The Canadian curling comedy Men with Brooms made an impressive box-office debut this past weekend.

Released on 207 screens across Canada, Men with Brooms grossed $1.04 million, for a per-screen average of $5,024.

"Our opening in Quebec was a little lacklustre or else we would have had a significantly higher per-screen average," says Jim Sherry, executive vice-president and general manager of distribution for Alliance Atlantis.

He points out that "this is the second-highest opening weekend ever for a Canadian feature film, after Wesley Snipes' movie The Art of War."

Calgary-born Paul Gross, who wrote, directed and starred in the film and contributed to its soundtrack, surrounded himself with a completely Canadian cast.

"Men with Brooms was the Number 2 film in Calgary and Edmonton and Number 1 at the box office in Winnipeg. We really couldn't have asked for more," says Sherry.

Men with Brooms was produced for $7.5 million and Sherry says Alliance Atlantis has spent "well north of $1 million to promote it."

He says no effort has been made to secure deals to release the film in foreign markets.

"Right now our primary focus is to maintain the momentum in Canada.

"We're confident the film will have significant appeal in global markets."


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