Canadian climate change film sells out Cineplexes
by When the Storm Fades
January 15, 2020
Theatrical release of award-winning film is set to transform the life of one family.
The screenings in Vancouver, Toronto, Halifax and Nanaimo have already sold out, forcing Cineplex to move them to larger cinemas due to popular demand.
For immediate release:
January 15, 2019
The Filipino family that stars in the film (the Pablos) are being displaced by climate change and 100% of the film's box office profits are going to help them buy a new home. The Pablo Family lives on the front lines of climate change - a seaside neighbourhood in Tacloban City, Philippines. In 2013 they survived the strongest storm ever measured at landfall.
After losing family members during the storm The Pablos have spent years slowly recovering. Now they face a new threat, their entire community is being demolished to pave the way for a giant climate adaptation wall. Profits made at the Canadian box office will help them secure new housing.
When The Storm Fades is the result of 5 years of collaboration between the Pablo family and Filipino-Canadian comedian/filmmaker Sean Devlin 叶 世民.
It is by no means a feel-good movie, at its North American festival premiere The Globe & Mail called it “Uncomfortable and unforgettable.” However, Canadian moviegoers seem to be finding comfort in the fact that the tickets they’re buying are having a meaningful impact.
“I think people are tired of simply asking political leaders to address the climate crisis. We know that there are millions of people around the world whose daily lives are being devastated by climate change. However, even for the most passionate Western activists the chances to connect and directly support these impacted communities are few and far between.” says the film’s director Sean Devlin 叶 世民.
Devlin considers himself one of those activists. In the past decade, Sean has been arrested 6 times for his creative interventions on climate change. Twice infiltrating the private security detail of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. These performances provoked Conservative Senator Bob Ruciman to push for “new laws to deter similar future protest” stating that Devlin “should face indictable offences with serious fines and/or imprisonment”. Fortunately instead of going to prison Mr. Devlin spent several years making a feature film, one that has now managed to sneak its way into Canadian cinemas.
MORE ABOUT THE FILM:
From Executive Producers The Yes Men, Mark Achbar (dir: The Corporation, Noam Chomsky's Manufacturing Consent) and Naomi Klein. A genre defying docu-dramedy starring a real Filipino family re-enacting their daily struggle to recover from the strongest storm at landfall in recorded history - 2013’s Typhoon Haiyan. Their journey intertwines with a pair of inept white saviours played by Canadian Comedy Award Winners Kayla Lorette and Aaron Read. The third feature film from Filipino-Canadian writer/director/comedian Sean Devlin 叶 世民 is a prefigurative production that has improved the economic quality of life for the storm survivors that star in the film. This film was produced through crowdfunding combined with generous support from The Canada Council for the Arts and Telefilm Canada.
HONOURS:
Winner: Jury Prize "Best Emerging Canadian Director" presented by Directors Guild of Canada at 37th Vancouver International Film Festival.
Winner: Jury Prize 'Best Director' Liverpool Film Festival
Winner: Jury Prize 'Best Director' Mumbai Indian Cine Film Festival
Winner: ‘Best Canadian Feature Film’ 19th Annual Gimli International Film Festival
Winner: Jury Prize 'Best Actress' Kolkata Nez International Film Festival
Winner: "Best Supporting Actor" and "Best Supporting Actress" 19th Annual Vancouver Film Critics' Awards
Official Selection 42nd Sao Paulo International Film Festival and 40th Cairo International Film Festival
CRITICAL PRAISE:
"An uncomfortable and unforgettable window into the disaster Filipinos call Typhoon Yolanda - and the impact of the West both at its root and in its aftermath." - The Globe and Mail
"Beautiful, breathtaking... hilarious" - VICE
"Wow. That's a beautiful film. I've never seen anything like it."
- Oscar© Winner Adam Mckay (Vice, The Big Short, Anchorman)
"Powerhouse" - The Georgia Straight (Cover story)
"Audacious authenticity" - The Vancouver Courier
"A true and genuine gem" - The Tyee
CONTACT:
Sean Devlin - Writer/Director/Producer
letbabiesvote@gmail.com
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