Passionflower is the first feature film from Canadian writer-director Shelagh Carter and producer Polly Washburn.

Awards
The film has been popular at film festivals since its premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival in 2011. At the WorldFest Houston International Film Festival in April, 2012, Passionflower was awarded the Platinum Remi award for Dramatic Original Feature, and the Gold Remi Award for Editing for the film’s editor, Mike Reisacher. It also won the Jury awards for Best Feature and Best Director at the 2012 Prescott Film Festival. In December 2012, the film won the Audience Choice award at the Anchorage Film Festival.

Kristen Harris, who plays the lead role of Beatrice in the film, won the ACTRA Manitoba 2012 award for Best Actress.

Synopsis
On the brink of puberty in 1962 suburban Winnipeg, Sarah Matthews is increasingly challenged and confused by her mother’s instability and sexual power. While her father refuses to acknowledge that the family is fracturing under the stress of his wife’s mental illness, Sarah uses her creativity, inner strength, and a new friend to discover her own identity. With courage, Sarah bears witness and demands truth from the adults around her, demonstrating love’s capacity to endure.

Production
Passionflower was shot in Winnipeg in August 2010, with an entirely Manitoba cast and crew. The film was made with the support of Telefilm, Manitoba Film and Music, the Winnipeg Arts Council, and dozens of generous individual funders.

Director’s Statement
I am interested in truth in life and in relationships as a filmmaker, thus I needed to start with myself.  Passionflower is the film that had to be done first as an artist. It is personal, honest and very committed to that ‘child’ I was long ago. It is also a story about loving unconditionally, even if in the film, as in life, you have no way of knowing what will happen.