Indo-Canadian director Deepa Mehta's film "Water", which received accolades with its recent North
American premiere, has been listed among the top ten Canadian films of 2005.
The Toronto International Film Festival Group (TIFFG) announced the list of the chosen movies on
Dec 13 at the annual Top Ten industry event. All the ten films will be screened here next year from
Jan 27 to Feb 5.
Lisa Ray who hosted the event with actor Brent Carver said she was overwhelmed by the public and
industry response to "Water".
"I miss the white sari that I wore for three months," she told the audience, recalling "Water's"
shooting.
The film set in 1938 colonial India depicts the plight of widows and the injustice meted out to
women.
Mehta wanted to shoot the film in Varanasi but had to shift the location to Sri Lanka after protests
from local religious groups.
"Water", last of Mehta's trilogy after "Fire" and "Earth", was a runaway hit when it was released in
Canada as people there could identify with the film's content. Apart from Ray, the film stars actor
John Abraham.
Ray, who has featured in a few Hindi films, said she has called it quits in Bollywood.
"I have made this conscious decision," Ray told. "I have had my share of Bollywood."
The Indo-Canadian actress said she was currently busy promoting "Water" in the US.
"I have several upcoming projects here in North America... mostly modelling projects," Ray, a former
Miss India who began her career as a model and then turned to acting, said about her future
plans.
According to a press release, the top ten films to be screened next year will include introductions
and interactive sessions by filmmakers besides panel discussions.
The top ten films are - "C.R.A.Z.Y." by Jean-Marc Vallée, "Familia" by Louise Archambault, "History
Of Violence" by David Cronenberg, "Horloge Biologique" by Ricardo Trogi, "The Life And Hard Times
Of Guy Terrifico" by Michael Mabbott, "Memory For Max, Claire, Ida And Company" by Allan King,
"La Neuvaine" by Bernard Emond, "A Simple Curve" by Aubrey Nealson, "Water" by Deepa Mehta,
and "Where The Truth Lies" by Atom Egoyan.
Friday, December 16, 2005 15:30 IST