20 YEARS OF ACTION! ANNUAL REPORT 2005-2006 LE FONDS HAROLD GREENBERG, 10 YEARS OF ACTION!
WE WERE THE FIRST BROADCASTER TO SET UP A PRIVATE FUND FOR FILM FINANCING THE HAROLD GREENBERG FUND 20 YEARS OF ACTION! INVESTMENTS TO DATE IN SUPPORT WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO CONTINUING OF CANADIAN WRITERS, DIRECTORS, PRODUCERS AND PERFORMERS TOTAL $50.7 MILLION
OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR CANADIAN FILM AND TELEVISION PRODUCTIONS
MESSAGE FROM OUR PARTNER One of the most important objectives of The Fund/Le Fonds when This is a special year for Astral Media The Harold Greenberg Fund/ Since 1986, The Fund/Le Fonds has continued to grow and to diver- it was founded was to assure that the elements necessary to Le Fonds Harold Greenberg. It marks the 20th anniversary of sify. Investments to date in support of Canadian writers, directors, make a successful industry could be found right here in Canada. support for the Canadian film and television industries for its producers and performers total $50.7 million, and this year alone As a funding partner, we are very proud of our long history of English-language Program and ten years of operation for its $5.1 million has been invested in 168 projects. The Fund/Le Fonds support for the industry and we feel strongly that the growth and French-language Program. Astral Media has always been unique in has programs in both official languages, supporting a wide array success of this industry will continue to depend on the essential its approach to the industry. Not only were we the first broadcaster of film and television productions including: feature films, mix of private and public funding. We remain committed to to set up a private fund for film financing in 1986, but today, what documentaries, programs for youth, musical programs, video- continuing our financial support for Canadian film and television continues to make The Fund/Le Fonds unique is that we continue clips and special events. productions, providing critical resources needed to continue to be active in financing projects at the very early stage of develop- IAN GREENBERG to showcase Canadian talent and to celebrate our Canadian President and CEO ment, at what we call the story optioning phase. These funds give cultural identity. Astral Media Inc. producers the resources to develop their project right from the concept phase through to the script development phase.
1 ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM MESSAGE FROM THE CO-CHAIR & THE PRESIDENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS / ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM COMMITTEE & STAFF
SHANE KINNEAR Member of the Board Shane Kinnear is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Shaftesbury Films, a leading producer of feature films, television programming and large format (IMAX) films. Shane has extensive experience in film financing, production, distribution and international sales. BRYN MATTHEWS CAMELIA FRIEBERG Co-chair of the Board Member of the Board SUZETTE COUTURE Bryn Matthews had an Member of the Board Camelia Frieberg has BRYN MATTHEWS JOHN GALWAY impressive career in Suzette Couture played a key role in the Co-chair President Canadian broadcasting, Canadian independent Board of Directors English-language Program won her fourth initially as a television Gemini Award for feature industry for producer and director in best screenwri- over 20 years. She is Toronto, and then as a ting for the CTV the producer of many We take pride in reporting to our stakeholders on the decisions made and the program and production movie After the critically acclaimed results achieved by the English-language Committee of the Board of Directors. executive and later JOHN GALWAY films including Wilby Harvest starring Sam Shepard. She also Member of the Board & President as President of the Wonderful, The Sweet received the prestigious Humanitas Award in John Galway began his career in This year marks the 20th Anniversary of The Fund. Since its inception in 1986, CTV affiliate station in Hereafter and The Five L.A. for her screenplay of the CBS miniseries the Canadian film and television The Fund has supported 2,102 script development, feature film, family television Ottawa, from where Senses. Camelia has series projects and training grants for an investment of over $39.9 million to date Haven. Recently she adapted the novel The industry at the Toronto International he retired. recently completed her in the Canadian film and television industry. These results speak to the vision of Mermaid Chair for an original Lifetime movie Film Festival. John then moved feature film debut as Astral Media in establishing The Fund and to the commitment of the Board, staff starring Kim Basinger. Suzette is a partner into development and production writer and director for and readers, past and present. in Sarrazin Couture Entertainment. Her first with Independent Pictures, A Stone’s Throw. feature, with partner Pierre Sarrazin, contract work on several film The Fund is proud of the success of several of its past investments which were La Florida, won the Golden Reel Award for and television projects and realized by releases that occurred this year. Most notably, Deepa Mehta’s Water highest box office for a Canadian film. ultimately into financing with the which has inspired audiences in Canada and around the world and Life with Derek Ontario Film Investment Program, which became the top-rated series launch in the history of the Family Channel. the CTF and Telefilm Canada. MELANIE FRIESEN The English-language Committee members of The Harold Greenberg Fund Member of the Board acknowledge and sincerely thank Astral Media, particularly The Movie Network, Melanie Friesen began her career 25 years DOMENIC VIVOLO Family Channel and Viewers Choice for their continuing commitment to the ago as administrator of The Association of Member of the Board Domenic Vivolo is the Senior Canadian motion picture and television production industries. Independent Producers in London, England. Vice President, Marketing and She was also a literary agent in London Sales for Astral Television We would also like to extend a personal thank you to our dedicated colleagues on and MGM/UA’s head development executive Networks. He has an extensive the Board, who bring their diligence, their passion and their considerable experi- in the U.K. She held similar positions for background in marketing and ence to every adjudication session. We also want to thank our dedicated staff, Cineplex Odeon Films in L.A. and for Martin Scorsese in New York. sales with a career that spans talented readers and our colleagues in the Montreal office for their contributions From 1994-2005, Melanie produced the Vancouver International Film from consumer packaged goods to international entertain- to the increasingly successful results that flow from the work of Astral Media Festival's Trade Forum. She is now the presenter/producer of Cinema ment, including television, film and live event production. The Harold Greenberg Fund/Le Fonds Harold Greenberg. Salon at the Vancouver International Film Centre.
BRYN MATTHEWS JOHN GALWAY
STAFF
Karla Bobadilla Lila Karim Andrea Langford Ellen Valter Director, Manager, Administrative Assistant Acting Director, Business and Legal Affairs Script Development Business and Legal Affairs and Administration (September 2005 – April 2006)
2 20 YEARS OF ACTION! 20 YEARS OF ACTION! 3 FRENCH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM FRENCH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM MESSAGE FROM THE CO-CHAIR & THE PRESIDENT AND MANAGING DIRECTOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS / FRENCH–LANGUAGE PROGRAM COMMITTEE & STAFF
JUDITH BROSSEAU Member of the Board Senior Vice-President, Programming and Communications, Canal D, Historia and Séries+, Judith Brosseau is Vice-Chair of the board of the Canadian Television Fund and also serves on the boards of the Banff Television Festival Foundation and Hot Docs. She has worked in the television The French-language Program of Le Fonds Harold Greenberg is proud to celebrate 10 ROCK DEMERS industry for more than 25 years. MICHEL HOULE ROCK DEMERS ODILE MÉTHOT years of activity. We are pleased to have developed during this decade along with the Co-chair of the Board Member of the Board Co-chair President and Managing Director filmmakers who have taken our film and television industry to new heights. Through Founder and President ODILE MÉTHOT Michel Houle, who Board of Directors French-language Program the high quality of their work, they give voice to our culture, our identity and our of Groupe La Fête, Member of the Board regularly advises imagination. They have shown great generosity toward the public, and Le Fonds is Rock Demers has been President and Managing Director various corporate, delighted to work with them. involved in all aspects Odile Méthot has worked in the arts and in the institutional and of film. His films are film and television industries for the past 19 years. government stake- In recent years, our industry has developed at breakneck speed, and Le Fonds has acclaimed around She has applied her entrepreneurship and energy holders, provides the had to keep pace by developing a diverse range of funding programs that have made the world and he is to developing extensive management expertise. Board with the insight it a key player in the industry. regularly invited to She established the French-language Program and expertise he has serve on the juries of for Le Fonds Harold Greenberg and has served acquired through his Ten action-packed years! Le Fonds’ French-language section embarked on its great international festivals. as its President and Managing Director since 2000. unique experience in adventure on September 9, 1996, with two funding programs. Today, through its eight As well, she sits on the board of Femmes du programs, it has invested $10.8 million in 272 projects, including 39 feature film Tales for All [Les a variety of areas, productions and hundreds of hours of television production. Over the years, we have Contes pour Tous] Cinéma, de la Télévision et des Nouveaux Médias. including film and provided financial support to more than 70 production houses. is one of his most television production, celebrated achieve- distribution Since it was created, Le Fonds has constantly sought to minimize the constraints in ments to date. and operations. the application process. In so doing, we want to ensure that our creative talents devote all their energies to their art, which is essential in our society. LOUISE BAILLARGEON JOHANNE SAINT-LAURENT The French-language Program will blow out its 10 candles with another eventful year Member of the Board Member of the Board behind it. From September 1, 2005 to August 31, 2006, it distributed $1.7 million in Louise Baillargeon has Johanne Saint-Laurent has solid experience the form of financial aid for 54 projects. worked in film and in strategic planning and general management. television for many years. She is Senior Vice-President, Business Affairs at We tip our birthday hat to Quebec’s artistic talent, which again this year garnered For 15 years, she was Les Chaînes Télé Astral and Vice-President and worldwide acclaim: prestigious awards were presented to filmmakers CEO of APFTQ and General Manager of Astral Télé Réseaux. She has Jean-Marc Vallée, for his sensitive and fanciful C.R.A.Z.Y., Bernard Émond for his subsequently served as worked in television since 1989. As well, she sits powerful La Neuvaine and Louise Archambault for her topical Familia. We are very proud of the success of these films, which once again demonstrate that audiences Senior Vice-President of CTF. She has also sat on on the boards of the Specialty and Pay Sector of recognize and appreciate our talented screenwriters, directors, producers, numerous boards of directors in the industry, in both the Canadian Association of Broadcasters and technicians and actors. Congratulations! the public and private sectors. She continues Rendez-vous du cinéma québécois. to serve on private-sector boards today. We have been involved in the French-language Program from the outset, and we offer our heartfelt thanks to all the Committee members, partners and employees who have worked with us and contributed to helping Le Fonds flourish. We also thank our STAFF funding partner,Astral Media, with renewed enthusiasm, especially Ian Greenberg and André Bureau, for their unwavering support throughout this decade.
Ten years of effort have been rewarded by a genuine relationship of trust and friend- ship between Le Fonds Harold Greenberg and the audiovisual production community. We will continue to nurture this relationship even more fervently so that audiences both at home and abroad can enjoy the outstanding work of our passionate creators. We wish you all continued success!
ROCK DEMERS ODILE MÉTHOT Isabelle Touchette Coordinator, Administration and Financing Program
4 10 YEARS OF ACTION! 10 YEARS OF ACTION! 5 THANKS LOUISE! ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
STORY OPTIONING PHASE
This year was marked by a sad event in ALL HAT THE CITY MAN CRETE ON THE HALF SHELL Quebec’s cultural community. On March 9, Novel by Brad Smith Novel by Howard Akler Novel by Byron Ayanoglu 2006, our colleague and friend New Real Films Inc. January Films Limited Yarmadillo Films Inc. Louise Spickler lost her battle against can- S: Brad Smith Set against the Jewish under- S: Sharon Corder & Jack Blum cer. We have lost an exceptional woman of An ex-con returns to his rural world in Depression-era Toronto, This sunny adventure follows a integrity, a visionary with a passion for film. Ontario roots and outwits a cor- a lusty romance develops disgraced Montreal restaurant LOUISE SPICKLER rupt and wealthy horse owner between a femme-fatale pick- critic who is enticed by a volatile Member of the Board and of Louise was a charismatic and formidable trying to take over a slew of pocket and a struggling journal- Greek chef into starting a the French-language Program figure who left her mark on culture through Committee from 1996 to 2006 local farms. ist. restaurant on the island of Crete. her commitment and her achievements. With skill and energy, she headed the Institut ALLIGATOR CLARA’S WAR A DISCOVERY OF National de l’Image et du Son (INIS) from its Novel by Lisa Moore Novel by Kathy Kacer STRANGERS creation in 1996 until March 2005. Morag Loves Company Limited Corey Marr Productions Inc. Novel by Rudy Wiebe A kind, hardworking 18-year- S: Jonas Chernick New Real Films Inc. She also served on the board of directors of old hot dog vendor in down- Imprisoned with 40,000 other S: Leonard Farlinger Le Fonds Harold Greenberg from the begin- town St. John’s is pulled into Jews in the ghetto of Terezin, A chronicle of John Franklin’s ning, and we thank her for her excellent the world of a sociopathic 13-year-old Clara finds hope by first northern expedition and work over the years. Le Fonds benefited not Russian sailor. participating in a secret chil- the ensuing adventure of love, only from her considerable expertise but dren’s opera, all the while plot- innocence, greed and passion, also from her humanity and her generosity. AWAY FROM HER ting a daring escape. set against the terrifying arctic Short story, The Bear Came Over landscape. During her career, Louise was the writer and the Mountain, by Alice Munro COCKSURE producer for the series Mordicus and Pulling Focus Pictures Inc. Novel by Mordecai Richler FALL ON YOUR KNEES Les enfants de la télévision. She spent two S: Sarah Polley Capri Films Inc. Novel by Ann-Marie MacDonald years as General Director of the Quebec A man with a philandering past S: Noel Baker Capri Films Inc. division of the Academy of Canadian Cinema is forced to put his Alzheimer’s Riddled with self-doubt and anx- S: Laura Phillips and Television. She also contributed to afflicted wife into a nursing ieties, a Canadian-born publish- Set in Cape Breton and heady creating the Association des écoles home, only to see her fall in ing editor working in London jazz age New York, this supérieures d’art de Montréal (ADÉSAM) love with another patient in the finds his career and personal life sprawling account of ruthless and served on the boards and strategic home. come undone in this series of ambition and forbidden love committees of numerous organizations. satirical vignettes exposing the features a compelling tapestry hypocrisies rampant in British of speakeasies and opera, We acknowledge today an outstanding society during the 1960s. bootlegging and burlesque. woman who was loved and admired by her peers and friends. She will continue to serve as a model of what can be achieved when integrity, professionalism, a love of film ALLIGATOR and an appreciation of up-and-coming Novel by Lisa Moore film-makers are taken to their highest level. House of Anansi Press Inc.
6 10 YEARS OF ACTION! 20 YEARS OF ACTION! 7 ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
STORY OPTIONING PHASE STORY OPTIONING PHASE
FROM BRUISED FELL HALF A MILLION HEROES HOMEGAME NOWHERE TO RUN: THE RAYMOND AND HANNAH SEDUCTION STILL LIFE WITH JUNE THE TIME IN BETWEEN Novel by Jane Finlay-Young (A.K.A. IN THE SHADOW Novel by Paul Quarrington KILLING OF CONSTABLE Novel by Stephen Marche Novel by Catherine Gildiner Novel by Darren Greer Novel by David Bergen Sienna Films Inc. OF A SAINT) Perfect Circle Productions Ltd. DENNIS STRONGQUILL da da kamera pictures inc. Cinémaginaire inc. Amaze Film & Television Inc. Crescent Entertainment Ltd. This riveting, unforgettable Novel by Ken Wiwa S: Doug Taylor Novel by Mike McIntyre S: Jeremy Podeswa S: Luc Dionne An aspiring novelist who works A Canadian veteran returns to story follows Missy and Ruby, Triptych Media Inc. A marooned freak show is chal- Alberta Filmworks Inc. After meeting at a party and A convicted murderer gains as an attendant in an addiction Vietnam 28 years later in two sisters caught in the eye of & Nomad Films Inc. lenged to a baseball game by a S: Megan Martin having a one-night-stand, a temporary release to save treatment centre becomes search of love, absolution and their mother’s mental illness. The astonishing true story of strict Hutterite-like religious A trio of young, hard-luck, bor- man and a woman start an Sigmund Freud’s reputation. obsessed with writing the story forgiveness. The effects of war Ken Saro-Wiwa who was sect, the House of Jonah, that is derline sociopaths, on their way intense seven day love affair of a client who hanged himself. influence his new encounters GENERATION X framed and killed by the very anxious to see the freak show to an idealized life that includes and then try to maintain their SEE THE CHILD and his relationship with his Novel by Douglas Coupland people he was trying to protect. move on. Whoever loses the a house and garden on the east love by email after the woman Novel by David Bergen THE TERMINAL EXPERIMENT now-adult children. Panacea Entertainment Inc. & game must leave town forever. coast, go on a desperate crime leaves to study in Israel. Buffalo Gal Pictures Inc. Novel by Robert J. Sawyer MVP Entertainment Inc. A HARD CHANCE spree that leaves an RCMP offi- S: David Bergen Divani Films Inc. THE WAVE THEORY OF Three disenfranchised 20- Memoir by Tom Gallant THE LAST COWBOY cer murdered in cold blood. A SCIENTIFIC ROMANCE A man is tormented by his role S: Srinivas Krishna ANGELS somethings opt out of society Palpable Productions Inc. Novel by Lee Gowan Novel by Ronald Wright in the death of his son and At the very moment an ambi- Novel by Alison MacLeod THE PORNOGRAPHER’S and take up in a bungalow near S: Chaz Thorne Sienna Films Inc. Triptych Media Inc. seeks solace in a child he tious scientist discovers his Full Stop Films Inc. POEM Palm Springs to fret over their A true story about a husband S: Paul Fox S: Chris Abraham & believes to be his grandson. wife has been having an affair, S: Jeff Erbach Novel by Michael Turner non-existent futures. who rediscovers his love for his Left on the side of a prairie Liisa Repo-Martell he scans his mind onto a com- Across two continents and House of Films Inc. wife after she has a catastro- highway by his wife, small town An archaeologist finds the THE SPIDER OF BUMBA puter, never suspecting that his eight centuries, the lives of a S: Karen Walton A GREAT FEAST OF LIGHT phic brain injury on the final banker Sam McMahon tries to H.G. Wells time machine and Short story by Elyse Gasco digitized alter ego will break father and his two daughters A cunning teen takes the Memoir by John Doyle night of their marriage. He tries get home to save those he travels 500 years into the Galafilm Inc. loose on the World Wide Web to are catapulted into crisis by authorities for a ride in this dark Amaze Film & Television Inc. to reassemble the pieces of loves from the unpredictable future, where the U.K. has S: Elyse Gasco take revenge. sudden comas. high school confidential come- S: Lori Spring their life together – a life that forces of nature. become a post-apocalyptic, A young girl is abducted by a dy about growing up in the Celebrated columnist John she can no longer remember. tropical jungle. man claiming to be her biologi- death throes of the late 1970s Doyle recounts his childhood cal father and they embark on a sexual revolution. memories and how the advent cross-country road trip. of television in Ireland shaped him and the social history of an insular culture. THE TIME IN BETWEEN Novel by David Bergen McClelland & Stewart
GENERATION X Novel by Douglas Coupland St. Martin’s Press A GREAT FEAST OF LIGHT THE LAST COWBOY Memoir by John Doyle Novel by Lee Gowan Double Day Canada Alfred A. Knopf Canada
8 20 YEARS OF ACTION! 20 YEARS OF ACTION! 9 ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
FIRST DRAFT PHASE SECOND DRAFT PHASE
CARA AL SOL REAL WESTERN A STONE’S THROW AFTERIMAGE DEAD MONEY THE END OF THE WORLD INFILTRATION (MY FACE TO THE SUN) A HARD CHANCE Blue Moon Productions Inc. Palpable Productions Inc. Susan C. Rynard Inc. Tribute Films & S: Carl Innes Sienna Films Inc. S: Richard Cooper Palpable Productions Inc. S: Sandra Sawatzky & S: Camelia Frieberg & S: Su Rynard Grana Productions Inc. When a former British soldier S: Ernie Barbarash Set in 1961 Havana, this politi- S: Chaz Thorne Emma Barry Garfield Miller Based on the Helen Humphreys S: Ron Base and ex-cop struggles to regain Set in the subculture of urban cal thriller tells the story of a Please see Story Optioning A young vegetarian chef is forced When a passionate eco-activist novel. The arrival of a young, Based on the Perri his life after the loss of his new- adventure, this story follows a Canadian Embassy official Phase for description. to take a job cooking meat for a is reunited with his estranged Irish maid at the country house O’Shaughnessy short story. born son, he proceeds on a young woman who leads an whose affair with a Cuban tourist “cowboy adventure” outfit family, he is forced to choose of a freethinking, aristocratic, After an insurance agent and self-destructive path, seeking infiltration crew into dangerous lounge singer is part of a black- KOSHER SEXY in the Rocky Mountains where between a path created by his Victorian couple creates ten- $800,000 go missing, a local oblivion or redemption in the and off limit urban locales. mail scheme set up by two KGB S: Jonas Chernick she wins unlikely friends, falls in father’s destructive legacy and sion culminating in tragedy. cop finds himself embroiled in a minefields of Cambodia. agents. A romantic comedy about love, and learns about taking his own desire for love and murder investigation, and LUCKY AT CARDS a conservative 30-something care of herself. connection. THE BEST RESTAURANT IN haunted by his past. GETTING BETTER ALL Four Seasons Productions Inc. CHEESECAKE Jewish man who falls for a THE WORLD. EVER. THE TIME S: Morwyn Brebner Emotion Pictures Inc. wild, sexually uninhibited, non- RULES OF ENGAGEMENT VILLENEUVE Irreverent Media Ltd. DERMOT’S GHOST Volaré Productions Inc. Set in Toronto in the 1940s, a S: Thom Fitzgerald Jewish woman and the compli- Keatley Entertainment Ltd. Capri Films Inc. S: Rick Dobran The Film Works Ltd. S: David Sherman single mother who is ‘lucky at This docu-comedy looks at the cations it presents to his family, S: Shelley Eriksen S: Malcolm Clarke Based on the Rick Dobran play. S: Jefferson Lewis A group of irate senior citizens cards’ must learn a new game glamorous pin-up girls of the his faith and his own sexual Based on the Catherine Bush Based on the Gerald Donaldson In this fantasy turned comedy, a Based on the Jefferson Lewis seize control of their residence, when she gambles on love and 1950s and 1960s through limitations. novel. A young woman steps biography, Gilles Villeneuve: The gifted chef creates food spe- novel. Recruited at age 13 as taking on the money-grubbing falls for a New York City hustler archival footage, interviews, out from the safely removed Life of the Legendary Racing cially tailored to tantalize the an assassin for a violent IRA management and ultimately who charms his way into her and pastiche recreations. LOVING LENA world of war studies to engage Driver. This story chronicles senses of each restaurant splinter group, Jimmy Quick, attaining ownership of the boarding house. Crescent Entertainment Ltd. in the real and dangerous world Formula One world champion patron he meets but his gift now 37, has been given a property. DEEP WATER S: Scot Morison of love and refugees. racer Gilles Villeneuve’s obses- comes at the expense of his second chance, and must MAKING ROOM FOR LILY Mercury Film Inc. Based on the David Bergen sive and courageous pursuit of peace of mind. choose between old loyalties or HIDDEN Wilbo Entertainment Inc. & S: Mike Downie novel, The Case of Lena S. An ’SHROOM BOOM speed and his relationship with the promise of a new life. The Film Works Ltd. Faith Films A well-known rock star is off-beat coming-of-age story Red Snapper Films Limited his son Jacques who also THE BOATHOUSE S: David Shamoon S: Christina Sang-St. Catherine invited to help save a small exploring the relationship S: Lulu Keating becomes a world champion Vanguard Entertainment Inc. DEVIL’S DUE Based on the Robert Marshall When an elderly curmudgeon is fishing village in rural between Lena, a troubled, free- A young woman arrives from racer. S: Elizabeth Stewart Sisbro & Co. Inc. non-fiction book, In the Sewers railroaded into becoming the Newfoundland that is facing spirited girl, and Mason, the Africa only to discover that her A taut psychological thriller set S: Robert Starr of Lvov. A devoutly Catholic thief guardian of a feisty ten-year- economic hardship due to a bookish, straight-arrow boy betrothed is already married. at a seemingly idyllic summer An old man sponsoring a in World War II Poland seeks to old, he discovers within himself lack of fish. who falls for her. With no other alternative, she cottage about a young woman search for the coffin of Billy the redeem himself by hiding a dis- a capacity for love he didn’t learns to rely on herself and who must face the truth about Kid regales the archaeologist in parate group of Jews fleeing the know existed. through the process gains her her complicity in the disappear- charge of the dig with a Nazi destruction. independence and a new life in ance of her mentor. Western tale about a battle dur- NURSE.FIGHTER.BOY Canada’s north. ing the 1880s between Billy the THE HIDDEN PEOPLE pUNK Films Inc. CHARMING GRACE Kid and Johnny Ringo, the S: Lynne R. Kamm S: Charles Officer Media Brat Productions Inc. Horseman of the Apocalypse. A woman must choose A young boy turns to magic to S: Will Pascoe between her husband and her conjure a love for his dying Now in their late 20s, four EMERGENCE beliefs when she rediscovers mother and a father for himself. friends wrestle with a childhood Raven West Films Ltd. the myths and magic of her pact they made to never let a S: Monica Hilborn native Iceland. woman come between them – A video game programmer as one incredible woman grapples with his sanity when begins to do just that. parallels between his work, and real-life violence and conspira- cy, blur his sense of reality.
A STONE’S THROW photo 1: Lisa Ray Photo credit: Edsart Besier photo 2: Kris Holden Ried & Lisa Ray Photo credit: Mike Tomkins
10 20 YEARS OF ACTION! 20 YEARS OF ACTION! 11 ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
SECOND DRAFT PHASE FINAL DRAFT PHASE
PIGEON ENGLISH REAL WESTERN SEX ON THE BRAIN UN GARS UNE GIRL HIGH RISE SEX LIVES OF THE SAINTS Victorious Films Inc. Blue Moon Productions Inc. S: Willem Wennekers Premiere Bobine Inc. Capri Films Inc. Cabiria Pictures Inc. & S: Bridget Newson & S: Sandra Sawatzky & Four suburban couples in their S: Daniaile Jarry & S: Vincenzo Natali Buffalo Gal Pictures Inc. John Paul Kleiner Emma Barry 30s attempt to have an orgy to Jeff Schechter Based on the J.G. Ballard novel. S: Michèle Adams A rising economic development Please see First Draft Phase for kick start their humdrum lives. A comedy about a Calgary girl This futuristic thriller is an Based on the Richard Dubanski consultant takes an assignment description. and a Quebec boy who fall in unsettling and unforgettable tale short story, Fat Girl. A coming-of- in England after her fiancé STAY love and must convince their about a modern tower block age story set in the 1960s about cheats on her. While helping to RED VELVET GIRLS Submission Film ‘big fat families’ that their love that’s spiralling out of control a young man’s tragi-comic foray revitalize an English village, Creative Engine Pictures Inc. Productions Inc. can conquer any cultural, polit- into a violent and primal world. into lust, betrayal and the spirit she falls for a man who races S: Claudia Molina S: Wiebke von Carolsfeld ical and linguistic differences. world that take him to places he homing pigeons. A vampire mother prepares her Based on the Aislinn Hunter THE MYSTERIES OF has never been, only to realize daughter to marry and be novel. A young Canadian THE WAY THE BALL ICE FISHING that passion and purity aren’t RAW impregnated by a male vam- woman and her older Irish lover BOUNCES Sienna Films Inc. mutually exclusive. Finkelfilms BC Inc. pire. Instead, the young lady confront their demons in order Hungry Eyes Film & S: Doug Taylor S: Eric Finkel develops a fierce passion for a to save their complicated rela- Television Inc. A man learns the truth about SHE LOST HER LUGGAGE Although he works in his servant girl and the two lovers tionship and discover the S: Sudz Sutherland his father’s disappearance from Billfilms Inc. & family’s Italian restaurant, escape to Vancouver. power of human connection in A young university basketball the family summer cabin over Industry Pictures Inc. Dante aspires to be a sushi a troubled land. prodigy whose life is at a cross- 25 years ago when he sells the S: Bill Robertson chef, and must balance his THE SACRIFICE roads due to a devastating cabin and meets his father’s A young woman dumps her knee injury, becomes a team one-time fishing buddies. new ambitions with his over- Howe Sound Films Inc. THROWING THUMBS boyfriend when he doesn’t give coach to a group of Native girls bearing mother’s expectations S: Tarique Qayumi Mad Hat Productions Inc. her an engagement ring for who aren’t quite what he in this romantic comedy. In eastern Afghanistan, a S: Michael Giampa REAL TIME Christmas and she returns from expected. wounded U.S. serviceman is A London ex-con enters the January Films Limited & Los Angeles to Toronto to come rescued by a teenage boy, underground fighting circuit to Devonshire Productions Inc. to terms with her pitiable life. hidden and cared for by an save the father who abused S: Randall Cole entire village, and ultimately him as a child, while seeking A comedic drama about a com- SHIT LOVES LINDA saved at a tragic cost. redemption for his past. pulsive gambler who is given P: Ralph Zimmerman one hour to live by the hit man S: Penny Gay hired to kill him. A raw and hilarious film that follows the path of a woman RED VELVET GIRLS whose non-existent suburban Creative Engine Pictures Inc. life is completely transformed S: Claudia Molina as she unwittingly stumbles Please see Second Draft Phase into a life of crime. for description. WHEN I GROW TOO OLD TO DREAM Reel Effective Productions Ltd. S: Winston Washington Moxam & Gerry Atwell BANFF WORLD TELEVISION FESTIVAL 2006 A 12-year-old African-Canadian From Script to Screen - Optioning 101 Panel Moderator: John Galway boy in small-town Ontario is Panelists: Christina Jennings, John Morayniss, ushered into adulthood when Gabriella Martinelli & Michael Levine he must solve the mystery of Photo credit: Bonner Photography his father’s murder. His mother, who suffers from strange “spells”, is a suspect.
12 20 YEARS OF ACTION! 20 YEARS OF ACTION! 13 ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FAMILY FILM PROGRAM – SCRIPT COMPONENT
SECOND DRAFT PHASE
SENIOR PROJECT PHASE FIRST DRAFT PHASE BANNOCK & BRATWURST S: Shannon Olson Masters A teen devises a plan to get off the reservation by becoming an ALL HAT BREAKFAST WITH SCOT FUMENG THE PUCK HOGS THE DOODLEBOPS’ REALLY MUSTANG SALLY international exchange student, New Real Films Inc. Miracle Pictures Inc. Atopia Protocol Entertainment Inc. BIG MOVIE Cinécélébration Films Inc. but his family decides to host a S: Brad Smith S: Sean Reycraft S: Shuibo Wang S: Eric Lunsky Cookie Jar Entertainment Inc. S: Leila Basen & David Preston German student instead, result- Please see Story Optioning Based on the Michael Downing This epic tale focuses on the A distinctively Canadian docu- S: Jamie Waese & Dan Franklin When an 11-year-old girl and ing in a riotous clash of cul- Phase for description. novel. This comedy explores journey of illegal migrants from mentary-style comedy about On the way to reviving their her mother adopt a wild mus- tures. how it feels to be a boy who China to North America who are hockey, men and stick-handling career with a comeback con- tang to train it to pull a caleche AWAY FROM HER doesn’t quite fit into the role searching for love and a better the puck over the goal-line cert, the Doodlebops encounter in Old Montreal, they have to A SHINE OF RAINBOWS Pulling Focus Pictures Inc. society has created for him. quality of life. of life. some unexpected delays on fight many naysayers to keep Sepia Films Ltd. S: Sarah Polley their magical mystery tour bus. the horse. S: Vic Sarin & Mike Adams Please see Story Optioning FUGITIVE PIECES GRACE A TRYST WITH DESTINY Based on the Lillian Beckwith Phase for description. Serendipity Point Films Inc. Six Island Productions Inc. da da kamera pictures inc. & GET OUTTA TOWN PUJA’S BAT MITZVAH novel. A magical coming-of-age S: Jeremy Podeswa S: Rudy Thauberger & Divani Films Inc. D. Nightingale & Assoc. Ltd. pUNK Films Inc. story about love, acceptance and remembering the rainbows THE BANG BANG CLUB Based on the Anne Michaels Asghar Massombagi S: Srinivas Krishna S: Heather Conkie S: Anais Granofsky long after they are gone. Barna-Alper Productions Inc. novel. A young boy moves to In this political suspense thriller, Based on the R. K. Narayan Seeking companionship for Puja Solokowski is half Jewish S: Steven Silver Toronto when he loses his fami- an Arab-Canadian woman novel, Waiting for Mahatma. A their widowed grandfather, a and half black Baptist. When Based on the Greg Marinovich ly in the Holocaust and is adopt- rediscovers her own cultural young follower of Gandhi loving family posts a personal both sides of her estranged TWELVE and Jaoa Silva memoir. The ed by a Greek archaeologist. He heritage only to end up caught unwittingly befriends a fellow ad on the internet looking for family meet at her Bat Mitzvah, Shadow Shows Inc. story of four young war photo- becomes a famous poet, but in a web of intrigue involving train passenger who is on his the perfect grandmother. Little cultural fireworks ensue. S: Lanan Adcock graphers, told from Greg struggles with his disjointed North African political exiles and way to assassinate the do they know, this offer is the Based on The Brothers’ Grimm Marinovich’s perspective, who past, until he finally falls in love. planned assassinations. Mahatma, changing the course perfect escape for a con- fairytale, The Twelve Dancing come of age documenting of history forever. grandmother on the run from Princesses. Determined to keep apartheid’s last battle. the mob. their nightly visits to a magical realm of dance a secret, 12 I WISH I COULD… spirited princesses outwit a Milagro Films Inc. domineering king, a nasty S: Roger Cantin prince, oppressive guards and Surviving a plane crash, a some very temperamental brother and sister manage to enchanted forests to restore stay alive in the wilderness by harmony, happiness and love to remembering tricks they saw an unjust kingdom. in video games, films and on television.
AWAY FROM HER photo 1: Julie Christie & Gordon Pinsent photo 2: Julie Christie SENIOR PROJECT PHASE Photo credits: Michael Gibson FINAL DRAFT PHASE
BLUE EDEN Voice Pictures Inc. THE 10 CENT SOLUTION S: Pen Densham Galafilm Inc. After a three-year-old boy is kidnapped and aban- S: Will Finlay FUGITIVE PIECES doned, he is saved and raised by dolphins. When Hoping to help his beleaguered friend, a young boy responds to an photos 1 & 2: Rade Sherbedgia & Robert Kay the boy re-encounters human beings, he disco- advertisement he finds in a 40-year-old comic book and gets an Photo credit 1: Alex Dukay vers human affection, confronts his kidnappers experience that he and his friend will never forget. Photo credit 2: Nikos Nikolopoulos and reunites with his parents.
14 20 YEARS OF ACTION! 20 YEARS OF ACTION! 15 ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM FEATURE FILM FEATURE FILM
EQUITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM EQUITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM
AWAY FROM HER FUGITIVE PIECES SHAKE HANDS WITH THE DEVIL SILK THE STONE ANGEL A STONE’S THROW THE TRACEY FRAGMENTS WEIRDSVILLE Pulling Focus Pictures Inc. Serendipity Point Films Inc. DHX Media Ltd. Rhombus Media Inc. Buffalo Gal Pictures Inc. & Palpable Productions Inc. & Shadow Shows Inc. Darius Films Inc. P: Daniel Iron, Simone Urdl & P: Robert Lantos & P: Michael Donovan & P: Niv Fichman Skogland Films Ltd. Acuity Pictures Inc. P: Sarah Timmins P: Nicholas Tabarrok Jennifer Weiss András Hámori Laszlo Barna S: François Girard & P: Liz Jarvis & Kari Skogland P: Camelia Frieberg & E.P.: Paul Barkin & Phyllis Laing S: Willem Wennekers E.P.:Atom Egoyan S/D: Jeremy Podeswa S: Michael Donovan & Michael Golding E.P.: Phyllis Laing Kelly Bray S: Maureen Medved D: Allan Moyle S/D: Sarah Polley A Canada-Greece co-production. Paul Donovan D: François Girard S/D: Kari Skogland E.P.: Camelia Frieberg & D: Bruce McDonald Two druggie slackers decide to Please see Script Development / Please see Script Development / D: Roger Spottiswoode A Canada-Japan-Italy tripartite Based on the literary classic by Joe Frieberg Based on the Maureen Medved bury one of their girlfriends Story Optioning Phase for Senior Project Phase for Based on the Roméo Dallaire production. Based on the Margaret Laurence, the story S: Camelia Frieberg & novel. Fifteen-year-old Tracey after she overdoses on some description. description. memoir. Set in Rwanda during Alessandro Baricco novel. After tells of the irascible, witty and Garfield Miller Berkowitz sits naked under a stolen stash, only for her to the 1994 genocide, Lt.-Gen. travelling to Japan, a French proud Hagar Shipley, who in her D: Camelia Frieberg tattered shower curtain at the recover from her coma and be Roméo Dallaire is torn between silkworm merchant becomes BLACK EYED DOG POOR BOY’S GAME dying days embarks on a jour- Please see Script Development / back of the bus and tells her taken by a Satanic cult. The two his duty and his conscience obsessed with a nobleman’s Grana Productions Inc. & Conquering Lion Pictures Inc. & ney to reconcile herself with First Draft Phase for description. story about her search for her slackers must rescue the girl, while leading the UN peace- concubine, leaving his wife Saint-GlinGlin inc. Standing 8 Productions Inc. her tumultuous past. little brother Sonny. pay back their local drug king- keeping efforts. alone in France. P: Sam Grana & Pierre Gang P: Damon D’Oliveira, pin and try to stay out of jail. E.P.: Sam Grana & Louise Jobin Clement Virgo & Chaz Thorne S: Jeremy John Bouchard S: Clement Virgo & Chaz Thorne D: Pierre Gang D: Clement Virgo Set in New Brunswick, this story A young white boxer with a vio- is about one woman’s desperate lent and racist past must come desire to leave her small town to terms with his prejudice when home and her past, but when he is paired with a black coach unable to do so, she finds the for an upcoming fight. journey home most rewarding.
THE STONE ANGEL Ellen Burstyn BLACK EYED DOG Photo credit: David Giesbrecht Sonya Salomaa Photo credit: Sébastien Raymond SHAKE HANDS WITH THE DEVIL Roy Dupuis & James Gallanders Photo credit: Chris Reardon WEIRDSVILLE photo 1: Wes Bentley, Taryn Manning & Scott Speedman POOR BOY’S GAME photo 2: Dax Ravina, Greg Bryk, photo 1: Danny Glover Shayne Wyler & Maggie Castle photo 2: Flex Alexander & Photo credits: Shane Mahood Rossif Sutherland Photo credits: Chris Reardon SILK THE TRACEY FRAGMENTS photo 1: Sei Ashina photo 1: Ellen Page photo 2: Michael Pitt photo 2: Ellen Page & Max Turnball Photo credits: Jacques Yves Gucia Photo credits: Matt O’Sullivan
16 20 YEARS OF ACTION! 20 YEARS OF ACTION! 17 ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM FRENCH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM FAMILY FILM PROGRAM – EQUITY COMPONENT FEATURE FILM
TELEVISION SERIES STORY OPTIONING PROGRAM
LIFE WITH DEREK (SEASON 2) LIFE WITH DEREK (SEASON 3) NATURALLY SADIE (SEASON 2) NATURALLY SADIE (SEASON 3) AMOS DARAGON (the collection) UNE BELLE MORT C’EST PAS MOI, JE LE JURE ! CHERCHER LE VENT Shaftesbury Films Inc. Shaftesbury Films Inc. Decode Entertainment Inc. Decode Entertainment Inc. Novel by Bryan Perro Novel by Gil Courtemanche Novel by Bruno Hébert Novel by Guillaume Vigneault P: Suzanne French P: Suzanne French, P: Kevin May P: Kevin May Spectra Animation inc. Les Productions Équinoxe inc. micro_scope inc. Zone3 inc. E.P.: Christina Jennings, Laurie McLarty & E.P.: Neil Court, Steven DeNure, E.P.:Neil Court , Steven DeNure, Twelve-year-old Amos Daragon S: Gil Courtemanche S: Philippe Falardeau S: Pierre Houle Daphne Ballon & Scott Garvie Jeff Biederman Brent Piaskoski & Brent Piaskoski & has supernatural powers. He On Christmas Eve, a family Léon, a 10-year-old delinquent Jack’s Cessna crashes; Monica S: Daphne Ballon & E.P.: Christina Jennings, Beth Stevenson Beth Stevenson has been assigned the mission faces a painful decision: from a dysfunctional family, lives loses the baby she was carry- Jeff Biederman (lead writers) Daphne Ballon & Scott Garvie S: Brent Piaskoski (lead writer) S: Brent Piaskoski (lead writer) of restoring balance to the whether to prolong or terminate in his own imaginary world. In ing. This precipitates the cou- D: Paul Fox, Ron Murphy & S: Daphne Ballon & D: David Warry-Smith & D: Mitch Ness, David Winning, earth by putting an end to the the life of their detestable the company of his only friend, ple’s break-up and sends Jack Benji Weinstein Jeff Biederman (lead writers) Stacey Curtis Marni Banack & Kevin May war between the gods of good father, who is incapacitated by Clarence, he experiences the into a state of profound confu- A live-action comedic series D: Steve Wright, Paul Fox, A live-action “tween” series and evil. a degenerative disease. adventure of a lifetime. sion. He undertakes a journey about two self-obsessed Craig Pryce & Benji Weinstein about a 13-year-old girl whose to learn how to live again. teenagers whose parents have quest to understand the world recently married, and who fight often gets her into trouble when a take-no-prisoners battle for the behavioural experiments control of the house, the school she performs on the people and possibly the world, as they around her go awry. are forced to cope with their new sense of family.
LIFE WITH DEREK Joy Tanner, Jordan Todosey, Michael Seater, Ashley Leggat, Ariel Waller, Daniel Magder & John Ralston Photo credit: Steve Wilkie AMOS DARAGON Novel by Bryan Perro © Spectra Animation C’EST PAS MOI, JE LE JURE ! CHERCHER LE VENT UNE BELLE MORT Novel by Bruno Hébert Novel by Guillaume Vigneault NATURALLY SADIE Novel by Gil Courtemanche Éditions du Boréal Éditions du Boréal photo 1: Charlotte Arnold / photo 2: Charlotte Arnold, Michael D’Ascenzo, Édition du Boréal, Montréal, 2005 Coll. « Boréal Compact » 1999 Coll. « Boréal Compact » 2003 Jacob Kraemer, Jasmine Richards & Justin Bradley Photo credits: David Leyes TRAINING GRANTS
ATLANTIC FILM FESTIVAL: REELWORLD FILM FESTIVAL: Inspired Scripts Program Above the Line Sponsor BANFF WORLD TELEVISION FESTIVAL: SPROCKETS TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL From Script to Screen – Optioning 101 Panel FOR CHILDREN: CANADIAN FILM CENTRE: Sprockets Industry Networking Breakfast Short Dramatic Film Programme TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL: IMAGINENATIVE FILM AND MEDIA ARTS FESTIVAL: Mavericks Series Screenwriting from the Ground Up Workshop VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL: SFU/PRAXIS CENTRE FOR SCREENWRITERS: Trade Forum Story Editor Internship
18 20 YEARS OF ACTION! 10 YEARS OF ACTION! 19 FRENCH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM FRENCH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM FEATURE FILM FEATURE FILM
STORY OPTIONING PROGRAM STORY OPTIONING PROGRAM
UN ÉTÉ SANS POINT SHILVI ET LES PETITES SOUTIEN-GORGE ROSE ET SYMPATHIE POUR LE DIABLE LA TRACE DE L’ESCARGOT NI COUP SÛR BOÎTES À CHANSON VESTON NOIR TOME I & II Novel by Benoît Bouthillette Novel by Marc Robitaille Work by Sylvie Dumontier, Novel by Rafaële Germain Novels by Paul M. Marchand EGM Productions inc. Palomar Denis Larochelle & Cinémaginaire inc. Go Films L.P.R.S. inc. Crime novel set in Montreal. S: Marc Robitaille Marc Larochelle S: Rafaële Germain S: Guillaume de Fontenay & Inspector Benjamin Sioui inves- A story about luck in the life of Les Films Outsiders inc. Antoine, Juliette and Chloé Guillaume Vigneault tigates a series of murders all 11-year-old Martin. In the sum- UN ÉTÉ SANS POINT S: Marie-France Landry have a deal to be single and Story of a war correspondent inspired by the paintings of mer of 1969, as the Expos enter NI COUP SÛR The world of Shilvi, a five-year- stay that way, until Chloé recounting events in Beirut in Francis Bacon. the Major League, he becomes Novel by Marc Robitaille old girl with a vivid imagination, decides to go off in search of 1975 and Sarajevo in 1992. a pitcher for a minor league Photograph Cover: ©Randy Faris/CORBIS/MAGMA whose best friend is a robin. the love of her life. team in his parish, with help Les 400 coups, 2004 from his father.
QUATRE SOLDATS Novel by Hubert Mingarelli La Coop Vidéo de Montréal S: Robert Morin The story of the friendship between four Red Army soldiers at the end of the First World War, reunited by chance in the depths of a forest where they are spending the winter.
LA RONDE DES VAUTOURS QUATRE SOLDATS Unpublished novel SOUTIEN-GORGE ROSE Novel by Hubert Mingarelli by Robert Pouret ET VESTON NOIR Édition du Seuil Novel by Rafaële Germain LA TRACE DE L’ESCARGOT Locomotion Films inc. Prix Médicis 2003 Les Éditions Libre Expression Novel by Benoît Bouthillette S: Éric Leca Les Éditions JCL inc., 2005 Vincent Cox, a vain and ego- Credit: © Maud Gauthier centric actor who rescues damsels in distress in films, finds his own life unexpectedly turned upside down at the home of the Mines family.
ROUGE POISON Novel by Michèle Marineau Divertissement Subséquence inc. Crime novel. Like her police- officer father, Sabine and her friends try to solve the mystery surrounding the death of three children who overdosed on anticoagulants.
20 10 YEARS OF ACTION! 10 YEARS OF ACTION! 21 FRENCH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM FRENCH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM FEATURE FILM FEATURE FILM
SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM EQUITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM
AGNUS DEI UN ÉTÉ SANS POINT KID KOSMIK LA POISSE LA BRUNANTE CE QU’IL FAUT POUR VIVRE CONTRE TOUTE ESPÉRANCE Second Draft NI COUP SÛR Second Draft Final Draft Productions Totale Fiction inc. Corporation ACPAV inc. Corporation ACPAV inc. Productions Thalie inc. Second Draft Glacialis Productions inc. Zone Films S/D: Fernand Dansereau S: Bernard Émond S/D: Bernard Émond S: Michel Mongeau & Palomar S: Anne-Marie Ngô S: Olivier Kemeid & This psychodrama tells the story D: Benoit Pilon After losing her job, her home Jeremy Peter Allen S: Marc Robitaille Marcel has been murdered. Guillaume Lonergan of 72-year-old Madeleine, who This film, set in the early and valiantly caring for her Felix V, the first American pope, Please see Story Optioning Thirteen-year-old David, the A comedic fantasy. Émilie has Alzheimer’s and hires 1950s, tells the story of the invalid husband who commits wants to dissolve the wealthy Program for description. dead man’s only friend, wakes up one morning with a Sophie, aged 35, to be the driver uprooting of an Inuit hunter suicide, Réjeanne grabs the City State, sell off its assets and describes this despicable strange talent: she brings back for her farewell journey, without who has tuberculosis and must hunting rifle and fires it at the share the wealth with the less GRANDE OURSE – LA CLÉ character to the detective. Will luck to all those around her realizing that, like herself, Sophie undergo treatment in a Quebec house of her former boss, who fortunate. The Curia is in a tizzy, DES POSSIBLES she be able to solve the mys- while at the same time having is contemplating suicide. sanatorium. she holds responsible for her and as Christmas draws near, Final Draft tery hidden behind David’s mis- unbelievable fortune with bad fortune. LA BRUNANTE all hell breaks loose. chievous smile? everything she attempts. photo 1: Suzanne Clément Les Productions Point de Mire inc. UN CAPITALISME CONTINENTAL, UN FILM photo 2: Monique Mercure & Suzanne Clément S: Frédéric Ouellet SENTIMENTAL SANS FUSIL TOUT EST PARFAIT Photo credits: Jean Demers LEVANT-COUCHANT : LES DEMANDE À CEUX QUI Adapted from the television SPEED DATING Arrimage Productions inc. & micro_scope inc. Go Films L.P.R.S. inc. SEPT FACES DE LA LUMIÈRE RESTENT series Grande Ourse. To save Second Draft Les Réalisations Studio S/D: Stéphane Lafleur S: Guillaume Vigneault & Second & Final Drafts Second & Final Drafts his own life and that of his GPA Films inc. & TCB Films Particulier inc. Four variations on the theme of Yves-Christian Fournier Cinémaginaire inc. friend Biron, Lapointe has three Palomar S: Matthieu Simard S: Olivier Asselin & Lucile Fluet solitude. Lucette, Marcel, D: Yves-Christian Fournier S: Louis Bélanger & Alexis Martin days to project himself into a S: Rosa Zacharie A comedy of manners in the D: Olivier Asselin Chantal and Léon have one thing Please see Script Development A man and his friend embark on parallel world, find the key of This choral work features form of a mockumentary, which A tragicomedy. On the eve of in common: stuck in dreary lives, Program for description. a journey through the country- possibilities, deliver it to the seven characters from the features eight characters in the 1929 crash, Fernande, a they are all in search of meaning. side for the unavowed purpose shaman and solve the mystery. same family who try to influ- search of a soul mate at an farm woman with modest of coming to terms with the ence fate. event organized for singles. talents, is the object of a bet death of his five-year-old son. INCENDIES by three businessmen in the Through contact with the people Second Draft MAX EST DE RETOUR TOUT EST PARFAIT financial industry. he meets, he learns to live again. micro_scope inc. Final Draft Second Draft S: Denis Villeneuve Boréal Films inc. Go Films L.P.R.S. inc. LES DOIGTS CROCHES After the death of their mother, S: Dany Laferrière S: Guillaume Vigneault & Second Draft Nawal, Jeanne and Simon are Max takes advantage of the Yves-Christian Fournier Remstar Productions inc. bound to respect her final fact that he must return to Haiti This drama tells the story of S: Ken Scott wishes. They retrace the bitter following his father’s death to Josh, the sole survivor of a sui- After they are released from journey of her life and in find out which of his three cide pact, who tries to take his prison, five criminals find them- the process discover the friends betrayed him 20 years life a second time before com- selves having to make a pilgrim- foundations of their own lives. ago by sleeping with his ing to the realization that life is fiancée at the time. age to Santiago de Compostela worth living. CONTRE TOUTE ESPÉRANCE to get their booty back. photo 1: Guylaine Tremblay & Guy Jodoin photo 2: Guylaine Tremblay Photo credits: Pierre Dury
22 10 YEARS OF ACTION! 10 YEARS OF ACTION! 23 FRENCH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM FRENCH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM DOCUMENTARY DOCUMENTARY
EQUITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM EQUITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM
BIOGRAPHIES / LA GRANDE AMOUREUSE MON ŒIL ! II PARENTS DE LA DPJ RECETTES POUR LE SUCCÈS RIRE AUX ANGES CHRISTIAN TORTORA AND Les Productions VF inc. Zone3 inc. Orbi-XXI Productions inc. Les Productions Virage inc. Swan Productions inc. CORA TSOUFLIDOU S/D: Martine Asselin S: Richard Gohier S: Marie-Josée Cardinal S/D: Vali Fugulin S: Paul Bourgeault & Les Productions Magenta inc. A one-of-a-kind documentary. D: Pierre Lawrence D: Joël Bertomeu A unique documentary that Sylvie Lauzon S: Louise Racicot Portrait of the author Françoise An eight-episode series in A feature-length documentary takes an original look at the D: Paul Bourgeault D: Jean-Claude Marion & Simpère, presenting her experi- which public figures recognized that is critical of interventions problem of reconciling work A unique documentary present- Louise Racicot ence of married life through for their eloquence and acerbic by agents of the DPJ (Quebec and family, through the eyes of ing Dr. Clown, an organization This mini-series, part of the what she calls plural fidelities. wit become documentary Youth Protection Branch), as women who sell Tupperware. of professional artists who Biographie series, explores the filmmakers and present their viewed by parents who turned work in hospitals in an effort to lives of Christian Tortora, MANIFESTES EN SÉRIE sardonic and compelling take to them for help in a crisis. improve the lives of patients Formula 1 commentator, and Esperamos Films inc. LA GRANDE AMOUREUSE on a selected topic. through laughter. Cora Tsouflidou, the founder of S: Hugo Latulippe Françoise Simpère Photo credit: Olivier Gilbert the restaurant chain CORA. D: Charles Gervais, Hugo Latulippe & DOSSIERS JUSTICE V Pascal Sanchez Orbi-XXI Productions inc. This eight-episode series S: Daniel Proulx examines the situation in con- D: Philippe Cinq-Mars & temporary Quebec with respect Loïc Guyot to the environment, the econo- Hosted by Yves Boisvert, this my, health and culture, and eight-episode series examines presents possible alternatives the principles that define our by exploring the activities and justice system and illustrates its ideas of 20 different people and MON ŒIL! II RECETTES POUR LE SUCCÈS failings, through famous cases. experts. Geneviève Brouillette, Les Productions Virage inc. Émile Phaneuf & Lise Phaneuf UN ÉLOGE DE LA FOLIE M’AS T’EN CONTER UNE! Les Productions Watt inc. Saint-GlinGlin inc. S/D: Guillaume Sylvestre S/D: Pierre Gang This feature-length documen- A unique documentary explor- tary takes viewers into the ing the historical, sociological kitchens of some Montreal and psychological aspects of restaurateurs, where excess and the Quebec phenomenon of folly are the keys to success. joke-tellers since the 1930s. M’AS T’EN CONTER UNE! RIRE AUX ANGES photo 1: Julie Laferrière & Gilles Latulippe photo 1: Drs. Spring & Frog with Annie photo 2: François Lavallée PARENTS DE LA DPJ Hôpital Marie-Enfant, Physiothérapie Photo credits: Olivier Léger photo 1: Félix Patry & photo 2: Dr. l’Air de Rien & Simon Claudia Marchand Hôpital de Montréal pour enfants photo 2: Amélie Lafleur & Photo credits: Paul Bourgeault Hugues Fortier Photo credits: Joël Bertomeu
24 10 YEARS OF ACTION! 10 YEARS OF ACTION! 25 FRENCH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM FRENCH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM DOCUMENTARY DRAMA PROGRAM FOR YOUTH / MUSIC PROGRAM & VIDEOCLIP
EQUITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM EQUITY INVESTMENT PROGRAM
LES SALTIMBANQUES DRAMA FOR YOUTH VIDÉOCLIP DU RING BLAISE LE BLASÉ UNE GRENADE AVEC ÇA ? V GRANTS Orbi-XXI Productions inc. Spectra Animation inc. & Zone3 inc. S: Bernard La Frenière & ALLEZ Galaxy 7 S: Martin Doyon, Jean Pelletier Vincent Parisien Radar Films S: Benoît Godbout & & Sylvain Ratté D: Bernard La Frenière P: Sébastien Lacombe Malorie Nault Cousineau D: Martine Boyer A mini-series in which the D: Yannick Paquin D: Benoît Godbout & A 26-episode sitcom describing stars, promoters and officials Sylvain Lavoie the world of young people who who contributed to the glory AMOUR FANTÔME A 26-episode animated series work in the fast-food industry. days of wrestling in Quebec that explores the inner life of a Nù Films reminisce about their experi- LES SALTIMBANQUES DU RING P: Isabelle Roy photo 1: Mad Dog Vachon / photo 2: Wladek Kowalski teenager. Shrewd and percep- ences and shed light on a fasci- D: Martin Fournier Photo credits: Alain Tremblay tive, Blaise Leblanc, known as nating, bygone world. “Le Blasé,” displays an attitude of indifference and appears AQUARIUM TOXIQUE unmotivated to adults, who Disques Atlantis Productions Thalie inc. would like to see him fit into a P: Manuel Gasse S: Johanne de Bellefeuille & mould. D: Louis Trépanier Pierre Couture D: Jean Bourbonnais UNE AUTRE JOURNÉE A 10-episode series that gives Radar Films a voice to the victims of envi- P: Sébastien Lacombe ronmental disasters that have D: Tristan Dubois caused serious illnesses among Quebecers. TOXIQUE INUUSIVUNGA René Lamothe Aviva Desdémona VICTIMES Photo credit: Pierre Crépô P: Taïma Sovitel inc. D: Brigitte Henri & S: Marc Roberge & Ralph Dfouni Yves Thériault BLAISE LE BLASÉ D: Lakshmi Nguon & © Spectra Animation 2006 TOUT ARRIVE Yves Thériault Alldress Productions Through the efforts of various P: Ève Cournoyer victims, this eight-episode series UNE GRENADE AVEC ÇA ? V D: Christopher Langston exposes instances of abuse, photo 1:The cast of “Une grenade negligence and incompetence avec ça ? V” LES YEUX DE MARIE photo 2: Yan England among the managers and Les Disques Audiopact employees of various types of P: Andrea Lindsay institutions. VICTIMES Sovitel inc. D: Jacques Graveline Photo credit: Séquences / Jean-Yves Houle 60 TONNES D’ÉPINETTES MUSIC PROGRAM Altau Tutti Frutti inc. S/D: Bruno Bouliane CONCERT POP AVEC... TOUT EN PIANO This unique documentary is a idi inc. journey into a little known occu- D: Yves Lefebvre pation, that of the logging-truck A series of ten programs recorded before a live audience. driver. Accompanied by piano or another keyboard instrument, well-known artists from all over perform new renditions of their greatest hits. CONCERT POP AVEC… TOUT EN PIANO Pierre Flynn
26 10 YEARS OF ACTION! 10 YEARS OF ACTION! 27 ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM FRENCH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM FINANCIAL SUMMARY 2005-2006 FINANCIAL SUMMARY 2005-2006
Le Fonds Harold Greenberg French-language Program 2100, rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest, Bureau 1000 Montréal (Québec) H3H 2T3 Tel.: 514 939-5094 • Fax: 514 939-6585 E-mail: [email protected] www.astralmedia.com
• Le Fonds Harold Greenberg, which funds French-language film and television productions, was created in September 1996. It consists of The Harold Greenberg Fund was established in 1986 to assist in the • four budget sources to be distributed over seven years. The first, which receives its resources from 5% of Canal Indigo’s gross revenues, development of quality Canadian feature film scripts. The Fund supports the production of feature films and special events. The second, established in 2000, is sponsored by Astral Media. Totaling receives a yearly contribution of $1,000,000 for this Script • $6,055,000, it provides financial support for the production of documentaries, music programs and music videos. The third, which dates Development Program from The Movie Network. Created in 1991 to from 2002, is funded by Super Écran and consists of $3,475,000, used to finance story optioning and script development for feature films. support feature film production, the Equity Investment Program is The fourth, created in 2001, totals $2.5 million and is provided by Family. It is used to finance the production of drama programs for youth. sponsored by Viewers Choice. This program is funded by 5% of gross revenues from Viewers Choice. In 2001, the Story Optioning In fiscal 2005-2006, the total amount available for the various funding programs was approximately $2,325,000. Of this amount, Phase was established to build upon the crucial funding provided by $1,767,310 was allocated to projects submitted during this period. the existing Script Development Program. The Fund receives a yearly • contribution of $300,000 from The Movie Network for Story From September 2005 to August 2006, 122 funding requests were submitted to Le Fonds Harold Greenberg. Of this number, 54 projects Optioning which brings The Movie Network’s annual commitment to received the funding they requested: 12 story optioning projects, 12 feature film script development projects, six feature films, 14 docu- $1.3 million. The Family Film Program was also established in 2001 mentaries, one music program and two drama programs for youth. In addition, based on recommendations by the jury of the funding to finance the development and production of high quality films and organization MaxFACT, Le Fonds Harold Greenberg contributed to seven music videos. television series for children, youth and family audiences. This program is a $5,000,000 commitment from the Family Channel, to Since it was created in September 1996, the eight funding programs of Le Fonds Harold Greenberg have provided financial support for 23 be administered over seven years. videos, six music programs, 14 special events, 63 scriptwriting programs, 42 story optioning projects, 39 feature films, 74 documentaries and eight drama programs for youth, along with three scriptwriting workshops, for a total investment of $10,823,780 in 272 film and For the 2006 fiscal year, the total amount received from all revenue television projects. sources was approximately $4,098,882. The Fund’s total financial FINANCED PROJECTS 2005-2006 support in script development and production financing for this year totaled $3,302,725. • Feature Film / Equity Investment (9%)
Between September 1, 2005 and August 31, 2006, The Fund • Feature Film Development (80%) received 352 applications for the Script Development Program and Family Film Program (script component) and funded a total of 91 • TV Production / Equity Investment (3%) projects. Our Script Development Program funds were committed as follows: 30% to story optioning, 22% to first drafts, 23% to • Training Grants (8%) second drafts, 15% to final drafts and 10% to senior projects. The Fund received 10 training grant proposals and nine were supported. • 114 English-language projects totalling $3,302,725 Between September 1, 2005 and August 31, 2006, The Fund received 34 equity applications for the Equity Investment Program FINANCED PROJECTS 2005-2006 and the Family Film Program (equity component) and committed funding for 10 productions and 4 Family productions for a total of • Feature Film / Equity Investment (11%) $2,161,670 in equity investment. • • Feature Film Development (44%) Since its inception, The Fund has supported 1,795 script develop- • TV Production / Equity Investment (45%) ment projects, 171 training grants and since 1991, The Fund has made equity investments in 123 feature films and 13 family televi- • sion series, for a total investment of $39,876,409. 54 French-language projects totalling $1,767,310 The Harold Greenberg Fund English-language Program BCE Place 181 Bay Street P.O. Box 787, Suite 100 Toronto (Ontario) M5J 2T3 Tel.: (416) 956-5431 • Fax: (416) 956-2087 E-mail: [email protected] www.astralmedia.com
28 20 YEARS OF ACTION! 10 YEARS OF ACTION! 29 THE FUND / ENGLISH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM LE FONDS / FRENCH-LANGUAGE PROGRAM RETROSPECTIVE RETROSPECTIVE
20 YEARS OF ACTION! 10 YEARS OF ACTION!
Date Event Harold Greenberg Date Event Odile Méthot & Marcel Beaulieu Atelier Grand Nord, 1986 Astral Media launches the Foundation to Underwrite New Drama 1996 Astral Media launches the French-language Program 2006 Edition for Pay Television (FUND) sponsored by The Movie Network. (Le Fonds) sponsored by Canal Indigo to support the Equity Photo credit: Marielle Caron Investment Programs Feature Films and Special Events. 1989 FUND launches Senior Project Phase. 1996 Le Fonds’ first equity investment is the film La Comtesse 1990 FUND launches the Equity Investment Program sponsored de Bâton Rouge directed by Marc-André Forcier. by Viewers Choice. 2000 Le Fonds launches Equity Investment Programs to support Ian Greenberg, Odile Méthot 1991 FUND’s first equity investment is the film Ganesh. GANESH Documentaries, Music Programs and Music Videos. & Patrice Sauvé Ryan Reynolds & David Fox at Le Fonds’ 10th anniversary 1994 FUND partners with the Canadian Film Centre’s Feature Photo credit: Sharon Stephens 2001 Le Fonds launches the Family Film Program sponsored party in September 2006 Film Project program. Photo credit: Michel Gagné by Family to support Drama Programming for Youth. 1996 Name is changed to The Harold Greenberg Fund/ 2002 Le Fonds launches the Script Development Program and Le Fonds Harold Greenberg (The Fund/Le Fonds) Story Optioning Program for Feature Films sponsored by in honour of the late Harold Greenberg. Super Écran. 1997 1000th script development project is supported. MAMBO Isabelle Touchette, ITALIANO 2004 Between 2003 and 2004 the film Les invasions barbares Brigitte Catellier, Rock Demers, 1998 The Fund equity investment The Sweet Hereafter garners Paul Sorvino & directed by Denys Arcand won numerous prizes all around Odile Méthot & André Bureau at Le Fonds’ 10th anniversary two Academy Award nominations for Atom Egoyan. Ginette Reno the world, in particular the Oscar for Best Foreign Photo credit: party in September 2006 2001 The Fund launches the Family Film Program sponsored Attila Dory Language Film at the 76th Academy Awards. Photo credit: Michel Gagné by Family Channel. 2004 Le Fonds partners with SODEC to support first Edition of 2001 The Fund launches the Story Optioning Phase sponsored Atelier Grand Nord 2004 (International French Script by The Movie Network. Development Workshop). LA CHARIA AU CANADA 2001 The Fund’s equity investment Men with Brooms grosses 2005 Between 2005 and 2006 the film C.R.A.Z.Y. directed by 2003 over $4 million in domestic box office. Jean-Marc Vallée was nominated in numerous festivals and won several prizes, in particular 13 Jutra awards at The Fund’s equity investment Mambo Italiano grosses 2002 La 8e soirée des Jutra, 2006. over $6 million in domestic box office. 2006 Ten years later, Le Fonds has financed 272 projects 2004 100th equity investment is made. and it still goes on… LES INVASIONS 2004 150th training grant is supported. BARBARES Since its inception Le Fonds has invested $10.8 M. Stéphane Rousseau 2004 1500th script development project is supported. photo 1: Guest of Honour The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Status of Women at The Fund’s & Rémy Girard th The Fund’s equity investment Water grosses 20 anniversary party in September 2006. 2002 2004 photo 2: (Left to right) André Bureau, Beverley J. Oda, Ian over $9 million. Greenberg, John Galway & Bryn Matthews at The Fund’s 20th anniversary party in September 2006. 2006 The Fund has invested over $17 million in script development. Photo credits: Jag Gundu 2006 The Fund has invested over $22 million in equity financing. WATER Lisa Ray & HTJ Sarala C.R.A.Z.Y. 2006 Twenty years later, The Fund has financed 2102 projects Photo credit: Émile Vallée, and it still goes on… Devyani Saltzman Maxime Tremblay, Pierre-Luc Brillant, Marc-André Grondin & Since its inception The Fund has invested $39.9 M. Alex Gravel 2005
30 20 YEARS OF ACTION! 10 YEARS OF ACTION! 31