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The Winnipeg Film Group is pleased to announce that two of its members have had their short film selected to screen at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival.

CATTLE CALL, Matthew Rankin and Mike Maryniuk’s high-speed animated documentary about the art of livestock auctioneering, was chosen to screen before the feature film Louise-Michel in January 2009 at the world renowned film festival.

“Being able to screen their film at Sundance is a coup for both Mike and Matt and all of us are really thrilled for them”, says Winnipeg Film Group Distributor Monica Lowe.

When told of the news Mike Maryniuk said, “Finally, an excuse to wear my homemade sheepskin jacket.” Matthew Rankin added, “This news has gone straight to my head! It more than makes up for my poor showing at last year’s Saint-Boniface beard-growing competition.”

Sundance began in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1978 as the Utah/US Film Festival. Founded by Sterling Van Wagenen and John Earle with Chairperson Robert Redford, the goal of the festival was to showcase what the potential of independent film could be.

In 1981, the festival moved to Park City, Utah and in 1991 the name was changed to Sundance to reflect the fact that Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute had sponsored the event since 1985. Held between January 15 and 25, Sundance is the largest independent film festival in the US.

CATTLE CALL was funded by Bravo!FACT and Manitoba Film and Music.

This marks the first film by either filmmaker to screen at the prestigious US festival.

Audiences can check out the film at the Winnipeg Film Group’s Cinematheque on Friday December 12 and Saturday December 13 at 7pm as part of the membership screening, Behind The Lens. The film features the local talent of Rob Vilar, Alek Rzeszowski, Michael Olito, Tim Roth, and Darryl Nepinak to name a few.

For more information please contact:

Monica Lowe
Distribution Services Coordinator
Winnipeg Film Group
925-3452
monica@winnipegfilmgroup.com