Passchendaele (film)

Passchendaele
Theatrical release poster
Directed byPaul Gross
Written byPaul Gross
Produced byPaul Gross
Niv Fichman
Frank Siracusa
Francis Damberger
StarringPaul Gross
Caroline Dhavernas
Gil Bellows
Joe Dinicol
Meredith Bailey
Jim Mezon
CinematographyGregory Middleton
Edited byDavid Wharnsby
Music byJan A. P. Kaczmarek
Production
companies
Damberger Film & Cattle
Rhombus Media
Whizbang Films
Distributed byAlliance Films
Release dates
  • September 4, 2008 (2008-09-04) (Toronto International Film Festival)
  • October 17, 2008 (2008-10-17) (Canada)
Running time
114 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish
Budget$20 million
Box office$4,452,423

Passchendaele is a 2008 Canadian war film, written, co-produced, directed by, and starring Paul Gross. The film, which was shot in Calgary, Alberta, Fort Macleod, Alberta, and in Belgium, focuses on the experiences of a Canadian soldier, Michael Dunne, at the Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres, inspired by stories that Gross heard from his grandfather, a First World War soldier.

The film had its premiere at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival on September 4, 2008, when it also had the honour of opening the festival. The film received a mixed reception upon release. On March 2, 2009, Paul Gross was honoured for his film Passchendaele, winning that year's National Arts Centre Award for achievement over the past performance year. The film won five awards at the 29th Genie Awards, including Best Picture, and also received the Golden Reel Award for Canada's top-grossing film of 2008.