PRESS

How Being Called a “Female Filmmaker” Helped Me Understand the Future of Cinema

“There’s a long way to go still, but the female gaze is upon us, and as it gathers momentum, it will be electrifying, offering audiences the opportunity to experience a new consciousness”

By April Mullen, Talkhouse

Below Her Mouth Theatrical Review

“Announcing a bold new cinematic voice in its director, April Mullen, the film recalls the kind of aggressive poetry of Andrea Arnold without an critique of class structure.”

By John Fink, The Film Stage

APRIL MULLEN: THE WOMAN DIRECTOR

“the quintessential female creative force: Insightful, passionate, daring and beyond talented”

By Stéphanie Marois, I AM MARIE

Birks Diamond Tribute

Life inspired my career path. I am obsessed with visual images, human behavior, unique characteristics and connections between people

– Filler Magazine

April Mullen, Xavier Dolan, Deepa Mehta films to debut at TIFF 2016

“Considering the in-equality of #womeninfilm it’s pretty refreshing to hear a story like this, both behind and in-front of the camera.”

By Christopher Heard, “The Gate”

 

ElleCanada

 

“The 2016 edition of the Birks Diamond Tribute to the Year’s Women in Film showcases diversity—that of our industry and our country

April Mullen: Positive Word of “Mouth” Lands Director at TIFF

it’s the transformative nature of film making that results in such seismic shifts in personal identity once a project is complete

– David DeRocco, GoBe Weekly

Seven names added to wall of fame

“The wall of fame was developed to serve as a visual memory of artistic and cultural contributions in the city”

– Alison Langley, Niagara Falls Review 

‘Below Her Mouth’ Dir. April Mullen Talks About The Female Gaze & Working With An All-Female Crew

“hold onto your hats because ‘Below Her Mouth’ has just firmly cemented April Mullen into the category of breakout director to watch. ”

–girltalkHQ

A local doc, Cannes nominee and all-female production top today’s must-see list at AFF

“This is definitely one I’ll be making the time to see myself.”

– Jordan Parker, The Chronicle Herald

‘Below Her Mouth’ Helmer April Mullen Signs With Verve – Toronto

“EXCLUSIVE: Coming off the Toronto Film Festival premiere of her film Below The Mouth, writer-director April Mullen has signed with Verve.”

–Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline

Director April Mullen on how “Below Her Mouth” is all about the female gaze

“When I first read the script I was blown away because I had never read anything like that before, in terms of its sex and its boldness and what happened between women”

– Daniela Costa, AFTER ELLEN

BIRKS DIAMOND TRIBUTE TO THIS YEAR’S WOMEN IN FILM: APRIL MULLEN

I love the challenge of finding and bringing incredible and unique material to life.

– SHEDOESTHECITY

TIFF 2016: Below Her Mouth

Below Her Mouth is a daring and emotional film that finally gets right what so many queer films get wrong.

– Casey Reid, DORK SHELF

Favourite TIFF Moments: BELOW HER MOUTH Director April Mullen shares her favourite memories of the festival

Favourite TIFF Moments: BELOW HER MOUTH Director April Mullen shares her favourite memories of the festival from THE DIRECTORS GUILD OF CANADA on Vimeo.

April Mullen chats about her TIFF films on Breakfast Television

 

April Mullen chats about her TIFF films

Canadian director, April Mullen talks about breaking barriers by working with an all-female crew for her film “Below Her Mouth”.

 

Breaking In & Staying In: The Art of ‘Stayin’ Alive’ as a Filmmaker

April Mullen talks Below Her Mouth with First Weekend Club

‘Below Her Mouth,’ a Toronto-filmed drama with all female crew getting lots of buzz at TIFF

Below Her Mouth brings the female gaze to sex scenes

the film’s sex scenes contain their own narrative about the unfolding relationship between the two women.

– Simon Houpt, The Globe and Mail

Mullen to make TIFF debut with ‘Below Her Mouth’

“When I first read the script, it resonated with me,”

– Richard Hutton, Niagara This Week 

Lesbian love story ‘Below Her Mouth’ meant to ’empower,’ not exploit: filmmakers

First-time screenwriter Stephanie Fabrizi says she was keen to keep things realistic, bold and “poetic.”

– Cassandra Szklarski, News 1130

Steamy NSFW Trailer Debuts For ‘Below Her Mouth’, Premiering At TIFF

One of the more anticipated movies coming to the Toronto International Film Festival is “Below Her Mouth,” the sexy story of two women who meet and fall in love, with the film chronicling the passionate affair that changes both their lives inextricably.

– Brent Furdyk, ET Canada

Toronto: Canadian Filmmakers in the Fest Grab Global Attention

April Mullen’s “Below Her Mouth,” one of the buzziest Canadian acquisition titles, charts the sudden, steamy, world-rocking romance between two very different women

–Jennie Punter, Yahoo! Movies

‘Below Her Mouth’ Exclusive Trailer: Two Women Embark On A Sudden And Steamy Romance

The film is notable for featuring not just a female writer, director and producer, but also an entirely female production crew.

–  Vikram Murthi, indiewire

TIFF 2016 Women Directors: Meet April Mullen — “Below Her Mouth”

“I want them to be refreshed and tantalized by our story; to feel free; to challenge their perceptions of gender, lust, and intimacy; to continue to allow yourself to let go.”

– Sian Melton, Women and Hollywood

Controversy is familiar ground at TIFF: Howell

Below Her Mouth (dir. April Mullen): Erika Linder and Natalie Krill play illicit lesbian lovers in a made-in-Toronto film that promises to push the boundaries for cinematic sex, as Blue Is the Warmest Color did before it. Shot by an all-female crew, the TIFF program calls it “one of the boldest and sexiest dramas of the year.”

– Peter Howell, The Star 

April Mullen: Positive Word of “Mouth” Lands Director at TIFF

To truly understand the passion Niagara Falls-born filmmaker April Mullen has for her work, you need look no further than her answer to this question: if you were offered your dream job directing at the same time you were offered your dream job acting, which of the two would you take?

– David Derocco, GoBe Weekly

Mullen, Wave headed to city’s arts Wall of Fame

Canadian chart toppers, a busy movie director and a longtime chronicler of the Falls are among this year’s inductees to the Niagara Falls Arts & Culture Wall of Fame.

– John Law, Niagara Falls Review

TIFF Canadian lineup to include Deepa Mehta film on gang rape, April Mullen’s lesbian love story

Director April Mullen’s “bold, uninhibited” lesbian love storyBelow Her Mouth, shot last fall in Toronto using an all-female crew, will have its world premiere at TIFF in September.
Written by Stephanie Fabrizi, the drama stars Canadian actress Natalie Krill as Jasmine and Swedish gender-bending model Erika Linder as Dallas in the story of two Toronto women caught up in a passionate love affair that changes both their lives.

– Linda Barnard, The Toronto Star

The 12 Canadian women actors, directors, and scriptwriters were selected by a pan-Canadian jury of 20 journalists and bloggers covering the world of arts, culture and entertainment. The recipients will be honoured on Monday, September 12, 2016 at an invite-only event at the Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto.

April Mullen, director, has just completed the feature film Below Her Mouth, which was shot entirely by an all-female crew. Previously, Dead Before Dawn 3D marked Mullen as the first-ever woman to direct a live-action stereoscopic 3D feature and took home the Perron Crystal Award. Her other films include 88, which has sold in over 22 territories, and Badsville, slated to begin its festival run this year.

–News Release, Telefilm Canada

April Mullen will be directing two episode of the new series “Aftermath” which will premiere on SyFy. Aftermath is a post apocalyptic series which the first two episode will be directed by Jason Stone (This is the End).

 

April Mullen was featured in Telefilm Canada’s ‘Talent to Watch’ series talking about her latest feature film Below Her Mouth. Talent To Watch is a series of insightful video interviews featuring Canadian filmmakers who share their inspirations and successes.

 

Cannes: Elle Driver boards all-female feature ‘Below Her Mouth’

Actress and director April Mullen directs from a screenplay by Stephanie Fabrizi.

Described by its producers as a  “bold, uninhibited drama”, the feature kicks off with a steamy, weekend affair between two women: Dallas, a roofer, and Jasmine, a fashion editor. But the powerful connection they ignite derails their lives.

28 April, 2016 | By Melanie Goodfellow

 

Fangoria – Dead Before Dawn Director talks 3D and “Zemons”.

         “MULLEN: Yesterday I laughed, screamed and cried at the monitor! DEAD BEFORE DAWN will be riding the perfect balance of both comedy and horror, creating a fast-pace original adventure which audiences will find refreshing and new.”

– Chris Alexander, FANGORIA

-Kevin Johns, (CULT)URE MAGAZINE

 

 

 

 

  • Standard – “Mullen film scoops Prestigious 3D award in Belgium”

    Even before it opens in North America, the made-in-Niagara horror comedy Dead Before Dawn 3D is an award winner. Directed by Niagara Falls-born April Mullen, the film was recognized for its use of Stereoscopic 3D at the 3D Stereo Summit and Film Festival, held last week in Belgium.

    John Law, STANDARD

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68Xac1nA3eA

 

  • EXAMINER – “The team behind Dead Before Dawn 3D talk Zemons before their Next Wave debut”

    “Dead Before Dawn 3D is Canada’s first all 3D feature film and will play as the closing night Gala Presentation as part of TIFF’s Next Wave Film Festival Sunday Feb 17, 2013. We had a chance to sit down and talk with director April Mullen, writer Tim Doiron about the film and we even got a surprise pop in from star Devon Bostick.”

    Kirk Haviland, THE EXAMINER

  • Interview: Tim Doiron & April Mullen | DEAD BEFORE DAWN 3Dt

    The team of actor/writer/producer Tim Doiron and actress/director/producer April Mullen are a force to be reckoned with. They clearly love what they do making films and their upcoming movie, Dead Before Dawn 3D looks like a lot of fun.

    Whitney Scott Bain, STARBURST MAGAZINE

 

 

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLh8KD9INPE

  • Quiet Earth: First look at Zombie Demons! April Mullen and Tim Doiron return with the 3D zombie comedy extravaganza Dead Before Dawn

    Shot entirely in Stereoscopic 3D, Dead Before Dawn will not only be Canada’s first full-length, live action, 3D feature; it will also introduce a new breed of zombies: zemons! The adventure comedy will unfold as a group of college kids accidentally unleash an evil curse that causes people to kill themselves and turn into Zombie Demons, aka zemons…

    Marina Antunes, QUIETEARTH.US

  • Quiet Earth: First look at Zombie Demons! April Mullen and Tim Doiron return with the 3D zombie comedy extravaganza Dead Before Dawn

    Shot entirely in Stereoscopic 3D, Dead Before Dawn will not only be Canada’s first full-length, live action, 3D feature; it will also introduce a new breed of zombies: zemons! The adventure comedy will unfold as a group of college kids accidentally unleash an evil curse that causes people to kill themselves and turn into Zombie Demons, aka zemons…

    Marina Antunes, QUIETEARTH.US

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93TFLzFwpcQ&feature=player_embedded

  • Way Of The Tosser

    “It is the meticulous attention to detail in character that then becomes the most striking, as not only are their farcical antics hilarious. Unique and genre bending, it’s infectious to see filmmakers completely absorbed in their work.”

    BBC

  • Is ‘GravyTrain’ The Next Great Canadian Cult Comedy?

    “If Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! director Russ Meyer sat down with Quentin Tarantino to come up with a concept, and then brought in the Broken Lizard troupe to inject their style of humour, I imagine the result would be something like this.”

    Brian McKechnie, CITYTV

  • Review by Syd Walker

    “It is without a doubt among the rarest of comedic gems; a titan among its peers in the burgeoning genre of the ‘mockumentary’.”

    Syd Walker, CAMBRIDGE FILM FESTIVAL

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYykCZex9x0

  • REVIEW: ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS: THE WAY OF THE TOSSER

    “It is without a doubt among the rarest of comedic gems; a titan among its peers in the burgeoning genre of the ‘mockumentary’.”

    Jared Mobarak, FILM REVIEWER

  • Canadian Cinema Canon #5: Rock, Paper, Scissors: The Way of the Tosser

    “Filmmakers Doiron and Mullen’s Rock, Paper, Scissors: The Way of the Tosser is the type of movie that makes you want to take all of the Hollywood blockbusters in your DVD collection, throw them in the garbage, and then tattoo SUPPORT INDEPENDENT CINEMA across your chest. This is independent cinema at its best.”

    Kevin Johns, (CULT)URE MAGAZINE

  • BBC

    “It’s totally different, it’s the kind of extremely diverse film styles that greats like Kubrick, Nolan and Takashi Miike achieved and now Mullen and Doiron are on there way to achieve such greatness.”

    Bill Thompson, BBC

  • http://vimeo.com/50926128

  • sneersnipe film review
    rock, paper, scissors: the way of the tosser

    “Rock, Paper, Scissors: The Way of the Tosser makes an audience laugh whilst giving them deeply lovable characters, who for all their faults you want to win against all the odds. The same applies for the filmmakers”

    SNEERSNIPE FILM REVIEW

  • The GRAVYTRAIN team speaks! Interview with April Mullen and Tim Doiron

    “A film that has cult classic material written all over it.”

    Marina Antunes, QUIET EARTH

  • http://vimeo.com/21655460

  • Rock, Paper, action!
    Learn the Way of the Tosser from filmmakers Tim Doiron and April Mullen.

    “Tosser looks terrific, arguably better than most Canadian Films.”

    Tara Thorne, THE COAST

  • Rock, Paper, Scissors: The Way of the Tosser

    “It’s really full of honesty. It’s zany, it’s off the wall, it’s something never seen before.”

    Natalia Manzocco, RYERSONIAN

  • Review by Julie Faveur Festival Daily

    “Mastering the art of deadpan and parody, ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS is a highly entertaining mockumentary”

    Julie Faveur, FESTIVAL DAILY

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzrPowMdYBs

  • Cambridge Film Press

    “A cross between documentary and mockumentary, ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS: THE WAY OF THE TOSSER is certainly more SPINAL TAP than DODGEBALL, although the training montages are worthy of that film and ROCKY.”

    David Pelleri, CAMBRIDGE FILM PRESS

  • Exclaim Magazine

    “Tosser does reveal talent on the rise, with both Mullen and Doiron handling their imbecilic characters with a perfect blend of heart and irony. Think Christopher Guest with no budget.”

    EXCLAIM MAGAZINE

  • Cambridge Daily

    “Judd Apatow and Kevin Smith better watch out because there are new sheriffs in town and their names are Tim Doiron and April Mullen. Expect big laughs, big hair and a few very stylish one piece suits.”

    Sam Tomlinson, CAMBRIDGE DAILY

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMjV9ZNfUkc

  • GravyTrain: A generous helping of ’70s style

    “The town is like a ’70s Sears catalogue fed through an amplifier and made life-size – blistering energy and a certain knack with a deadpan one-liner.”

    David Berry, VUE WEEKLY

  • The GravyTrain rides on! Review of Canuck buddy cop comedy GRAVYTRAIN

    “What sets this apart is the language, the reinvention and use of words and phrases that puts Doiron en-par with the likes of Joss Whedon. Some may shake their heads but those that appreciate that level of language play will revel in the genius.”

    Marina Antunes, QUIET EARTH REVIEW

  • Review: GravyTrain

    “Laugh-out-loud”

    Pam Fossen, TORONTO FILM SCENE

  • http://vimeo.com/21663857

  • Movie Review: GravyTrain

    “A madcap adventure…entirely off the wall”

    Jay Stone, NATIONAL POST

  •  

    “The film had a beautiful aesthetic about it, both in sound and cinematography. A slapstick, tongue-in-cheek comedy, which, much like the actors there in, doesn’t take itself too seriously.”

    Sonika E, FILM REVIEW

  • Review: GravyTrain

    “Enter the citizens of Gypsy Creek, the amiable yet eccentric fictional town in which the story is set – filled to bursting with one quirky character after another, and none of whom have ever remotely even thought of leaving the 1970′s behind.”

    Wasted Heart, FILM REVIEW