MONTREAL — Telefilm Canada is shelling out $7 million to support seven French-language features, including a drama set in war-torn Lebanon, a romantic comedy and an old-fashioned heist flick. Four of the projects the federal agency is backing also recently got the green light from SODEC.

‘As always, the quantity and overall quality of the projects made for difficult choices,’ said Michel Pradier, director of French operations and the Quebec office at Telefilm, in a statement. ‘Ultimately we opted for best-selling writers, diverse genres, international co-productions, projects from emerging creators and, especially, engaging stories that will attract moviegoers.’

Telefilm, which made its selection public Feb. 28, received 31 financing applications for a total of $48 million. It and SODEC both elected to support the following projects:

• Incendies — The story of twins who crisscross Lebanon in search of their family’s past, based on the award-winning play by Wajdi Mouawad. A majority Canada coproduction from Montreal-based micro_scope (Congorama) and France’s Tarantula, Incendies will be helmed by Denis Villeneuve (Maelström).

• Les pieds dans le vide — Five young adults look death in the face and put their friendship to the test at a skydiving center during the summer. Produced by Films Vision 4.

• Noémie — Directed by Frédérik d’Amours (A vos marques…Party!) and produced by Christal Films.

• Les doigts croches — A group of friends attempt to carry off the ‘heist of the century.’ Helmed by Ken Scott, who wrote the screenplay for La grande séduction, and produced by Remstar Productions.

Telefilm is backing two minority coproductions: Opération Casablanca, about a Moroccan immigrant mixed up with Islamic terrorists, from Les Productions Equinoxe, Bord Cadre Films in Switzerland and Samsa Film in Luxembourg; and Simon Konianski, the tale of a man who journeys to the Ukraine to fulfill his dead father’s last wish, from Forum Films and France’s Haut et Court.

Telefilm is also supporting the comedy Léo Huff (G.P.A. Films/Christal Films Productions/Productions Grana).

SODEC backed five other French-language features: 5150, rue des Ormes, a horror flick produced by Cirrus Productions; the comedy De père en flic from Cinémaginaire; La flamme d’une chandelle from Coop Vidéo; the love story Les grandes chaleurs from Production Zoofilm and Velocité International; and Piché: entre ciel et terre from Pixcom, about the celebrated Quebec pilot who made an emergency landing in Portugal with over 300 passengers on board, directed by Eric Canuel (Bon Cop, Bad Cop)

SODEC has not revealed how much money it is putting into the films.