The Event (2003 film)

The Event
The Event
Directed by	Thom Fitzgerald
Written by	Thom Fitzgerald; Steven Hillyer; Tim Marback
Produced by	Bryan Hofbauer
Starring	Brent Carver; Olympia Dukakis; Jane Leeves; Don McKellar; Sarah Polley; Parker Posey
Cinematography	Tom Harting
Edited by	Christopher Cooper
Music by	Christophe Beck
Release dates	January 19, 2003 (Sundance Film Festival); October 3, 2003 (United States);
Running time	110 minutes
Countries	Canada; United States
Language	English

The Event is a 2003 drama film directed by Thom Fitzgerald. It tells the story of Matt Shapiro (Don McKellar) who has died in Manhattan, resulting in an aborted 9-1-1 call. Attorney Nick DeVivo (Parker Posey) interviews Matt's friends and family to piece together a portrait of Matt's life and finally his death.

The ultra-low-budget film stars an ensemble of respected actors including Olympia Dukakis, Brent Carver, Sarah Polley, Dick Latessa, Joanna P. Adler, Jane Leeves, Rejean Cournoyer, Joan Orenstein, McKellar and Posey. It was written by Steven Hillyer, Tim Marback with director Fitzgerald, and produced by Bryan Hofbauer, Vicki McCarty (exec), Robert Flutie (exec).

The Event premiered at the Sundance Film Festival where it received three standing ovations.^[1] It was distributed by ThinkFilm in the U.S.

Cast

Joanna Adler (billed as Joanna P. Adler) as Gaby Shapiro-Schnell
Chris Barry as Third Little Maid
Walter Borden as Fred
Ray Brimicombe as Desk Sergeant
Laura Cahoot as Bride
Brent Carver as Brian Knight
Linda Carvery as Doctor
Rejean Cournoyer (billed as Réjean Joseph Cournoyer) as Rory Metzler
Lucy Decoutere as Jody
Richard Donat as Undertaker
Chase Duffy as Assistant District Attorney
Olympia Dukakis as Lila Shapiro
Tim Dunn as Ping Pong Player
Travis Ferris as NYPD Officer
Thom Fitzgerald as Vagimar Director
Robert Fucito as China Bob
Ian Gilmore as Second Little Maid
Glen Michael Grant as Andy Campbell
Steven Hillyer as Paramedic
Celeste Jankowski as String Quartet Member No.1
Dick Latessa as Uncle Leo
Jane Leeves as Mona Rothchild
Tim Marback as Paramedic No. 2
Gianna Marciante as Lilian Schnell
Jaclyn Markowitz as Amelia Schnell
Vicky McCarty as Princess Leia Kapui Schwartz
Don McKellar as Matt Shapiro
Ruth Moore as Dr. Fisher
Carla Morton as Clinic Nurse
Ken Nagami as String Quartet Member No.2
Marcia Olsen as Sick Girl
Joan Orenstein as Angela DeVivo
Doug Pettigrew as Canadian Sailor
Sarah Polley as Dana Shapiro
Parker Posey as Nick Devivo
Cynthia Preston as Amy Eisner
Walker Richards as Wedding Photographer
Susan Sayle as String Quartet Member No.3
Jamie Stevens as Bartender
Studio as a Drag Queen
Darryl Tannahill as Detective
Chaz Thorne as Chris Devivo
Miss Vicky as a Drag Queen
Cecil Wright as City Clerk Official
Mike Younger as Cowboy
Theresa Zong as Grumpy Lady on Plane
Christina Zorich as Judy Campbell

Awards

ACCTV Genie Award (nominated)—Olympia Dukakis, Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Atlantic Film Festival, Atlantic Canadian Award (win)—Thom Fitzgerald, Best Direction
Atlantic Film Festival, Atlantic Canadian Award (win)—S. Hillyer, T. Marback, Best Screenplay
Atlantic Film Festival, Atlantic Canadian Award (win)—D'Arcy Poultney, Best Art Direction
Atlantic Film Festival, Atlantic Canadian Award (win)—Christopher Cooper, Best Editing
Atlantic Film Festival, Atlantic Canadian Award (win)—Joan Orenstein, Best Actress
ACTRA Awards, ACTRA Maritimes Award Outstanding Male Performance, Rejean Cournoyer^[2]
Berlin International Film Festival, Teddy Award: Reader Jury of the "Siegessäule" Award, Thom Fitzgerald
Golden Trailer Awards (nominated)—Golden Trailer, Best Independent
Indianapolis LGBT Film Festival—Audience Award, Best Overall Film
L.A. Outfest—Grand Jury Award, Outstanding Actress, Olympia Dukakis
Seattle International Film Festival Emerging Master Showcase Award—The Event and The Wild Dogs

References

^ "The Event". Sundance Archives. Sundance Institute. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
^ Blank, Ed (December 5, 2003). "'The Event' plays the terminal illness card to death". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved December 1, 2010.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

External links

The Event at IMDb

[1] "The Event". Sundance Archives. Sundance Institute. Retrieved October 5, 2011.

[2] Blank, Ed (December 5, 2003). "'The Event' plays the terminal illness card to death". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved December 1, 2010.^{[permanent dead link‍]}

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