Telefilm Canada presents 2012 Golden Box Office Award to Canadian director and screenwriters of Goon

Telefilm Canada

Telefilm Canada

Michael Dowse, Jay Baruchel and Evan Goldberg score big!

TORONTO, June 18, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Earlier this morning, Telefilm Canada presented its annual Golden Box Office Award at the Hockey Hall of Fame. The winners for 2012 are Goon director Michael Dowse as well as co-screenwriters Jay Baruchel (who also stars in the comedy) and Evan Goldberg. The ceremony took place before members of the industry and actors from the film, including Marc-André Grondin. Evan Goldberg is also the co-screenwriter and co-director of the recent Hollywood blockbuster This Is the End where Jay Baruchel also has a leading role. For the past four years the Golden Box Office Award has recognized the Canadian director(s) and screenwriter(s) of the Canadian feature film with the highest domestic box-office sales in a calendar year. The winning director will receive a $20,000 cash prize and the winning screenwriters will share an additional $20,000 prize. Goon's $4.1-million gross for 2012 is the highest in Golden Box Office Award history.

"Telefilm began a major marketing shift to better promote and encourage Canadian talent. No one can deny we produce films of the highest quality. By handing out this award every year we're hoping to raise awareness among all Canadians as to the many successes our film industry has been having lately," said Telefilm Canada executive director, Carolle Brabant. "Awards presented for commercial box-office success are usually reserved for distributors or producers, but we feel it's important to reward the hard work of the directors and screenwriters that help them reach their audiences."

Director Michael Dowse added: "A massive thank you to Telefilm for not only this award but for their support of Goon throughout the whole process, from script to screen. The film truly wouldn't have been made without Telefilm, who continues to nurture a filmmaking world where both commerce and artistic vision can coincide peacefully, a very rare thing. Two minutes for looking so good."

Produced by David Gross (No Trace Camping), Don Carmody (Don Carmody Productions), André Rouleau (Productions Caramel Film) and Ian Dimerman (Inferno Pictures), Goon is distributed by Entertainment One.

The 2011 Golden Box Office Award winners were Richard J. Lewis, director of Barney's Version, and Michael Konyves, screenwriter.

The 2012 Guichet d'or (French-language equivalent to the "Goldie") was recently awarded to Omertà in Montreal.

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 telefilm.ca, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/telefilm_canada or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/telefilmcanada.

Image with caption: "Winners Jay Baruchel and Michael Dowse with producers, distributors and actors from Goon; Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Johnny Bower; and representatives from Telefilm Canada, including Executive Director Carolle Brabant. (CNW Group/Telefilm Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130618_C9288_PHOTO_EN_28152.jpg

Image with caption: "Jay Baruchel (CNW Group/Telefilm Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130618_C9288_PHOTO_EN_28154.jpg

SOURCE: Telefilm Canada

Media information: 
Douglas Chow, Manager, External Communications, Telefilm Canada
514-283-0838, extension 2225
[e-mail]