Telefilm Canada awards its 2011 Guichet d'Or to the Canadian director and co-writers of the feature Starbuck

Ken Scott and Martin Petit take top honours

MONTREAL, May 30, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Telefilm Canada this morning awarded its Guichet d'Or prize to the director and co-writer of Starbuck, Ken Scott, as well as to the film's co-writer, Martin Petit, in the company of Patrick Huard, Julie LeBreton and Antoine Bertrand. The prize comes with a cash award of $20,000 for each of the winners. The Guichet d'Or has been awarded annually for the past five years to the Canadian writer and director of the Canadian French-language feature film with the highest-grossing domestic box-office sales during the previous year. In 2011, Starbuck took in more than $3.5 million at the Canadian box office.

"With 11 prizes won throughout the world, a box office of more than $3.5 million in Canada, and private investments in the film, Starbuck's success is in keeping with our new Success Index that emphasizes cultural, commercial and industrial success," said Carolle Brabant, Executive Director of Telefilm Canada. "These successes would be impossible without the abundant talent in our industry; that's why the Guichet d'or is awarded to people behind the camera, which is innovative, as prizes awarding box office performance are usually given to the producer or distributor."

Director and co-writer Ken Scott added: "I am delighted that Telefilm is celebrating the success of films made here at home. I'd like to take advantage of this occasion to thank all the actors and craftspeople who have given of themselves body and soul so this story could exist on the big screen."

Co-writer Martin Petit also added: "Thank you for taking the time and making the effort to emphasize our film's success. Even with marketing and promotion, nothing and no one can force a film-goer to recommend to his or her friends to see a movie, without whom there would be no popular success. It's remarkable when the public adopts a film and it's great to be able to share its success with them."

Starbuck was produced by André Rouleau of Caramel Films and is distributed by Christal Films (sub-distribution: Seville Pictures).

And the adventure continues for Starbuck this year. DreamWorks recently acquired the film rights to make a new Hollywood version to be produced by André Rouleau and directed by Ken Scott. In addition, a new version for France has been confirmed and will be produced by Made in PM.

The 2010 winners of the Guichet d'or were Sylvain Archambault, director of the film Piché : entre ciel et terre and Ian Lauzon, the film's writer.

About Telefilm Canada
Telefilm is dedicated to the cultural, commercial and industrial success of Canada's audiovisual industry. Through its various funding and promotion programs, Telefilm supports dynamic companies and creative talent here at home and around the world. Telefilm also administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Visit www.telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/telefilm_canada.

Image with caption: "First row, L-R: Patrick Martin, Dominic Philie, Marc Bélanger, David Michaël and Victor Rego (Films Séville). Second row: Antoine Bertrand, Igor Ovadis, Michel Pradier (Telefilm Canada), Carolle Brabant (Telefilm Canada), Martin Petit, Ken Scott, André Rouleau (Caramel Films), Marie-France Godbout (Telefilm Canada), Patrick Huard, Ian Lauzon (2010 recipient), Sylvain Archambault (2010 recipient) and Julie LeBreton. (CNW Group/TELEFILM CANADA)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120530_C4150_PHOTO_EN_14384.jpg

Media enquiries:
Douglas Chow, Manager, External Communications
Telefilm Canada
1-800-567-0890 or [phone], ext. 2225
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