Principal photography has begun on Cruel & Unusual, the Canadian Film Centre’s first feature film shoot in British Columbia.

A feature debut, written and directed by Vancouver filmmaker Merlin Dervisevic (Lemonade, Over Easy and Exhuming Tyler), the film is the 21st feature project developed and financed via the CFC Features program. Just last week the CFC announced the start of filming on Rhymes for Young Ghouls.

The cameras for Cruel & Unusual began rolling on Monday, with photography in Vancouver ending Nov. 17.

The plot revolves around a man condemned to relive a crime he believes he didn’t commit. As he navigates his way amid a strange new world, his perception is tested in his search to find the truth.

It stars David Richmond-Peck (Rise of the Planet of the Apes), Richard Harmon (Continuum), Michelle Harrison (Altitude), Michael Eklund (The Divide), and newcomer Bernadette Saquibal. It is being produced by Matthew Cervi, through his production company Mad Samurai Productions (The Colony).

”CFC Features has been a great supporter in Merlin’s vision of the film and partner in the development of the project,” said Cervi. ”With both Merlin and I being born and raised here, we really wanted to make this a ”Vancouver film.” From the suppliers, to crew, to the unions, it’s a great show of local support for the independent film industry.”

Its cinematography is by Adam Sliwinski, production design is by James Hazell, costume design is by Farnaz Khaki-Sadigh and editing is by Michael John Bateman.

The film will be executive produced by Justine Whyte, the director of CFC Features, with Robert Lee acting as co-producer and line producer.

Genre filmmaker Vincenzo Natali will provide guidance as the film’s director mentor. Natali made his directorial debut Cube through CFC Features in 1997, in addition to mentorship from writer Doug Taylor (Splice) and producer Raymond Massey.

It is slated to be released domestically in 2013 by Entertainment One, who is also handling international sales.

CFC Features is supported by CityTV and eOne, with development supported by the Government of Ontario.

Cruel & Unusual is produced with the participation of Astral’s The Movie Network and Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central, with distribution of the supported by the eOne Distribution Lab.