News Updates

Manitoba’s Awkward Sexual Adventure and Keep a Modest Head to Screen at TIFF

Posted on August 9, 2012

The Toronto International Film Festival announced August 8 that the Manitoba feature My Awkward Sexual Adventure and the 20 minute short film Keep a Modest Head will screen as part of this year’s program.

Produced by Manitobans Juliette Hagopian (Julijette Inc.) and Jonas Chernick (Banana-Moon Sky Films) My Awkward Sexual Adventure is a sexy and ultimately charming romantic comedy about an awkward disaster of belated sexual awakening, and the unusual journey of self-discovery that comes with it. The Toronto International Film Festival screening will mark the world premiere. The screening is tentatively scheduled for September 11.

The film is directed by Manitoban Sean Garrity and stars Chernick, who also wrote the screenplay. Co-starring alongside Chernick is a cast of accomplished Canadian actors including Emily Hampshire (The Trotsky), Sarah Manninen (Keep Your Head Up Kid: The Don Cherry Story) and Vik Sahay (NBC’s Chuck).

This is the forth collaboration between Chernick and Garrity, after the feature films Inertia (2001), Lucid (2005) and Blood Pressure (in post-production). Producer Juliette Hagopian’s former projects include The Divide (2011), The Capture of the Green River Killer (2008), Christmas Heart (2011) and Perfect Sisters (2011).

“We are absolutely thrilled that My Awkward Sexual Adventure will represent Manitoba at TIFF,” said Hagopian. “Shot entirely in Manitoba with a mostly local cast and crew, this film showcases the work of some of our province’s most accomplished talent.”

My Awkward Sexual Adventure received support through Manitoba Film & Music’s Feature Film Production Fund, Telefilm Canada and Astral Media’s Harold Greenburg Fund. The Canadian distributor is Phase 4 Films.

Keep a Modest Head, the latest project by Manitoba filmmaker Deco Dawson, is a portrait of Jean Benoit, the last official member of the French Surrealist group. Dawson illustrates Benoit’s formative childhood memories in the film, interpolating interviews recorded in the artist's Parisian studio with filmed reenactments.

The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 6 – 16, 2012.