Telefilm celebrates Canadian success at Sundance and Slamdance

MONTREAL , Feb. 1 /CNW Telbec/ - Telefilm Canada wishes to congratulate the teams behind Grown Up Movie Star, The Wild Hunt and Snow & Ashes, three Canadian productions awarded at the Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals. Tatiana Maslany, lead actress of Grown Up Movie Star, scored the Sundance Film Festival World Cinema Special Jury Prize, Dramatic for "Breakout Performance" while The Wild Hunt took home the Slamdance Audience Sparky Award for Best Narrative Film and Snow & Ashes won the Slamdance Grand Jury Spark Award for Best Narrative Film.

Telefilm supported the promotion of five Canadian feature-length films and six short films selected by the Sundance Film Festival, which just concluded in Park City, Utah, along with the 10 Canadian films selected to screen at the 2010 Slamdance Film Festival, which ended last January 28 . Out of the list, a total of five films received financial support from Telefilm.

"This has been an incredible year for Canada at Sundance and Slamdance," says Sheila de La Varende, Director, National & International Business Development at Telefilm. "Not only did Canadian films already conclude distribution deals, such as 7 Days being picked up by IFC in the US or Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil selling rights for distribution in Canada , France , Germany and Scandinavia and a number of additional deals being in negotiation; but our Canadian films generated phenomenal buzz at both festivals, paving the way for future sales and promotion opportunities. We are especially delighted to see the diversity of genres among Canadian films which screened at the two festivals -- the horror and science-fiction genres definitely being out in full force -- proof that Telefilm's diversification strategy is having a positive impact on the industry," she added.

As part of its marketing activities for the Canadian line-up at Sundance and Slamdance, Telefilm produced a micro-site, www.canada-sundance2010.ca, where visitors had access to the screening schedule for all Canadian films showing at the festivals, along with production info, trailers and a media room with press kits and press clippings for each film. In addition, Telefilm used Twitter (www.twitter.com/telefilm_canada) to broadcast news and info on the Canadian line-up at Sundance, including real-time alerts for movie screenings. On site, Telefilm provided all Canadian film teams with networking and marketing opportunities.

Featuring Aboriginal Stories Program participants attending Sundance 2010

Thanks to a joint initiative of Heritage Canada's Trade Routes Program and Telefilm Canada , the Featuring Aboriginal Stories Program offered a market-focused immersion during the Sundance Film Festival, aimed at eligible Aboriginal producers who are working on a project that has been selected under the program. The National Screen Institute was mandated by Telefilm with the task of coordinating the producers' attendance at Sundance and providing them with the necessary coaching both before and during their stay in Park City. The producers benefited from the services of an experienced advisor who steered them toward relevant activities based on their level of professional development while enabling networking opportunities. A total of seven Featuring Aboriginal Stories Program participants had the chance to attend the Sundance Film Festival as part of this activity.

Developing and promoting the Canadian audiovisual industry

Telefilm Canada is a federal cultural agency dedicated to developing and promoting the Canadian audiovisual industry. Telefilm provides financial support to the private sector to create distinctively Canadian productions that appeal to domestic and international audiences. The Corporation also administers the funding programs of the Canada Feature Film Fund, the Canadian Television Fund and the Canada New Media Fund. Visit www.telefilm.gc.ca.

For further information: Media inquiries: Eva Hartling, Senior Advisor, External Communications, Telefilm Canada, [phone], ext. 2090, 1-800-567-0890, [email protected]; www.twitter.com/telefilm_canada