The Valley Below

{{Infobox film | name = The Valley Below | image = The Valley Below POSTER.jpg | alt = | caption = | native_name =  | director = Kyle Thomas | producer = Alexander Carson Cameron Macgowan Kyle Thomas | writer = Kyle Thomas | starring = Kris Demeanor Stephen Bogaert Mikaela Cochrane Alejandro Rae | music = Kris Demeanor Gavin Gardiner Dan Mangan Eamon McGrath Rae Spoon | cinematography = Mike McLaughlin | editing = Kyle Thomas | studio = North Country Cinema | distributor = A71 Entertainment | released = {{Film date|2014|9|7|TIFF}} | runtime = 87 minutes | country = Canada | language = English }} '''''The Valley Below''''' is a 2014 Canadian drama film. The feature film debut of filmmaker Kyle Thomas,<ref name=playback>[http://playbackonline.ca/2014/09/06/a71-entertainment-takes-canadian-rights-to-the-valley-below/ "A71 Entertainment takes Canadian rights to The Valley Below"]. ''Playback'', September 6, 2014.</ref> the film consists of four interrelated stories taking place in the badlands around Drumheller, Alberta.<ref name=playback/> The film was produced by the North Country Cinema media arts collective based out of Calgary, Alberta.

The individual stories centre on Kate (Mikaela Cochrane), a young woman preparing to attend college who discovers that she is pregnant just before leaving on a camping trip with her boyfriend Henry (Joe Perry); Warren (Kris Demeanor), a zamboni driver at the local hockey rink and an aspiring musician who is struggling with alcoholism; Gordon (Stephen Bogaert), a shy and reclusive taxidermist dealing with his failing marriage with Susan (Lori Ravensborg); and Barry (Alejandro Rae), a police officer and part-time local radio host who is looking to start a family with his partner Jill (Alana Hawley).

Each of the four segments features a score by a different Canadian musician. Rae Spoon, Dan Mangan, Eamon McGrath and Gavin Gardiner composed the music.<ref>[https://nowtoronto.com/music/best-original-scores/ "Best Original Scores: TIFF tips for music lovers"]. ''Now'', September 4, 2014.</ref>

The film garnered two Canadian Screen Award nominations at the 3rd Canadian Screen Awards, in the categories of Best Supporting Actor for Demeanor and Best Original Song for Mangan's song "Wants".<ref name=nominations>[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/canadian-screen-awards-unveil-nominations-763287 "Canadian Screen Awards Unveil Nominations"]. ''The Hollywood Reporter'', January 13, 2015.</ref> The film received largely positive critical attention from the Canadian media, including ''The National Post'' calling it a "superb first feature".<ref>{{cite web |author=Knight, Chris |url=https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/the-valley-below-reviewed-getting-lost-in-the-badlands-of-alberta |title=The Valley Below, reviewed: Getting lost in the badlands of Alberta |work=The National Post |date=March 4, 2015 |access-date=March 10, 2015}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|2}}

==External links== *{{IMDb title|2739306}} *[http://www.thevalleybelow.ca/ The Valley Below Official Website] *''[http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=filvidandsou&id=496466&lang=eng The Valley Below]'' at Library and Archives Canada

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valley Below, The}} Category:2014 films Category:Canadian drama films Category:English-language Canadian films Category:Films shot in Alberta Category:Films set in Alberta Category:Films directed by Kyle Thomas Category:2014 English-language films Category:2014 Canadian films Category:English-language drama films