Category: In The News

Toronto – July 25, 2012

Amy Matysio continues to establish herself as one of the country’s leading ladies with a busy schedule set for 2012. With five Canadian Comedy Award nominations under her belt, and a sixth on its way for her work on Showcase’s Single White Spenny, Amy is a comedic force that is not slowing down anytime soon.

Currently shooting on location in Saskatchewan, Amy stars as Ava Cameron in Academy Award Winner Roger Christian’s latest film, Stranded. Co-starring alongside Christian Slater, the story follows four isolated astronauts on board a bio-dome space craft, experiencing a ghostly intercession after a meteor storm, leading to paranoia, fear and death. Upcoming, Amy can be seen playing Mary in Jennifer Lynch’s Chained, a thrilling serial killer film. Amy also plays a character name Yolanda in Ferocious, a film that may be screening at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). On a lighter note, Amy stars as a mad scientist named Dr. Warhol in the upcoming family comedy film, Vampire Dog.

A comedy powerhouse, currently you can see Amy as “Saysha”, an awkward hopeless romantic 30-something in the bold and hilarious smash hit web series inSAYSHAble. As the creator, writer and co-producer of the series, this is a true project of Amy’s, showcasing her many talents and hilarity on and behind the camera.

Amy starred opposite Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart and Anna Faris in Just Friends (2005). She also played alongside Woody Harrelson in Sleepwalking, which was produced by Charlize Theron and Infinity Features and premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. Other notable movies include co-starring in the mockumentary The Guerilla Picture Show (2012), Dolan’s Cadillac (2009) with Christian Slater and the indie hit Mulligans (2008). Her small screen appearances include roles on inSecutiry, Corner Gas, Little Mosque on the Prairie, Redemption SK, renegadepress.com as well as co-starring in the original Showcase comedy series Single White Spenny.

A celebrated stage actress and inimitable “tour de force”, Amy Matysio has grown a resume full of notable and sought after roles. However, it was her turn in The Syringa Tree (Globe Theatre), the one-woman show featuring 23 characters, black and white, male and female, young and old; one reviewer touted her performance as “One of the most powerful performances every seen”, that Matysio notes as “a personal milestone in her work”.

This fall Amy will star in a production of Midsummer [A play with Songs], the story of a great lost weekend of car chases, wedding bust-ups, bondage miscalculations, midnight trysts and self-loathing hangovers. This production is a collaboration between Scottish artists: indie rocker Gordon MyIntyre of Ballboy, and playwright David Greig. Playing at Saskatchewan’s Globe Theatre, it is directed by award winning actor and up and coming director Michael Scholar Junior (Tom Waits’ Black Rider).

Working with the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS), Amy is the infectious personality and razor witted host behind the ‘Real Men Screen’ campaign; a series of three comedic and candid YouTube PSAs to support Men’s Health Month. Together with the CCS, she is currently developing a fourth spot for women. Continuing her work as a host this fall, she can be seen as the on-air personality for On Site, a new documentary series for City TV.

For more information visit:
http://www.amymatysio.com

Follow Amy Matysio on Twitter:
@myMatysio

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Available for interviews:
Amy Matysio

For media inquiries please contact:
Pennant Media Group
Kevin Pennant [email protected]
Toronto 416.596.2978
USA 855.596.2978

Toronto – July 4, 2012

Documentary filmmaker Sonia Godding Togobos explores the inspiring and heart-warming journey of a Haitian orphan with her latest documentary Adopted ID. The story follows Judith Craig, a Haitian woman adopted by a white Canadian family who returns to Haiti in order to find her biological parents. The film will be premiering at the Hot Docs Bloor Cinema (506 Bloor Street West) on July 19, 2012 at 6:30 PM. Tickets can be pre-purchased for $12 at www.adoptedID.com.

In Adopted ID, Judith takes audiences on her trip to Haiti, revealing an intimate journey and giving an in-depth, emotional and touching feel. She is a strong woman who has lived it, felt it, understands it and wants to give back to other children and parents who are experiencing a similar family dynamic.

The aftermath of the horrific Haiti earthquake in 2010 highlighted the need of trans-racial adoption and the benefit of families from wealthy nations assisting families of poorer nations. The earthquake motivated Judith to become even more involved with adoptions; Adopted ID examines the issue of transnational and trans-racial adoption. Having been abandoned at birth, Judith strives to share her story with the world while hoping to reunite with her biological parents.

In 2010, Sonia and her partner created SunStar Worldwide Studio; a media personal development company. They are excited to release the documentary which has been shot in Haiti, Canada and England over a period of four years.

During the production of Adopted ID, a campaign was created to help raise money to produce the music, footage, sound mixing and the final picture enhancement edit; this all enables the film to be broadcasted. The campaign resulted in $7,502 being raised, leading towards an outstanding documentary that will touch the world.

About Sonia Godding Togobo

Sonia Godding Togobo has worked in broadcast television with credits in Canada, England and has shot films in both Haiti and Ghana. After graduating from Humber’s Film and Television program in 2011, Sonia went on to work with numerous post-production companies before settling at Nelvana, North America’s largest animation distributor. Later worked her way on up to associate editor on CBC’s A Deathly Silence and WTSN Profile Series before moving to Canada’s pioneering music channel – Much Music in 2003. She has also worked on programs for BBC, Channel Four and ITV in London. Now, Sonia is gearing up to release her first ever full length documentary, Adopted ID.

For more information visit:
http://www.adoptedID.com/

Become a Fan of Adopted ID on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/adoptedid

Follow Sonia Godding Togobo on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/sgoddtogobo

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Available for interviews:
Sonia Godding Togobo
Judith Craig

For media inquiries please contact:

Pennant Media Group
Kevin Pennant
[email protected]
Toronto 416.596.2978
USA 855.596.2978

Toronto – June 28, 2012

Katherine Castro is gearing up for the special advanced screening of her latest film Pulse of the Indigo, showing Friday, July 20, 2012 at the Ray Kurtzman Theatre at CAA. The official premiere is being held on Saturday, July 21, 2012.

Pulse of the Indigo explores two crime families at war; with a thrilling twist they soon realize they are not the only ones capable of murder. Playing Isabella, Katherine Castro is a stripper working to get her poetry published. Estranged from her crime-focused father, Isabella hates him for getting her mother killed when she was just a little girl. Tragedy strikes when Isabella’s grandparents are killed by the Russian mafia, bringing her and her father back together.

Upcoming Katherine is playing Lola, the damaged beauty, in ‘Stripped’, a seven episode web series; the episodes will be subsequently edited into a standalone short film. Filming in August and launching this fall; ‘Stripped’ is the story of an armed robbery at a strip club going terribly wrong. The bouncer who is also the jobs inside man has a change of heart, leading him to turn against his fellow thieves in hopes of saving the life of an innocent stripper.

Katherine Castro is set to play in the Spanish film 10 Subjects, a thrilling feature film being shot in the Dominican Republic. The story follows a human experiment where only the strong survive. 10 strangers have been kidnapped and held in a room; unknowingly they are all connected by the mastermind behind it all. The true human condition becomes exposed, showing what the group is capable of, even murder. One by one they turn against each other, who will come out alive? Why are they locked up in the first place?

Moving to Los Angeles in 2007, Katherine began training with renowned acting teacher Aaron Speiser who has a star studded client roster featuring names like Will Smith, Gerard Butler, Virginia Madsen and many more.

This English Portuguese, Spanish and French speaker plays tough characters on screen and shares this attribute in her real life; she has trained Capoeira, a Brazilian martial art, for five years with one of the best Capoeira Masters and instructors in the industry.

Born in Santos Domingo, Dominican Republic, Katherine Castro’s passion and talents were quickly recognized. When arriving in Virginia at a young age, a doctor recommended Katherine enrol in ballet, jazz, tap and gymnastics to improve her balance and coordination problems. She soon became the one of the most outstanding dancers in her school, winning a number of competitions. Katherine continued dancing when she moved back to Dominican, working alongside Miriam Bello and later with acclaimed Cuban dancer Carlos Veitía, President of Ballet Concierto Dominicano.

For more information, visit:
http://www.katherinecastro.com/
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4440103/

Like Katherine on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Katherine-Castro/311330838960446

Follow Katherine on Twitter:
@KatCastroo

Available for interviews:
Katherine Castro

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For media inquiries please contact:
Pennant Media Group
Kevin Pennant [email protected]
Toronto 416.596.2978
USA 855.596.2978

Toronto – May 25, 2012

Leading brand management and licensing company, DECOSTA, known for their partnership with Hollywood’s biggest names including Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith Jamie Foxx, Robin Thicke, and The Jacksons, is teaming up with the ‘da Kink in my Hair producer, trey anthony. Through joining this star studded roster, DECOSTA will manage all U.S. brand development, online assets, acquiring celebrity endorsements and sponsorships.

“‘da Kink in my Hair has received tremendous success in Canada, and Europe and now it’s finally time to bring it to the United States,” says DECOSTA president, Jesse DeCosta. ”There is great opportunity for marketing and branding recognition, aimed at a U.S. market; together we’re going to bring this production to new heights providing nothing but quality material for the fans.”

DECOSTA is developing an online destination for trey anthony and ‘da Kink in my Hair fans, producers and industry-types to learn and engage with trey and her productions. DECOSTA is also reinventing ‘da Kink’s YouTube channel with new interactive videos like Kink Cam, Trey Tube, Secrets of Da Salon.

“‘da Kink in my Hair has been a Canadian icon. It has really changed the face of theatre and television in Canada and Europe” says trey anthony, “I’m ecstatic to be working with DECOSTA to actualize my dreams to bring ‘da Kink in my Hair brand to the U.S. market.”

trey anthony is an award winning playwright and creator of ‘da Kink in my hair, which has been named one of the top ten plays in Canadian history. ‘da Kink has received four National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) theatre awards, including for Best New Play.

Referred to as the “Oprah” of Canada, trey anthony is the first black woman to have her own television series on a prime time network. A power house businesswoman, trey is a prevalent motivational speaker and has toured all across the U.S. inspiring others to live meaningful lives.

trey is a former producer of W and writer for the Comedy Network and CTV; she was also executive producer of Urban Woman’s Comedy Festival, dat girl, sho is funny! Following her successful line of plays, came Secrets of a Black Boy, the male response to ‘da kink in 2009 at the prestigious Music Hall, written by Trey’s brother Darren Anthony and produced by Trey Anthony Studios.

For more information visit:

http://www.decostainc.com/
http://www.treyanthonystudios.com/

Follow DECOSTA on Twitter: @decostainc
Follow Trey on Twitter: @treyanthony

Become a Fan of DECOSTA on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/D-E-C-O-S-T-A-Marketing

Become a Fan of Trey Anthony on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/treyanthonyproductions

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Available for interviews:
Jesse DeCosta, trey anthony

For media inquiries please contact:

Pennant Media Group
Kevin Pennant [email protected]
Toronto 416.596.2978
United States 855.596.2978

Toronto – May 17, 2012

Canada’s leading entertainment brand management and licensing company, DECOSTA, has partnered with the Estate of Tupac Shakur’s merchandising corporation, Amaru AWA to create and manage all web and social media activity. DECOSTA has taken Twitter followers from zero to 102,000 and attracted 6.7 million new Facebook ‘Likes’, since the partnership began in January of 2011

As of Friday, May 11, 2012 Tupac had a Weekly Total Reach of 16,731,275 Facebook users; up 62.8 percent from previous weeks. Additionally, the total Facebook page ‘Likes’ was over 6,767,563. 648,385 people have been talking and interacting with the Facebook page, up 11.8 percent.

DECOSTA is the first company to officially take the Tupac brand online and presently reaches 40,000,000 people each month, and over 480,000,000 Friends of Friends.

“Our role is to respectfully uphold and protect the memory of Tupac Shakur, online and identify business opportunities that drive revenue to Amaru AWA in the form of licensing. Tupac fans are very passionate and the recent Coachella Hologram performance has attracted even more fans,” says DECOSTA President, Jesse DeCosta. “As brand managers, it’s important that we develop authentic, meaningful and exciting experiences in order to earn the trust of adoring fans, and drive loyalty to Tupac’s brand.”

DECOSTA continues to build Tupac’s legacy by growing a new generation of fans. In total, 25.4 percent of Tupac’s audience is aged 13-17; a majority of who were not even born at the time of his death.

About Tupac:

Tupac is an iconic hip-hop artist, actor, poet and an advocate for the overlooked and poor in America. Triumphantly, throughout his career, Tupac sold over 75 million albums and has received six Grammy nominations. To this day he is still considered to be one of the greatest influences on modern hip-hop.

About DECOSTA:

A Canadian based company, founded by Jesse DeCosta, DECOSTA is a global brand management and licensing company that has worked with a range of icons like Will Smith, Kevin James and Deborah Cox. Recently, DECOSTA began working with the Jacksons, launching the family’s first official website, managing their social media, and providing the creative direction for the upcoming Unity Tour.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.decostainc.com/
http://www.2pac.com/

Follow DECOSTA on Twitter: @decostainc
Follow Tupac on Twitter: @2pac

Become a Fan of DECOSTA on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/D-E-C-O-S-T-A-Marketing

Become a Fan of Tupac on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/tupacshakur

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Available for interviews:
Jesse DeCosta

For media inquiries please contact:

Pennant Media Group
Kevin Pennant [email protected]
Toronto 416.596.2978
United States 855.596.2978

TORONTO – May 18, 2012

Toronto-based abstract artist Shawn Skeir presented his latest project Life Lines curated by Pamela Edmonds, a solo exhibition of new paintings on Wednesday, May 16^th. Held at the B.A.N.D. Gallery at 823A Bloor Street West, the show and will be on view until June 10, 2012.

Describing himself as a “sculptor in two-dimensions”, his artistic practice is embedded in a vibrant urban style that echoes fluid movements of light and colour while capturing the immediate and crucial energies of contemporary life.

While continuously working to make colours pop, Shawn Skeir strives to create images that symbolize a unification of essential organic forms, contemporary urban landscapes and post-digital concepts. While doing so, he finds himself being influenced by ongoing change of pace and people of the contemporary city.

“I want to express a feeling of unity with movement as a reminder that we should celebrate our diversity and draw from each other’s cultural and traditional experiences.”Skeir says, “I want the Toronto public and Bloor Court Village in particular to leave the show feeling confident that this city has a vibrant arts community, and to be inspired by the flow of colours.”

With his strong passion for art and a keen eye for detail, his paintings include a fluidity of bold lines which also conveys an intense degree of concentration and the artist’s striking command of the optical effects of colour theory, exposing how both positive and negative space echo back and forth through his skilful use of colour combinations.

Shawn Skeir’s exhibition includes the featured paintings entitled “Faces: Who are we” which strongly sums up the essence and title of the show, Life Lines.

About Shawn Skeir:

Born in Nova Scotiaand currently based in Toronto, Shawn Skier studied at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and George Brown College. His work has been exhibited throughout Toronto and the US and is in numerous private and public collections. The artist works out of the self-named studio and gallery space inToronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood.

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For more information, please visit:

www.shawnskeir.com

Follow Shawn Skeir on Twitter: @shawnskeir

Available for interviews:
Shawn Skeir

Toronto – May 9, 2012

Canadian based entertainment brand management company, DECOSTA (www.decostainc.com) launches 2012 with the first-ever official Jacksons website, TheJacksons.com, supporting the company’s takeover of all licensing and marketing affairs for the legendary group.

The new site will perform as an official source for fans around the world, providing access to authentic and rare information relating to the Jacksons, and brothers Jackie, Marlon, Tito, Randy, Jermaine and Michael Jackson. DECOSTA is also The Jacksons and The Jackson 5’s exclusive brand licensing representative. TheJacksons.com will be home to exclusive content such as tour dates, philanthropic initiatives, photos, high definition video clips, concerts, never before seen Jackson family footage, memorabilia and much more.

TheJacksons.com has unique features including an historical timeline of how The Jacksons have impacted pop culture over the past 40 years. The timeline has an interactive archive of rare material including first time television appearances and concert pictures.

“We are thrilled to be working with DECOSTA on our first official website,” says Tito Jackson. “It’s a chance for fans, young and old, to learn about the Jacksons and more importantly, it’s the first time our fans can have a one-on-one connection to our family. Everything you see on here will be directly from us, the Jackson family.”

“Working with The Jacksons is a great honor, and truly something special,” says Jesse DeCosta, President and Founder of DECOSTA. “We believe that TheJacksons.com will serve as a source of authentic, factual and exciting information, dispelling the many myths about the family. We’re thrilled to bring this to fans around world. The site showcases the many exciting events that the Jacksons have brought to pop culture and gives potential licensees a place to learn the deep value of the brand.”

Established in Toronto, Canada with offices in Los Angeles, DECOSTA brings over 15 years of official brand management and licensing experience with a roster of notable clientele including Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Robin Thicke, Willow Smith, Deborah Cox, Kevin James, Jordan Knight and more.

For DECOSTA, keeping fans engaged with compelling content, and respecting the artist, is the key to the company’s quiet success in Hollywood. The agency’s vast resources include creative experience in film, television, music, video games, corporate marketing, and new media. DECOSTA helps extend the marketability of artists, entertainment brands, and lifestyle properties, developing new creative and business opportunities with a global network of licensing partners.

“The web is an ‘always on’ channel, with real-time access to anything you want,” says Jesse DeCosta, “With avenues of social media such as Twitter and Facebook, DECOSTA utilizes the web to connect audiences with clients brands, and build relationships. All brands are a click away, and brand owners need to manage the interactions and communication online, or face irrelevance. The experience you provide through your web content is what creates loyalty. Our team’s focus is on that experience, which leads to the growth of a very valuable, desired brand.”

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Available for Interviews:

Jesse DeCosta, President
The Jackson Brothers

(Jackie, Marlon & Tito Jackson)

For more information, please visit: www.decostainc.com

For more information on the Jacksons, please visit:

www.thejacksons.com

Follow DECOSTA on Twitter: @decostainc

Become a Fan of DECOSTA on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/D-E-C-O-S-T-A-Marketing

Become a Fan of the Jacksons on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jack5ons

Toronto – April 5, 2012

On April 10, 2012 at 8 p.m., internationally acclaimed Vancouver artist Jason Young will perform his latest work, “2054” on the rooftop of New York’s Soho House. Loosely based on the Canadian sport of Curling, “2054” will immerse viewers in an idyllic future where all world issues are resolved through collaboration, fun, and play.

“Curling matches never create rivalry,” explains Young. “Curling is the only sport where communication and collaboration alter the trajectory and is a sport that suggests that we are much more likely to resolve our differences by focusing on the things we agree upon.”

The first iteration of “2054” was an award winning short film with a curling rink made using toxic resins. Now with the advent of sustainable “eco-resins” Jason Young is finally able to perform “2054” in front of a live audience.

Broken up into two teams representing “warm” and “cool” colors, Jason Young and his teammates will throw glowing chrome sculptures down the surface of a 50 ft long customized light box. Created by Young, the “curling stone” sculptures will lead comet trails of colour down the length of a 50 ft long glowing curling rink, creating a magnificent tapestry of bleeding colours. Sections of the resulting painting will be chosen to create 10 individual “lightbox” paintings.

The official 2054 after party will be held at Darby Downstairs located at 244 West 14th Street. Darby Downstairs (http://thedarbynyc.com) is a cocktail lounge with glamour, charm and exuberance that shares the same passion for interactive art as Jason Young.

About Jason Young:

Young is well known as an artist who has always challenged the norm. He uses unconventional materials such as resin and automotive lacquer to create beautiful abstract works. Young’s works are part of major collections around the world including that of the Four Season’s Group, Hewlett Packard, Progressive Insurance, The Tucson Museum of Art and the Kresqe Museum of Art. He has shown with galleries such as James Corcoran, Thomas Solomon and ChacMool in Los Angeles, Christine Rose in New York, Christopher Cutts in Toronto, Monte Clark in Vancouver, The Box in Turin, Italy, B&D in Milan, Italy and La Recova in the Canary Islands. Young studied Fine Art at the University of Southern California, then moved to Paris where completed the graduate program under the tutelage of Pontus Hulten and Daniel Buren at L’institut Des Hautes Etudes En Arts Plastiques.

For more information:
www.jasonyoung.com

Available for interviews:
Jason Young

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For media inquiries please contact:

Pennant Media Group

Kevin Pennant [email protected]

Toronto 416.596.2978

United States 855.596.2978

Toronto’s preeminent restaurant guide, Dine.TO, reports that restaurant reservations are increasing in this city, encouraging news for an industry that might well have expected different results in the current economic climate. According to its reservation and call-tracking system, which compiles data from 500 member restaurants, reservations made by phone and online increased by seven per cent this year over last.

Specifically, the Dine.TO website oversaw 140,973 reservations last year and 150,393 in the same period a year later.

What’s more, a large number of these inquiries were made with fine restaurants, where dishes sell, on average, for between $20 and $30. This suggests an upward-arching dining trend, with the population of consumers who choose fine restaurants over casual opportunities on the climb.

More than that, Dine.TO’s research reveals that dining as an overall experience is changing. Restaurant goers are no longer playing it safe and sticking to their favourite haunts, but are exploring the tastes of the world in their own backyard. The top five most popular restaurant types on Dine.TO are: Italian, Seafood, Canadian, Mediterranean and Steakhouses. It’s also worth noting that Canadian food has increased in popularity, suggesting a movement toward local food.

“The business as a whole has been steadily increasing over the last five months, and it’s relative to the city we live in. Just look around at all the cranes in the skyline – Toronto is booming,” says Table 17 owner, Erik Joyal. “We’re noticing a higher frequency in customers, and with the economy in good shape, people are no longer in fear of spending.”

“At the end of the day people want to eat and be entertained; this will never change,” says Mistura general manager, Julian Gova. “People will always return to a restaurant with a great product and service, but now they’re more financially conscious. Rather than a $150 bottle of wine, they’ll order a $75 bottle.”

“We’ve been open for over 30 years and our reservation numbers are on the climb and we see this number continuing to rise this year,” says Steve Mastoras, owner of Whistler’s Grille & The McNeil Room.

About Dine.TO:

Dine.TO is the city’s premier hospitality guide. With an extensive database of more than 10,000 restaurants, hotels, lounges, banquet halls, bars, clubs and all-things-gastronomic, Dine.TO provides a quick and elegant online experience for all who wish to enjoy the culinary and cultural diversity that makes Toronto great.

With a basic listing on the website free to businesses, Dine.TO can help restaurants reach a hungry audience. And visitors appreciate the integrated listings featuring photo galleries, virtual tours, full menus, up-to-date reviews and chef profiles in their pursuit of the perfect restaurant or venue for their occasion. Dine.TO is the only site offering such complete listings. It receives more than 500,000 visitors a month.

Dine.TO was established in 2002 by Stratos Papachristopoulos and Pantelly Damoulianos. Originally looking to open a restaurant, the long-time friends and business partners opted, instead, for the exciting world of e-business.

Employing partnerships and custom-tailored marketing methods, the pair applied their passion for the hospitality industry and their knowledge of emerging technological trends to the launch of their first web venture together. With years of experience and expertise in the hospitality field, Dine.TO continues to put consumers’ interests first.

Appearing on Profit Magazine’s Hot 50 list of Canada’s hottest start-ups in 2009, Dine.TO currently ranks as #58 on the 2011 Profit 200 list of Canada’s Fastest-Growing Companies.

In addition to partnering with companies like the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), American Express and 411.ca, Dine.TO has been the exclusive online sponsor of Chef’s Challenge for the past two years. Hosted by celebrity chefs (Gordon Ramsay in 2010 and Bobby Flay this year), the fundraising event has raised over $1.1 million for cancer research. Dine.TO also proudly gives back to the community by supporting charities such as Second Harvest, Fife House’s Taste for Life and Willow’s Eat to the Beat charity event for breast cancer.

For more information visit:
Website: www.dine.TO
Twitter: @DineTO
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dine.TO
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/DineTOVideos

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For media inquiries please contact:
Pennant Media Group
Kevin Pennant [email protected]
Toronto 416.596.2978
United States 855.596.2978

Toronto – March 20, 2012

Inner City Films will be having the Toronto premier of its latest film High Chicago at the ReelWorld Film Festival on April 14, 2012, taking place at Famous Players Canada Square Cinemas 4 Theatre at 2:30PM. Directed by Alfons Adetuyi and starring Colin Salmon (Resident Evil), High Chicago follows a man struggling with a severe gambling addiction while trying to fulfil his dream of opening a drive-in theatre in Africa.

Now in its 10th year, the ReelWorld Film Festival is dedicated to showcasing work from Canada and around the world, including diverse films from Aboriginal, Asian, African American, Latino, Middle Eastern, South Asian and other multi-racial communities. It is committed to bringing together filmmakers and artists from multicultural Canadian communities to connect, critique and support each other.

High Chicago has also been nominated for a 2012 AMAA (African Movie Academy Award) for best Diaspora feature. Presented annually, AMAA Awards recognize excellence of professionals in the African film industry. The awards are aimed at honouring and promoting excellence in the African movie industry as well as uniting the African continent through arts and culture.

Recently announcing its collaboration with the world’s largest film studio, Alfons Adetuyi and Ramoji Rao, Chairman of Ramoji Film City, will be working together on a three-picture deal. Comprised of one drama and two action-comedy films, the first title to be produced under the deal is Boy Wonder, a drama based on the documentary, Ganesh, Boy Wonder. Inspired by a true story, it follows a boy debilitated by a strange illness, a famous Bollywood producer and a world renowned surgeon as their lives intersect in a tale of love and betrayal.

The other two films include the international spy caper, Mumbai Showdown and Chasing Gold, a time–shifting treasure hunt story being penned by Stomp the Yard writer, Robert Adetuyi. Shooting of the films will mostly take place in Ramoji Film City located in Hyderabad, India with post in Toronto.

Negotiated during the Canadian Film Mission to India, sponsored by the Ontario Media Development Corporation and Telefilm Canada, this deal should encourage co-production between Canada and India.

Holding the Guiness World Record for the biggest film studio, Ramoji Film City is an integrated complex sprawling over 2,000 acres (8.1 sq.km), situated near the historic city of Hyderabad, India. The film studio complex provides everything under one roof. The picturesque film city has unparalleled pre-production, production and post-production facilities making it most sought after by filmmakers of all hues; Film City has taken part in making nearly 1,800 films in various Indian languages. Apart from being the Chairman of a thriving and expanding business group, Mr. Ramoji Rao has produced 85 films in a span of two decades.

“We have long admired Mr. Rao’s vision of building a world class film studio capable of producing internationally released feature films,” says Adetuyi. “Ramoji Film City is the perfect partner for action/comedies with big set pieces and back-lot action scenes. Mr. Rao’s facility has facades that include: an international airport, train station, western city streets, and a large city square. It also has 47 shooting stages, a Kodak certified lab and world class sound mixing facilities. With 85 feature films to his credit, Mr. Rao’s experience will be a great asset.”

“We have been very successful producing films for the Indian market and look forward to producing universal stories together with Inner City Films that will resonate with international audiences,” said Mr. Rao.

Established by Alfons Adetuyi in 1987, Inner City Films is an award-winning production company recognized for navigating the complexities of financing international co-productions and producing successful cross-cultural films and television series. ICF has produced over 150 episodes of primetime television sold to over 60 countries and is presently in development with 3 new series: Bounce (creator/executive producer Robert Adetuyi), a one-hour hip–hop drama for CTV; The Watchers (created by Richard Wagner), a sci-fi series for SPACE; and Spicetown, 26X1hour scripted series to be shot in Barbados which is being shopped to broadcasters. ICF recently completed two feature films, BEAT THE WORLD, written and directed by Robert Adetuyi and distributed by Sony in the US, and The Wild Bunch in Germany & France and eOne in Canada.

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Available for Interviews:
Alfons Adetuyi

For more information visit:
Website:
www.innercityfilms.com
www.ramojifilmcity.com

 

For media inquiries please contact:
Pennant Media Group
Kevin Pennant [email protected]
Toronto 416.596.2978
United States 855.596.2978