Toronto, January 30, 2012- Astral's Harold Greenberg Fund's (Fund) English-Language Program is proud to announce that In Darkness has been nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category!
In Darkness is the story of Leopold Soha, a sewer worker and petty thief in Nazi-occupied Poland who comes upon a group of Jews who offer him money to hide them in the sewers. Although discovery means certain death, Soha agrees. Before long the danger outweighs the cash and Soha abandons them. However, circumstances intervene, and Soha protects the Jews even after their money runs out, risking everything for what he was really trying to save: his own soul.
The project, previously called Hidden, is a Canada/Germany/Poland coproduction that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival® in September 2011. It was supported by the Fund's Script Development and Equity Investment Program.
This is the second Academy Award nomination for Polish director Agnieszka Holland, who was previously nominated for Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published for Europa, Europa. It is the first Oscar nomination for Canadian writer David F. Shamoon and for the Canadian producers, Eric Jordan and Paul Stephens, of The Film Works.
“Congratulations to everyone who was involved with making this film for being nominated, not just for an Academy Award, but in a category represents the greatest films from around the world, says John Galway, the Fund's English-Language Program President. We'd also like to congratulate our partners Fonds Harold Greenberg whose Equity Investment project, Monsieur Lazhar, will be competing in the same category.”
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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