Fill 'r Up! Bell Media and Telefilm Canada Announce Corner Gas: The Movie

Coming to Movie Theatres Followed by TV and DVD This Holiday Season

- Award-winning comedy returns as feature film and national multi-screen event rolling out to Cineplex Theatres across Canada, followed by premieres on CTV, The Movie Network, and The Comedy Network, as well as a collector's DVD release this December -
- Original cast Brent Butt, Gabrielle Miller, Eric Peterson, Fred Ewanuick, Janet Wright, Lorne Cardinal, Tara Spencer-Nairn, and Nancy Robertson all return -
- Production begins June 23 in Rouleau, Saskatchewan -
- With the launch of cornergasthemovie.com, fans can participate in the movie-making experience and receive exclusive rewards through Kickstarter campaign -
- Tourism Saskatchewan and Creative Saskatchewan embrace national event -

To tweet this release: http://bit.ly/1lH2FaN

TORONTO and REGINA, May 20, 2014 /CNW/ - Just as it did when it began 10 years ago, the smash hit Canadian television franchise CORNER GAS continues to blaze new trails. Bell Media, Telefilm Canada and Executive Producers Brent Butt, Virginia Thompson and David Storey announced today Corner Gas: The Movie, a 90-minute feature film to be distributed on multiple screens across Canada this holiday season. The landmark film opens with an exclusive Cineplex Front Row Centre Events theatrical debut, followed by premieres on The Movie Network, CTV, and The Comedy Network, while also complemented by a special collector's edition DVD to be available for purchase before the holidays. Corner Gas: The Movie begins production June 23 in Rouleau, Saskatchewan with crews from Ontario and Saskatchewan. Fans are invited to participate in the movie-making experience and receive rewards through a Kickstarter campaign via the new cornergasthemovie.com website launching today.

**Media Note** Download artwork for Corner Gas: The Movie at BellMediaPR.ca

"Corner Gas: The Movie pilots a new, ground-breaking model for fans of Canada's most cherished brand to experience the film on multiple platforms," said Phil King, President - CTV, Sports, an‎d Entertainment Programming. "This innovative feature film concept promises to be one of the most-anticipated events of the holiday season."

"We're excited to be part of this forward-thinking project with Bell Media, Cineplex, the Canada Media Fund and Tourism Saskatchewan," said Carolle Brabant, Executive Director, Telefilm Canada. "Innovation, in terms of accessibility and engaging consumers in all regions is key to having Canadian content connect with Canadian audiences today. The launch is also a good example of how it's vital for our industry to partner together to successfully promote homegrown talent."

"I'm excited. The entire gang is back. The movie picks up five years after we last checked in and it has everything you loved about the show - snappy dialogue, colourful yet relatable characters, ill-fitting denim trousers, you name it!," said Creator/Star/Writer and Executive Producer Brent Butt. "The movie is a gift to Canadians from the producers and stars of CORNER GAS," added Executive Producer Virginia Thompson. "It's our thank you to fans for their loyalty and affection over the past decade."

Headlined by creator and comedian Brent Butt, Corner Gas: The Movie stars the entire original ensemble cast including Gabrielle Miller, Eric Peterson, Fred Ewanuick, Janet Wright, Lorne Cardinal, Tara Spencer-Nairn, and Nancy Robertson. Written by Brent Butt, Andrew Carr, and Andrew Wreggitt, the movie will be directed by David Storey, who served as key director on the series.

It's been a few years, and there's still not a lot going on 40 kilometers from nowhere. But that's all about to change as the fine folks of Dog River, Saskatchewan face their biggest crisis ever. Brent and the gang discover that the town's been badly mismanaged, leaving residents with little choice but to pack up and leave. As residents make one last rally to save Dog River as they know it, they discover a devious plan by a corporate chain that would change life for Dog Riverites forever.

Corner Gas: The Movie will be distributed by the executive producers through Prairie Pants Distribution utilizing a new and innovative multi-platform approach. Each premiere (theatrical release; conventional, pay, and specialty TV; and DVD platforms) will be event-driven and complemented by exclusive content. Cineplex will release the movie in theatres across Canada including red carpet premieres, featuring a live feed with Brent Butt and cast to all participating cinemas across Canada, as well as in-theatre prizes, and giveaways. Additional details about events and exclusive content surrounding each platform will be announced closer to their premiere dates.

Launching today, cornergasthemovie.com is the one-stop destination for all things Corner Gas: The Movie. Among the many highlights is the launch of a fan-engaging Kickstarter campaign, meant to invite viewers into the filmmaking process and raise $100,000 in 30 days. As contributions increase, so do the rewards - from exclusive merchandise, autographed scripts, and rare collectibles, to opportunities to spend a day on set and meet the cast, and more! With financing already in place for Corner Gas: The Movie, funds amassed through the campaign will be used to provide fans with unique CORNER GAS behind-the-scenes experiences as well as enhance the film and its promotion.  

Contributing fans can also receive entry into the Corner Gas Backers' Club, an exclusive online all-access backstage pass to the latest behind-the-scenes updates, photos and footage - from the cast reunion to red carpet premieres, including video messages from the cast and crew, and interviews with fans that visit the set. Backers are encouraged to follow @CornerGas and like the Facebook.com/cornergasthemovie page for updates.

The movie has been financed with assistance from multiple partners. In addition to Bell Media and Telefilm Canada, support has been provided by Cineplex, the Canada Media Fund, Tourism Saskatchewan, Creative Saskatchewan, and The Ontario Film Tax Credit Program.

"We look forward to bringing Corner Gas: The Movie to the big screen in theatres across Canada," said Pat Marshall, Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations, Cineplex Entertainment. "There's simply no better way to experience one of the most exciting Canadian entertainment events of all-time."

"Corner Gas: The Movie is a great testament to the fact that compelling Canadian content can transcend screens and reach audiences in multiple ways," said Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, Canada Media Fund. "Television audiences in Canada and internationally enjoyed the show for years and now it moves to the big screen. The Canada Media Fund is pleased to be part of an economic ecosystem that supports audiovisual content production throughout Canada and that works together to bring this content to audiences."

"Creative Saskatchewan is excited about the opportunity for CORNER GAS to once again come to life; this time as a feature film," says JP Ellson, Creative Saskatchewan CEO. "We are pleased to support this project and look forward to sharing a piece of our province's culture with the country."

About CORNER GAS
CORNER GAS was originally developed by Brent Butt, Mark Farrell, David Storey, and Virginia Thompson for CTV and Comedy. It premiered January 22, 2004 on CTV with 1.15 million viewers and was a runaway hit. Dog River became a favourite Canadian television destination. During its entire six-season run, CORNER GAS was the #1 primetime sitcom (Canadian or American) in Canada, maintaining an impressive average audience of 1.4 million viewers over its 107-episode run. The series finale made television history when a record-breaking 3.02 million viewers tuned into the series finale on April 13, 2009. It was a new audience high for CORNER GAS and is still the largest audience on record for a Canadian scripted television series.

The series received over 80 nominations for numerous awards, including an International Emmy nomination. It won seven Gemini Awards including Best Comedy and Best Comedy Ensemble, as well as nine Canadian Comedy Awards, four Writers Guild of Canada Awards, three Directors Guild of Canada Awards and 12 Leos.

It aired in over two dozen countries worldwide and became a Canadian cultural phenomenon, spawning two chart-topping books, sold-out comedy tours, a successful line of clothing and merchandise, a top-selling series of DVDs, a Christmas special and song, dozens of notable guest stars, including two Prime Ministers and a thriving tourist industry in Rouleau, Saskatchewan, where CORNER GAS was filmed on location.

Corner Gas: The Movie is an inter-provincial co-production produced by Corner Gas The Movie (SK) Inc. and Corner Gas The Movie (ON) Inc. in association with CTV, Telefilm Canada, Cineplex Inc., Tourism Saskatchewan, Creative Saskatchewan and the Canada Media Fund. Executive producers are Virginia Thompson, Brent Butt and David Storey. Saskatchewan producer is Jack Tunnicliffe. Janice Dawe is consulting producer. Victoria Woods is line producer. Kara Haflidson is production executive for Bell Media. Sarah Fowlie is Director, Independent Production, Bell Media. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Mike Cosentino is Senior Vice-President, Programming, CTV Networks. Phil King is President - CTV, Sports, and Entertainment Programming. Corner Gas: The Movie is distributed worldwide by Prairie Pants Distribution. The Collectors DVD will be distributed across Canada by Video Services Corp. (VSC).

WEBSITE:

cornergasthemovie.com

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Twitter:
@CornerGas
#CornerGasMovie
@VirginiaTV - Virginia Thompson
@BrentButt - Brent Butt@MillerGabrielle - Gabrielle Miller
@FredEwanuick - Fred Ewanuick
@janetwstorm - Janet Wright
@LorneCardinal - Lorne Cardinal
@TSpencerNairn - Tara Spencer Nairn
@CTV_PR
@CTV_Television

Facebook:
Facebook.com/ctv
Facebook.com/cornergasthemovie

Instagram:
Brent Butt

About Bell Media
With passion and an unrelenting commitment to excellence, Bell Media creates content and builds brands that entertain, inform, engage, and inspire audiences through the platforms of their choice. Bell Media is Canada's premier multimedia company with leading assets in television, radio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media. Bell Media owns 30 local television stations led by CTV, Canada's #1 television network; 35 specialty channels, including TSN and RDS, Canada's most-watched specialty channels in English and French; four pay TV services, including The Movie Network and Super Écran; and is managing shareholder of premium pay-per-view service Viewers Choice Canada. Bell Media is also Canada's largest radio broadcaster, with 106 licensed radio stations in 54 markets across Canada. Bell Media owns Astral Out-of-Home, one of Canada's most dynamic and innovative out-of-home advertising companies with a network of more than 9,500 advertising faces in Québec, Ontario and British Columbia. Bell Media also operates more than 200 websites, delivers TV Everywhere with its innovative GO video streaming services, including CTV GO, TMN GO and Bravo GO, and owns Dome Productions Inc., a multi-platform production company. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. For more on Bell Media, please visit bellmedia.ca.

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 and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/telefilm_canada or on Facebook at facebook.com/telefilmcanada.

About Cineplex
Cineplex Inc. ("Cineplex") is one of Canada's leading entertainment companies and operates one of the most modern and fully digitized motion picture theatre circuits in the world. A top-tier Canadian brand, Cineplex operates numerous businesses including theatrical exhibition, food services, gaming, alternative programming (Front Row Centre Events), Cineplex Media, Cineplex Digital Solutions, Cineplex Digital Networks, and the online sale of home entertainment content through CineplexStore.com and on apps embedded in various electronic devices. Cineplex is also a joint venture partner in SCENE - Canada's largest entertainment loyalty program.

Cineplex is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, and operates 162 theatres with 1,638 screens from coast to coast, serving approximately 77 million guests annually through the following theatre brands: Cineplex Odeon, SilverCity, Galaxy Cinemas, Scotiabank Theatres, Cineplex Cinemas and Cineplex VIP Cinemas presented by Scotiabank. Cineplex also owns and operates the UltraAVX, Poptopia, and Outtakes brands. Cineplex trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol CGX. More information is available at cineplex.com.

CTV electronic audience databases incorporate data beginning in 1994.

Audience prior to August 31, 2009 based on BBM Nielsen Media Research Mark II meters.

SOURCE: Bell Media

Margaret Sirotich, Unit Publicity, 647.466.1746 or [e-mail]
Jim Quan, CTV Networks, 416.384.5311 or [e-mail]