Short Film News (SFN) - Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival and Canwest announce twelve projects have been chosen to receive a total of $338 000 in grants and no-interest loans from the Canwest-Hot Docs Funds in its first round of selections.

Established in April, the Funds consist of a $3-million completion fund and a $1-million development fund that aim to provide documentary filmmakers with much needed financial support at critical stages in their projects.

Of the 124 submissions that were considered, the selection committees for the Funds state: "The breadth of subject matter and the quality of the projects were really inspiring and impressive.  It was a wonderful reminder of the great depth of the documentary talent pool in Canada."

Canwest-Hot Docs Completion Fund
A total of 46 eligible projects were considered by the Canwest-Hot Docs Completion Fund Selection Committee, which included Michael Kot, VP Factual Content, Canwest Media Inc., Rachel Low, President, Red Apple Entertainment, and Michaelle McLean, Director-CWHD Completion Fund. Six completion grants totaling $258 000 were awarded to the following projects:

Act of God
Producer: Nick dePencier, Daniel Iron, Jennifer Baichwal
Director: Jennifer Baichwal
Production Company: Mercury Films/Foundry Lightning Inc. (Toronto, ON)

Cat Ladies
Producer: Suzanne Mullett, Sally Blake
Director: Christie Callan-Jones
Production Company: Cat Ladies Productions Inc. (Toronto, ON)

Last Train Home
Producers: Mila Aung-Thwin, Daniel Cross
Director: Lixin Fan
Production Company: EyeSteelFilm Inc. (Montreal, QC)

Love at the Starlite Motel
Producer and Director: Alison Rose
Production Company: Inigo Motel Inc. (Toronto, ON)

Rosebud
Producers: Frederic Bohbot, Evan Beloff
Directors: Cameron Esler, Tadzio Richards
Production Company: Bunbury Films Inc. (Montréal, QC)

Waterlife
Producers: Kristina McLaughlin, Michael McMahon
Director: Kevin McMahon
Production Company: Primitive Entertainment (Toronto, ON)

Canwest-Hot Docs Development Fund
A total of 78 eligible projects were considered by the CWHD Development Fund Selection Committee, which included Sean Farnel, Director of Programming, Hot Docs / Director, CWHD Development Fund, Sarah Jane Flynn, Director Factual Content, Canwest Media Inc., and Louise Lore. Six no-interest loans totalling $80 000 were awarded to the following projects:

Dark Chocolate
Producer: Lalita Krishna
Production Company: In Sync Video (Toronto, ON)

Offender Families - Forgiving Murder in the Family
Producer and Director: John Kastner
Production Company: JS Kastner Productions Ltd. (Toronto, ON)

Reena Virk
Producers: Thomas Wallner, Keith Clarkson
Director: Thomas Wallner
Production Company: Xenophile Media Inc. (Toronto, ON)

Residential Schools
Producer: John Christou
Director: Tracey Deer
Production Company: Prospector Films Inc. (Montreal, QC)

The Stories We Tell
Producers: Sonia Hosko, Sarah Polley
Director: Sarah Polley
Production Company: Tangled Productions Inc. (Toronto, ON)

Twinsterhood
Producers: Allison Grace, Doug Block
Director: Allison Grace
Production Company: Fall From Grace Productions Inc. (Toronto, ON)

The next deadline for Canwest-Hot Docs Funds is October 15. Applications will be available mid-September at www.hotdocs.ca.