New films from Deepa Mehta and Michael McGowan are among 13 English-language features backed by Telefilm Canada in its latest funding round, the Canadian investment agency announced today. Several projects have already started production, including Vincenzo Natali's Splice, starring Adrian Brody and Sarah Polley, which received $2.5m (C$2.5m) in Telefilm financing.

Mehta returns as writer-director on Heaven On Earth, the story of an Indian bride who comes to Canada for an arranged marriage and a new life only to face isolation, loneliness and domestic abuse. David Hamilton and Mehernaz Lentin produce. Mongrel Media distributes in Canada. Telefilm invested $1.7m in the production.

McGowan, whose 2004 title Saint Ralph earned critical kudos, has written and will direct One Week, the story of a young man who sets off on the road to self-discovery during a journey from Toronto to British Columbia. Nick DePencier, Jane Tattersall and McGowan are producing. Mongrel distributes in Canada. Telefilm's contribution is $941,789.

The other titles are:

45 RPM
Producer: Mike Frislev. Director/Writer: David Schultz. Distributor: Remstar Distribution Inc.. Telefilm Investment: $1,430,978.

Freezer Burn: The Invasion of Laxdale
Producer: Josh Miller. Director: Grant Harvey. Writers: Grant Harvey & Josh Miller. Distributor: Equinoxe Films Inc.. Telefilm Investment: $1.5m.

Growing Op
Executive Producer: Thom Fitzgerald. Producers: Rick Warden, Monique LeBlanc, Michael Melski, Doug Pettigrew. Director/Writer: Michael Melski. Distributor: Mongrel Media Inc.. Telefilm investment: $891,504.

The Harton Interviews
Producers: Bill Niven, Jay Dahl. Director/writer: Jay Dahl. Telefilm investment: $200,000.

High Life
Producers: Robin Cass, Anna Stratton & Gary Yates. Writers: Lee MacDougall & Gary Yates. Director: Gary Yates. Distributor: Equinoxe Films. Telefilm investment: $1.5m

Nonsense Revolution.
Producers: Thom Fitzgerald, Doug Pettigrew. Director/writer: Ann Verrall. Telefilm investment: $380,000

Puck Hogs
Producers: Steve Levitan, Eric Lunsky and Jim Woodside. Writer: Eric Lunsky. Director: Warren Sonoda. Distributor: Protocol Entertainment.. Telefilm investment: $200,000.

Toronto Stories
Producers: Jennifer Jonas and David Weaver. Writers/Directors: Sook Yin-Lee, Sudz Sutherland, David Weaver & Aaron Woodley. Distributor: Christal Films. Telefilm investment: $650,000

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