Montreal, March 13, 2017—The Talent Fund, a private donation fund that supports Canada’s emerging film talent, is pleased to announce that award-winning actress Karine Vanasse, a film and TV star in Canada and the United States (Cardinal, Polytechnique, Emporte-moi, Blue Moon, Pan Am, Revenge), has been named ambassador. Ms. Vanasse will help with the Talent Fund’s fundraising initiatives, by raising the profile of Canada’s next generation of directors, writers, producers and actors.
“I’m very honoured to serve as Talent Fund ambassador,” said Karine Vanasse. “I’m delighted that I’ll have an opportunity to help Canadians discover emerging filmmakers, who are telling their stories with creativity, boldness and originality. As someone who started her career at a young age, I know how important it is to promote young creators—many of whom will become tomorrow’s stars.”
Hartley T. Richardson, Chair of the Talent Fund’s Advisory Committee, added: “The Talent Fund offers business and community leaders, philanthropists and individuals a wonderful opportunity to support emerging filmmakers and, by extension, Canadian culture. I and my fellow Advisory Committee members look forward to working with Ms. Vanasse, who has forged an amazing career both in Canada and abroad, in French as well as in English. She will be an outstanding ambassador who will undoubtedly play a key role in raising awareness for the Fund and its success stories.”
Carolle Brabant, Telefilm Canada’s Executive Director, further added: “We’re extremely proud to have someone of Karine Vanasse’s stature come aboard. The industry saw her grow up. From child actress to an icon whose success inspires young Canadian filmmakers across the country. With her trademark effervescence the Fund will reach new heights.”
Ms. Vanasse’s latest project is CTV’s dramatic thriller Cardinal, directed by Daniel Grou, a.k.a. Podz (19-2, Minuit le soir), in which she co-stars with actor Billy Campbell (Once and Again). Recently green-lit for an unprecedented second and third season, Cardinal became the most-watched new Canadian program of the 2016/17 broadcast season, with more than 3.5 million unique viewers watching episodes weekly across all airings on CTV and Super Écran.
About the Talent Fund
The Talent Fund has raised more than $15 million to date to primarily support the discovery and development of emerging filmmakers. The Fund draws on the financial support of private companies—notably from contributors Bell Media and Corus Entertainment—as well as on the generosity of individual donors.
About the Micro-Budget Production Program
Telefilm’s Micro-Budget Production Program, which receives more than 75% of its funding from the Talent Fund, supports emerging talent in the production of their debut project. The Program also aims to stimulate the use of new digital distribution platforms, and to allow emerging talent to develop an expertise in digital marketing and promotion. To date, the Program has funded 55 debut projects, among them Cast No Shadow, by Christian Sparkes; The Valley Below, by Kyle Thomas; Un film de chasse de filles, by Julie Lambert; Le Dep, by Sonia Bonspille Boileau; Fire Song, by Adam Garnet Jones; The Devout, by Connor Gaston; The Space Between, by Amy Jo Johnson; and Werewolf, by Ashley McKenzie.
About Karine Vanasse
Photo: Jerry Pigeon
Award-winning Canadian actress Karine Vanasse has been recognized for her dazzling performances on both TV and film.
Vanasse currently stars as the shrewd and incisive Detective Lise Delorme in CTV’s breakout hit dramatic thriller Cardinal, opposite Billy Campbell. Recently, Vanasse completed work on the highly anticipated Quebecois films De père en flic 2 and Et au pire, on se mariera. She also starred opposite David Cronenberg in the bravoFACT short Tomorrow’s Shadows.
Vanasse starred in Season 4 of the hit drama Revenge, portraying French heiress Margaux LeMarchal. She also appeared in the critically acclaimed series Pan Am, which followed the glamorous lives of pilots and stewardesses employed by the iconic airline in the 1960s.
Perhaps best known for her starring role as Valérie in Denis Villeneuve’s Polytechnique, Vanasse also co-produced the film which premiered at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. The film went on to win nine Genie Awards, including Best Picture and a nod to Vanasse for Best Female Performance.
Vanasse’s other film roles include the lead role in Buddha’s Little Finger, set during the failed coup against Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev, and starring roles in dramas En solitaire and Switch, the comedy French Immersion and the romantic-dramedy I’m Yours, alongside Rossif Sutherland. Vanasse also appeared in Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris and Quebec thriller Angle mort. Additional film credits include Rhonda’s Party; L’enfant prodige; Ma fille, mon ange; Sans elle; Head in the Clouds; Un homme et son péché; Du pic au cœur and Emporte-moi. As the lead in Emporte-moi, Karine received much critical acclaim as well as the Chlotrudis Award, the Jutra Award, the Festival du film francophone de Namur Award and the FilmCan Festival Award for her performance.
No stranger to television, Vanasse currently stars in the highly successful Quebec series Blue Moon. She also starred in the series 2 frères, mini-series Killer Wave and October 1970 and the TV movie Marie-Antoinette.
Karine is currently the face of the Marcelle skincare line in Canada, and divides her time between Montreal and Los Angeles.
About Telefilm Canada—Inspired by talent. Viewed everywhere.
Celebrating 50 years in 2017, Telefilm is dedicated to the cultural, commercial and industrial success of Canada’s audiovisual industry. Through funding and promotion programs, Telefilm supports dynamic companies and creative talent at home and around the world. Telefilm also makes recommendations regarding the certification of audiovisual treaty coproductions to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Launched in 2013, the Talent Fund accepts private donations to principally support emerging talent. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/telefilm_canada and on Facebook at facebook.com/telefilmcanada.
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Media enquiries:
Douglas Chow, Head, Public Relations, Telefilm Canada
(514) 283-0838 ext. 2048 or 1-800-567-0890
douglas.chow@telefilm.ca
