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.