Evergreen Releasing, a new distribution company with a focus on drama and children’s titles and ties to Western producers, plans to provide an alternative to the existing distribution system.

Headquartered in Regina with a sales office in Toronto, principals of the new joint venture (Regina-based Minds Eye Pictures, Toronto-based The Film Works and others) include Kevin DeWalt as chairman/ceo and Wanda Burns as vp business affairs out of Regina, and Victor Solnicki as president and Eric Jordan as vp in Toronto.

With competitive rates, DeWalt feels Evergreen will appeal to smaller to mid-sized companies, adding, ‘We feel closer to the filmmaker.’

Based on personal experience, DeWalt believes that when product goes to market with a large distributor with a big library, the product doesn’t get the exposure and push that does it justice. He also intends to break down barriers that keep filmmakers apart from buyers, feeling that it’s important they benefit from market input.

Through its head office in Saskatchewan, Evergreen will cater to the Western producers, providing a local opportunity to secure advances and guarantees.

Evergreen will attend all major tv markets, says DeWalt, and will also be going after international product.

Debuting at mip-tv, Evergreen is headlining The Lost Daughter, a Switzerland/Canada coproduction in production with Zurich’s Condor Films and Minds Eye, and the Canada/u.k. copro Lyddie, a Film Works/Minds Eye/Wall to Wall Television mow.

On My Mind, a six-part preteen series looking for presales on 13 more half-hours, is also on the agenda, along with three docs, although non-fiction is not an emphasis of the company. MM