Tag / 2015

by Linehan Foundation

Where are they now? Update on Linehan alumni

Working artists in whose careers the Linehan Foundation has invested include Paul Alexander Nolan, Evelyn Brochu and Emmanuel Kabongo.

(Republished with kind permission from the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television)

BrianLinehan_eNewsJune5-3The Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation was established from the proceeds of the estate of the late Brian Linehan, one of Canada’s great journalists and on-air interviewers.

Brian left his entire estate for the purpose of creating a star system in Canada including training, providing work opportunities and promoting young Canadians of exceptional talent.

To date, its range of activities have included support for scholarships at Humber College, support of the Soulpepper Academy, the Company Theatre, the Toronto International Film Festival Group (TIFFG), the Canadian Film Centre, CanStage, the Company Theatre, Sheridan College, the National Screen Institute, and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

Working artists in whose careers the Linehan Foundation has invested include:

  • Paul Alexander Nolan, who first played Broadway as Jesus Christ Superstar, returned to New York to take over the lead in the long-running Tony award-winning musical Once and recently returned to the Great White Way as one of the stars of Des MacAnuff’s musical version of Dr. Zhivago.
  • Evelyn Brochu, perhaps best known from her role as Delphine in Orphan Black, who is now starring in CBC’s new hit drama series X Company.
  • Guillaume Coté, who is both a Principal Dancer and Choreographic Associate for the National Ballet of Canada, and who is currently choreographing a full-length ballet based on the classic Antoine de Saint-Exupéry fable Le Petit Prince/The Little Prince for the National Ballet’s 2015-2016 season.
  • Emmanuel Kabongo, who is currently working with Natasha Lyonne (Orange is the New Black) Chloe Sevigny (American Horror Story) and Meg Tilly (Bomb Girls) on a new feature film by director Danny Perez, Antibirth.
  • Sara Farb, now in her third season at Stratford, who is set to appear in The Last Wife and is currently winning rave reviews as Constance in She Stoops To Conquer and Anne in The Diary Of Anne Frank.
  • Ian Lake, who was recently seen on the Global TV drama series Remedy, and who continues to star in the Mirvish production of Once, playing eight shows a week at the Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto from February 16 through June 28.
  • And Republic Of Doyle creator and star Allan Hawco, most recently celebrated for his portrayal of Jewish merchant Solomon Lindo in the acclaimed CBC mini-series The Book of Negroes, who will soon be seen on the big screen with Rossif Sutherland, Paul Gross and Clark Johnson in Hyena Road and is currently developing two new dramatic series for Discovery & CBC Television respectively.
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.