TORONTO – Astral Media The Harold Greenberg Fund today announced its support of 24 English-language script development projects and confirmation of six equity investments as part of the fund’s equity investment program, script development program and family film program.
The projects range from the script development of a screenplay based on Canadian author Catherine Bush’s award-winning novel The Rules of Engagement to investments in the second seasons of the popular family series Life with Derek and Naturally Sadie.
“I am thrilled that the fund attracts and supports Canadian projects of such high calibre,” said John Galway, president, English-language program, Astral Media The Harold Greenberg Fund. “As the new president of the English-language Program, I look forward to continuing The Fund’s long and successful history of working with Canadian film and television producers in the development and production of homegrown feature films and the production of family television series.”
The Equity Investment Program, funded by Astral Media’s Viewers Choice was established in 1992 to invest in the production of quality Canadian dramatic movies made for theatrical release and/or pay television. Similarly, the Script Development Program was created to assist in the development of quality Canadian feature film scripts. The program receives a yearly contribution of $1.3 million from Astral Media’s The Movie Network.
The Family Film Program, sponsored by Astral Media’s Family Channel, finances the development and production of high-quality films for children, youth and family audiences. The Fund also has an equity investment component within its Family Film Program, which invests in feature films as well as TV series with a license from Family Channel.
The script development applications are approved each quarter by the English-language Committee of Astral Media The Harold Greenberg Fund which includes Suzette Couture, Camelia Frieberg, Melanie Friesen, John Galway, Shane Kinnear, Bryn Matthews and Domenic Vivolo.
