Telefilm’s Production Program has committed more than $4.6 million to eight co-production features, including projects from Elevation Pictures, Rhombus Media and Colonelle Films.

This marks the last of the funding decisions for Telefilm’s development, production and theatrical documentary programs for fiscal 2021/22.

Four dramas received funding, including Olive House, written and directed by Johnny Ma (To Live to Sing), produced by Toronto’s Rhombus Media and Chile’s Asesorias y Producciones Fabula Limitada; Irena’s Vow, directed by Louise Archambault (And the Birds Rained Down), written by Dan Gordon and produced by Montreal’s Entract Studios, Toronto and L.A.-based prodco Darius Films and Poland’s K&K Selekt; and Le plus vivant possible, written and directed by Delphine Girard (A Sister) and produced by Montreal’s Colonelle Films and Belgium’s Versus Productions.

The drama Allah n’est pas obligé, co-written and directed by Zaven Najjar, co-written by Karine Winczura and produced by Montreal’s Yzanakio Productions and France’s Special Touch Studios, was also financed through Eurimages.

Three thrillers picked up funding, including Humane, directed by Caitlin Cronenberg, written by Michael Sparaga and produced by Toronto’s Victory Man Productions and Belgium’s Frakas Productions SPRL; Desire of the Prey, written and directed by Carly May Borgstrom (A White Bright Light) and produced by Elevation Pictures and Germany’s Junafilm; and La Bête, co-written and directed by Bertrand Bonello (Nocturama) and produced by Montreal’s Productions Sons of Manual and France’s Les Films du Bélier.

Rounding out the list is the comedy C’est de famille, written and directed by Élodie Lélu (Letter to Theo) and produced by Montreal’s Les Films Camera Oscura and Belgium’s Iota Production.

Telefilm has also unveiled the names of the external representatives of its advisory committee for fiscal 2021/22. The 41 individuals include Helen Asimakis, CBC’s former senior director of drama, actor Lorne Cardinal, producer Steph Ouaknine and film critic Matthew Hays. The full list is available on the Telefilm website.

Last month the funder unveiled changes to the Production Program, including removing the requirement for a theatrical distributor for films with a budget between $2.5 to $3.5 million and opening eligibility for diverse language films.

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