Don't Talk to Irene
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Mike MacMillan
- Michelle McLeod
- Bruce Gray
- Anastasia Phillips
- Scott Thompson
- Geena Davis
| Don't Talk to Irene | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Pat Mills |
| Written by | Pat Mills |
| Produced by | Alyson Richards Mike MacMillan |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Paul Sarossy |
| Edited by | Tiffany Beaudin |
| Music by | Erica Procunier |
Production companies | Alyson Richards Productions Lithium Studios |
| Distributed by | Search Engine Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 82 minutes[1] |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
Don't Talk to Irene is a 2017 Canadian comedy film[2] written and directed by Pat Mills. It premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.[3]
The film centres on Irene (Michelle McLeod), an overweight and unpopular high school student who wishes to be a cheerleader. After being suspended from school, Irene is sent to a retirement home as punishment. She decides to indulge her passion for cheerleading by enrolling a group of senior citizens for a dance competition.[2] The film's cast also includes Bruce Gray, Anastasia Phillips, Scott Thompson, and Geena Davis.[2]
- Michelle McLeod as Irene
- Bruce Gray as Charles
- Anastasia Phillips as Lydia
- Scott Thompson as Barrett
- Geena Davis as herself (voice-over and brief cameo)
- Deborah Grover as Ruth
- Joan Gregson as Millie
- Andy Reid as Tesh
- Aviva Mongillo as Sarah
- Romeo Carere as Robbie
- James Fry as Tony
- Kyla Kane as Kelly
- Jacob Switzer as Jacques
- Alexa Rose Steele as Rachel (credited as Alex Steele)
- Darrell Faria as Top Talent Showdown Host
- Tracey Hoyt as Principal Firestone
Production and accolades
Mills won the Toronto International Film Festival's annual Pitch This! competition for emerging film directors in 2008 for the film's original pitch,[4] and the film's screenplay won the award for Best Comedy Screenplay at the 2013 Austin Film Festival.[5] However, Mills made Guidance (2015) as his feature film debut before proceeding with Don't Talk to Irene, which entered production in 2016.[2] It went on to win both the Comedy Vanguard Award and Audience Award at the Austin Film Festival,[6] the Audience Choice at the Kingston Canadian Film Festival[7] and the Galet d'Or at the 5th Canadian film festival of Dieppe, France.[8] In June 2018, Don't Talk to Irene won two Canadian Comedy Awards: Best Feature and Best Writing in a Feature.[9]