The drama directed by five-time IFTA Nominee Aisling Walsh will screen at the Canadian festival, which runs from September 15th-22nd.
Walsh’s project begins with a focus on on Nova Scotia artist Everett Lewis played by Ethan Hawke, whose hires a fragile yet determined woman named Maudie played by Sally Hawkins. The film has also recently been announced for TIFF 2016 alongside Irish titles ‘Unless’, ‘Without Name’, ‘Forever Pure’ and ‘The Secret Scripture’.
Maudie, bright-eyed but hunched with crippled hands, yearns to be independent, to live away from her protective family. She also yearns, passionately, to create art. Unexpectedly, Everett finds himself falling in love. Maudie charts Everett’s efforts to protect himself from being hurt, Maudie’s deep and abiding love for this difficult man and her surprising rise to fame as a folk painter.
Walsh stated: “I cannot think of a better place to celebrate Maud Lewis' life and work. Nova Scotia is where Maud Lewis' story lives and breathes… Halifax is particularly special for me as The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is where I started my journey on this film. I remember being so moved standing in front of Maud's painted house for the first time.”
Executive Director of the festival Wayne Carter says, “This film not only hits the mark on an emotional tie to the region but we are confident it is a film that will be a serious contender at awards time, early next year.”
Sally Hawkins previously starred in Walshe’s TV mini-series ‘Fingersmith’ (2005) alongside Irish actress Elaine Cassidy.
‘Maudie’ is produced by Bob Cooper, Mary Young Leckie, Mary Sexton and Susan Mullen, and is distributed in Canada by Mongrel Media.