Production has started in Winnipeg on genre bending horror flick Trench 11
Set in 1918 France, director Leo Scherman’s new Canadian wartime horror movie Trench 11 stars Rossif Sutherland (Hellions, Knock Knock brother to Kiefer Sutherland) as Berton, a surly Allied tunneller. Sutherland was nominated for best leading actor in Canada at the CSA’s last year for his captivating performance in River, one of the buzz titles at TIFF 2015.
The First World War will be remembered as one of the worst times in history, but it was also a renaissance for technological development of lethal force weaponry. The machine gun and mustard gas were first introduced into warfare. Trench 11, presupposes that in the final days of WW1, the Germans were developing a biological weapon far more profane and deadly than any other. The Allies send Canadian tunneller (Sutherland) behind enemy lines, into a German underground bunker to find and destroy the weapon.
Cast also includes multi award-winning French Canadian actress Karine Vanasse (The Forbidden Room, Polytechnique), Charlie Carrick (Reign), Shaun Benson (ARQ, Channel Zero), and Ted Atherton (River). Rounding out the cast is award-winning German actor Robert Stadlober (Summer Storm).
Toronto-based producer Tyler Levine and his production company Carousel Pictures have been developing the project since 2011. Levine has partnered with Buffalo Gal Pictures through their genre Insidious Pictures label. Together they’ve assembled some of Canada’s best to recreate the front lines of war torn 1918 France, in Winnipeg.
Production designer Chad Giesbrecht (Goon) is in charge of cities transformation. Director of photography Dylan Macleod (He Hated Pigeons) controls the look, while make-up SFX designer Francois Dagenais (The Witch, Dawn of the Dead) brings his world-renowned artistry to this unique project. Michael Munn (Stories We Tell, Owning Mahowney) is editing.
A number of celebrated producers are involved including executive producers Martin Katz (Hotel Rwanda, Maps to the Stars), Walter Gasparovic (Spotlight, Eastern Promises) and Phyllis Laing (The Forbidden Room). Isaac Clements is co-producing.
Trench 11 is made possible with the financial participation of Telefilm Canada, Bell Media’s The Harold Greenburg Fund, Manitoba Film and Music and the Cogeco Fund.
Raven Banner Entertainment also serves as executive producer and holds Canadian distribution and worldwide rights.
