Conquering Lion Pictures (CLP) is an independent Canadian film production company founded by Clement Virgo and Damon D'Oliveira.[1] Virgo and D'Oliveira met in 1991 while studying at the Canadian Film Centre (CFC), and formed CLP while working on Rude, their first feature film at the CFC.[1]
CLP have produced or co-produced a number of noteworthy films. Their first feature film, Rude (1995), was the first feature film produced by an African-Canadian director,[2][3] and premiered at Cannes to critical acclaim.[1] Poor Boy's Game (2007), directed by Virgo, premiered at the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival as a "Panorama Special Selection", and was later presented as a Special Selection at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival.[4] Lie with Me (2005) premiered at the 2006 Berlin International Film Festival as a "Panorama Selection". It caused a stir at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival for its portrayal of explicit sexual themes,[5] and has since been distributed internationally in over 30 territories and sold to Showtime.[6]
CLP's latest project is The Book of Negroes, based on the Lawrence Hill novel of the same name.[7] Hill's novel won the 2009 Canada Reads contest as well as the Commonwealth Writers' Prize in 2008.[8] CLP's six-part miniseries adaptation premiered on BET in February 2015 and won nine Canadian Screen Awards in 2016, as well as an award for best miniseries by the NAACP.[9][10][11][12][13]
Other upcoming feature projects include the lesbian western I Shot the Sheriff, and an urban music drama, Enter the Cipher, which was selected for the 2010 Tribeca All Access program.[14]
In 2017, Clement Virgo and Damon D'Oliveira were award the Canadian Film Centre's Award for Creative Excellence, for their filmography created at Conquering Lion Pictures.[15]
In September 2018, it was announced that CLP, along with fellow Canadian film company Hawkeye Pictures, had acquired the rights to Brother, an award-winning novel by David Chariandy.[16]
Filmography
edit- Rude (1995)
- Love Come Down (2000)
- Lie with Me (2005)
- Poor Boy's Game (2007)
- The Book of Negroes (2015)
- Brother (2022)
References
edit- ^ a b c "Honouring Damon D'Oliveira and Clement Virgo of Conquering Lion Pictures". cfccreates.com. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ "OMDC SUCCESS STORY: Conquering Lion Pictures". www.ontariocreates.ca. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ "Why the film pioneers behind Book of Negroes have always struggled with feeling 'Canadian' | CBC Arts". CBC. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ Robinson, Marcus. "Virgo thinks globally with Poor Boy's Game". Retrieved 2015-11-04.
- ^ Walker, Susan (25 September 2005). "Lie with Me". Toronto Star.
- ^ Lie with Me at IMDb
- ^ Punter, Jennie (19 August 2009). "Lion nabs 'Name' film rights". Variety.
- ^ Barber, John (19 August 2009). "Lawrence Hill's Book of Negroes set for film". The Globe and Mail.
- ^ "ABOUT". Conquering Lion Pictures. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ "Book of Negroes big winner at Canadian Screen Awards". Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ International, Radio Canada (2016-03-10). "'The Book of Negroes' wins at the Canadian Screen Awards". RCI | English. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ Lowry, Brian (2015-02-12). "TV Review: BET's 'The Book of Negroes'". Variety. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ Report, Electronic Urban (2016-04-12). "'The Book of Negroes' Licensed by eOne to Hulu". EURweb. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ "Tribeca All Access Sets 24 Projects for Seventh Edition". 22 March 2010.
- ^ Evans, Ferrin; Walker, Heather (February 2021). "Conquering Lion Pictures Fonds". University of Toronto Exhibits. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
- ^ McNary, Dave (2018-09-06). "Toronto-Based Family Drama 'Brother' to Be Developed as Film". Variety. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
