Telefilm Canada announces its support for 10 French-language feature films through the Canada Feature Film Fund
Montréal, December 3, 2009 – Telefilm Canada is announcing its latest decisions regarding investments made under the main program of the Canada Feature Film Fund, French-language projects, selective component, for 2010-2011. In all, 36 projects were submitted in time for the September 14, 2009 application deadline, and Telefilm chose 10 French-language projects for an overall investment of $7.5 M.
“The quality and diversity of the projects submitted this year were outstanding; in fact, we decided to support a higher number of films,” stated Michel Pradier, Director of Telefilm Canada’s Investment Portfolio. “I am also very happy to see more majority co-productions, a testament to the undeniable talent of Canadian filmmakers and the industry’s maturity.”
The next deadline for French-language projects submitted under the selective component of the Canada Feature Film Fund in 2010-2011 is February 1, 2010.
The following projects were selected during the first round of submissions under the selective component of the Canada Feature Film Fund for 2010-2011:
L’appât – Comedy, Quebec-France co-production, directed by Yves Simoneau and written by Yves Simoneau and William Reymond. Poirier is a particularly inept detective, none of whose colleagues want to work with him. However, the French police, in concert with the Sureté du Québec, assign a very unusual officer, Marc Ventura, to work alongside Poirier… (Producers: Josée Vallée and Jean-Pierre Guérin; distributor: Alliance Vivafilm). The project is also receiving Telefilm support through the performance envelope.
Café de Flore – Drama, Quebec-France co-production, written and directed by Jean-Marc Vallée. This is first and foremost an incredibly beautiful love story between a man and a woman, as well as that between a mother and her son. (Producers: Pierre Even and Jean-Marc Vallée; distributor: Alliance Vivafilm).
En terrains connus – Drama written and directed by Stéphane Lafleur. Maryse works in a factory, where she witnesses an accident. Shaken by the incident, she slowly withdraws into herself. Benoit is Maryse’s younger brother. A man comes to see him, claiming to be a time-traveller from seven months in the future. He tells Benoit that his sister Maryse must not rent a car: she would be the victim of a fatal accident. (Producers: Luc Déry and Kim McGraw; distributor: Seville Pictures).
French Kiss – Romantic comedy directed by Sylvain Archambault and written by Josée Fréchette. Fred, aged 35, works as a broker with his friend Elliot. He’s happy living for the moment, and his love-life is pretty dull. Juliette, also 35, a librarian, lives her ordinary life by fighting, not very successfully, against her allergies and her solitude. One day, their paths cross in the street. (Producers: Lorraine Richard and Luc Martineau; distributor: TVA Films). The project is also receiving Telefilm support through the performance envelope.
Marécages – Drama written and directed by Guy Edoin. On a dairy farm in the Eastern Townships, during a drought, an event turns the life of the Santerre family upside down. Forced to confront one another, they will also have to learn how to forgive one another. (Producers: Roger Frappier, Luc Vandal and Félize Frappier; distributor: Métropole Films Distribution).
Memories Corner – Drama, France-Quebec co-production, written and directed by Audrey Fouché. A young reporter from France, Ada Servier, is sent by her editor to Kobe, Japan to cover the ceremonies commemorating the 10th anniversary of the devastating earthquake in that city. (Producers: Pierre Beaudry and Jérôme Vidal; distributor: Christal Films Distribution).
Le sens de l’humour – Comedy directed by Émile Gaudreault and written by Émile Gaudreault and Benoit Pelletier. Luc is an extremely talented stand-up comic who can’t connect with his audience. Marc is a good-natured humorist who’ll do anything to get a laugh. During their show one evening, they pick relentlessly on someone in the audience; the next day, the two comics find themselves locked up in a cage. (Producers: Denise Robert and Daniel Louis; distributor: Alliance Vivafilm).
La trace – Drama, Quebec-France co-production, written and directed by Rodrigue Jean. In a town in Haiti, Samuel’s peaceful life is shattered when the army comes for his father, a reporter. (Producers: François Landry, Sandra-Dalhie Goyer, Thomas Verhaeghe and Alain Benguigui; distributor: K-Films Amérique).
Le vendeur – Drama written and directed by Sébastien Pilote. Marcel Lévesque, 67, lives his life according to a well-established routine; a widower, father of Maryse, he has been liked and admired by all during the course of his 16 years as sales champ at the car dealership. But an incident soon turns his life upside down… (Producers: Bernadette Payeur and Marc Daigle; distributor: Seville Pictures).
La vérité – Drama written and directed by Marc Bisaillon. Gabriel and Yves, both 17, are friends. Following a night of drinking, they break into a house, ransack it, but are caught in the act by a neighbour, who tries to contact the cops. (Producer: Christine Falco; distributor: Filmoption Internationale).
Telefilm Canada: 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 Canadian Feature Film Fund, the Canadian Television Fund and the Canada New Media Fund. Visit www.telefilm.ca.
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Media enquiries:
Eva Hartling
Senior Advisor, External Communications
Telefilm Canada
514-283-0838, ext. 2090 or 1-800-567-0890
hartlie@telefilm.ca