Tourism, Culture and Recreation
September 25, 2009
Minister Congratulates
Up-and-Coming Newfoundland and Labrador Filmmakers
Newfoundland and Labrador
filmmakers Sherry White and Stephen Dunn recently made
their mark at the Toronto International Film Festival
(TIFF), one of the most prestigious film festivals in
the world, held September 10-19.
The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Tourism,
Culture and Recreation, today congratulated Ms. White on
the positive reviews received by her debut feature film
Crackie, and Mr. Dunn for his participation in the
festival�s well-known Talent Lab.
�The international acknowledgement that both Ms. White
and Mr. Dunn have recently received is an example of how
our local film industry is continuing to develop and
thrive,� said Minister Jackman. �As a government, we are
proud to support this province�s film industry, and the
professional people who work both in front of the
cameras and behind the scenes.�
Ms. White�s film, Crackie, earned rave reviews in The
New York Times, The Globe and Mail, Metronews.ca and
ELLE Canada as a part of Canada First!, a program that
celebrates homegrown talent, focusing on first-time,
emerging and established feature filmmakers making their
inaugural appearance at TIFF.
Mr. Dunn, director and writer of the short film, The
Hall, and a Ryerson University film-student, was
selected to participate in the 2009 TIFF Talent Lab.
Each year, the Talent Lab selects 25 emerging and
aspiring Canadian filmmakers to take part in a four-day
program to develop creative networks and enjoy the
opportunity to work with, and learn from, some of the
world�s best filmmakers and artists.
In addition to TIFF, Minister Jackman said it has also
been an exciting time for Newfoundland and Labrador
filmmakers at the Atlantic Film Festival, being held in
Halifax, Nova Scotia, until September 26. Along with
Crackie, feature films screened at the event included
Love and Savagery, written by Des Walsh, produced by
Barbara Doran and Kevin Tierney, and directed by John
Smith; and Grown Up Movie Star, written and directed by
Adriana Maggs, and produced by Jill Knox Gosse and Paul
Pope.
Through Budget 2009: Building on Our Strong Foundation,
the Provincial Government has provided over $2.5 million
in operational and equity funding to the Newfoundland
and Labrador Film Development Corporation (NLFDC), and
$195,000 in operational and program support to the film
industry through the Cultural Economic Development
Program (CEDP). That support includes $65,000 to the
Newfoundland Independent Filmmakers Co-operative
(NIFCO); $60,000 to the Film Producers Association of
Newfoundland (PAN); $60,000 to the St. John�s
International Women�s Film Festival, and $10,000 to The
Nickel Independent Film Festival.
The province has also committed $4.5 million � $1.5
million in film equity funding and $3 million through
the Newfoundland and Labrador Film and Video Tax Credit
� for the production of Republic of Doyle, a one-hour,
12-episode television series being produced by CBC.
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Media contact:
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0928, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca
2009 09 25
11:15 a.m. |