Youkali Hotel is a Canadian television musical drama film, directed by David Mortin and broadcast by CBC Television in 2003.Mandy Higgins, "TV special filmed here debuts in city: Youkali Hotel shot in former Grant Hall". Moose Jaw Times-Herald, November 27, 2003. The film stars Patricia O'Callaghan as Trish, a waitress at a formerly opulent but now run down hotel bar in Northern Ontario, who learns about a mysterious unsolved murder of a cabaret singer that took place at the hotel in its glory days, and begins to imagine the story with herself as the singer.John Doyle, "A British take on Arnie's triumph". The Globe and Mail, December 4, 2003.
The film also features musical performances by Mary Margaret O'Hara, Hawksley Workman, Kurt Swinghammer and Albert Schultz, with numbers performed in the film including songs by Kurt Weill, Randy Newman, Rufus Wainwright and Elvis Costello.
It was loosely based on O'Callaghan's own history of having worked as a waitress before attaining success as a singer and actress, with Youkali having been the title of her first album.Debbie Pell, "Iroquois Falls native starring in CBC special on Thursday". Timmins Daily Press, December 3, 2003.
Although set in Northern Ontario, it was actually filmed in the old Grant Hall hotel in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.Joyce Walter, "All the world's a stage; Moose Jaw represented". Moose Jaw Times-Herald, November 28, 2003. The film received a private screening for cast and crew in Moose Jaw on November 26, 2003, before premiering on December 4 as an episode of CBC's Opening Night arts anthology series."Come to the cabaret on Opening Night". Telegraph-Journal, December 4, 2003.
Awards +AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryNomineesResultReferenceGemini Awards2004 Best Photography in a Comedy, Variety, Performing Arts Program or Series Kim Derko Best Picture Editing in a Comedy, Variety, Performing Arts Program or Series Daryl K. Davis, Mike Munn "The 2004 Gemini nominees". Playback, November 8, 2004. Best Production Design or Art Direction in a Non-Dramatic Program or Series Hugh Shankland Yorkton Film Festival 2004 Best Performing Arts and Entertainment Youkali Hotel "Golden Sheaf Award winners". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, June 3, 2004. Best Director, Dramatic David Mortin Best Performance, Female Patricia O'Callaghan
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