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Corus Entertainment and the CFTPA announce the winners of the Young Filmmaker's Initiative

Banff – Corus Entertainment Inc., one of Canada’s most successful integrated media and entertainment companies, and the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA) are proud to announce the successful applicants for the 2005 Young Filmmaker’s Initiative.

Now in its fourth year, the $1 million program provides aspiring Canadian filmmakers between the ages of 16 and 24 with the financial resources, professional guidance, and hands-on experience needed to produce their first short film. Completed films are given an exclusive, national broadcast premiere on one of Corus Entertainment’s television services – YTV, W Network, Movie Central, CMT, Treehouse TV, Discovery Kids, The Documentary Channel or SCREAM.

A jury consisting of CFTPA and Corus Entertainment executives chose this year’s six successful applicants. Each young filmmaker receives a maximum of $25,000 to develop and produce his or her film and is matched with a CFTPA mentor who helps guide the project through to completion.

For 2005, the recipients and their film concepts are:

• Bob Barlen, 24, Toronto, ON
Push & Turn is a comedic short film which looks at the disastrous and hilarious results of a simple magic trick.

• Lindsay LeCorre, 21, Victoria, BC
Pathway captures the spiritual journey of a dying woman.

• Nicholas Martin, 22, Montréal, QC
A young country artist is looking for heartbreak so he can write the ultimate country song in Searching for Heartbreak.

• Jen Schlumberger, 22, Peterborough, ON
Dream Catcher is a rhyming-scheme children’s film about a young girl who can’t remember her dreams when she wakes up, so she sets out on a journey to find them.

• Kyle Thomas, 22, Calgary, AB
A young photojournalist travels to the Valley of the Dead in Last Chance Saloon.

• Ian Yorski, 21, Winnipeg, MB
The Snow Fort is a film about growing up in the Canadian Prairies.

The Corus Entertainment Funds and Initiatives Program supports Canadian independent producers through six funds: Corus Family Feature Film Fund, Corus Teen Drama Fund, Corus Women’s Programming Fund, Corus Made with Pay Development Fund, Corus Telelatino Fund, and the Young Filmmaker’s Initiative. These initiatives demonstrate Corus Entertainment’s leadership and commitment to building strong and sustainable Canadian production and broadcasting industries.

Recipients from previous years are in the process of completing and delivering their films for broadcast on a Corus Entertainment service.

About Corus Entertainment Inc.
Corus Entertainment is a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in both specialty TV and Radio. Corus also owns Nelvana Limited, an internationally
recognized producer and distributor of children's programming and products. The Company's other interests include music, television broadcasting and advertising services. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto (CJR.NV.B) and New York (CJR) Exchanges. Corus' website can be found at www.corusentertainment.com.

About the CFTPA
The CFTPA is a non-profit, trade association representing almost 400 companies involved in the Canadian production industry. The association promotes the general interests of Canadian producers by lobbying government on policy matters, negotiating labour agreements, and offering mentorship programs and copyright initiatives.

For more information on this, please contact:

Jane L. Thompson
Director of Communications
Canadian Film and Television Production Association

Tel: 613 233 1444 ext 227