Montreal: Alliance Communications will coproduce and distribute Denys Arcand’s next feature. Arcand is now writing the English-language film, to be coproduced by Cinemaginaire’s Denise Robert.

‘We have been wooing Denys Arcand to work with Alliance for many years,’ says Robert Lantos, Alliance ceo. ‘Naturally we are delighted that he and Denise Robert have now joined the Alliance family. Denys Arcand is Canada’s pre-eminent film director and he is central to our strategy of creating long-term relationships with the finest Canadian talents.’

Arcand’s The Decline of the American Empire and Jesus of Montreal had combined worldwide receipts in the $50 million range, according to Max Films producer Roger Frappier. Arcand’s first English-language film, Love and Human Remains, is expected to hit theaters soon.