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AURORA BOREALIS FILMS is a Toronto based independent production company focused on producing film and television properties with strong thematic content and solid commercial potential.
Founder Grant Sturgeon works with a group of inspired professionals who develop and produce compelling projects that fuse artistic integrity with poignant storytelling. These filmmakers make up one of the most viable and promising independent production teams in the industry.
The company's foundation is built upon the commitment to work with creative individuals and produce original content that provokes emotion and imagination. That commitment, combined with strong relationships with entertainment industry leaders, is what drives the Aurora Borealis Films mission of developing and producing quality entertainment.
about
GRANT STURGEON founded Aurora Borealis Films in 2007, after establishing himself as a producer and writer in the Toronto independent film industry. His producing credits include the short films Jersey Road, Prelude (YouTube: Project Direct top 20 finalist), Detour, Shallow Pockets, The Unsaid, Ive Just Seen A Face, All We See Or Seem and La Fiore, as well as the Jon Levine Band's debut music video for "Happy" and for the web-based television station Tdot.tv. Sturgeon was also an executive producer on the short films '106' and Falling Into At Night.
Projects in development for Sturgeon include feature films such as the dramatic thriller Hyde, the horror It's Natural To Be Afraid and the relationship drama Sweet Jane, as well as the dramatic television series Empire State.
He is also currently Manager, Publicity & Promotions for Sony Pictures Releasing Canada. During his tenure with Sony, he has worked on the marketing campaigns for such hits as The Karate Kid, Michael Jackson's This Is It, District 9, Angels & Demons, Quantum of Solace, Pineapple Express, Hancock, Superbad, Spider-Man™ 2 and Spider- Man™ 3, Casino Royale, The Da Vinci Code, Hitch, Closer, and Bad Boys 2, among others.
Prior to joining Sony, Sturgeon had been Manager, Publicity & Promotions for Twentieth Century Fox, where he worked on such films as Moulin Rouge, Cast Away, and X-Men™.
Earlier in his career, Sturgeon was in publicity & promotions with Alliance Atlantis Motion Picture Distribution. Before joining Alliance, he worked for the Toronto International Film Festival and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
DENNIS CHAN
CONOR FISHER
projects
contact
Aurora Borealis Films
36 Blue Jays Way, Suite 617
Toronto, ON M5V 3T3
em_il: grant_auroraborealisfilms.com
DENNIS CHAN is a Toronto-based filmmaker and television producer whose work has seen him travel across the world and he has come to produce a wide range of quality lifestyle programming that can beseen in six continents on such networks as CNBC World, Discovery Networks, Fox Japan, CMT Canada and CTV Travel & Escape. A producer for Re:Source Media Inc., the first full High Definition television production company in Canada, he has overseen the production of the series' "Let's Shop", "Karma Trekkers", "Project Mom" and "Project Dad", and "Envy".
In 2004, Chan wrote and directed the critically acclaimed short Falling Into At Night, and continues to work on a variety of film projects, including editing Prelude, the YouTube Project: Direct Top 20 short from writer/director Peter Diaz; directing the psychological thriller All We See Of Seem; co-writing and directing the experimental short film La Fiore; and co-writing and co-producing the dramatic short '106'.
Projects in development for Chan include the dramatic thriller Hyde and the dramatic television series Empire State.
A graduate of Ryerson University's Film Arts program, Chan's early career exposed him to the motion picture industry through his work in marketing with Twentieth Century Fox and Sony Pictures working on such films as Planet of the Apes, From Hell, and Punch-Drunk Love.
GRANT STURGEON
CONOR FISHER is a Toronto-based filmmaker, photographer and post-production specialist whose work has been shown internationally. His cinematography credits include the festival hit The Thirty Thing and the serial killer thriller Hyde with director Dennis Chan.
Fisher's work as a colourist at Alter Ego, a post production commercial and film company, has recently seen him colour grade the award winning Fig Trees (Best Documentary - Berlin Film Festival) and the music video "Little Bird" for indie rock band Hexes and Ohs.
Projects in development for Fisher include the horror film It's Natural To Be Afraid and an untitled sci-fi feature.
hyde
DENNIS CHAN, 2009
A serial killer terrorizes a city and the residents are on edge. For one diverse group of individuals, their lives become extraordinarily intertwined as they battle their own demons and crises in the shadow of the murderous campaign.
When the killer is arrested, more than just the case reaches its climax, as everyone involved hurtles to their own startling conclusion and closer to the brink. Love and hate, right and wrong, and life and death, are all questioned as each individual must decide how far they can be pushed.
An Aurora Borealis Films and 4orth River Studios production, HYDE is directed by Dennis Chan, produced by Grant Sturgeon and features the cinematography of Conor Fisher.
VIGNETTE #1
VIGNETTE #2
prelude
PETER DIAZ, 2008
Writer/director Peter Diaz shows us one young woman's inner-most thoughts and memories as she journeys to a place where a special someone's fingerprints still linger, and his whispers softly echo. A place where a part of him will forever be a part of her.
An Aurora Borealis Films and High Flight Films production, PRELUDE stars Sandy Duarte, Peter Diaz and Michael John Thomas. Produced by Grant Sturgeon, the film features the cinematography of Conor Fisher and was edited by Dennis Chan. 'Chord Sounds', written and performed by Moby, scores the film.
PRELUDE was a Top 20 Finalist in the 2009 YouTube Project: Direct at the Sundace Film Festival.
WATCH THE FILM
fires
DENNIS CHAN, 2010
An Aurora Borealis Films and 4orth River Studios production, this submission to the Genero.tv competition to become the official music video for Band of Skulls' 'Fires' is directed by Dennis Chan, produced by Grant Sturgeon and features the cinematography of Conor Fisher.
Starring Andrew Ferguson and Shawna Greenspan.
WATCH THE VIDEO
detour
PETER DIAZ, 2009
Inspired by actual events, DETOUR, a psychological thriller from writer/director Peter Diaz, tells the story of two young women who make one wrong turn that may end up costing them their lives. After their car breaks down, Brenda and Susie get picked up by a man who is much more than the average joe he seems, and proceed to take the ride of their lives with the mysterious stranger.
An Aurora Borealis Films and High Flight Films production, DETOUR stars Brian Griffin, Nessya Dayan and Arleigh Curran. Produced by Grant Sturgeon, the film features the cinematography of Eric Morrison and the music of Arthur Renwick and The Shakedown Crew.
the usaid
Written and directed by Peter Diaz, THE UNSAID tells the story of a young man who, while asleep in bed with his wife, is awoken one night by a phone call from an ex-girlfriend, the one he should have married instead.
An Aurora Borealis Films and High Flight Films production,THE UNSAID stars Andrew Ferguson,Sandy Duarte and Karita Mullins. Produced by Grant Sturgeon, the film features the cinematography of Eric Morrison and the music of Blushresponse.
WATCH THE TRAILER
i've just seen
a face
CONOR FISHER, 2007
Using the unique style of stop-motion photography, IVE JUST SEEN A FACE takes a thoughtful and charming look at a series of chance encounters as we follow one twenty-something romantic who just might be willing to gamble on love during the course of one magical day.
An Aurora Borealis Films and Ecliptic Pictures production, IVE JUST SEEN A FACE stars Casey Dutfeld and Andrew Ferguson. Directed by Conor Fisher and produced by Grant Sturgeon, the film is scored by 'City Lights' from Canadian singer-songwriter Amanda Bentley.
happy
THE JON LEVINE BAND, 2007
Directed by Peter Diaz and co-produced by Grant Sturgeon, the guerilla-style music video for 'Happy' by The Jon Levine Band was shot in one crazy day on the streets of Toronto. It was an early summer morning, people were enjoying a bit of a sleep-in, when they were woken up by Jon Levine and his band. How would they react? Watch and see.
"Here's the deal, we've got no money to make a video, we've got no record company behind us... so we decided to take the music to the people, one by one, door to door. It's five in the morning... lets go meet some people."
- Jon Levine
all we see
or seem
DENNIS CHAN, 2007
Adrift in a psychological storm amid days of relentless searching and sleepless nights of painful memories, a woman is emotionally exhausted and teetering on the edge. Struggling to hold on to her sanity, she herself begins to feel as lost and alone as the daughter she so desperately searches for.
An Aurora Borealis Films production, ALL WE SEE OR SEEM stars Tanya Rusnak. Directed and edited by Dennis Chan, it was written and produced by Grant Sturgeon.
la fiore
Writer/director Dennis Chan weaves a unique and rich tapestry of contrasts and similarities, connectivity and isolation, and journeys and destinations in his short film, the artistic and experimental LA FIORE. Using a visceral and enchanting style of visual storytelling, Chan explores the notion that it is what all men share in life that ultimately sets them apart.
An Aurora Borealis Films production, LA FIORE stars Philip Graeme and Geoff Kolomayz. Produced by Grant Sturgeon, the film was written by Chan, Sturgeon and AJ Matias, and features the cinematography of Barry Cheong.
falling into
at night
106
AJ MATIAS, 2007
In the poignant drama '106', writer/director A.J. Matias uses his unique style of storytelling to delve deep into one man's lonesome tale of a remarkable life, heartbreaking loss and the power of love.
Jackson Clay (Phillip Graeme) has been keeping a baffling secret for almost his entire life. Realizing that he has fallen in love with his girlfriend Ria (Tanya Rusnak), he finally concludes that he must reveal to her the great mystery surrounding his life and explain how it has taken away everyone he has ever loved.
Knowing his feelings for her will only result in more of the pain he can no longer endure, Jackson broods over a decision a lifetime in the making, while Ria struggles to understand why the man she loves does not want to share his "gift" with the world.
Together the two embark on an emotional journey as they discover that his secret might be less about living or dying than it is about life itself.
jersey road
COLIN GRANT, 2009
Mick Flanagan (Andrew Ferguson) is in trouble. The tough teenage hoodlum and his buddies (Peter Diaz, Ted Neal, Daniel Reininghaus) have finally crossed the line, and now must look to his ex-con brother Ritchie (Chris Scarpelli) for help.
An accidental shooting leaves the guys with the dead body of a dirty cop and a long night ahead of them in the woods off Jersey Road. With the realization of what they have done, and what they now need to do, setting in, the gang must replace fear and desperation with courage and determination as they race against time - and the police - and discover a new bond of loyalty and honour which will forever bind these friends together.
Aurora Borealis Films, NorthWorks Pictures and The Toronto Jay Variety Show's JERSEY ROAD, an emotional crime thriller about one fateful night that forever changes the lives of five friends, is directed by Colin Grant and inspired by Flanagans: Life Inside An Irish Street Gang, the debut novel from Jay Stoyan. Written by Colin Grant and Sheena Kamal. Produced by Colin Grant and Grant Sturgeon. Executive Producer is Jay Stoyan. Director of Photography is Jerry Andrews. Editor is Emmanuel Nabet.
