Arctic Blast, a sci-fi action thriller directed by Australian Brian Trenchard-Smith, will have its world premiere at Possible Worlds, Sydney’s fifth Canadian Film Festival.

The Australian–Canadian coproduction was shot in Tasmania with post-production done in Montreal, including effects by Modus (300, Sin City). It stars Canadian Michael Shanks (Stargate SG-1) alongside Australia’s Indiana Evans, Alexandra Davies and Robert Mammone. Bruce Davison also stars.

The film will screen Wednesday 4 August at Dendy Opera Quays, followed by a Q&A.

In Arctic Blast, a solar eclipse sends a colossal blast of super-chilled air towards the earth, setting off a catastrophic chain of events that threatens to engulf the world in ice. As coastal Australia undergoes mass evacuation, physicist Jack Tate races to find a solution while protecting his family.

Arctic Blast is genre master Brian Trenchard-Smith’s first Australian film in more than a decade. A key player in the Ozploitation film scene of the ’70s and ’80s, Trenchard-Smith is often credited as one of Quentin Tarantino’s favourite director.

“I am proud to have made a movie with a climatologist as the hero,” said Trenchard-Smith.

“Arctic Blast is a timely film. Its story of a family’s response to an environmental catastrophe, one that might become a reality if corporate polluters and global warming deniers continue to have politicians in their pockets, is a timely one.

“I have shot all over the world but Australia remains my favourite production environment. Shooting in Tasmania with a crew of young enthusiasts and fellow old lags was a blast, an Arctic blast in fact.”

“Arctic Blast is my fourth production financed via coproduction treaties with Canada,” said executive producer Antony Ginnane.

“The ability to share and collaborate on the creative process with my Canadian colleagues Tom Berry and Pierre David as well as access the very generous Canadian and provincial funding envelopes to supplement Australian funding was crucial to the success of the film and a comparatively simple process given the complexities of international film financing these days. I will be working with Canada again!”

The world premiere will take place as part of Sydney’s fifth Canadian Film Festival, at Dendy Opera Quays, 9/2 East Circular Quay. It will kick off with a welcome drink at 6pm, followed by the screening at 6:30pm. Tickets are available for $14 from Dendy Opera Quays from 1 July (phone 02 9247 3800 or visit www.dendy.com.au).

Sydney’s Canadian Film Festival showcases the best new films made in Canada. The Festival runs from 2–8 August.

The full program will be revealed on Canada Day, 1 July 2010.

For details about the festival visit www.possibleworlds.net.au.

*Based on media release issued by www.possibleworlds.net.au.