Palomar | Since 1993, Palomar has defined its mission as a producer of independent cinema. A dynamic, young film production company, it supports and develops the talent of the new generation of Quebec filmmakers.
Une jeune fille à la fenêtre (Girl at the Window), Francis Leclerc’s critically acclaimed first feature film, was presented in competition at the World Film Festival in Montreal in 2001 and shown in many festivals around the world. The same talented team created Francis Leclerc’s second feature Mémoires affectives (Looking for Alexander), winner of 4 Jutra Awards including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Editor. The film also won 3 Genie Awards including Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor.
Ardent supporter of the short film format, Palomar produced Une Éclaircie sur le fleuve (Clearing Skies), Rosa Zacharie’s first short film. Presented on opening night at the International Film Festival in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, this poetic work was nominated for a Genie Award (Best Dramatic Short) in 2002.
2008/2009 was a busy period for Palomar. Principal photography rolled on Un ange à la mer (Angel at Sea), Belgian director Frédéric Dumont’s first feature set in Morocco starring Olivier Gourmet and Anne Consigny. Un été sans point ni coup sûr, (A No-Hit, No-Run Summer) Francis Leclerc’s third feature film was released on 75 screens on August 1st, preceded by Caporal Crevette (Corporal Shrimp), Christian Laurence’s short film. The “feel-good movie” was a success with both audiences and critics alike.
2010/2011 The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom, (Dolly Parton, ma mère et moi) Tara Johns’ first feature film and first English-language film for Palomar. International theatrical distribution including the US, the UK, Australia and South Korea.
On the slate for 2012/2013: the development of A Nutshell of Infinite Space Tara Johns’ adaptation of George Rideout’s award-winning play Michel and Ti-Jean, Le Mystère Trannoy by Avril Tembouret and Vladimir Rodionov, a Canada-France international co-production with French producer A.S.A.P. and You’re What With Who Now?! a romantic comedy written By Thomas Michael and Paolo Mancini.
With a diversity of projects both in development and production, Palomar has successfully positioned itself as a major player in the Quebec cinematographic community. The company’s activities consistently reflect the mission it adopted and the creative team intends to stay focused on the principles it supports and the cinematographic vision it believes in.
Barbara Shrier | Producer
An accomplished producer and well-known in the Montreal film industry, Barbara Shrier has over 20 years of experience. She has collaborated with well-known filmmakers such as Louis Malle (Atlantic City, 1980), Jean-Jacques Annaud (Quest for Fire, 1981) and Alan Rudolph (The Moderns, 1987). As well, she also worked on several Quebec feature films such as Jacques W. Benoit’s Comment faire l’amour avec un nègre sans se fatiguer, (1988), François Girard’s Cargo (1989), Gabriel Pelletier’s L’Automne Sauvage (1991) and Georges Mihalka’s L’Homme idéal (1995). In 1996-1997, she supervised the development and production of François Girard’s The Red Violin, shot in five languages in five countries, and praised internationally by the critics and public alike.
In 2001, Shrier produced Francis Leclerc’s debut feature film Une jeune fille à la fenêtre (A Girl at the Window). Her next project was another partnership with Leclerc on Mémoires affectives (Looking for Alexander), winner of four Jutras (including Best Film) and three Genies.
The summer of 2008 saw the successful release of her third collaboration with Francis Leclerc, Un été sans point ni coup sûr (A No-Hit, No-Run Summer). She also co-produced Frédéric Dumont’s first feature Un Ange à la mer (Angel at Sea) with Belgium’s Dragons Films which went on to win the Crystal Globe for best film at the Karlovy Vary film festival.
In 2011, Barbara made her foray into the English language film world with Tara Johns’ first feature entitled The Year Dolly Parton Was My Mom picked up for theatrical distribution in the US, the UK, Australia and South Korea.
Her commitment to solid, auteur-driven work continues with the development of A Nutshell of Infinite Space Tara Johns’ adaptation of George Rideout’s award-winning play Michel and Ti-Jean, Le Mystère Trannoy by Avril Tembouret and Vladimir Rodionov, a Canada-France international co-production with French producer A.S.A.P. and You’re What With Who Now?! a romantic comedy written By Thomas Michael and Paolo Mancini.