Recipients of Canwest-Hot Docs doc funds announced

Canwest and Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival have announced the 12 projects to receive $251,000 in grants and no-interest loans from the Canwest-Hot Docs Documentary Funds in their fifth round of disbursements.

The Funds, which were established in 2008, consist of a $3-million completion fund and a $1-million development fund which provide Canadian documentary filmmakers with financial support at critical stages in their work.

"I think what stands out across this funding round is the diversity of storytelling styles, from classical vérité to character-driven narratives and conceptual essays," says Sean Farnel, director of programming at Hot Docs. He adds that the committees behind the funds - which include Lynne Carter, production executive, factual content for Canwest Media Inc.; Aynsley Vogel, head of creative, Factual at Paperny Films; Ric Bienstock, producer/director/writer for Associated Producers Ltd.; Samantha Linton, director, factual content at Canwest Media Inc. and Farnel - believe the works will be embraced by Canadian audiences in the coming years. "Still," he says, "it is also clear that producers are facing a funding crisis for creative documentaries in this country, a shame given the incredible rise in the popularity of the form that we've seen at Hot Docs over the past decade."

The Canwest-Hot Docs Funds have given a total of $1, 369,000 in completion grants and no-interest loans to 55 projects since their inception.

Six completion grants totaling $182,000 from the Canwest-Hot Docs Completion Fund were awarded to the following projects:

At Night, They Dance
Producer: Lucie Lambert
Directors: Stéphane Thibault, Isabelle Lavigne
Production Company: Les films du tricycle

Beauty Day
Producers: Michael McMahon, Kevin McMahon, Kristina McLaughlin
Director: Jay Cheel
Production Company: Primitive Entertainment

Cuda
Producer and Director: Jeremy Torrie
Production Company: High Definition Pictures Inc.

Family Portrait in Black and White
Producer: Boris Ivanov
Director: Julia Ivanova
Production Company: Family Portrait Productions Inc.

RECESSIONIZE! For Fun and Profit!
Producer and Director: Jamie Kastner
Production Company: Cave 7 Productions Inc.

Ron Hynes - Man of a Thousand Songs
Producers: Terry Greenlaw, Jordan Canning
Director: William D. MacGillivray
Production Company: Primitive Thunder Productions Ltd. (Picture Plant Ltd.)

Six no-interest loans totaling $69,000 from the Canwest-Hot Docs Development Fund were awarded to the following projects:

The Art of Affliction
Producer: Mary Barroll
Production Company: Mbmedia Productions Inc.

A History of Battle Fatigue
Producers: Michael McMahon, Kristina McLaughlin, Alan Zweig
Director: Alan Zweig
Production Company: Primitive Entertainment

Lost Highway
Producers and Directors: Derreck Roemer and Neil Graham
Production Company: Insurgent Projects Inc.

Painting by Number$
Producer: Jeannette Loakman
Director: Brenda Kovrig
Production Company: Chaser Films

Rise Up
Producer: Deborah Parks
Director: Shelley Saywell
Production Company: Bishari Films

Slumdog Millionaires
Producer: Ed Barreveld
Director: Rama Rau
Production Company: Storyline Entertainment

The application process for the second round of 2010 funding will open in the fall, with an application deadline of Wednesday, October 27. Visit Hot Docs' website for further information on requirements and deadlines.