Who Is KK Downey? is a 2008 comedy film directed by Pat Kiely and Darren Curtis."Who is KK Downey?". Now, October 22, 2008. It was produced in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Loosely based on the JT Leroy controversy, the film stars Darren Curtis and Matt Silver as Terrance Permenstein and Theo Huxtable, two friends who invent the character of KK Downey, a transgender street prostitute, as the "author" of Theo's novel Truck Stop Hustler after it gets rejected by a publisher because Theo comes across too white and middle-class to be believable as the writer of a book about street life, with Terrance donning drag to play Downey. Kiely also stars as Connor Rooney, a music journalist who becomes suspicious of Downey's story and tries to hunt down the truth.Philip Brown, "Who Is KK Downey? Darren Curtis and Pat Kiely". Exclaim!, April 24, 2009.
The film was created through the Montreal comedy troupe Kidnapper Films.John Griffin, "Film school rejects make own fun - and a hit flick; Kidnapper comedy collective blames their West End anglo roots for the success of Who is KK Downey?". Montreal Gazette, September 6, 2008. Paul Spence, Brent Skagford and Dan Beirne also appear in supporting roles.
Cast Actor Role Scott Thompson Darren Curtis Terrance/KK Kristin Adams Sue Matt Silver Theo Huxtable Pat Kiely Connor Dan Haber Frankie Lola Claire Brosseau Crazy Mary Pilar Cazares Boochis Christine Ghawi Penelope Trevor Hayes Saul Brent Skagford Fishlips Etan Muskat Ratso
Release The film premiered at the Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose. It then screened at the Philadelphia Film Festival before its limited release in Canada in September, 2008. It also screened at the Oldenburg International Film Festival, the Boston Underground Film Festival, the Toronto After Dark Film Festival, the Tallgrass Film Festival, CMJ Film Festival, the Kingston Canadian Film Festival, the Chicago International Music and Movie Festival, and the Wisconsin Film Festival.
The film was released on DVD in Canada on April 14, 2009 by Koch International,"Who Is KK Downey: it's lewd, crude, rude and good". Montreal Gazette, April 17, 2009. and on DVD in the United States by Indiepix in October 2009.
Reception Philip Brown of Exclaim! called the film "easily the funniest Canadian film to hit screens in decades", writing that "I've got a feeling that a few years from now we may all look back at Who Is KK Downey? as the beginning of some pretty big comedy careers.
Liam Lacey of The Globe and Mail gave the film three stars and referred to it as "rude and blessedly tasteless, without any sense the creators have any agenda except to be funny."Liam Lacey, "Cheery satire is strictly for laughs". The Globe and Mail, October 27, 2008.
John Griffin of the Montreal Gazette wrote that "Who is KK Downey? concedes little to conventional film notions of beauty, taste or narrative arc, preferring to rely on the brains, wit and energy of its cast and writers, and the formidable ensemble power of local musicians, crew, producers and locations. This is a DIY basement enterprise, with the good humour, hardcore ethos and sheer hustle to pull it all together. You're either with Who is KK Downey? or you're not. I'm there. You could be, too."John Griffin, "Hardcore Hustle; Montreal's Kidnapper Films mocks convention and celebrity in Who is KK Downey? The result is a winning display of talent, wit and bad haircuts". Montreal Gazette, September 5, 2008.
Marie-Geneviève Cyr received a Genie Award nomination for Best Costume Design at the 29th Genie Awards in 2009."Nomination pour une designer gaspésienne". La Voix du Restigouche, February 19, 2009. At the 11th Jutra Awards, Tod Vandyk, Peter Lopata and Jean-Philippe Espantoso were nominated for Best Sound."11e Soirée des Jutra : les finalistes". La Presse, February 17, 2009.
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