Cinéfest Sudbury showcasing northern films — including Ethan Hawke flick

Cinéfest Sudbury has released details about the films that will be shown in this year's film festival — and some locally shot flicks will light up the silver screen. 

Yesterday, more than 70 feature-length movies were announced as part of the lineup, including several made in northern Ontario.

• Ethan Hawke shoots Chet Baker biopic in Sudbury

Patrick O'Hearn, managing director of Cinéfest Sudbury, said the northern films hold their own. 

"There's nothing that kind of says to people who are attending those films that we're not world class. These films are definitely creating a lot of excitement, a lot of attention," he said. 

One of those made-in-the-north movies that's generating buzz is Born to Be Blue, a Chet Baker biopic starring Ethan Hawke. 

Shot in Sudbury last year, Hawke stars as the legendary jazz trumpeter, exploring his "dark descent as a notorious heroine junkie in the 1960s."

"This is an amazing film," said O'Hearn. "I think a lot of people are going to be proud to see what they accomplished."

Another northern flick on O'Hearn's radar is Sleeping Giant out of Thunder Bay. Though it originated as a short film, he said the project picked up steam, and then got picked up by the Toronto International Film Festival.

He said the north is truly embracing it's burgeoning appeal as a film destination that some call "Hollywood North". 

"It's fantastic. It gets the community excited, We're seeing, not just in Sudbury, but in Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, Timmins, places like that, when large productions take place in their backyard, people get involved." 

Cinéfest Sudbury runs from Sept. 19-27. 

Listen to the complete interview with Patrick O'Hearn here: 

Morning North5:28Cinefest announces film lineup

Cinefest in Sudbury has announced the rest of the films in its lineup for this year. Hear more about what you can check out at the movies next month.