Telefilm Canada supports two promising English-language feature films September 18th 2004 06:25am | Posted by: Robert Falconer HNR Senior Editor Telefilm Canada is pleased to announce that following its latest Canada Feature Film Fund, English-language national comparative, two feature films will move ahead into production: The Journals of Knud Rasmussen, directed by Zacharias Kunuk and Norman Cohn, and Explosion, directed by Bille August. “Both of the selected projects exemplify our goal to create a balanced portfolio of diverse features that are highly original, that tell compelling Canadian stories and that promise to strike a chord with audiences,” said Carolle Brabant, Telefilm Canada’s Interim Executive Director. The Journals of Knud Rasmussen, directed by Zacharias Kunuk and Norman Cohn (Atanarjuat – Genie Award for Best Picture 2002 and Camera d’Or, Cannes Film Festival 2001) and a coproduction with Denmark, tells the story of the encroachment of Christian European influence on the community of Igloolik. Told from the viewpoint of the Inuit themselves, the film takes the Inuit tradition of storytelling and marries it with modern filmmaking technology, and the result is a compelling epic tragedy of Shakespearean proportions. Explosion, directed by Bille August (Les Misérables, Pelle The Conqueror – 1987 Oscar® winner for Best Foreign-Language Film) and a coproduction with the UK and Denmark, is based on Robert MacNeil’s novel Burden of Desire. It is the story of two friends, Peter and Stewart, who fall in love with the same woman, Julia. Set against the backdrop of the tragic aftermath of the 1917 Halifax Harbour explosion, the film is both a sweeping, historical romance and a uniquely crafted examination of Canada’s loss of innocence. Ralph Holt, Telefilm’s National Feature Film Sector Head, added: “These two feature films have solid and original scripts, seasoned creative teams, and an approach to the art and business of filmmaking that is in line with Telefilm’s objective of helping Canadian cultural products to connect with audiences.” The next application deadline for English-language feature films requesting over $1 million is October 4, 2004. Source: Telefilm Canada In: National News |Visit the HNR Forums

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