''The Event'' is a 2003 drama film directed by

Thom Fitzgerald Thomas "Thom" Fitzgerald (born July 8, 1968) is an American-Canadian film and theatre director, screenwriter, playwright and producer. Life Fitzgerald was born and raised in New Rochelle, New York. His parents divorced when he was five years ol ...

. 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 the ...

) who has died in Manhattan, resulting in an aborted 9-1-1 call. Attorney Nick DeVivo (

Parker Posey Parker Christian Posey (born November 8, 1968) is an American actress and musician. Posey is the recipient of a Golden Globe Award nomination, a Satellite Award nomination and two Independent Spirit Award nominations. Posey made her film debu ...

) 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 Olympia Dukakis (June 20, 1931 – May 1, 2021) was an American actress. She performed in more than 130 stage productions, more than 60 films and in 50 television series. Best known as a screen actress, she started her career in theater. Not lon ...

Brent Carver Brent Carver (November 17, 1951 – August 4, 2020) was a Canadian actor best known internationally for performances in both London's West End and on Broadway in '' Kiss of the Spider Woman'' as Molina, for which he won the Tony Award for Best L ...

Sarah Polley Sarah Ellen Polley (born January 8, 1979) is a Canadian actress,Howell, Peter (September 24, 1999)"Nobody's Starlet: Toronto's Sarah Polley is Only 20 but already a veteran actor so secure in her craft she can thumb her nose at Hollywood" ''Tor ...

Dick Latessa Richard Robert Latessa (September 15, 1929 – December 19, 2016) was an American stage, film, and television actor. Early life Latessa was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1929. After serving in the Army in maybe 1952, he began performing in Clevelan ...

Joanna P. Adler Joanna P. Adler (born 1964) is an American actress, known for her roles in Off-Broadway plays. She won an Obie Award in 1995. In 2014, Adler starred in the second season of the Lifetime (TV network), Lifetime television series ''Devious Maids''. ...

Jane Leeves Jane Elizabeth Leeves (born 18 April 1961) is an English actress. Leeves played Daphne Moon on the NBC television sitcom ''Frasier'' from 1993 until 2004, for which she was nominated for an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. She also played ...

, Rejean Cournoyer, Joan Orenstein, 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 The Sundance Film Festival (formerly Utah/US Film Festival, then US Film and Video Festival) is an annual film festival organized by the Sundance Institute. It is the largest independent film festival in the United States, with more than 46,66 ...

where it received three standing ovations. It was distributed by ThinkFilm in the U.S.

Cast

Joanna Adler Joanna P. Adler (born 1964) is an American actress, known for her roles in Off-Broadway plays. She won an Obie Award in 1995. In 2014, Adler starred in the second season of the Lifetime television series ''Devious Maids''. Life and career Adl ...

(billed as Joanna P. Adler) as Gaby Shapiro-Schnell * Chris Barry as Third Little Maid *

Walter Borden Walter Marven Borden, (born July 20, 1942) is a Canadian actor, poet and playwright. He is originally from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.Brent Carver Brent Carver (November 17, 1951 – August 4, 2020) was a Canadian actor best known internationally for performances in both London's West End and on Broadway in '' Kiss of the Spider Woman'' as Molina, for which he won the Tony Award for Best L ...

as Brian Knight * Linda Carvery as Doctor * Rejean Cournoyer (billed as Réjean Joseph Cournoyer) as Rory Metzler *

Lucy Decoutere Lucy DeCoutere (born 5 September 1970) is a Canadian actress and Royal Canadian Air Force officer, best known for her role as the character Lucy in the television series ''Trailer Park Boys''. Life and career DeCoutere grew up as the youngest c ...

as Jody *

Richard Donat Richard Donat (born 1 June 1941) is a Canadian actor, known for his work in Canadian and American television. He is well known for playing the character Vince Teagues in the Canadian–American TV series, '' Haven''. Donat is the younger brot ...

as Undertaker * Chase Duffy as Assistant District Attorney *

as Lila Shapiro * Tim Dunn as Ping Pong Player * Travis Ferris as NYPD Officer *

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 *

as Uncle Leo *

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 *

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 as Angela DeVivo * Doug Pettigrew as Canadian Sailor *

as Dana Shapiro *

as Nick Devivo *

Cynthia Preston Cynthia Preston, sometimes credited as Cyndy Preston (born May 18, 1968), is a Canadian actress. Life and career Preston was born in Toronto, Ontario. She made her screen debut in the 1986 television film ''Miles to Go...'' playing Jill Clayburgh ...

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 Chaz Thorne (born 1975 in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia) is a Canadian actor and television and film director. He graduated from the National Theatre School in 1996. He has appeared on stages across Canada as well as in numerous film and television pro ...

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 scu ...

(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 The ACTRA Awards were first presented in 1972 to celebrate excellence in Canada's television and radio industries.

, ACTRA Maritimes Award Outstanding Male Performance, Rejean Cournoyer *

Berlin International Film Festival The Berlin International Film Festival (german: Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin), usually called the Berlinale (), is a major international film festival held annually in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festi ...

Teddy Award The Teddy Award is an international film award for films with LGBT topics, presented by an independent jury as an official award of the Berlin International Film Festival (the Berlinale). In the most part, the jury consists of organisers of gay ...

: Reader Jury of the "Siegessäule" Award, Thom Fitzgerald *

Golden Trailer Awards The Golden Trailer Awards are an American annual award show for film trailers founded in 1999. The awards also honor the best work in all areas of film and video game marketing, including posters, television advertisements and other media, in ...

(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