Montreal-based Equinox Entertainment's new production and development slate will have a total budget of $59.1m (C$80m), including approximately $23.3m (C$36m) for a series of Italian/Canadian 'movies of the week' and feature film co-productions.

Equinox, the filmed entertainment division of La Compagnie France Film Inc., which previously focused on distribution, will team with Rome-based production company Pan3.1 srl, for Home Sweet Home, a modern version of The Odyssey. To be shot in Italy, Canada and Latin America this autumn, the film is part of an eight-picture, three-year, $20.8m (Cdn$32m) deal between the two companies. Equinox is also partnering with Italy's Mauro Cappelloni's Video Lucky for Invidia (Envy), to be shot this autumn in Italy and Canada.

Among its feature films in development are: Un Chip, un putt, a French-language comedy budgeted at $2.3m (C$3.5m) and tentatively starring Patrick Huard of Les Boys and La Vie Apres l'Amour fame; Clive Boomer's Success, a $3.2m (C$5m) thriller, with Leader Media; and Les Girls, a $2.3m (C$3.5m) comedy that will answer the question of what women talk about when they get together.

On the distribution front, Equinox has acquired the Canadian rights to Between Strangers, the Canadian-Italian co-production written and directed by Edoardo Ponti and starring Sophia Loren, Gerard Depardieu and Mira Sorvino. The company's recent releases include The Perfect Son, Cafe Ole, Love Come Down and the Quebec release of The Princess Diaries.

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