Toronto, January 4, 2012- Astral's Harold Greenberg Fund's English-Language Program (Fund) is pleased to announce its latest round of funding for 29 new and ongoing projects through its Script Development Program.
Chosen from 133 applications, the most recent selection includes new projects from some of Canada's most illustrious filmmakers including Vincenzo Natali's Nobody and Sarah Polley's adaptation of Alias Grace and Paris, to be directed by Paul Haggis. Nobody is Vincenzo Natali's adaptation of Shundo Ohkawa's Japanese film of the same name. It is a high concept thriller being produced by Copperheart Entertainment. Alias Grace, the Giller prize-winning novel by Margaret Atwood, is being adapted by Sarah Polley. The novel is based on a true story about a notorious Canadian 19th century murder. Paris is Academy Award-winning director Paul Haggis' politically motivated drama, written by Dawn Kuisma.Fellow Oscar-winning producer Bobby Moresco is also attached to the project, along with Christine Tyson.
Highly anticipated projects from second feature filmmakers include Peter Stebbings' Empire of Dirt and The Lion's Share from Nathan Morlando and Allison Black. As a follow up to his directorial debut in Defendor, Peter Stebbings latest project is Empire of Dirt. This First Nations story about families rebuilding is being written by Shannon Masters, and produced by Jennifer Podemski. Edwin Boyd creators Nathan Morlando and Allison Black are back after having recently won Best First Canadian Feature at the Toronto International Film Festival®. Their latest project, The Lion's Share is the story of two men from opposite sides of the world and the law fighting for their families in the face of economic disaster.
Making a screenwriting debut is Giller prize-winning novelist Joseph Boyden with the adaptation of Red. It is based on a graphic novel by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas that fuses Aboriginal tales and Japanese-style comic art. While this is Joseph Boyden's first screenplay, he is a best-selling, critically acclaimed novelist known for stories such as Three Day Road and Through Black Spruce.
The Trailer Park Boys are back with the mockumetary Race Dicks. Stars Robb Wells, John Paul Tremblay and Mike Smith play themselves as they compete with drivers from around the world in the Newfoundland Targa. While this crew differs from the boys we've come to know from the long running, hit TV series, their typical misadventures ensue.
We're also proud to announce our continuing support of many ongoing projects, including The Outlander and Sailor Girl. Both The Outlander and Sailor Girl have been supported in the second to final draft stage.
“This was a very competitive round of development, with a number of exceptional projects from some of the greatest filmmakers in Canada,” said John Galway, President of Astral's Harold Greenberg Fund's English-Language Program. “Despite that, we were able to support a wide range of projects that accurately represents the diversified portfolio we pride ourselves on.”
Projects approved this quarter include:
SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Story Optioning
Alias Grace
Tangled Inc.
Sarah Polley
The Cellist of Sarajevo
Strident Films Inc.
TBD
Far to Go
House of Films Inc.
Hannah Moscovitz & Rosa Laborde
Ty Conn
Four Seasons Productions Inc.
Marcus Robinson
Treatment to First Draft
Heartbeat
Bad Astronaut Inc.
Andrea Dorfman
Mulan
Gen One Films Inc.
Deborah Chow
Red
Mamaoo Pictures Ltd.
Joseph Boyden
Race Dicks
The Pits Inc.
Robb Wells, Mike Smith & J.P. Tremblay
Southpaw
Mutual Street Productions
Jesse Moss & John Reardon
First to Second Draft
All That Matters
Triptych Media Inc.
Paulo Barzman
Bottle Rocket Hearts
Me Three Productions Inc.
Zoe Whittall & Linsey Stewart
A Death in the Bullfighting Hills
New Real Films Inc.
Martyn Burke
Flop House
John Hazlett & Darren Curtis
Darren Curtis & John Hazlett
The Harder They Come
Conquering Lion Pictures Inc.
Clement Virgo & Douglas Century
Idiot Wind
Corey Marr Productions Inc.
Joseph Kay
Nobody
Copperheart Entertainment
Vincenzo Natali
Sitting on the Edge of Marlene
Rodeo Queen Pictures Inc.
Ana Valine
Torchbearer
Circle Blue Films
David Bradley Halls
What You Need
Picture Plant Ltd.
Sherry White
Second to Final Draft
Beneath Planet Cronenberg
Viddywell Films Inc.
Chris Trebilcock
Don't Talk to Irene
Alyson Richards Productions Inc.
Pat Mills
Empire of Dirt
Red Cloud Studios
Shannon Masters
Esc
Suki Films Inc.
Robert Higden
The Fifty
Raven West Films
Jim Kouf
Glitch
Karma Film Inc. & Divani Films
Srinivas Krishna & Peter Lauterman
The Outlander
Strada Films Inc. & Triptych Media Inc.
Esta Spalding
Paris
Diamonds to Bullets Entertainment
Dawn Kuisma
Sailor Girl
Markham Street Films Inc.
Johanna Schneller
Polish & Packaging
The Lion's Share
Euclid 431 Pictures Inc.
Nathan Morlando & Allison Black
The Script Development Program was created to assist in the development of quality Canadian feature film scripts. The program receives a yearly contribution of $1.3 million from Astral's The Movie Network. The script development applications are reviewed each quarter by the English-Language Committee of Astral's Harold Greenberg Fund, which includes Suzette Couture, Damon D'Oliveira, Melanie Friesen, John Galway, Bryn Matthews, Jane Tattersall and Kevin Wright.
Astral's Harold Greenberg Fund is a member of the Astral family. Founded in 1961, Astral is one of Canada's largest media companies. It operates several of the country's most popular pay and specialty television, radio, out-of-home advertising and digital media properties. Astral plays a central role in community life across the country by offering diverse, rich and vibrant programming that meets the tastes and needs of consumers and advertisers. To learn more about Astral, visit astral.com.
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