Corus Entertainment’s Made with Pay Fund has announced grants to 23 film projects this quarter, including new work from Semi Chellas, Malcolm MacRury and Aaron Woodley.

Chellas (Murder on Her Mind) is teaming up with best-selling author Miriam Toews to write an adaptation of Toews’ novel The Flying Troutmans for Four Seasons Productions. MacRury (Deadwood, ZOS: Zone of Separation) is writing Sea Witches for Shaftesbury Films and his own MacRury Here Productions. Woodley (Rhinoceros Eyes) is working on The Visitor for Creative Engine Pictures of Vancouver.

Among the numerous other notable recipients are Noel Baker and Michael DeCarlo for Echo, through Toronto’s APB Pictures; Canadian novelist Elyse Friedman (Birds of America) is adapting her novel Waking Beauty through Julia Rosenberg of January Films; and David Vainola is writing The Lizard Cage for Julia Sereny and Jennifer Kawaja of Sienna Films.

Better Than Chocolate screenwriter Peggy Thompson is working with Koster Kovitz Productions on Solly and Ray and Wendell and Nate, while B.C. actor/director Peter Harris Kent is developing Snow Angels on his own.

The most intriguing title to get backing is Kush Kush in the Bush: Bollywood Comes to the Trailer Park, written by Rebecca Sernaisie for Buffalo Gal Pictures, Femmina Films and Diamonds to Bullets Enterprises.

The Made with Pay Fund approves funding each quarter. The next deadline for new applications is Jan. 9. Funding for television series is determined on an ongoing basis. Since its launch in 2003, the fund has contributed $7 million in financing for features and original television dramatic series.