Pincher Creek Voice: The Festival of San Sebastian will close with the international premiere of JP Jeunet’s 'The Young and prodigious T.S. Spivet'

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

The Festival of San Sebastian will close with the international premiere of JP Jeunet’s 'The Young and prodigious T.S. Spivet'

Suzanne Girard and Jean-Pierre Jeunet on the last day of shooting, October 2012 in Montreal

Film has a local connection, with part of it filmed in the Willow Valley area and other parts of southern Alberta, using extras from the area
The movie will be released in Canada next Spring.

Filmarto, Canadian co-producer of the movie The Young and prodigious T.S. Spivet, is proud to announce that the 61th edition of San Sebastian International Film Festival will close on September 28 with the world premiere of the film she co-produced.

This film is the last work of French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Jeunet, creator of one of the great classics of contemporary cinema, Amelie (2001), and titles such as Delicatessen (1991), The City of Lost Children (1995) Alien Resurrection (1997), A Very Long Engagement (2004) and Micmacs (2009). Jean-Pierre Jeunet will personally introduce the film at the Kursaal Auditorium and the Antonio Elorza Velodrome .

Actress and artist Niamh Wilson at
Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village
T. Lucas photo

The film tells the story of T.S. Spivet, a 10-year-old prodigy. One day T.S. receives an unexpected phone call from the Smithsonian announcing him he’s won the Baird Award for his discovery of the perpetual motion machine. Unbeknownst to all, he decides to cross the United States in a freight train. But in Washington, no one suspects he’s only a child.

The film is based on the U.S. bestseller by author Reif Larsen and brings together international stars, including Helena-Bonham Carter and Judy Davis, as well as Canadian actors such as Callum Keith Rennie, Rick Mercer, Niamh Wilson, Julian Richings, Jakob Davies among others, not to mention the French side, Dominique Pinon. As for the title role of T.S. Spivet it’s Kyle Catlett, a young ten-years-old American, chosen after extensive research by the director.

Stand In Jaxon Hammond on the set of 'Spivet'
Myra Hammond photo

Shot in 3D, The young and prodigious T.S. Spivet is co-produced by Suzanne Girard (Filmarto), Frederic Brillion (Epithète Films) and Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Tapioca Films). Ms Girard financed her share with Canadian funds such as Telefilm Canada, the tax credit programs and multimedia development Fund of Alberta. In Canada, the film will be distributed by Les Films Seville, division of Entertainment One, while Gaumont ensure international distribution.

The film is in English, was filmed entirely in Quebec and Alberta, with a few days in Washington and Chicago for extra second unit shooting. The French version of the film will be released in France, in theaters October 16, 2013. The movie will be released in Canada next Spring.