Astral’s Harold Greenberg Fund’s English-Language Program (The Fund) is pleased to announce that five projects have recently been selected to receive support through its Equity Investment Program.
The latest round of funding includes Take This Waltz from the Academy Award® nominated filmmaker, Sarah Polley. It is the story of a young married woman named Margot, played by Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain), who struggles with choosing between two different kinds of love. Seth Rogen (Superbad), Luke Kirby (Tell Me You Love Me) and Sarah Silverman (The Sarah Silverman Program) co-star. This project was previously supported by The Fund’s Script Development Program. In addition to writing and directing the project, Sarah is co-producing alongside Accent Entertainment’s Susan Cavan. “Take This Waltz is another example of Sarah’s ability to create emotionally complex and honest films with a strong vision, as we saw in Away From Her” said John Galway, The Fund’s President.
The Moth Diaries was written and directed by Mary Harron (American Psycho, The Notorious Betty Paige). It is the story of Rebecca, a haunted young girl who is left alone to battle a fellow student she suspects of being a vampire, when her best friend Lucy develops a wasting illness and mysterious deaths shock her elite girls boarding school.
Goon was written by Evan Goldberg (Superbad) and Jay Baruchel (Knocked Up) and is to be directed by Mike Dowse who was recently involved with another project supported by The Fund, Fubar II. It is the story of Doug Glatt, the Jewish Dolph Lugreen, who’s been touched by the fist of God. Upon discovering both his right hook and skates, he joins a hockey team destined for the cellar and inspires them into the playoffs.
The final selections are lower budget, independent spirited projects. Trigger, directed by Bruce MacDonald (Pontypool) will be featured at the 35th annual Toronto International Film Festival®. Rollertown was written by Picnicface, a ground-breaking Canadian comedy troupe that has produced several successful viral videos that have been featured on HBO Canada’s Funny or Die.
Projects Approved:
Take This Waltz
Joe’s Daughter Inc.
Screenwriter: Sarah Polley
The Moth Diaries
Strada Films Inc. And Media-Max Inc.
Screenwriter: Mary Harron
Goon
DCP Mystery Arts Inc.
Screenwriters: Jay Baruchel and Evan Goldberg
Trigger
United Orange Inc.
Screenwriter: Daniel MacIvor
Rollertown
Bad Astronaut Inc.
Screenwriters: Andrew Bush, Mark Little and Scott Vrooman
The Equity Investment Program was established in 1992 to invest in the production of quality Canadian dramatic movies made for theatrical release and/or pay television. The program receives a yearly contribution from Astral’s Viewers Choice. 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, Shane Kinnear, Bryn Matthews and Kevin Wright.
Astral’s Harold Greenberg Fund is a member of the Astral family. Astral is one of Canada’s largest media companies. It operates over 100 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.
