Author / Linehan Foundation

by Linehan Foundation

Oliver Becker wins Brian Linehan Actors Award

Oliver won the $1,000 Brian Linehan Actors Award for his work in Bridges, in the NSI Online Short Film Festival.

Oliver-Becker

Oliver Becker recently won the $1,000 Brian Linehan Actors Award for his work in Bridges, in the NSI Online Short Film Festival.

The NSI Online Short Film Festival jury had this to say about Oliver’s work:

Kristyn Stilling (Whistler Film Festival shorts programmer/director of Vancouver Short Film Festival): “Oliver Becker delivers a touching and layered performance as a grieving father searching for comfort. His journey through myriad emotions is engaging and moving.”

Kire Paputts (award-winning filmmaker): “Mr. Becker brought great subtlety to a serious and delicate role that could have easily been played more over the top.”

Oliver said

Having always been a fan of Brian Linehan it is an honour and a joy to receive this award in his name and as part of the NSI Online Short Film Festival.

Heartfelt thanks to NSI and those who made this unexpected and pleasant surprise possible!

Audiences will recognize Oliver for his work in Rookie Blue, Reign, Republic of Doyle, Rent-a-Goalie, among other roles.

by Linehan Foundation

Latest Brian Linehan Actors Award announced

Patti Allan won the $1,000 Brian Linehan Actors Award for her work in Mimi and Me.

Patti-Allan-Mimi-and-Me

Patti Allan (above) won the $1,000 Brian Linehan Actors Award for her work in Mimi and Me, in the latest round of the NSI Online Short Film Festival.

Comments from the NSI Online Short Film Festival jury:

Sonya Davidson, Channel Zero: “Patti Allan stood out as this unconventional character. Her performance is engaging, hilarious and, yet, believable as this foul-mouthed, chain-smoking grandmother.”

Karilynn Thompson, Calgary International Film Festival: “Patti Allan plays a very unique grandma with a gruff and well-acted lack of tact. You can just feel the years of cigarette stained fingers, poker and booze but, also shining though, a love for her granddaughter.”

Terry Miles, filmmaker: “Patti Allan stood out for her dynamic performance, moving from beat to beat and moment to moment with perfection.”

Patti Allan said:

It’s so inspiring that NSI honours filmmaking in such an active and significant way. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to have been cast by our amazing director, Marly Reed, and am so very happy that her obvious talent, skill and storytelling have been recognized.

Actors can often feel isolated and insecure in our roles and this kind of acknowledgement is extremely uplifting. Thank you to Brian for his visionary desire to inspire and encourage people. What a truly amazing value and legacy to have left us very fortunate recipients.

Patti was also nominated for a Leo award for her work in this film. Audiences will recognize her for her work in Ramona and Beezus, Good Boy!, Dead Like Me and Cold Squad, among other roles.

Watch Mimi and Me

Mimi & Me from Marly Reed on Vimeo.

Read the full awards news release.

by Linehan Foundation

George Anthony honoured with Academy Special Award at 2015 Canadian Screen Awards

In his long run as head of arts, music, science and variety TV programming at CBC, he championed dozens of series including Royal Canadian Air Farce and This Hour Has 22 Minutes.

George Anthony

Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation Advisor Board member George Anthony will receive the Academy Board of Directors’ Tribute at the upcoming Canadian Screen Awards.

According to Academy Chair Martin Katz, “The Academy Special Awards are presented annually to uniquely talented people in our industry who have left an indelible impression in the Canadian film, television and digital media landscape.”

Montreal-born writer and producer George Anthony has contributed decades of creative, hard and successful work to the Canadian entertainment industry.

In his long run as the head of arts, music, science and variety television programming at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, he championed dozens of series including long-running hits Royal Canadian Air Farce and This Hour Has 22 Minutes, high-rated specials with Anne Murray, Celine Dion and Shania Twain, and TV movies and feature films, notably the critically-acclaimed 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould.

Canadian programs under Anthony’s aegis have won more than 100 Gemini awards and an impressive array of other honours including the Prix Italia and a number of international Emmy Awards.

Anthony initially made his mark as a founding member of the Toronto Sun as both its entertainment editor and its best-read entertainment columnist and critic.

He returned to writing with his 2007 biography Starring Brian Linehan and collaborated with Gordon Pinsent on the actor’s 2012 autobiography, Next.

He currently serves as the CBC’s creative point person on its highest-rated comedy series, the Rick Mercer Report.

Read more information about the Academy Special Awards.

by Linehan Foundation

Canadian Screen Award nominations for NSI alumni from Foundation-supported programs

Congratulations to alumni from NSI Drama Prize and NSI Features First who received Canadian Screen Award nominations this year.

Congratulations to the following alumni from NSI Drama Prize and NSI Features First who received Canadian Screen Award nominations this year.

The Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation is program partner for both courses run by film and television training school National Screen Institute – Canada (NSI).

  • Camille Beaudoin (NSI Features First) – Bell Media Award for Best Comedy Series – Tiny Plastic Men
  • Chris Craddock (NSI Features First) – Best Writing in a Comedy Program or Series – Tiny Plastic Men
  • Michelle Latimer (NSI Drama Prize) – Best Biography or Arts Documentary Program or Series – ALIAS

Canadian feature Bang Bang Baby also received nominations for Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role – Justin Chatwin, and Achievement in Overall Sound – Christopher Guglick, Dave Mercel, Steve Moore, Justin Sawyer, Alex Turner. The film was developed through NSI Features First.

by Linehan Foundation

Great news from the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation

Updates about various projects supported by Foundation funding.

The first Brian Linehan Actors Award for the NSI Online Short Film Festival was announced recently.

Actors Ben Cotton and Sarah Deakins share the $1,000 Brian Linehan Actors Award for their work on Late.

LATE from Jason R Goode on Vimeo.

Sarah Deakins said:

What lovely news to learn of this award (thank you!). Working with Jason Goode and Dylan Jenkinson on Late was a joy. I’m always grateful to learn the film is connecting with people. I was incredibly lucky to work opposite acting partner Ben Cotton who lifted the words I had written off the page so effortlessly. Sharing the Brian Linehan Actors Award with him is an honour. Brian’s commitment to promoting Canadian talent through its foundation makes this award even more meaningful. I remember Brian as a person with integrity and style. I am truly honoured to accept this award named after him.

Ben Cotton said: “I am honoured and grateful to receive this award, and to share it with Sarah. I had such a wonderful time working on this film with her and of course Jason Goode and Dylan Jenkinson. So thank you very much!”

Read the full awards news release.

• • • 

Films developed through National Screen Institute courses supported by the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation find success on the fall film circuit

BANG BANG BABY

Bang-Bang-Baby

NSI Features First-developed film Bang Bang Baby by writer/director Jeffrey St. Jules:

TWO 4 ONE

Two-4-One

NSI Features First-developed film Two 4 One by writer/director Maureen Bradley:

THE UNDERGROUND

The-Underground

NSI Drama Prize-developed short The Underground by writer/director Michelle Latimer and producer Kerry Swanson:

WHEN FISH FLY

When-Fish-Fly

NSI Drama Prize-developed short When Fish Fly by writer/director Lisa Rose Snow and producer Lora Campbell:

SOME THINGS WON’T SLEEP

Some-Things-Won't-Sleep

NSI Drama Prize-developed short Some Things Won’t Sleep by writer/director Leah Johnston and producer André Pettigrew (the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation were the award sponsor for this team):

AFTER THE RAIN

After-the-Rain

NSI Drama Prize-developed short After the Rain by writer/director Gerald Patrick Fantone and producer Inga Dievulyte:

GIVEN YOUR HISTORY

Given-Your-History

NSI Drama Prize-developed short Given Your History by writer/director Molly McGlynn and producer Laura Perlmutter