The latest offerings from Vincenzo Natali, David Cronenberg and Sarah Polley have received financial backing from the Ontario Media Development Corporation, which recently handed out $1.6 million as part of its Film Fund. Twelve new features will split the money, which enables producers to complete their financing on a ‘last-in basis.’

Cronenberg’s The Talking Cure, a film version of the 2002 play about the early days of psychoanalysis, is among six projects that scored production funding, alongside the romantic comedy I’m Yours from husband-and-wife team Jennifer Jonas and Leonard Farlinger. Other recipients include Larysa Kondracki’s drama The Whistleblower, a Canada/Germany copro starring Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardener), and Paul Barkin’s sci-fi The Colony.

Among the six recipients in the development phase are Sandra Cunningham and Norman Jewison for High Alert – inspired by Jewison’s 1966 The Russian’s Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming. Natali scored funding for Permission, as did Polley for Take This Waltz. Foundry Films’ Danny Iron received money for the teen fantasy Pig Tale, to be directed next year by Aaron Woodley (Toronto Stories). Noel Baker (Hard Core Logo) is adapting from a book by J.R.R. Tolkien scholar Verlyn Flieger. The film follows an outcast girl and her pet pig as they face off against the cruel villagers who torment them.

The OMDC’s Film Fund has contributed over $15 million to support 113 domestic feature films since 2005.