Telefilm Canada and the Rogers Group of Funds announce funding for seven Canadian theatrical documentaries

MONTREAL, Dec. 21, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Telefilm Canada and the Rogers Group of Funds are pleased to announce the English- and French-language theatrical documentary projects selected for funding through the Theatrical Documentary Program in 2012-2013. The filmmakers will receive support for the production or post-production stage of their projects.

"The documentaries selected stand out for their social relevance and original treatment of sensitive and complex issues," said Carolle Brabant, Executive Director of Telefilm Canada. "As a result of this year's selection, such renowned filmmakers as Harold Crooks (Surviving Progress), Rob Stewart (Sharkwater) and Thomas Burstyn (This Way of Life) will again have the opportunity to depict realities that are often surprising."

Robin Mirsky, Executive Director, Rogers Group of Funds added: "Again this year, Rogers has selected a diverse group of documentary films, each telling a remarkable story in a unique and compelling way; congratulations to an outstanding group of filmmakers."

The goal of the Theatrical Documentary Program partners is to broaden the range of Canadian feature-length documentaries for theatrical distribution in Canada and to jointly fund an array of projects, in English and in French, likely to appeal to domestic and international audiences.

English-language projects selected

The Reluctant Yogi (Quebec Region)
Writer/director: Sebastian Lange
Production: Bunbury Films
Distributor: KinoSmith

David Lynch is the surprising successor to the now deceased Maharishi Mahesh Yogi—the founder of the Transcendental Meditation Organization. An organization that filmmaker Sebastian Lange was raised in and one that he rejected as he came into adulthood. With extraordinary, intimate access Sebastian joins renowned director David Lynch, and those close to him, as they themselves journey through the United States, Eastern Europe and India. The footage is personal, sometimes surreal, and occurs in a rich tapestry of locations. The Reluctant Yogi is a deep reflection on spiritual practice. Sebastian tries to understand his past, while David tries to understand his future.

Revolution (Ontario and Nunavut Region)
Writer/director: Rob Stewart
Production: Big Screen Entertainment
Distributor: D Films

For Rob Stewart, what started out as an innocent project to save sharks escalated into a war with a billion-dollar industry. Stewart's attempts to save sharks escalates as he uncovers grave dangers threatening not just sharks, but humanity. In an effort to uncover the truth, and find the secret to saving our own species, Stewart embarks on a life-threatening adventure through 15 countries, over eight years in the making. From the evolution of our species to the revolution to save it, Stewart takes viewers on a ground-breaking mission into the greatest war ever waged.

Some Kind Of Love (Western Region)
Writer/director: Thomas Burstyn
Production: Screen Siren Pictures
Distributor: Union Pictures

The consequences of obsession and the great divide between art and science, told through an aging artist, her brother the scientist, and their dilapidated mansion.

Our Man In Tehran (Ontario and Nunavut Region)
Director: Drew Taylor
Writer: Robert Wright
Production: Rhombus Media

Our Man In Tehran details the joint Canadian and CIA efforts to exfiltrate six Americans who escaped being taken hostage during the Iranian revolution in 1979 and took refuge in the Canadian embassy. Interweaving archival footage, modern-day interviews and verité encounters between former Ambassador Ken Taylor and other characters who were directly involved in the crisis, this film will provide a unique look at the true story behind the "Canadian Caper."

French-language projects selected

À la rescousse des zombies (Quebec Region)
Writer/director: Joseph Hillel
Production: Ciné Qua Non Média

This documentary shows that Haitians, who shouldn't be viewed simply as a people subject to the cruelties of history and a dysfunctional aid system, are getting back on their feet and moving forward. Relying on their rich and diverse culture, the people of Haiti persist in their hope for a better future. By probing the historical and community roots of voodoo, the film—which puts Haitians and their culture front and centre—explains why Haiti deserves to be rebuilt.

La Face cachée de l'impôt (Quebec Region)
Writer/director: Harold Crooks
Production: InformAction
Distributor: Filmoption International

La face cachée de l'impôt explores the hidden side of income tax, at a time when many countries, caught up in the global financial crisis, debate the issues of deficits and spending cuts. This hard-hitting documentary investigates offshore tax havens, e-commerce and tax competition among states, all of which drain increasingly large amounts of money from tax systems and contribute to the exponential growth of super wealth. What impact does this still little-known phenomenon have on the rest of us? What solutions would make it possible to transform our out-dated tax system?

Bidonville (Quebec Region)
Writer/director: Jean-Nicolas Orhon
Production: Films Camera Oscura
Distributor: Les Films du 3 mars

Today, more than a billion people, one-sixth of the world's population, live in slums, squats and other precarious living spaces. The documentary Bidonville looks at people's individual resilience and their collective ability to adapt to a hostile world. From Bangalore to Marseille, by way of the Abitibi region of Quebec, the east coast of the United States and Morocco, Bidonville takes us on a revealing, moving and beautiful journey into the very heart of marginal communities and the daily lives of the people who live there.

About The Rogers Group of Funds
The Rogers Group of Funds offers support to Canadian independent producers with three different types of funding: Rogers Telefund offers loans to Canadian independent producers; Rogers Documentary Fund, Canada's premier source of funding for documentary films and Rogers Cable Network Fund, an equity investor in Canadian programs with a first play on a Canadian cable channel. Three different types of financing. Three different funds. All from one source—Rogers.

About Telefilm Canada
Telefilm is dedicated to the cultural, commercial and industrial success of Canada's audiovisual industry. Through its various funding and promotion programs, Telefilm supports dynamic companies and creative talent here at home and around the world. Telefilm also administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Visit www.telefilm.gc.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/telefilm_canada and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/telefilmcanada

SOURCE: TELEFILM CANADA

Media inquiries: 
Douglas Chow, Manager, External Communications
Telefilm Canada
514-283-0838, ext. 2225, or 1-800-567-0890
[email protected]