imported>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:Canadian LGBT-related films to :Category:Canadian LGBTQ-related films per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2024 September 11#LGBT nominations which were opposed at CFDS

2024-09-25T02:28:17Z

Moving Category:Canadian LGBT-related films to Category:Canadian LGBTQ-related films per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2024 September 11#LGBT nominations which were opposed at CFDS

New page

{{Infobox film
| name = Saved by the Belles
| image = Saved-by-the-belles.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = [[Ziad Touma]]
| producer = [[Ziad Touma]] [[Couzin Films]]
| writer = [[Ziad Touma]] [[Brian C. Warren]]
| starring = [[Brian Charbonneau]] [[Karen Simpson]] [[Steven Turpin]] [[Danny Gilmore]] [[Done Diamond]] Tarah Schwartz
| music = [[Mark Anthony (musician)|Mark Anthony]] [[Brian C. Warren]]
| cinematography = [[François Dutil]]
| editing = [[Mathieu Bouchard-Malo]]
| distributor = [[Cinema Libre]]
| released = {{Film date|2003|04|24}}
| runtime = 90 minutes
| country = Canada
| language = English
| budget =
}}
'''''Saved by the Belles''''', also known by its [[French language|French]] title ''Échappée belles'', is a 2003 feature film by [[Ziad Touma]], his first long feature film.<ref>[http://www.jamesweggreview.org/Articles.aspx?id=754 S. James Wegg (JWR) review: "First feature shows promise"]</ref> Touma is a [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] [[Canadians|Canadian]] [[film director]] and [[Filmmaking#Production|producer]] residing in [[Montreal]], [[Quebec]], Canada. Touma is the founder of ''[[Couzin Films]]'' film, television and digital media production company and it was released through the company.

In 2023, [[Telefilm Canada]] announced that the film was one of 23 titles that will be digitally restored under its new Canadian Cinema Reignited program to preserve classic Canadian films.<ref>Pat Mullen, [https://povmagazine.com/oscar-winning-doc-leads-list-of-restored-canadian-classics/ "Oscar Winning Doc Leads List of Restored Canadian Classics"]. ''[[Point of View (magazine)|Point of View]]'', May 9, 2023.</ref>

==Synopsis==
The film's storyline has a young man rearing his head in Montreal's club milieu, claiming not to remember a thing about his past or who he is. Discovered by local drag diva Sheena Hershey (played by Brian Charbonneau, aka Brian C. Warren) and scenestress Scarlet VJ (played by Karen Simpson), this young amnesiac is soon dubbed "Sean" and taken under wing by the club-junkie duo. Hoping to jar his memory, they take him on a tour of Montreal's club scene, introducing him to various characters along the way; Touma's cast includes numerous authentic night life figures, among them drag fixtures Mado and Madame Simone.

The press kit describes it this way: "Saved by the Belles" stars fags and hags, blonde bimbos, label whores, sugar daddies, club kids, biceps builders, leathers and feathers, funky junkies, freaks and geeks, sex addicts, chupa chicks, lube monsters, pimply pimps, weight watchers, nympho virgins, mingle singles, glowstick ravers, cheap strippers, wannabe actors, guestlist leftovers, glittery debutantes, kinky grannies, impotent hustlers, baggy-eyed scenesters, size queen cupids, self-taught porn stars, air miles jetsetters, showgirls, smoking players, bendable bisexuals and mama's toys.<ref>[http://www.montrealmirror.com/ARCHIVES/2003/042403/clubland03_4.html Matthew Hays in ''Montreal Mirror'' article: "Night and the City"]</ref>

==Cast==
*Brian Charbonneau ... Sheena Hershey (as Brian C. Waren)
*[[Karen Simpson]] ... Scarlet
*Steven Turpin ... Chris
*[[Danny Gilmore]] ... Sean
*Lydia Lockett ... Magda
*Matt Williston ... Tobey
*Ron Diamond ... Doug
*Marcelle Lapierre ... Edith
*[[Mado Lamotte]] ... Mado
*Dennis O'Brien ... Dennis
*Varda Etienne ... Varda
*Terry Sigalas ... Terry
*Louise Bastien ... Loulou
*Robert Horble ... Chicken
*Driss Berki ... Driss
*Paul Pabello ... Paul
*Alessandro Mangiarotti ... Alessandro
*Bernadette Rusgal ... Bernadette
*Nohémie Renaud ... Noémie
*John Thomas Fraser ... Sean's Dad

==Awards and nominations==
A theatrically distributed feature film, Ziad Touma's ''Saved by the Belles'' won several awards in festivals around the world.

The film went on to win the Best Feature Film award at Toronto's [[Inside Out Film and Video Festival]] in 2003.<ref>"Canada's hottest up-and-coming directors, actors and writers". ''[[Playback (magazine)|Playback]]'', July 5, 2003.</ref>

In 2004, it was nominated for three [[Genie Awards]] for "Best Achievement in Cinematography", "Best Achievement in Art Direction" and "Best Achievement in Music - Original Song".

==''Saved by the Belles'' website==
"Belles" film led to the launching of a website by Ziad Touma, co-wrote and co-produced with Mouna Andraos and BlueSponge.<ref>[http://www.idcn.jp/powertalk/8/e/creative-director.htm Power Talk Creative directors presentation]</ref> The website won the "Boomerang Awards" for "Best Arts & Culture Website" and was nominated as "Best Extreme Entertainment Site" at the [[South by Southwest]] SXSW Awards.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090509101135/http://www.couzinfilms.com/ Couzin Films Official website]
*{{IMDb title|0320422|Saved by the Belles}}
*[http://www.telefilm.gc.ca/data/production/prod_3255.asp?lang=en&cat=lm&y=2003 Telefilm Canada page on ''Saved by the Belles'']
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050514080120/http://savedbythebelles.com/ savedbythebelles.com website]

{{Inside Out Best Canadian Film}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saved By The Belles}}
[[Category:2003 films]]
[[Category:Canadian LGBTQ-related films]]
[[Category:Films set in Montreal]]
[[Category:Quebec films]]
[[Category:2003 LGBTQ-related films]]
[[Category:Canadian comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:LGBTQ-related comedy-drama films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:2000s Canadian films]]

Saved by the Belles - Revision history

imported>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:Canadian LGBT-related films to :Category:Canadian LGBTQ-related films per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Log/2024 September 11#LGBT nominations which were opposed at CFDS