À VOS MARQUES… PARTY!: a new entry in the International Film for Children and Youth Festival in Zlin, Czech Republic

By: Stéphanie Couillard

À vos marques… Party! (or Taking the Plunge! in its yet-unreleased English version), has been entered into competition in the Feature Films for Youth category at the 47^th International Film for Children and Youth Festival, in Zlin, Czech Republic. From May 27^th through June 2^nd, Zlin will host over one hundred members of the media, some 50,000 moviegoers and almost 1,800 guests, all converging on the city to celebrate locally- and internationally-produced films for youth.  

Film producer Christian Larouche, President of Christal Films, was thrilled to hear that À vos marques… Party! will be presented in the Czech Republic: “This entry represents an excellent access point to the international arena, following on the great success this film has enjoyed in Quebec. I’m eager to see the audience’s response!” Caroline Héroux, one of the film’s writers and producer with Gaëa Films, is also excited: “It was a great surprise for us! This festival is an opportunity to take this film beyond Quebec’s borders, to an event that has been recognized by the teen movie industry.”  

Since its inception in 1961, the Zlin International Film for Children and Youth Festival annually features an offering of thirty or more films, in a variety of genres: animation, documentary, news reporting, student productions, fictional feature films, etc. 

À vos marques… Party!, directed by Frédérik D’Amours, was produced by Caroline Héroux (Gaëa Films) and Christian Larouche (Christal Films), with the participation of Super Écran. The script was written by Martine Pagé and Caroline Héroux. The movie follows highschooler Gaby Roberge, a rebellious outcast, who’s principal forces her to mix in with the rest of the students in her class. It stars Mélissa Desormeaux-Poulin, Jason Roy Léveillée, Sylvie Moreau, Guy Jodoin, Marina Orsini, Maxime Desbiens-Tremblay, Mariloup Wolfe, Catherine de Léan, Samuel Landry, Alexandre Despatie and Hélène Bourgeois Leclerc. 

Since its March 30^th release in Quebec theatres, À vos marques… Party! has made $1,662,517 at the box office.