News

September 30th 2008: Because it was the number one box office draw at Cinema du Parc from September 26 to October 2, an extra week of screenings will be added for Friday October 3 to Thursday October 9 daily at 9:30 pm.

August 6, 2008: Finally! The film will have its theatrical premiere at Montreal’s Cinema du Parc, 3575 ave. du Parc (metro Place-des-Arts) from September 26th to October 2nd. Friday and Saturday screenings are at 9 p.m. with Sunday to Thursday screenings held at 5 p.m. The director will be present for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Do not miss this opportunity to see it on the big screen for which it was conceived and expect more North American dates and venues to follow.

July 30, 2008: Yet another festival has accepted to program the film! The Bay Street Film Festival takes place from September 11th to September 14th in Thunder Bay Ontario, the geographical center of North America.

March 20, 2008: A great article has just appeared on the prestigious OFF/SCREEN site: http://www.offscreen.com/biblio/pages/essays/grave_disturbance/

February 6th, 2008: We have just learned that The Eighth Annual Fargo International Film Festival has accepted the film to play there in early March. Yes, that’s the same Fargo that was the setting for the famous Coen Brothers film. 2008 is looking good so far!

January 21st, 2008: Historic news! B.O.S. Productions has just signed a sales deal with Imageworks Entertainment International. Executive producer Philippe Chabot and producer Philippe Spurrell first met with Imageworks head David Shoshan at AFM 2007 last November and have since finalized a deal that makes the L.A. based company official foreign sales agent for the film. Mr. Shoshan is also on the board of directors for the Independent Film and Television Alliance.

September 15th 2007: - The film is scheduled to play The Morris Memorial in Chatham New York on October 21 at Film Columbia. The director will be present.

September 4th 2007:: We have just learned that FILM COLUMBIA will be presenting the film some time between October 18 and 21. The festival is located in Chatham New York, home to lead actress Ilona Garcen. Details to follow.

July 1st 2007: BIG NEWS! Besides being selected as closing night film, we have just won the top prize for "Best Fiction Feature" at The Philadelphia International Film Festival which took place June 25th to June 30th. This is the second time the director has won an award at this festival. In 1991 he took 2nd prize there for best short film ("Hollyweird"). This time the award statuette is made of real marble and metal! 

March 7th 2007: The final sound design by Dan Lagace and newly mixed soundtrack by David Kristian have just been finalised and added to the film along with a couple of picture editing changes. This makes the film now officially complete in it's final form and no longer a work-in-progress.

February 1st 2007: The film has just been given a sweet spot at the Rendez-Vous Du Cinema Quebecois, a showcase festival of top productions. Friday night February 23, 9 p.m. is the time. The National Film Board Cinema, Montreal, is the place.

November 13th 2006: The film has just played The Northampton Independent Film Festival to a very receptive audience. Stand by for more upcoming festival play dates.

October 13th 2006:

"Montreal indie filmmaker Philippe Spurrell has crafted a cinematic rarity: a genuinely moving chiller. Four years in the making, shot in luscious 35mm and showcasing a beautifully melancholic score, the film attempts to unearth the oppressive history of a small rural town in Quebec. James (Tadhg McMahon) visits his grandparents in order to learn more about his deceased mother, but finds more than he bargained for. This could easily have been made into a documentary, but Spurrell opts for a quiet ghost story instead, reminding us that genre filmmaking can focus on socio-political concerns and remain captivating." M.D.B. Rue Morgue Magazine Oct. 2006

October 8th 2006:

After a succesful screening at the Calgary International Film Festival, THE DESCENDANT will next be playing the prestigious Austin Film Festival in Texas. 

October 2nd 2006:- The film has just been accepted to play The Austin International Film Festival in October as well as The Northhampton Independent Film Festival in November. Details to follow...  

September 12th 2006: The film screens at Calgary's THE PLAZA theatre on Saturday September 30th at midnite. 1133 Kensington Road N.W. Although it is playing the midnite time slot, it is definitely not what one might consider a “midnite movie”. Enjoy the screening!

August 9th 2006: The film has just been accepted for screening at the Calgary International Film Festival which takes place in Alberta, Canada from September 22nd to October 1st. Please stay tuned for playdates, times and venue location. www.calgaryfilm.com

August 1st 2006 : An article has been posted on the Fantasia Festival website regarding the premiere. Read it here!

July 21st 2006 : THE DESCENDANT played to an enthusiastic audience for film's near sold-out premiere at the Fantasia Festival last night. Director Phillippe Spurrell received a standing ovation at the film's close, before beginning a well attended Q & A session. More soon!

July 17th 2006 : WORLD PREMIERE! THE DESCENDANT is screening at North America's leading genre film festival Fantasia in Montreal this coming Thursday, July 20th 2006 at 7:45pm. Click here for the festival schedule.

March 21st 2006: THE DESCENDANT is presently in the final stages of post-production with the musical score being composed by David Kristian and the complex sound design being created by Dan Lagace.