16 — Friday, June 4, 1999 - North Shore News Local short wins award at Cannes Katharine Hamer Contributing Writer THIS year, there were only three Canadian entries in the Cannes Film Festival. Two of them won prizes. One of them was directed by West Vancouver-raised filmmaker Mark Sawers. “You submit vour film (for consideration) in February, and don’t hear until the last niinute, at the end of Aprii, whether it’s been selected,” says the director, who waited “on pins and needles” co hear if he'd be going to Cannes. Shoes Off! Sawers” 13-minute romantic comedy walked away with Best Shore Film in the [nternational Crities Week section of the festival. The third film in a trilogy about “the angst and insecuri- ties of urban life,” Shoes Off7 is the story of a lonely bachelor who is inspired to break out of his monotonous existence by a mysterious woman and her beautiful black boots. The film, which is produced by Leah Mallen. srars local actors David Lewis and Deanna Milligan, and f:atures an original opera score by composer Don Macdonald. Sawers, who has been directing iodependent films and television programs since graduating :rom the UBC film program in 1989, says his films are abou “disaffected young men and alienation.” 1993's Stroke was about a business executive who suffers from a stroke but technology keeps everyone who could TELEVISION This week’s highlights > Canada vs. Iran in soccer — Tonight Ch. 22 > Stanley Cup Final game one — Tuesday »> Zhang Yimeu directs Turandot — Wednesday FRIDAY ® SOCCER Canada Cup tournament (Sportsnet, Channel 22,6 p.m.) | Canada vs. Iran live from Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium. @ COMEDY Sex and the City (BRAVO, Channel 28, 9 p.m.) Premiere of HBO series starring Sarah Jessica Parker. SARAH Jessica Parker in Sex and the City @ MUSIC Melanie Doane tonight on BRAVO. (VTV, Channel 9, 9 p.m.) Sce more Page 32 THAN 50? 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Sawers said he had imagined what would happen it no one could reach him if he was in trouble. “Er my answering machine was on, T could be dead on the door but people would think everything was OK,” he savs. Seroke was also entered ap Cannes as part of the non-competitive section Un Certain Regard. 1994's Hate Mail, which was an official selection at the Berlin International Film Festival, centred on a man with writer's block who sends nasty letters to the noisy neigh- bours who distract him from the task at hand. Again, Sawers drew from personal experience, having spent “hours at the computer with writer's block.” All three films were nominat- ed tor Best Live Action Short Drama at the Genie awards. Is Sawers himself an anxious urban male? Not as much as his characters, he says, laughing. “Cannes is “such a great opportunity; a great experience. Everyone knows about Cannes, and so there’s a certain cachet,” Sawers says. “I was getting lots of attention at home, but there I was a big fish in a small pond.” He says he was “treated very well — they have a lot of respect tor short film” as a medium. “Going back (for the second time), | knew what to expect. But (the festival) is a crazy environment: a little bit - like the Pros! with BOTANICO Interlocking Concrete Boxes Offering Unmatched Versatility ¢ The flat slab fits into the notches in the box section to lock the pieces together. © The wall can be stepped back to follow the slope of the bank. © The amount of setback varies the size of the planting area. ; * Engineering service provided if required. * Two faces for varying appearance. SEE OUR ON.SITE DISPLAYS Filled with reinforced concrete i fora vertical i retaining wall. Earth filled for @ gravity retaining wall. 4 ee POND SUPPLIES pumps, hose, liners and preformed pools in stock. Earth filled vertical wail for sound of Las Vegas, a little bir of Hollywood, and a little bit of Paris, all thrown together on the Riviera. H's all about showmanship and extravagance. Even when you go te film screenings, you have to wear a tuxede. There’s a James Bond sense about it, People are always trying to get atten: dion.” Canadian film, which Sawers describes as “a strange jux- taposition of the dark — Atom Egovan; David Cronenbers and the comedi¢ -- Mike Myers: Dan Ackroyd -- doesn’t get much attention in Europe. Its the Australians who are most successtul,” Sawers says. Their tilm industry is more promoted — thev've had Gillian Armstrong, Peter Weir, George Miller. In Canada we are dwarted by American culture. There’s a “brain drain” to the States. Very few good writers are staying in the country.” Now that he’s returned triumphant from Cannes (the prize money came with him; the framed certificate is travel- ling via Montreal), he says “it’s not like my phone’s been Tinging off the hook, but people know who you are, at least for a while.” Sawers will be using his prize money to create another short film this fall. He's also working on a feature script, in addition to the bread-and-butter work of television drama. In che meantime Shoes Off! has been chosen to open alongside Bernardo Bertolucci’s latest film, Besteged, starting tonight at Fifth Avenue Cinemas. “Well, he’s an Italian director, and there’s an Italian opera in Shoes Off,” jokes Sawers. factory seconds up to many sizes ~ available eg 16” round Exposed Aggregate Teg, 499 (Concrete — lanters selected sizes 0 Arriving Daiiy, DS JUNE 30/99 _ This doesn’t mean you can get into 20% more accidents. Now you can save up to 20% on optional auto insurance. 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