Toronto win a launching pad for 'In My Father's Den'

When 'In My Father's Den' won the critics' prize at the Toronto Film Festival, contributor KATHERINE TULICH was one of the jurors. She reports on what it might mean for the film


It's just as well we didn't ink any of those international distribution deals," says producer Trevor Haysom. He is grinning widely after receiving In My Father's Den's first international award at the Toronto Film Festival.

The debut film by New Zealand director Brad McGann took the prestigious Fipresci prize at the festival - Fipresci is the Federation Internationale de la Presse Cinematographique (the International Federation of Film Critics).

They send film critics from around the world to act as jurors at the major film festivals.

As a member of the jury in Toronto representing Australia (the other critics were from the US and Canada), it was a delight to hand the award to such an eager recipient.

Haysom had already left the festival when the call came. He jumped on the next plane from New York to Toronto and was literally running out of the cab into the hotel ballroom to receive the award at the official ceremony.

"This is really such a thrill," said a breathless Haysom. "We had no idea we would get this."

The films competing for the prize were all debut features that were premiering at the festival. We viewed 21 before making our decision and it included some heavy hitters such as Crash from the US (one of the most talked-about films, starring Sandra Bullock and Brendan Fraser), Noel directed by actor Chazz Palmenteri with Susan Sarandon in the lead role, an impressive political film from South Africa called Red Dust with Hilary Swank, as well as Aussie entrant Oyster Farmer by expatriate New Zealand writer/director Anna Reeves.

But it didn't take our jury long to decide that Den was the clear winner. It represented the most mature work of all the new directors we saw. It was emotionally riveting, with extraordinary performances by all the actors, and visually stunning (especially with the superb work of Stuart Dryburgh).

We summarised our award by saying the film won "for its emotional maturity, striking performances and visual grace". Noah Cowan, co-director of the festival, introduced the award by adding: "This moody, strongly atmospheric drama reinforces the strength of contemporary New Zealand film-making. The film introduces a major new directorial talent."

Toronto was also a chance for the film to get its first international audience, and the response was overwhelming. "In the first screening we had a standing ovation," says Haysom.

"Toronto is such a launching pad for films. It can really start the avalanche and the doors flood open, especially for a film by a new director. When you get the award, people have a lot more confidence in buying or marketing your film."

He is hoping for the same ripple effect that Whale Rider received after getting the popular vote at Toronto two years ago. "That film really got a kickstart at Toronto and it went all the way to the Oscars," says Haysom.

While the film has distribution deals in Australia and Britain, as well as some minor territories, the Fipresci prize has sparked more interest from North American distributors.

Haysom hopes the film will be released shortly in the US. "We'd love to see it out in time for Oscar consideration. You never know ... look what happened to Whale Rider," he grins.