Telefilm Canada funds eight English-language feature-film projects for a total of $11.2 million

Films starring Helena Bonham Carter, Judy Davis, Béatrice Dalle and Amy Smart

MONTREAL, Dec. 13, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Telefilm Canada is supporting the production of eight English-language feature films from all regions of Canada through the Canada Feature Film Fund (CFFF). A total of $11.2 million in funding is granted to the selected projects for the second fiscal quarter of 2012-2013.

"For this quarter, co-production continues to play a major role as a production tool, allowing the industry, notably, to work with renowned director Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amélie) and to move forward with an Aboriginal story shot in Vancouver by Swiss director Nino Jacusso," said Carolle Brabant, Executive Director of Telefilm Canada.

Telefilm announces its funding decisions for English-language feature film projects on a quarterly basis, given that there are no application deadlines.

Atlantic Region

Hard Drive
Director and Writer: William D. MacGillivray
Production: Picture Plant
Canadian Distribution: IndieCan Entertainment
International Distribution: The Yellow Affair

At 23, Ditch is a virgin.  And, digitally speaking, you could say he's a bit of a luddite.  His hard-working mother, Barbara, thinks he could do better, much better. The mysterious and beautiful Debs arrives in the neighborhood. You can tell that the young Debs is a very troubled soul. Barbara watches with deep concerns as Debs gradually takes over her son's life and the young couple begins a long hard drive on the road towards discovery, understanding and love.

Quebec Region

Gerontophilia
Director and Writer: Bruce LaBruce
Production: 1976 Productions and New Real Films
Distribution: Filmoption International

Starring Béatrice Dalle (Betty Blue). An eighteen year old boy gets a summer job in a nursing home and develops a deep emotional attachment to an old man. Discovering that the old man, along with the other patients, is being over-medicated to make him easier to manage, the boy weans the old man of his medication and helps him escape, resulting in a road trip across the country.

The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet (France-Canada coproduction)
Director and Writer: Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Production: BBR Productions 2006
Distribution : Entertainment One Films Canada

Starring Helena Bonham Carter (Les Misérables) et Judy Davis (To Rome with Love), the film tells the story of a 12 year-old genius T.S. Spivet, whose perpetual movement invention is selected to receive a prestigious award from the Smithsonian.  Unknown to his parents, he decides to hop a train from Montana and to travel all the way to Washington.  Presenting himself as an orphan to the Museum's director, he becomes the sensation of the moment due to his genius and his young age.

Ontario and Nunavut Region

The Birder
Director: Theodore Bezaire
Writers: Theodore Bezaire and Mike Stasko
Production: The Dot Film Company
Distribution: UNION Pictures

Ron Spencer, a mild-mannered high-school teacher and devoted bird watcher is thrown into a tailspin of despair after his long sought after position as "Head of Ornithology" at the National Park is given to the young and flashy Floyd Hawkins. Ron runs into Ben, a pot-smoking janitor and former student. The mismatched pair hit it off and with Ben's urging, they set off on a campaign to take down Floyd and restore Ron's bird watching legacy.

The Right Kind of Wrong
Director: Jeremiah Chechik
Writer: Megan Martin
Production : Serendipity Point Films and Nomadic Pictures
Distribution: Entertainment One Films Canada Inc.

Leo Palamino is a writer, dishwasher, and a romantic dreamer.  His refusal to listen to criticism drove his ex-wife Julie to blog about Leo's flaws as their relationship broke down.  The blog has made Leo famous (for his flaws).  One afternoon, as he dejectedly watches on yet another talk show appearance, he encounters Collette, on the way to a wedding, her wedding.  Leo is convinced that Collette is his soul mate and he embarks on a relentless quest to win her heart.  Along the way, he crashes a hang-glider, gets beat up by kids, loses his home, his job and his cat.  When Collette's husband Danny threatens the fate of one of his best friends, Leo shows what he's really made of.  Though their ultimate coming together is nothing close to the romantic ideal that Leo dreamed of... It is far, far more interesting.

Western Region

Lawrence & Holloman
Director: Matthew Kowalchuk
Writers: Daniel Arnold and Matthew Kowalchuk
Production: Ameland Films, Lawrence & Holloman Productions, Quadrant Motion Pictures and Finalé Editworks

The nebbish, cynical and suicidal Holloman gets taken under the wing of Lawrence, a happy-go lucky, ever-optimistic suit salesman. But while Holloman's fortunes slowly improve, Lawrence's life takes major turns for the worse: his fiancé dumps him, his car is demolished, his dog goes missing, he loses his job, and his apartment burns to the ground. And that's just the beginning ... Is happiness determined by our outlook on life? Or can our destiny be changed ... by another.

No Clue
Director: Carl Bessai
Writer: Brent Butt
Production: Pacific All Risk Production Company and Sparrow Media
Distribution: Alliance Films

Starring Brent Butt (Corner Gas) and Amy Smart (Shameless). When a case of mistaken identity snowballs out of control, a bumbling salesman struggles to guide a beautiful, mysterious woman through a deadly web of corruption, fraud, and murder, before she can realize the truth; he's not actually a private detective.

Shana - The Wolf's Music (Switzerland-Canada coproduction)
Director and Writer: Nino Jacusso
Production: Red Cedar Films, Really Real Films and Reck Filmproduktion GmbH
Distributor: Cinema Esperanca International

Shana is a 13-year old Canadian Aboriginal girl who has extraordinary gifts as a violinist.  Her life takes a decisive turn when her new teacher discovers her musical talent but her father sells the violin from her deceased mother for the money.  Shana steals it back and flees into the wilderness.  There she connects spiritually and emotionally with a she-wolf who protects her and reconnects her with her ancestors.  Completely absorbed by nature, she discovers a special form of musical expression that makes it possible for her to get into the Music Academy in Vancouver.

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
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