'EARTHLICKERS' Film Swoops Down on TIFF

Silent Eye Picture Company unveils their short film EARTHLICKERS, a campy, erotic, science fiction comedy, at TIFF this weekend, with a sneak peek and party at Cinecycle (129 Spadina Ave.) 7pm, September 7, 2014. This rebellious screening stands to shake up the bigger players at the festival with its frivolity and sass.

Shot and edited in just 8 days, EARTHLICKERS is a Crazy 8's Film Society 2014 contest winner. One dash of science fiction and a dollop of erotica, wrapped up in a tasty shell of comedy. It is a 'send up' reminiscent of Jane Fonda's adventures in the classic movie Barbarella.

The film was conceived of and written by writers and actresses Justine Warrington and Alison Araya, who also star as two of the pink haired, silver cat suit clad goddesses in it. Justine is known for her work on Vice (2008), and Glimpse (2007) and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a feature film (Leo Awards 2006) for the role of "Ginny" in The Cabin Movie, which premiered at the TIFF in 2005. Justine can also be seen in Songs She Wrote About People She Knows, premiering at TIFF this year on September 8. Alison is known for her work on Watchmen, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and the new ABC series The Whispers.

"I am a grand utopian dreamer who believes that silliness is highly underrated. It's a joy to weave these ideas into my work, and to collaborate with a bold and like-minded creator like Alison", says Warrington.

EARTHLICKERS director, Tony Mirza, hails from Birmingham, England and attended the Polytechnic of Central London (PCL), obtaining a BA in Film (Hons), before crossing the Atlantic bound for Canada. For the last three years, Tony has shot the popular ABC series, Once Upon a Time. This season, he shot his own episode, as well as also shooting 2nd Unit on ABC's spin-off Once Wonderland. His work as DOP on the short film Joanna Makes a Friend earned him a 2012 Leo Award nomination for Best Cinematography. In the last few years, Tony has donned the director's shoes for commercials, music videos, as well as the short films, So Called Friends and now, EARTHLICKERS.

"Imagine 'Camp' diluted 50% and then frothed up like a dry cappuccino with the message that the Vibration of Love can heal all," says Mirza.

The film is expertly shot, contrasting the delicious world of the goddesses of Merkabatron with a blighted, barren post-apocalyptic future earth, and reflects Mirza's roots as a DOP.

The playful eye candy of EARTHLICKERS will attract curious film fans and downright silly alike. Costumes are rarely seen at TIFF, but this event is very likely to be the exception to the rule. This cinematic love child of Barbarella and Ed Wood will soon have Toronto's "Titillator" vibrating on a cosmic level.

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