A furore in the Canadian film business could be the catalyst for a rare local English-language hit.

Thanks to a vaguely-written amendment to Canada's tax code, the Canadian government may soon have the power to strip local producers of their tax credit should it decide their film is 'contrary to public policy' - this would be after the film is completed and the money spent.

This revelation, buried towards the end of 600 pages of what is essentially shopkeeping legislation, led Canada's film-makers into an aggressively defensive posture.

And it brought out the usual fulminations from the more conservative corners of the nation, including some polite fundamentalists who wanted to know: why are Canadian taxpayers subsidising films with titles like Young People Fucking'

The name speaks for itself: Young People Fucking is a film about young people fucking in a way films like last summer's hit Knocked Up - in which star Katherine Heigl demurely sported a brassiere throughout the encounter - are not.

Not that YPF is full-frontal but when the characters are not shagging they are sartorially prepared for it.

'It's hard to get an independent film noticed, especially without stars or studio backing. We wanted to cut through the crap,' says debut director Martin Gero, on the line with Aaron Abrams, his co-writer and one of the 'young people' on screen.

Abrams adds: 'Producers, distributors, Telefilm Canada, these guys get so many scripts across their desks. 'Young people fucking' is hard to ignore.'

Gero and Abrams wanted a lightning-rod title. Now they are landing more volts than they anticipated.

Originally scheduled for release on April 18, the film has been moved back to June 13. 'We're up against The Incredible Hulk,' says Gero, not quite believing it himself. 'I'm willing to bet our film will be a better watch. And I'm willing to box (Hulk star) Edward Norton.'

Producer Steve Hoban of Toronto-based Copper Heart Entertainment is punching for real. Recognising an opportunity, he pulled the film from its original Canadian distributor, Montreal-based Christal Films, and placed it with Toronto's Maple Pictures on the condition Maple release it with commensurate oomph: 25-30 prints in nine cities.

Neither Gero nor Hoban would comment on a US release - ThinkFilm has US and international sales rights - but the formerly Canadian company has set a DVD release date of October, which leaves a window for a theatrical release in pace with the Canadian cinema date.

'Even if people disapprove of the title, they walk away thinking it's the right one,' says Abrams.

No doubt Maple is hoping so.