Canadian companies announce first-look development deal.

Canadian distributor D Films has signed an exclusive first-look development deal with Vancouver-based producers Rob Merilees’ and Dave Valleau’s Foundation Features, it was announced today by Jim Sherry, president and CEO of D Films.

The long-term development deal will allow Foundation Pictures to develop projects with top writing and directing talent.

Voted Canadian Producer of the Year by the Canadian Film and Television Producers Association in 2008, Rob Merilees recently created Foundation with partner Dave Valleau (a producer on Capote), a company comprised of the former Infinity Features team which collaborated on dozens of acclaimed feature projects, including Capote, The Snow Walker, and Stone of Destiny.

Valleau was also an executive producer on The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus and Shattered.

“I’ve always had tremendous respect for Jim [Sherry] and his work, and I’m very excited about the team he has put together at D Films,” said Rob Merilees in a statement. “Both Dave and I look forward to working closely with Jim, Tony Cianciotta and everyone at D Films to bring great stories with domestic and international appeal to the big screen.”

The deal was negotiated by Jim Sherry for D Films and by Rob Merilees for Foundation Features.

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