Poulin joins Even at start-up production house Item 7

Even, best known as the producer of Quebecois hit C.R.A.Z.Y., left Cirrus Communications earlier this year to launch Item 7 and pursue more personal projects.

As well as producing features, Item 7 also plans to executive produce selected projects. Poulin said the company will help producers position their films internationally and find additional financing outside Canada.

Even told ScreenDaily he had long hoped to work with Poulin, who has built a reputation as one of Canada’s more astute buyers over a 20-year career. “Our combined experience differentiates us from other Quebec production companies. Our outlook goes beyond Quebec. We will be able to work in English, French and international coproductions.”  The pair will make their debut at TIFF.

Poulin has worked across TV and film on Canada and has held roles at Norstar Entertainment, Maloflim Distribution and CFP (now Lionsgate), where she repped and helped to set up financing for films including Jeremy Podeswa’s Eclipse and Mary Harron’s American Psycho. She went on to become gap financing manager at FIDEC and later a vice-president of production at Melenny Productions.

In 2002, she returned to distribution as executive vice-president at TVA Films and then moved to a similar role at Equinoxe Films. Her acquisitions over that period included C.R.A.Z.Y.,The Pianist, White Noise, Un Dimanche A Kigali and Lea Pool’s Maman Est Chez Le Coiffeur.