OTTAWA – The National Arts Centre would like to congratulate  Paul Giamatti for his victory at the Golden Globe Awards as best actor in a comedy or musical, for his portrayal of Barney Panofsky in the film BARNEY’S VERSION. In his acceptance speech Mr. Giamatti spoke of his love of Montreal and Canada where most of the film was shot saying, “An incredible beautiful city which I dream about. An incredible place, in a great nation, Canada. And I salute the great nation of Canada.”

Based on Mordecai Richler’s prize winning novel of the same name, BARNEY’S VERSION was produced by Robert Lantos (Eastern Promises, Being Julia), directed by Richard J. Lewis (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Whale Music), from a screenplay by Michael Konyves.

Last November, the National Arts Centre organized a major film premiere of BARNEY’S VERSION in collaboration with Telefilm Canada and the Minister of Canadian Heritage James Moore.  The evening was filled with some red carpet excitement as Mr. Lantos was accompanied by Mordecai Richler’s widow Florence Richler and several cast members including Scott Speedman, Macha Grenon, and Anna Hopkins. More than 1,200 people attended the sold-out premiere including the wife of the Prime Minister Laureen Harper and the wife of the Governor General Sharon Johnston.

“We all thought it was a great film during its Ottawa premiere at the National Arts Centre in November,” said the NAC’s President and CEO Peter Herrndorf. “It’s wonderful to see its success at the Golden Globes, now onto the Oscars!”

Based on the novel by celebrated Canadian writer Mordecai Richler, BARNEY’S VERSION is the touching story of a impulsive, irascible, and fearlessly blunt television producer Barney Panofsky. Poised between laughter and tears, the story chronicles Barney’s three marriages to three very different women.

Mordecai Richler’s beloved city of Montréal comes to life on the screen with scenes from the garden of the Ritz Carlton Hotel on Sherbrooke Street, to Grumpy’s bar on Bishop Street, both places that Mr. Richler often visited during his life.

“Mordecai Richler was one of Canada’s greatest writers, and a frequent visitor to the NAC during his lifetime. We are honoured that this film is being honored by The Golden Globes, and would like to congratulate not only Paul Giamatti but the Canadian team that made this film possible,” said Peter Herrndorf.

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For more information please contact:

Rosemary Thompson                                                  

Director of Communications                                       

National Arts Centre                                                  

(613) 947-7000 ext 260                                                

rthompson@nac-cna.ca