Nova Scotia stars in The Healer

After countless stand-in roles for seaside states like Maine (Dolores Claiborne), Massachusetts (the Jesse Stone movies) and Washington (Christmas With Holly), Nova Scotia is finally taking the lead. “I immediately fell in love with the look and the feel of Nova Scotia, a perfect place for a magical, mystical tale,” says Paco Arango, writer/ director of The Healer which tells the story of a man who discovers he possesses the gift for healing people just as he arrives in the small town of Lunenburg, N.S.

The Healer is a co-production with Academy Award-nominated producer Enrique Posner and Michael Volpe of Halifax’s Topsail Productions (Trailer Park Boys, Mr. D).

“We had an amazing team on this production, and we were thrilled to be up and running after a challenging start to 2015 for the Nova Scotia film industry,” Volpe shared. “The regulations for the province’s new Film Incentive Fund are now in place and people in the industry are actively engaged in trying to navigate the new system. We are cautiously optimistic about being able to continue to develop projects and to bring top-caliber filmmakers, like the international team on The Healer, to work in Nova Scotia.”

The Healer stars Oliver Jackson-Cohen (Dracula), Camilla Luddington (Grey’s Anatomy), Jorge Garcia (Lost), Jonathan Pryce (Pirates of the Caribbean) and Kaitlyn Bernard (Mom’s Day Away).

Award-winning actor Jonathan Pryce (Game of Thrones) plays mysterious Uncle Raymond who’s on-screen offer shifts the action to Nova Scotia

St. John’s Anglican Church in Lunenburg filled with local extras.

A lovely Lunenburg backdrop for feel good rom-com stars Camilla Luddington and Oliver Jackson-Cohen (and the sheep).

Nova Scotia film crews on location in Lunenburg, N.S.

Cast photo: (standing) Kaitlyn Bernard (Abigail), (sitting) Oliver Jackson-Cohen (Alec), Camilla Luddington (Cecilia) and Batman.

Cinematographer Javier Aguirresarobe (Twilight Trilogy, Blue Jasmine) and writer/director Paco Arango (Maktub) discuss the perfect shot.

All smiles behind the scenes with co-producers Michael Volpe and Enrique Posner.

Photos: Chris Reardon

For more information on The Healer visit www.thehealer-film.com. A large portion of the proceeds from this film are earmarked for the SeriousFun Children’s Network. To donate, visit www.seriousfunnetwork.org/donate