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Allen Altman is busy, busy, busy.
By Staff

Canadian Film News

(August 24, 2010 - Toronto, Ontario) – Montreal-raised actor Allen Altman is really looking forward to this year's Toronto International Film Festival. That's because he's in two films screening at the festival. In fact, it's just the start to a very visible run through to the end of the year. At TIFF 2010, Altman costars in Denis Villeneuve’s highly anticipated film, Incendies, and a Greg Atkins short titled Above The Knee. He will also pop up on the small screen this fall, with his recurring role on HBO Canada’s Living in your Car and Incendo Productions’ Wandering Eye.


Denys Villeneuve adapted Incendies from Wajdi Mouawad's acclaimed play, Scorched, which was the winner of the Governor General's Award. The film follows the journey of twin siblings as they attempt to unravel the mystery of their mother's life. Similarly, Incendies tells the moving tale of two young adults who journey the Middle East in search of their tangled past. Altman plays the Arabic-speaking Notary Maddad, who aids twins Jeanne (Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin) and Simon (Maxim Gaudette) as they sort through deep-rooted hatred and familial secrets. Set and shot in Canada and Lebanon, the film is a combination of French and Arabic, with accompanying subtitles.

“I felt blessed to be part of this film from the moment I read the script," said Altman. Working with Denis Villeneuve was incredibly inspiring. The story is epic, heart-wrenching and complex. I worked very hard with a dialect coach to learn to speak French with an Arabic accent for this film, which was both challenging and rewarding.”

Greg Atkins’ short, Above The Knee, is 12-minute film that chronicles a seemingly small gesture that makes a significant impact on the world around lead character Jack (Stephen Bogaert). Altman plays Andy, Jack’s best friend, and watches as his pal’s life dramatically changes after he begins to wear a skirt to work, instead of pants.

Fans can also look for Altman in his role as Gordon Stonewell on the critically acclaimed series Living in Your Car, directed by David Steinberg. In addition, he will star in Incendo Productions’ upcoming Movie of the Week, Wandering Eye, directed by François Dompierre (All the Days Before Tomorrow). Airing on TMN in Canada this winter, and later on Showcase, the film portrays a young wife (The Mentalist's Amanda Righetti) pursued by a serial killer who finds his prey through a networking website that encourages extramarital affairs. Altman plays a criminal profiler who helps to capture the murderer.

Prior to becoming an actor, Allen Altman enjoyed a successful career as a model. He studied acting at Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City before relocating to Los Angeles to learn the Meisner Technique with Sandy Marshall, and later, at Warren Robertson’s Theatre Workshop. Altman (who is bilingual) lives and works in Toronto.



 



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