WINNIPEG — Buffalo Gal Pictures is in production on a $20-million World War Two-era thriller with Belgian-based company Corsan.

The Hessen Affair stars Billy Zane (Titanic, The Phantom) and Belgian actress Lyne Renee (Waiter) as renegade army officers attempting to fence a cache of German crown jewels they find hidden in a Frankfurt castle. They take the gems to New York, where double-crossing gangsters try to steal the loot for themselves.

‘It’s a criminal drama and a love story centering on a femme fatale character,’ says Phyllis Laing, coproducer for Buffalo Gal.

The script is loosely based on true events and written by Academy Award nominee Nicholas Meyer (Fatal Attraction, The Human Stain) and Ronald Roose (Collateral Damage). Corsan CEO Paul Breuls will make his directorial debut.

This is the second project that Corsan (Waiting for Dublin), an Antwerp-based financing, production and international sales company, has shot in Winnipeg with Buffalo Gal, following this summer’s $5-million dark comedy The Box Collector, starring Margot Kidder.

‘We like the tax credit and the environment here in Winnipeg,’ says Breuls. ‘We had a great shoot [for The Box Collector], and when we were looking for a location for our next movie and found we could fake 1946 New York in the center of the city, it became an easy decision. We have built a great team here and I like to work with people I know if the experience has been good.’

Several Box Collector cast have returned to Winnipeg for Hessen, including Michael Bowen (Lost), Noah Segan (Brick) and Renee.

Breuls raised over 75% of the budget through corporate investors in Belgium, where a tax shelter encourages companies to invest in film. (Investors can access a 150% tax exemption on the amount spent on a Belgian audiovisual work.)

‘Our company has set up its own equity fund and has a financial sales department that does IPOs and goes out to corporate investors and raises money,’ explains Breuls. ‘The investors take equity participation and expect to make a return, plus the tax advantage sweetens the deal.’

Breuls says he can typically fund about 75% to 80% of a film through private investors in Belgium. He then partners with other companies around the world to make up the rest.

On The Hessen Affair, the remaining financing comes from Canada and Manitoba tax credits and equity investment from Manitoba Film & Sound.

Corsan is handling worldwide sales on Hessen. Shooting in Winnipeg began on Nov. 12 and was set to wrap on Dec. 15.

‘Historic architecture is absolutely key to this project,’ which is set in post-war New York, says Laing. ‘It is very specific. We needed some grand old buildings. They have to be very ornate and glitzy.’ Winnipeg locations include the old downtown Ramada Marlborough Hotel, the Manitoba Legislative Building and the historic Exchange District area. An interior apartment was built at the Kapyong Barracks, a former army base in the city.

Filming continues in early January for three weeks in southern Belgium at a 17th century castle. Post is slated for Antwerp.

Breuls says he may return to Winnipeg next summer to shoot an $8.5-million romantic comedy titled Meant to Be.

In the meantime, Buffalo Gal is shooting the Citytv series Less Than Kind with Toronto’s Breakthrough Film and Television and Gary Yates’ latest feature High Life, starring Timothy Olyphant. Buffalo Gal will also work with Gold Circle Films on Chilled in Miami, a romantic comedy starring Renée Zellweger and Harry Connick Jr., slated to shoot in Winnipeg beginning Jan. 7.