Three first features by Columbia University School of the Arts Film Program alumni were selected to screen at the 35th Toronto International Film Festival in September. All three films were world premieres: "The High Cost of Living," written and directed by Deborah Chow ('03SOA); "Outbound," directed and co-written by Bodgan Apetri ('06SOA); and "The Whistleblower," directed by Larysa Kondracki ('01CC, Film Studies major), written by Kondracki and Eilis Kirwan ('04SOA).
"The High Cost of Living," which stars Zach Braff, won the Skyy Vodka Award for Best Canadian First Feature Film. The stars of "The Whistleblower" are Rachel Weisz, Vanessa Redgrave, and David Strathairn.
