''The Event'' is a 2003 drama film directed by
Thom Fitzgerald. It tells the story of Matt Shapiro (
Don McKellar
Don McKellar (born August 17, 1963) is a Canadian actor, writer, playwright, and filmmaker. He was part of a loosely-affiliated group of filmmakers to emerge from Toronto known as the Toronto New Wave.
He is known for directing and writing th ...
) who has died in Manhattan, resulting in an aborted 9-1-1 call. Attorney Nick DeVivo (
Parker Posey) interviews Matt's friends and family to piece together a portrait of Matt's life and finally his death.
The ultra-low-budget film stars an ensemble of respected actors including
Olympia Dukakis,
Brent Carver,
Sarah Polley,
Dick Latessa,
Joanna P. Adler,
Jane Leeves,
Rejean Cournoyer,
Joan Orenstein
Joan Orenstein (December 4, 1923 – October 10, 2009) was a British-born Canadian actress, primarily on stage, although she performed in other media. One of her best-known roles was in the 1997 film '' The Hanging Garden'' as the dotty old g ...
, McKellar and Posey. It was written by Steven Hillyer, Tim Marback with director Fitzgerald, and produced by Bryan Hofbauer, Vicki McCarty (exec), Robert Flutie (exec).
''The Event'' premiered at the
Sundance Film Festival where it received three standing ovations. It was distributed by
ThinkFilm in the U.S.
Cast
*
Joanna Adler (billed as Joanna P. Adler) as Gaby Shapiro-Schnell
* Chris Barry as Third Little Maid
*
Walter Borden as Fred
* Ray Brimicombe as Desk Sergeant
* Laura Cahoot as Bride
*
Brent Carver as Brian Knight
* Linda Carvery as Doctor
*
Rejean Cournoyer (billed as Réjean Joseph Cournoyer) as Rory Metzler
*
Lucy Decoutere as Jody
*
Richard Donat as Undertaker
* Chase Duffy as Assistant District Attorney
*
Olympia Dukakis as Lila Shapiro
* Tim Dunn as Ping Pong Player
* Travis Ferris as NYPD Officer
*
Thom Fitzgerald as Vagimar Director
* Robert Fucito as China Bob
* Ian Gilmore as Second Little Maid
* Glen Michael Grant as Andy Campbell
* Steven Hillyer as Paramedic
* Celeste Jankowski as String Quartet Member No.1
*
Dick Latessa as Uncle Leo
*
Jane Leeves as Mona Rothchild
* Tim Marback as Paramedic No. 2
* Gianna Marciante as Lilian Schnell
* Jaclyn Markowitz as Amelia Schnell
* Vicky McCarty as Princess Leia Kapui Schwartz
*
Don McKellar
Don McKellar (born August 17, 1963) is a Canadian actor, writer, playwright, and filmmaker. He was part of a loosely-affiliated group of filmmakers to emerge from Toronto known as the Toronto New Wave.
He is known for directing and writing th ...
as Matt Shapiro
* Ruth Moore as Dr. Fisher
* Carla Morton as Clinic Nurse
* Ken Nagami as String Quartet Member No.2
* Marcia Olsen as Sick Girl
*
Joan Orenstein
Joan Orenstein (December 4, 1923 – October 10, 2009) was a British-born Canadian actress, primarily on stage, although she performed in other media. One of her best-known roles was in the 1997 film '' The Hanging Garden'' as the dotty old g ...
as Angela DeVivo
* Doug Pettigrew as Canadian Sailor
*
Sarah Polley as Dana Shapiro
*
Parker Posey as Nick Devivo
*
Cynthia Preston as Amy Eisner
* Walker Richards as Wedding Photographer
* Susan Sayle as String Quartet Member No.3
* Jamie Stevens as Bartender
* Studio as a Drag Queen
* Darryl Tannahill as Detective
*
Chaz Thorne as Chris Devivo
* Miss Vicky as a Drag Queen
* Cecil Wright as City Clerk Official
* Mike Younger as Cowboy
* Theresa Zong as Grumpy Lady on Plane
* Christina Zorich as Judy Campbell
Awards
* ACCTV
Genie Award
The Genie Awards were given out annually by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to recognize the best of Canadian cinema from 1980–2012. They succeeded the Canadian Film Awards (1949–1978; also known as the "Etrog Awards," for sc ...
(nominated)—Olympia Dukakis, Best Actress in a Supporting Role
*
Atlantic Film Festival
FIN: Atlantic International Film Festival (known as The Atlantic International Film Festival until 2017) is a major international film festival held annually in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada since 1980. FIN is the largest Canadian film festival ...
, Atlantic Canadian Award (win)—Thom Fitzgerald, Best Direction
* Atlantic Film Festival, Atlantic Canadian Award (win)—S. Hillyer, T. Marback, Best Screenplay
* Atlantic Film Festival, Atlantic Canadian Award (win)—D'Arcy Poultney, Best Art Direction
* Atlantic Film Festival, Atlantic Canadian Award (win)—Christopher Cooper, Best Editing
* Atlantic Film Festival, Atlantic Canadian Award (win)—Joan Orenstein, Best Actress
*
ACTRA Awards, ACTRA Maritimes Award Outstanding Male Performance,
Rejean Cournoyer
*
Berlin International Film Festival,
Teddy Award: Reader Jury of the "Siegessäule" Award, Thom Fitzgerald
*
Golden Trailer Awards (nominated)—Golden Trailer, Best Independent
* Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival—Audience Award, Best Overall Film
*
L.A. Outfest—Grand Jury Award, Outstanding Actress, Olympia Dukakis
*
Seattle International Film Festival
The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF), held annually in Seattle, Washington since 1976, is among the top film festivals in North America. Audiences have grown steadily; the 2006 festival had 160,000 attendees. The SIFF runs for more th ...
Emerging Master Showcase Award—''The Event'' and ''
The Wild Dogs''
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Event
2003 drama films
2003 LGBT-related films
2003 films
American LGBT-related films
Canadian LGBT-related films
English-language Canadian films
2000s English-language films
Films directed by Thom Fitzgerald
HIV/AIDS in American films
Films scored by Christophe Beck
American drama films
LGBT-related drama films
Films shot in Nova Scotia
HIV/AIDS in Canadian films
2000s American films
2000s Canadian films