Telefilm Canada Supports New Feature Films



Telefilm Canada has confirmed its financial support of nearly $13 million of Canadian tax payers' money towards the production of nine English-language feature films through the 'Canada Feature Film Fund', although there doesn't seem to be anything culturally 'Canadian' about most of their selections, other than the crews that will be working on them.

Among the films receiving money include a psycho horror with a demonic 'Santa Claus', a bio pic about a former Queen of Sweden, the 'relationship' between 'James Dean' and a photographer, a thriller involving a Satanic child abuse sex ring, and an inflatable Sex Doll drug smuggling story:

The films are "After the Ball" (Sean Garrity), "A Christmas Horror Story" (Steven Hoban, Grant Harvey, Brett Sullivan), "Aloft" (Claudia Llosa), "A Worthy Companion" (Jason Sanchez, Carlos Sanchez), "LIFE" (Anton Corbijn), "Regression" (Alejandro Amenabar), "Rest Home" (Michael Rowe), "The Girl King" (Mika Kaurismäki) and "Zoom" (Pedro Morelli).

"After the Ball"
Director: Sean Garrity
Writers: Jason Sherman, Kate Miles Melville
Production: DCP Mystery Arts, Jane Silverstone Holdings
Distribution: Pacific Northwest Pictures
Genre: Comedy
Confirmed actors: Portia Doubleday ("Carrie"), Marc-André Grondin ("C.R.A.Z.Y"), Chris Noth ("Sex and the City"), Lauren Holly, Natalie Krill, Anna Hopkins, David Michael, Mimi Kuzyk, Carlo Rota, Colin Mochrie

"...the dream of 'Kate Castle' is to design couture clothing, but after graduating at the head of her class in fashion school the harsh reality hits no one will hire her. Sure, she’s got a fantastic eye, but she’s also the daughter of retail guru and knockoff pioneer 'Larry Castle', whose stores sell clothes inspired by the very designers Kate wants to work for. Kate is left with no choice but to join 'Castle Clothing', where she must navigate around a duplicitous stepmother and two wicked stepsisters, whose aim is to discredit her at every turn. But through a budding romance with a prince of a guy in the shoe department, her godmother’s vintage clothes and a shocking switch of identities, Kate is able to expose the evil trio, save Castle Clothing and prove that it’s what’s on the inside that counts..."

"A Christmas Horror Story"
Directors: Steven Hoban, Grant Harvey, Brett Sullivan
Writers: Doug Taylor, Sarah Larsen, James Kee, Pascal Trottier
Production: Copperheart Entertainment
Distribution: Entertainment One Films Canada
Genre: Horror
Confirmed actors: George Buza, Adrian Holmes, Michelle Nolden, Olunike Adeliyi, Zoe De Grand’Maison, Alex Ozerov, Shannon Kook, Amy Forsyth, Jeff Clarke, Orion John, Julian Richings, Rob Archer

"...'Christmas': a time of Joy, Peace and Goodwill. Unless you happen to live in the town of 'Bailey Downs'. Here, on Christmas Eve, Joy is corrupted when a malevolent spirit traps three teens in a school basement intent on recreating a twisted version of the 'Nativity' story. Peace is shattered when a family returns from a snowy forest with the perfect Christmas tree only to find something is terrifyingly wrong with their 7-year old son. Goodwill is perverted when a not-so-nice family is hunted down by 'Krampus', the demonic anti-'Santa Claus' of Nordic mythology. This is a small town and like all small towns everyone knows everyone and this year their Christmas nightmares are all connected. Even Santa Claus himself is drawn into the horror when he has to fight off a horde of howling Zombie Elves before making his rounds..."

"The Girl King" (a minority Canadian coproduction with Finland)
Director: Mika Kaurismäki
Writer : Michel-Marc Bouchard
Production: Triptych Media, Galafilm Productions
Distribution: Equinoxe Films
Genre: Historical drama
Confirmed actors: Sarah Gadon ("Cosmopolis"), Lucas Bryant, Malin Buska, François Arnaud, Peter Lohmeyer, Mathieu Almaric, Martina Gedeck

"...'The Girl King' paints a portrait of 'Kristina of Sweden', a young, extravagant queen who ruled her country from the age of seven until her startling abdication at 28..."

"LIFE" (a majority Canadian coproduction with Germany)
Director: Anton Corbijn ("Control")
Writer: Luke Davies
Production: First Generation Films
Distribution: Entertainment One Films Canada
Genre: Drama
Confirmed actors: Robert Pattinson ("Twilight"), Dane DeHaan ("The Amazing Spider-Man 2"), Sir Ben Kingsley ("Sexy Beast"), Joel Edgerton

"...inspired by the now famous photo-shoot commissioned by 'LIFE' magazine in 1955, LIFE reveals the unlikely friendship between unproven photographer 'Dennis Stock' and a little-known actor on the cusp of stardom called 'James Dean'. The LIFE assignment, which would ultimately provide the world with some of the most lasting and iconic images of the age, took the pair on a road trip and created a friendship that would change Stock’s life forever..."

"Regression" (a minority Canadian coproduction with Spain)
Director: Alejandro Amenábar
Writer: Alejandro Amenábar
Production: First Generation Films
Distribution: Elevation Pictures Corporation
Genre: Thriller
Confirmed actors: Ethan Hawke ("Training Day"), Emma Watson ("Noah"), Devon Boshuck, Devon Bostick, David Thewlis, Dale Dickey

"...Minnesota, 1990. 'Detective Bruce Kenner' investigates the case of young 'Angela', who accuses her father, 'John Gray', of sexual abuse. Unexpectedly, John admits his guilt despite having no recollection of his crimes. Kenner brings in renowned psychologist 'Dr. Raines' to help relive John’s memories, which seem to implicate more people. Their worst fears are confirmed when the investigation reveals the existence of a cult that has been performing horrifying rituals in the area for years. The officers are alarmed when similar reports come in from all around the country. Bruce Kenner is standing in the middle of what looks like a nationwide conspiracy..."

"Zoom" (a majority Canadian coproduction with Brazil)
Director: Pedro Morelli
Writer: Matthew Hansen
Production: Rhombus Media
Distribution: Alliance Films
Genre: Drama
Confirmed actors: Gael García Bernal ("Bad Education"), Alison Pill ("Goon"), Mariana Ximenes, Jason Priestley, Don McKellar, Jennifer Irwin.

"...a multi-dimensional interface between a comic book artist, a novelist and a film director. Each lives in a separate reality but authors a story about one of the others. 'Emma' smuggles drugs inside artificial love dolls to fund a secret cosmetic procedure. Emma is also creating a comic book about 'Edward', a cocky film director with a debilitating secret about his own anatomy. Edward’s film features 'Michelle', a beautiful novelist living in Brazil, escaping her former life as a model. Michelle’s novel tells the story of Emma, who smuggles drugs in artificial love dolls to fund…And so around it goes..."

"Aloft" (a minority Canadian coproduction with Spain)
Director: Claudia Llosa (The Milk of Sorrow)
Writer: Claudia Llosa
Production: Buffalo Gal Pictures
Distribution: Mongrel Media
Genre: Drama
Confirmed Actors: Jennifer Connelly ("A Beautiful Mind"), Mélanie Laurent ("Inglorious Basterds"), Cillian Murphy ("The Dark Knight"), Oona Chaplin, Ian Tracey, Peter McRobbie, William Shimell, Andy Murray

"...set in rural Minnesota and Canada, 'Aloft' jumps back and forth between past and present, following a mother and then her son, as we delve into their history marred by an accident that tears them apart. She will grow into an renowned artist and healer, and him, into a peculiar falconer who bears the mark of a double absence. In the present, a young journalist will bring about an encounter between the two that puts the very meaning of life and art into question..."

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