Astral’s Harold Greenberg Fund’s English-Language Program (The Fund) is pleased to announce its latest round of funding for 18 new and ongoing projects through its Script Development Program.
Chosen from 126 applications, the most recent selection of supported projects is a diverse mix of screenplays by new and established writers. Among these is Deepa Mehta’s highly anticipated Midnight’s Children, being produced by Hamilton-Mehta Productions. This fascinating story is based on Salman Rushdie’s internationally renowned, award-winning novel. The Fund also supported the emerging writer/directors behind the stop-motion short film Madame Tutli-Putli. Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski’snew project with Silo Corporation, called The White Circus, is a fable of war, youth, love and heroism.
“We are honoured to be working with such high-caliber Canadian filmmakers,” says John Galway, President of Astral’s Harold Greenberg Fund. “Deepa’s Water and Chris and Maciek’s Madame Tutli-Putli were both Academy Award nominated films. This shows us that, in addition to fascinating screenplays, these filmmakers have the drive and experience to execute complex, high quality projects.”
The recent round of supported scripts includes projects from across the country. From Vancouver, William Gibson, author of the award winning novel Neromancer, is writing a screenplay with Michael St. John Smith called Archangel. This original science fiction story is being produced by Red Cedar Films. From Saskatchewan, The Last Crossing has been supported in Story Optioning, to be written by Rob King and produced by Minds Eye Development. And from Newfoundland, Rosemary House of Rock Island Productions is writing and producing Hold Fast, based on the award-winning coming-of-age novel by Kevin Major.
Projects approved this quarter include:
SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Story Optioning
The Last Crossing
Minds Eye Development Inc.
Screenwriter: Rob King
Sweetness in the Belly
Sienna Films Inc.
Treatment to First Draft
Sailor Girl
Markham Street Films
Screenwriter: Johanna Schneller
The Outlander
Strada Films
Screenwriter: Esta Spalding
Perdition City
Front Street Pictures
Screenwriters: Robin Dunne & Vanessa Parise
Archangel
Red Cedar Films Inc.
Screenwriters: William Gibson & Michael St. John Smith
One in a Million
Corey Marr Productions Inc.
Screenwriter: Matthew Bissonnette
First to Second Draft
Kristina of Sweden
Triptych Media
Screenwriter: Michel Marc Bouchard
Envoy
Filmshow Inc.
Screenwriter: Michael MacLennan
My Asshole Neighbour
Quadrant Motion Pictures Inc.
Screenwriters: Andrew Currie & Robert Chomiak
Cold Blooded Snakes
Darius Films Inc.
Screenwriter: Stephen Kunc
Action Figures
Strident Films Inc.
Screenwriter: Ken Hegan
A Death in the Bullfighting Hills
Sarrazin Productions Inc
Screenwriter: Martyn Burke
Hold Fast
Rock Island Productions
Screenwriter: Rosemary House
Second to Final Draft
The White Circus
Silo Corporation
Screenwriters: Chris Lavis & Maciek Szczerbowski
Feline
Crooked Pictures Inc.
Screenwriters: Sascha Drews & Matthew Miller
Polish and Packaging
Enter the Cipher
Conquering Lion Pictures Inc.
Screenwriters: Douglas Century & Clement Virgo
Midnight’s Children
Hamilton-Mehta Productions Inc.
Screenwriter: Deepa Mehta
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, Shane Kinnear, Bryn Matthews and Kevin Wright.
