Young Filmmaker Wins Award to Bring Hockey Fairy Tale to Screen

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A hockey rink may seem like an unusual setting for a fairy tale, but local filmmaker Aram Kouyoumdjian and the judges for the CBC/Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation Bridge Award seem to agree it is the perfect location.

Mr. Kouyoumdjian was recently awarded the Bridge Award that will allow him to produce his hockey fairy tale, The Lullaby of Mike Bossy.

As sponsors of the Bridge Award, the film development corporation and CBC chose to sponsor Mr. Kouyoumdjian's proposal above several other projects.

The Bridge Award supports emerging filmmakers by providing an investment of $20,000 from the Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation, along with a $10,000 license fee and $10,000 worth of production services from the CBC.

"This award is an invaluable opportunity for up-and-coming filmmakers like Aram," said Ann MacKenzie, chief executive officer of the film development corporation. "It enables those with some producing experience to get that ever-important first broadcast credit as a producer -- something which can be challenging for a new producer to achieve in an increasingly competitive industry."

"The Bridge Award is an important stepping stone in my producing career," said Mr. Kouyoumdjian. "It offers the opportunity to further develop skills and will undoubtedly open doors for future opportunities."

Lullaby tells the tale of a changing relationship between a father and his daughter. The young girl wants to leave her figure skates behind to become a hockey player but her father mistakenly believes she wants to be a figure skater. Comedy ensues as the girl tries to convince her father that hockey is her dream.

"It's a great subject and a great script. It captures a very
contemporary theme. Getting this story to the screen is exactly what the Bridge Award was designed to achieve," said Ron Crocker, regional director of television, Maritimes for CBC.

The Lullaby of Mike Bossy was written by Jeff Wheaton. David MacLeod of the Chester-based production company, Big Motion Pictures, will serve as executive producer and mentor on the production.

For more information on the Bridge Award, see the Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation website at www.film.ns.ca/programs_bridgeaward.asp .

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FOR BROADCAST USE:

     A fairy tale about a little girl, her dad and a

misunderstanding over hockey will come to the TV screen thanks to

the 2006 winner of the CBC/Nova Scotia Film Development

Corporation Bridge Award.

     Filmmaker Aram Kouyoumdjian (koo-yoom-JUNN) will produce a

program called The Lullaby of Mike Bossy.

     The Bridge Award supports emerging filmmakers by providing

an investment of 20-thousand dollars from the Nova Scotia Film

Development Corporation along with a 10-thousand dollar license

fee and 10-thousand dollars worth of production services from the

CBC.

     Ann MacKenzie, chief executive officer of the film

development corporation, says the award allows up-and-coming

filmmakers like Aram to get that ever-important first broadcast

credit as a producer.

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Media Contact: Ann MacKenzie
                Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation
                902-424-7177
                E-mail: mackenam@gov.ns.ca

                Ron Crocker
                CBC Television, Maritimes
                902-420-4003
                E-mail:Ron_Crocker@cbc.ca