'Lazhar' tops Canada's Genie Honours

Author-helmer Philippe Falardeau's "Monsieur Lazhar," which emerged short within the foreign-lingo category in the Academy awards, worked out better in the Genie Honours, ruling the Canadian film honours in Toronto on Thursday evening."Monsieur Lazhar" won six Genies, including best picture, director and modified script (also Falardeau). Algerian thesp and stand-up comic Fellag won best actor for his role like a teacher while 11-year-old Sophie Nelisse, who plays a grade-school kid, nabbed supporting actress honors. Pic also required best editor (Stephane Lafleur).Modified in the abide by Evelyne p la Cheneliere, pic is definitely an intimate drama a good Algerian refugee who gets control a sixth-grade class inside a Montreal school following the teacher commits suicide within the class.The film won numerous honours formerly, including best Canadian feature in the Toronto Film Festival. It had been named Canadian film of the season through the Toronto Film Experts Assn.Viggo Mortensen required supporting actor for his role as Sigmund Freud in David Cronenberg's "A Harmful Method," which won five Genies but mostly in craft groups: original score (Howard Shoreline), art direction (James McAteer), overall seem and seem editing.Montreal filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallee's "Coffee shop p Flore" had probably the most noms moving in -- 13 -- and came away having a statuette for Vanessa Paradis as well as actress on her portrayal of the mother of the boy with down's syndrome in sixties Paris, and the other for the best makeup.Quebec comedy "Starbuck" nabbed Genies for original script (helmer Ken Scott and co-author Martin Petit), original song (Carole Facal's "Quelque part") and, as formerly introduced, the Cineplex Golden Reel Award because the top homegrown B.O. artist of the season.Another formerly introduced award visited Montreal author-director Anne Emond's sexually explicit "Nuit #1," which won the Claude Jutra jerk for fulfillment with a first-time feature filmmaker.Stephane Thibault and Isabelle Lavigne's "During The Night, They Dance" won for that feature docu jerk.The Genie Honours ceremony was broadcast on pubcaster CBC, inside a show located by CBC personality George Stroumboulopoulos. Actress and comedienne Andrea Martin was set to co-host but dropped out in the last second due to a piece committment. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Byrne, Faris join 'I Give a Year' cast

Faris Byrne Top comediennes Rose Byrne ("Bridesmaids") and Anna Faris ("The Dictator") are likely to join Rafe Spall and Simon Baker in Working Title's romantic comedy "Provided yearly.InchSerta Mazer is writing and pointing the pic, which follows a mismatched couple simply because they find it hard to survive their newbie of marriage. Byrne and Spall ("Prometheus") may have the couple within the center in the story, while Faris and Baker ("Margin Call") may have strong supporting figures.Working Title principals Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner will produce with Kris Thykier, while Liza Chasin and Debra Hayward will professional produce. Canal Plus is fully financing the film, that's skedded to start shooting this spring london.Byrne is coming initially from off key supporting roles in three of last year's finest moneymakers -- Universal's comeyd "Bridesmaids," last century Fox's superhero pic "X-Males: Top ClassInch and Film District's horror hit "Insidious." Aussie thesp next stars as Bradley Cooper's wife in Derek Cianfrance's crime drama "The Region Beyond the Pines."Faris is coming initially from off starring roles by 50 percent 2011 comedies "Take Me Home Tonight" and "What's Your Number?," the 2nd which she also professional produced. Thesp will rapidly be seen alongside Sacha Baron Cohen in Paramount's laffer "The Dictator," too just like Relativity Media's omnibus comedy "Movie 43."CAA reps both Byrne and Faris, who's also repped by Anonymous Content and attorney Robert Offer. Byrne is repped australia wide by RGM Artist Group. Contact Rob Sneider at rob.sneider@variety.com

Get Ready For Errol Morris's Full JFK Analysis

Can remember the short documentary that Errol Morris released a year ago in commemoration in the 48th anniversary of JFK's murder? Not free of charge, there's however plenty more where that came from from - plus it sounds... interesting: "I wondered why [he drove] because we decided to fly him in. So Im ending up in him. He'll wake up. He walks off. He returns. Which he features a Mannlicher-Carcano, like the one Oswald used. [...] He preferred to show personally the enormous impracticality of firing people shots in rapid succession. [Smithsonian]

Vital-MGM Valley Girl Musical Redo To Become Helmed By Clay Weiner. Who?

EXCLUSIVE: Vital has became a member of MGM’s effort to mount a musical film remake of 1983′s Valley Girl, the film that assisted launch the location of Nicolas Cage. The remake will launch a brand new feature pointing career, because the galleries chose Clay Weiner over numerous well-established helmers who wanted the task. Who's Clay Weiner and just how did this happen? Weiner is really a prolific advertisements director — he helmed the Super Bowl place for Time Warner Cable with Ough Gervais and Mary Louise Parker — but his main credit may be the Nickelodeon film Fred: The Film. He was going to win the Valley Girl job, and the reps could include him among a lot of helmers who met with studio professionals prior to the holiday. Weiner was the only person who spent the 2-week holiday getaway assembling a 3-minute demo reel, taken care of from their own pocket, that featured choreographed dance programs set to some mash-from the eighties tunes that'll be sang within the film. He shown the spirit, design, costuming and camera work that reflected his vision for that film. It told the studio executives everything they have to know. Now, they gave Weiner the task also it was the reel that won it for Weiner. Discussions are actually getting going ahead between your galleries and Weiner’s reps at UTA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners. This version of Valley Girl stick to the original story of the punk guy without any money in the wrong side from the tracks who sets his sights on winning the affection of the Valley girl having a loutishly preppy boyfriend. Within the musical, the stars will sing 󈨔s New Wave tunes from bands such as the Go Go’s and also the Cars. MGM continues to be focusing on that one for some time which is now on the steps for success. A script by Amy Talkington has been rewritten by Rachel Marriage scribe Jenny Lumet. And today the film includes a director who, greatly such as the Valley Girl protagonist, transformed lengthy odds through persistence to obtain what he wants. MGM is on the remake tear, because the studio is approaching start dates around the Jose Padilha-directed Robocop, Joe Carnahan-directedDeath Wish, along with a Kim Peirce-directed Barbara.

CBS Looks for Love This Summer season With Dating Series 3

CBS Logo design design CBS is entering the reality dating scene, do not expect any Bachelor-type shenanigans. The network introduced Wednesday it's bought a completely new unscripted series referred to as 3, in regards to the journeys of three women to discover soul mates. Watch videos in the Bachelor More docudrama than fantasy-dating setup of rival network ABC's The Bachelor, 3 will focus on three single girls that are of numerous age groups and methods within their lives. Their common goal, however, is to discover love, and they're going to use each other for advice and emotional support within their search. "3 can be a relationship reveal that won't perpetuate a tale book myth about dating," Jennifer Bresnan, CBS's executive v . p . of alternative programming mentioned in the statement. "Without any typical action, it completely documents the mission for love and view of dating -- the anticipation, the excitement, the rejection. In route, we'll see personas that are real, and problematic and merely human." The series' format is founded on an Israeli reality dating demonstrate that increased being the country's No.1 program last summer season. Casting remains ongoing on 3, which will air this summer season.

Pilot Season: Justin Kirk to Star in Animal Kingdom, Ellen Barkin Joining Ryan Murphy Comedy

Justin Kirk Justin Kirk will rule the Animal Kingdom for NBC. Kirk, 42, will star in the single-camera comedy pilot as a veterinarian who loves animals but detests their owners. The show is executive-produced by Hangover Part II writer Scot Armstrong. Showtime renews Weeds for Season 8 But what does this mean for Kirk's longtime role as Uncle Andy on Weeds? Kirk's commitment to Animal Kingdom is not expected to interfere with the Showtime comedy's upcoming eighth season, which may very well be its last, according to Deadline, who first reported the news. Kirk is currently in negotiations for the new season and follows the lead of Weeds co-star Kevin Nealon, who recently signed on for the NBC comedy pilot Isabel. Kirk has also recurred on Modern Family as Mitchell's boss. Ellen Barkin, who is about to begin a recurring arc on Modern Family as Phil's new rival, is in final talks to join Ryan Murphy's comedy pilot, The New Normal, Deadline reports. Written by Murphy and Glee producer Ali Adler, the project centers on a gay couple and the woman who becomes a surrogate to help them start a family. Barkin, fresh off her Tony win last year, would play the surrogate's mother. NBC would not confirm Barkin's casting as of Thursday. Pilot season: Rome's James Purefoy to star opposite Kevin Bacon in Fox project Elsewhere at NBC, Joey and Better Off Ted alum Andrea Anders has been cast in their untitled Kari Lizer comedy pilot, TVGuide.com has confirmed. Deadline first reported the news. The project is about two female friends, one who seemingly has the perfect life (Anders) and one who can't seem to get it together, both of whom can't live without each other. Dexter's Aimee Garcia has joined NBC's County, the medical drama from Parenthood's Jason Katims and starring Jason Ritter, TVGuide.com has confirmed. Deadline first reported the news. Garcia, who also starred in NBC's short-lived 2009 medical drama, Trauma, would play a new intern in the group of young doctors, nurses and administrators working in the poorly funded LA County Hospital. NBC has also begun to fill out the cast for The Frontier, an intense tale of survival about a group of disparate travelers who embark on an incredible cross-country adventure through the west where danger stalks them at every turn. Jake McLaughlin, Bridget Regan, Al Weaver, Gina Bramhill, Ethan Embry and Megan Ferguson have all joined the cast, according to Deadline. Shaun Cassidy will write and executive-produce alongside Thomas Schlamme, Jeff Kwatinetz and Josh Barry.

Katherine Heigl in talks for 'Happytime Murders'

Heigl Katherine Heigl is at final discussions to star inside the Jim Henson Co.'s "The Happytime Killings," which Stuart Ford's IM Global will launch to customers within the European Film Market inside a couple of days.Picture, that's directed by John Henson ("A Muppets Christmas Carol") and composed by Todd Berger ("Kung Fu Panda 2") in the story he written with Dee Austin Robertson, happens in the world where puppets and humans live together, nevertheless the puppets are noticed as second-class people.When the puppet cast from the eighties kids Tv program can get wiped out one at a time, a disgraced detective-switched-detective agency puppet assumes the problem.The film noir puppet comedy has existed rise in the Henson Co. since 2008.IM Global is selling the pic through its Opus label at Berlinale inside a couple of days. Contact Diana Lodderhose at diana.lodderhose@variety.com