Halifax: Producer Camelia Frieberg (Wilby Wonderful, The Sweet Hereafter) is directing her first feature, the drama A Stone’s Throw, through Palpable Productions, her Halifax-based prodco, and Acuity Pictures, also of Halifax, under the banner of Smooth Stone Productions.

Frieberg says it was never her ambition to jump into the director’s chair, even after 25 years in film, with 15 or so of those as a producer.

‘Somewhere in the last year or so I decided there were stories that I wanted to tell,’ says Frieberg. ‘There was a specific time and place that interested me, which is the life I’m living out here in rural Nova Scotia, and themes that I’m grappling with that I wanted to bring to a screen.’

Frieberg and Garfield Lindsay Miller co-authored the script about a troubled, solitary activist who is inspired to reconnect with people after meeting a captivating kindergarten teacher.

The film is being made with support from Telefilm Canada, the Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation, The Harold Greenberg Fund and ThinkFilm, which will distribute in Canada. Frieberg and Acuity’s Kelly Bray (Whole New Thing) are coproducing, with Anita McGee line producing. Christopher Ball (Whole New Thing) is DOP. Lisa Ray (Water), Kris Holden-Ried (Touch of Pink) and Aaron Webber (Whole New Thing) head up the cast.

The shoot began Feb. 20 and runs to March 10. Although no release date has been set, Frieberg intends to have the film ready for the 2006 festival season.