The Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC) has chosen 14 French-language fiction feature films to receive financing through its production assistance program.

The majority of the projects outlined in a news release issued Wednesday (May 3) are dramas, including social, biographical sports, fantasy and psychological stories. Eleven have a total budget of $3.5 million or more and the remaining three are at a lower budget range.

Social dramas on the docket include the Canada-France copro Gagne ton ciel, written by Alexandre Auger (The Barbarians of the Bay) and Mathieu Denis (Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves), who is also tapped to direct. Montreal’s La Coop and France’s Tanit Films are producing the story of a nearly 50-year-old man who’s drowning in debt, while Maison 4:3 is set as the distributor.

Bachir Bensaddek (Cirque du Soleil: Fire Within) is the director on Kaboul, Montréal, written by Marie Vien (The Passion of Augustine). Caramel Film Productions is producing and Maison 4:3 is attached as distributor on the story of a 15-year-old Afghan woman who flees to Montreal in order to escape a forced marriage.

Léa Pool, who also worked on The Passion of Augustine with Vien as director and co-writer, is set to direct copro L’habit du héros. Quebec’s Lyla Films and Iris Productions of Luxembourg are producing the LGBTQ+ refugee story, which is written by Michel Marc Bouchard (Tom at the Farm) and follows the plight of a young Moroccan illegal immigrant and his Iranian lover in Montreal. Les Films Opale is set to distribute.

Two fantasy dramas are on the list, including Nervures, written by Martin Girard (A Family Secret) and Raymond St-Jean (Le Mozart noir), who is also set to direct. The producer on the story of a woman who uncovers the mystery of her father’s death is from 1976 Productions, and the distributor is Axia Films.

Alexandre Franchi (The Wild Hunt) is set to direct fantasy drama L’autre, on which he’s also the writer alongside Simon Lavoie, who co-wrote and co-directed Those Who Make Revolution Halfway Only Dig Their Own Graves with the aforementioned Denis. The project is among the three with budgets under $3.5 million and features a writer who is threatened by his hospital roommate as he undergoes cancer care. Producing is Les Films de la Mancha with Maison 4:3 as distributor.

Lavoie is also a screenwriter on another film on the list — psychological drama Un homme libre, co-written by Frédérick Pelletier (Diego Star), who will also direct. ACPAV is producing the under-$3.5 million film with Maison 4:3 attached as distributor. The protagonist is a Quebec man who runs into problems while pursuing a career opportunity in Alberta.

Marie Brassard’s Le train is described as a poetic drama about a teen discovering new possibilities for her life in Quebec in the 1960s and ’70s. Microclimat Films is producing with Axia Films set as distributor.

The biographical sports drama on the list is Villeneuve, which will be directed by Daniel Roby (Just a Breath Away), who is also the writer alongside Guillaume Lonergan. A Quebec car racer in the 1970s is at the heart of the film, which is produced by Christal Films Productions and has Les Films Opale attached as distributor.

Martin Talbot’s dramedy Silverman, produced by KO 24 with Les Films Opale as distributor, sees a 57-year-old become a masked vigilante in his neighbourhood after being released from prison.

Other comedies tapped for funding include 1994/95 by Ricardo Trogi, who has titled several of his previous films by year as well: 1981, 1987 and 1991. Films Go L.P.R.S. is producing and Immina Films is distributor on the story of an artist whose career dreams are revived by an opportunity at Radio-Canada.

Melanie Charbonneau (Fabuleuses) is set to direct comedy Furies, written by Gabrielle Côté. Echo Media is producing and Sphere Films is attached as distributor on the project, about an octogenarian, former derby champion’s efforts to start up a roller derby team.

Three films for youth are getting funding, including Fanny Cloutier, which is written by Stéphanie Lapointe (Les cavaliers) and has Yan England (Oscar-nominated Henry) attached to direct. Telefiction Productions is producing and Telefiction Distribution & Marketing is set as distributor on the project, about a teen who sets out on a journey to find out who her mother was.

Le vaisseau des tempêtes will be directed by Nicola Lemay (Noël Noël) and Emilie Rosas (Les cennes chanceuses), who also wrote the story of an 11-year-old trying to find her kidnapped brother in the Sea of Mist. The producer is 10th Ave Productions and the distributor is Maison 4:3.

Au revoir Pluton is an under-$3.5 million children’s film by Sarianne Cormier (Amazing Grace), from producer Vowels Films Productions. Maison 4:3 is attached as distributor on the project, about a little planet’s quest for fame.

SODEC announced 15 feature projects for production and post-production assistance this past March, including eight minority coproductions and seven post-production projects.

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