scan the list for anything Canadian. It’s a sickness really, well-documented and written about exhaustively…. I am the unfinished Canadian… Looking to identify and ground myself in every cultural institution I can find. There are political, historical, psychological and cultural reasons for it.  But at its most basic, I think its just a patriotic thing. But the pride I feel for my countrymen, like Ellen Page (my massive girl crush, who I have been touting on this site since its inception) who got nominated for JUNO, is a little crazy….. 

And its people like me that are selling out the houses of the upcoming Canada’s Top Ten screening series at Cinematheque Ontario (www.topten.ca). The list, originally announced back in December, highlights the best of Canadian cinema in the past year, and this year, for the first time, it will be accompanied by the Top Ten Short Films.  

A highlight of this programme every year are the panels, as Canadian filmmakers are generally ecstatic to be recognized, and love to speak to Canadians about Canadian film. (I have encountered only one exception to this pattern, in the form of one overly jaded Michael Dowse, the year that PETE TONG got thoroughly ignored at the box office, despite being an amazing film, and one of my favourites of 2004). This year’s panels are sure to be impressive. Starting it all off the king of the Canadian soundtrack, Bruce McDonald, will be on a panel discussing music and film with Cam Christensen, moderated by Jacob Tierney.  

The budding young filmmakers in the crowd will want to be sure not to miss the First Features: Shooting From the Hip panel, moderated by film critic Adam Nayman. First time directors Martin Gero (YOUNG PEOPLE FUCKING) and Richie Mehta (AMAL) will be joined by Director of Photography Sara Mishara (CONTINENTAL) to discuss the ins and outs of first time feature production. Gero’s YPF was the opening night film of this year’s Film Festival and caused quite a stir among audiences. And Mehta’s AMAL, originally conceived as part of TIFF’s Pitch This project, was his first feature, and he decided that if he was gonna make a first film, might as well make it near impossible and shoot in India. It’s sure to be a fascinating conversation. 

The final panel, an in depth discussion with Producer Robert Lantos is definitely saving the best for last. The man has two films on the list this year (FUGITIVE PIECES and EASTERN PROMISES), not to mention 30 years experience in the Canadian film industry and a virtual film empire on Price St, in the Serendipity Film offices. 

The list of films itself consists of some amazing stories, solid scripts, and interesting perspectives from some of Canada’s bright new talents as well as it’s established favourites. 

The top ten Canadian feature films of 2007 are (in alphabetical order): 
L’AGE DES TENEBRES – Denys Arcand (Alliance Odeon Films) 
AMAL – Richie Mehta (Seville Pictures) 
CONTINENTAL, UN FILM SANS FUSIL – Stephane Lafleur (Christal Films Distribution) 
EASTERN PROMISES – David Cronenberg (Alliance Odeon Films) 
FUGITIVE PIECES – Jeremy Podeswa (Maximum Film Distribution) 
MY WINNIPEG – Guy Maddin (Maximum Film Distribution) 
A PROMISE TO THE DEAD: THE EXILE JOURNEY OF ARIEL DORFMAN – Peter Raymont (Films Transit) 
THE TRACEY FRAGMENTS – Bruce McDonald (Alliance Odeon Films) 
UP THE YANGTZE – Yung Chang (National Film Board of Canada and EyeSteelFilm) 
YOUNG PEOPLE FUCKING – Martin Gero (Christal Films Distribution)  
 
The top ten Canadian short films of 2007 are (in alphabetical order): 
CODE 13, Mathieu L. Denis 
THE COLONY, Jeff Barnaby 
DUST BOWL HA! HA!, Sebastien Pilote 
FARMER’S REQUIEM, Ramses Madina 
LES GRANDS, Chloe Leriche 
I HAVE SEEN THE FUTURE, Cam Christiansen 
I MET THE WALRUS, Josh Raskin 
MADAME TUTLI-PUTLI, Chris Lavis, Maciek Szczerbowski 
POOL, Chris Chong Chan Fui 
TERMINUS, Trevor Cawood 

Tickets are available through the Top Ten website, as well as through Cinematheque Ontario (http://www.cinemathequeontario.ca/programme.aspx?programmeId=181). Panels and screenings kick off this Friday. 

It’s enough to make this hoser happy.