Montreal: For its first round of funding for the 2006/07 filmmaking season, Quebec government funder SODEC has announced investment in eight feature projects.

Zoofilms’ Cadavres will be directed by Erik Canuel (Bon Cop, Bad Cop). The black comedy, penned by Benoît Guichard and based on the novel by Michel Rio, concerns the tortured relationship between a TV star and his brother. Christal Films is distributing.

Continental is the feature debut of screenwriter Stéphan Lafleur, in which he explores the paradox of modern times – that, as we become more connected through technology, people often feel more alienated. Luc Déry and Kim McGraw at micro_scope will produce, with Christal distributing.

Gabriel Pelletier (Karmina) will direct Ma tante Aline, about an elderly woman who refuses to be placed in an old folks home. Written by Frédéric Ouellet and Stéphane J. Bureau and produced by Cité-Amérique, the film will be distributed by Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm.

After his last film, the meditation on faith La Neuvaine, filmmaker Bernard Émond again delves into spiritual issues with Summit Circle, about a woman fighting to escape her destiny. Bernadette Payeur will produce for ACPAV and Seville Pictures will distribute.

Acclaimed Quebec playwright/filmmaker Robert Lepage will again adapt one of his plays for the big screen with La Trilogie des dragons. Cowritten with André Morency, the film explores childhood, adulthood and old age. Coproduced by Ex-Aequo and France’s GMT, La Trilogie will be distributed by Equinoxe Films.

The other three films are English-language. Adam’s Wall, penned by Dana Schoel and directed by Michael Mackenzie (The Baroness and the Pig), will reflect Montreal’s large Jewish and Arab populations, and will be distributed by Equinoxe.

Vivafilm will handle Before Tomorrow, codirected by Marie-Hélène Cousineau and Madeline Ivalu, who participated in Atanarjuat as still photographer and performer, respectively, and Christal will distribute Secret de banlieue director Louis Choquette’s Plainsong, based on the novel by Nancy Huston.

‘We are extremely excited by this group of films and filmmakers,’ says SODEC spokesperson Nancy Bélanger. ‘They are all deeply personal, auteur visions, which leads us to believe they will make for the most fascinating filmmaking.’

The deadline for the second and final round of funding is March 27. SODEC will not say how much money any of the films received.

Telefilm Canada also recently put its money behind seven French-language features via its Canada Feature Film Fund and will also back Canuel’s Cadavres and Pelletier’s Ma tante Aline.

The other projects on the list are: Adieu Max by Alain Desrochers and Cirrus Communications; the thriller Ma fille, mon ange from director Alexis Durand-Brault, Remstar and Forum Films; Benoît Pilon’s period piece Ce qu’il faut pour vivre; veteran director Fernand Dansereau’s L’Heure de la brunante; and the coming-of-ager Voleurs de Chevaux from director Micha Wald and Forum, in a copro with France and Belgium.

www.sodec.gouv.qc.ca

www.telefilm.gc.ca