High Lights

StarBuzz Online - Toronto

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

PRIME MINISTER HARPER LAUDS FILM BREAKAWAY!

Prime Minister Stephen Harper with Nav Bhatia
Photo: Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Laureen Harper and Breakaway actor/co-screenwriter Vinay Virmani
Special screening on Parliament Hill Feature film Breakaway applauded by the Prime Minister and 800 guests, including MPs, senatorsand other dignitaries, after a successful opening weekend in theatres
StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-
Montreal, October 4, 2011 – The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, as well as MPs, senators and other parliamentary dignitaries, attended a special screening of the feature film Breakaway in Ottawa yesterday evening, October 3, 2011. The film received an extended and enthusiastic ovation from the 800 or so guests, including the High Commissioner of India to Canada, MPs and senators. Last night’s presentation of Breakaway followed on the heels of its successful opening weekend in Canadian theatres, where it took in more than $550,000 at the box office.


“This bodes well for the film’s career,” says Carolle Brabant, Executive Director of Telefilm Canada. “This double triumph shows that Breakaway has all it takes to delight audiences, including a fantastic storyline that revolves around hockey—a passion of Canadians—as well as outstanding actors, among them the excellent Vinay Virmani, who co-wrote the movie and stars in the lead role.

“Telefilm congratulates the entire team behind Breakaway, including director Robert Lieberman and producers Akshay Kumar, Ajay Virmani, Frank Siracusa, AndrĂ© Rouleau, Russell Peters, Clayton Peters and Don Carmody, for this wonderful movie that succeeds in terms of its skillful narrative and musical soundtrack. Our organization regularly participates in film screenings in Ottawa as a way of highlighting Canadian cultural success stories. In keeping with our most fervent wish, Breakaway is a movie that is sure to stimulate audience demand for Canadian content.”

Breakaway is a funny and touching film about cultural integration. It tells the eventful story of a young Sikh-Canadian man in Ontario, who, despite his strong belief in traditional family values, wants to become a hockey star. “This film is like our great country, it celebrates our differences as well as reflecting the Canadian immigrant story, in an entertaining way that is moving audiences all over the world. I truly believe this film only could have been in Canada. The way this country supports its arts and young filmmakers is truly remarkable,” says Vinay Virmani.

Breakaway is presented by Hari Om Entertainment and produced by First Take Entertainment, Whizbang Films, Caramel Films and Don Carmody Productions. It is distributed in Canada by Alliance Films, and stars Vinay Virmani, Russell Peters, Anupam Kher, Gupreet Chuggi Singh, Sakina Jaffrey, Noureen Dewulf and Rob Lowe, with Camilla Belle. Cameos by Drake, Ludacris and Bollywood megastar Akshay Kumar.



Evening organized by enthusiastic partners of Canadian cinema
Hosted by The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, the evening was organized with the enthusiastic collaboration of public- and private-sector partners First Take Entertainment, Alliance Films, Astral, Rogers, Zip.ca, CBC-Radio-Canada, the National Arts Centre, the Ontario Media Development Corporation, Music Canada, Musicaction, Factor and Telefilm Canada.

Telefilm has been participating in film screenings in Ottawa for the past five years. In the last year, Gunless, Incendies and Barney’s Version were presented with great success on Parliament Hill. Breakaway has launched the new season of special screenings with a splash, in addition to starting its Canadian and international theatrical career. Check local listings for screenings of Breakaway in theatres near you.

About Telefilm Canada
Telefilm Canada is a federal cultural agency dedicated to developing and promoting the Canadian audiovisual industry. Telefilm provides financial support to the private sector to create distinctively Canadian productions that appeal to domestic and international audiences. Telefilm also administers the Canada Media Fund’s programs. Visit www.telefilm.gc.ca

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