February 21

The Rainbow Thief (UK)	5:00 PM	OFFICIAL SELECTION
Director ALEJANDRO JODOROWSKY
Surrealist master filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky's attempt at a studio film, stars Omar Sharif as a crook in search of the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, hoping to cash in by befriending the heir to a huge fortune, played by Peter O'Toole. The two men wait for the rich Uncle Rudolph (played by Christopher Lee) to die as they take from the townsfolk in the village below. Lacking creative control over the production, the general insanity and imagination of Jodorowsky lurks beneath the surface in this film, but bubbles through in the crafty performances of these acting giants. HRIFF chose this under-appreciated gem to honor the passing of one of the most daring and independent actors of all time: the legendary Peter O'Toole, our HRIFF Award of Excellece honoree. At Studio 22
HRIFF PREMIERE

The Groundsman (SCOTLAND)	6:30 PM	official selection
Director JONNY BLAIR
When a lonely football groundsman (played by David O' Hara), finds out his football club has gone out of business, he decides to keep his stadium running by his own will and sweat, instead of acknowledging his past affairs in this amazing short film. At Studio 22
WORLD PREMIERE

Norm of Life (RUSSIAN FEDERATION)	6:30 PM	OFFICIAL SELECTION
Director EVGENIY BYALO
Egor comes home. At home he encounters a tragedy. Gradually he begins to sense its true reasons. He realizes that it is only his personal tragedy and the life has a different value for everyone. At Studio 22
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

Faith (AUSTRALIA)	6:30 PM	OFFICIAL SELECTION
Director NICK MCKINLESS
When two men's lives collide, a murky past unfolds towards a miraculous conclusion in this dramatic and stunt-laden, aggressive, and hyper-kentic, action film from Australia. At Studio 22
HRIFF PREMIERE

Structure of Coffee (UKRAINE)	7:15 PM	OFFICAL SELECTION
Director OLEG BOBALO
The owner of a coffee shop hires Roman to find out who is stealing her coffee cups. His fee is supposed to pay for all the coffee he's bought on credit. During the investigation Roman falls in love with the thief. However, things take an unexpected turn when the thief comes to understand that Roman acts out of cold-blooded calculation rather than earnest feelings for her. At Studio 22
WORLD PREMIERE

The Impaler (USA)	8:00 PM	OFFICIAL SELECTION
Director DEREK HOCKENBROUGH
Seven high-school friends begin their European trip at the actual castle of Vlad the Impaler, where he supposedly sold his soul to the Devil over 500 years earlier, but the decrepit castle's past envelopes them in a bloody ritual in this frighting horror feature film that pulls the viewer in and does not let go. At Studio 22
HRIFF PREMIERE

Channeling (USA)	10:00 PM	official selection
Director DREW THOMAS
A soldier returns home on bereavement leave to discover that his brother's death was no accident. With 72 hours to solve the mystery, Jonah assumes his brother's identity, and enters a world of voyeurism as dangerous as it is addictive. In a world in which people broadcast their lives in real time to as large an audience as possible, hungry for the approval of ratings, these 'Channelers' engage in risky and self-destructive behavior. Through re-launching his brother's life, will Jonah find the conspirators or lose himself? At Studio 22
HRIFF PREMIERE