Telefilm Canada presents second-annual Golden Box Office Award to director and writers of Splice
Toronto, May 26, 2011 – In a revamped genetics lab at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital, Telefilm Canada today announced the winners of its second-annual Golden Box Office Award, a prize that recognizes the Canadian writers and director of the Canadian English-language feature film with the highest domestic box-office sales each year. The 2010 winners of the “Goldie” and accompanying cash prizes totalling $40,000 are director and co-writer Vincenzo Natali (Cube) and co-writer Doug Taylor (Naked Josh).
The science-fiction/horror feature, starring Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley and produced by Steve Hoban, grossed $2.1 million in domestic box office sales and $26.9 million worldwide.
“We are very pleased to be presenting the second-annual Golden Box Office Award to Splice,” said Carolle Brabant, Executive Director, Telefilm Canada. “In a departure from most box-office awards that honour producers and distributors, we wanted to instead recognize the directing and script talent behind Canadian cinema success stories. In celebrating the talent of Vincenzo Natali and Doug Taylor, we want to raise the visibility of Canadian film, and encourage other directors and writers to create unique Canadian stories that have universal appeal.”
Director and co-writer Vincenzo Natali added: “Making movies is much like making a monster, you don’t know what terror you’ve wrought until it has escaped from the lab. The fact that Splice was a box office success in its native country is another testament to Telefilm’s foresight and their faith in Canadian filmmakers to produce popular entertainment. Without their support this strange but beautiful creature could never have come to life.”
Co-writer Doug Taylor added: “Congratulations to Vincenzo for nurturing Splice from its very inception and for his great breadth of imagination and daring. Huge thanks to Telefilm for this important recognition and for supporting a film with aspirations to be both challenging and entertaining. An award like this reminds me and my fellow writers that we can stay in Canada, create an ambitious feature film for worldwide release, and remain generously supported here at home.”
About Splice (produced by Copperheart Entertainment and Gaumont, distributed in Canada by Entertainment One)
Superstar genetic engineers Clive (Adrien Brody) and Elsa (Sarah Polley) specialize in splicing DNA from different animals to create incredible new hybrids. Now they want to use human DNA in a hybrid that could revolutionize science and medicine. But when the pharmaceutical company that funds their research forbids it, Clive and Elsa secretly take their boldest experimentation underground – risking their careers by pushing the boundaries of science to serve their own curiosity and ambition.
The film premiered in October 2009 at Sitges Film Festival, where it won “Best Special Effects” and was in the running for “Best Film”, and was part of the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. The film received a wide release in the United States in June 2010 with Warner Bros. as distributor.
The inaugural 2009 Goldie was handed to the director and writers of the film Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day. The second feature film in the Trailer Park Boys comedy franchise grossed $2.9 million in domestic box office sales.
About Telefilm Canada
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 products that appeal to domestic and international audiences. Telefilm also administers the Canada Media Fund. Visit www.telefilm.ca.
-30-
For more information:
Douglas Chow, Manager, External Communications
Telefilm Canada
(514) 283-6363 ext. 2225
chowd@telefilm.ca
http://twitter.com/telefilm_canada
For Splice photos visit:
http://www.eonefilmsmedia.ca
Login: eonemedia
Password: publicity1
Go to Home Entertainment
Go to the right top info bar and scroll down all the titles till you hit Splice