Centigrade Blazes a New Trail for Canadian Films

Update: After a few days Centigrade has hit #6 on Canada and UK iTunes charts – check it out now! Only $0.99 to rent and $1.99 to purchase this awesome little film.

Update: I originally wrote this piece for E!Online, so you can check out a slightly different version of the article over there.

It’s the most decorated Canadian film of 2008 and it’s about to make motion picture history thanks to the efforts of producer Madison Graie and Colin Cunningham who wrote, directed and starred in this suspenseful short, Centigrade.

“It’s is a good old fashioned entertaining thriller,” noted Cunningham, he and Graie met at Vancouver Film School years ago and since then they have grown into a successful film-making partnership that Cunningham describes as, “kind of like the Coen brothers. I’ll begin a sentence and she’ll finish it creatively.” Seeing the accolades Centigrade has received over the last year the 17 minute short has definitely taken the partnership for a thrill ride.

With a budget of $20,000, and the finished product having such a polished look, Graie admits that when it comes to film production in Vancouver, a little money goes a long way. “Vancouver really is kind to independent film makers – so when you ask, Vancouver usually gives back, which is nice,” Cunningham added that as such, they were able to put together “a real A-list” crew.

Centigrade premiered at the World Film Festival and since then it has been screened at numerous other film events. It also took home five Leo Awards this summer and the momentum is still growing.

They had won at the Cinequest Film Festival, and as that was that this was an Academy Award qualifying event, Centigrade then became the first Canadian film to be considered for the 2009 Oscars.

“We hoped at the time a calling card if we were lucky,” Cunningham added. “We’ve done a lot of projects in the past, everything from music videos to feature films and we’ve never got any kind of heat like we have off this little 15 minute movie.” Within the last year the pair has gone from completing the film, to festival showings, winning awards, and now they’re about to make history.

Cunningham noted, “we’ve also been accepted to iTunes so Centigrade is now going global this month.” Centigrade will be the first Canadian live-action short ever on iTunes and will be available mid-October on iTunes USA, Canada and UK. Find out more details over on my E!Online article…