#FIRSTLOOK: TELEFILM CANADA AND 2026-2027 TALENT TO WATCH PROGRAM

Telefilm Canada invests nearly $3.6M in 16 Talent to Watch projects

Following funding decisions under the 2026-27 Talent to Watch Program, Telefilm Canada announces an investment of $3,598,068 in 16 feature film projects from emerging filmmakers.

A total of 136 applications were received, representing $31,242,084 in requested funding.

The Talent to Watch Program supports emerging filmmakers seeking to finance the production of their first feature film. This year’s selected projects come through the program’s three streams: the Industry Partner Stream, the Festival Selection Stream and the Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream.

 
Funded Projects
A Handyman (drama)

Director and screenwriter: Felipe López Gómez

Producer: Natalia Bernal

Province: Ontario

Languages: English, Spanish, French

Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream

A New Age (drama)

Director and screenwriter: Ethan Eng

Producer: Jackie De Niverville

Province: Ontario

Language: English

Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream

À l’ombre de la flamme (documentary)

Director, screenwriter and producer: Hélène Lebon

Province: Prince Edward Island

Languages: French, English, Japanese

Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream and OLMC project*

Coldsnap (horror)

Director and screenwriter: Richard Pierre

Producers: Rachel Bulatovich, Krishna Kolanupaka, Richard Pierre

Province: Ontario

Language: English

Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream

Forget Me Not (drama)

Director and screenwriter: Vanessa King

Producer: Megan Thelosen

Province : New Brunswick

Language: English

Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream

Holako – Dans les yeux de l’infini (drama)

Director: Okey Beeschope

Screenwriter: Sarah Kéita

Producers: Mamoudou Camara, Okey Beeschope

Province: Quebec

Language: French

Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream

Keepers Light (documentary)

Director and screenwriter: Maximilian Flint

Producer: Samira Eblaghi

Province: Nova Scotia

Language: English

Industry Partner Stream

Partner organization: Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative

Last Fire (drama)

Director and screenwriter: Dustin McGladrey

Producer: Victoria Juanita Rose Johnnie-Mills

Province: British Columbia

Languages: English, Nisga’a

Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream

Indigenous component

Looking Glass Hands (documentary)

Director and screenwriter: Mika Yatsuhashi

Producer: Max Holzberg

Province: Quebec

Languages: English, Japanese

Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream and OLMC project*

Matrimoine (drama)

Director, screenwriter and producer: Sara Bourdeau

Province: Quebec

Language: French

Industry Partner Stream

Partner organization: Paraloeil

Minor Estrangements (comedy)

Director and screenwriter: Meysam Motazedi

Producer: Soledad Vega

Province: Ontario

Languages: English, Farsi

Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream

Niagara Crush (horror)

Director and screenwriter: Christina Dovolis

Producers: Torrin Blades, Braden Brickner

Province: Ontario

Language: English

Festival Selection Stream

NIGHTLIFE (drama)

Director, screenwriter and producer: Alexandre Forgues

Province: Ontario

Language: French

Festival Selection Stream

She’s Nonbinary (romantic comedy)

Director and screenwriter: Jess McLeod

Producers: Isabelle Deluce, Erin Purghart, Eva Tavares

Province: British Columbia

Language: English

Festival Selection Stream

Sur les pas d’Hauris (documentary)

Director, screenwriter and producer: Samuel St-Pierre

Province: Quebec

Language: French

Industry Partner Stream

Partner organization: Institut national de l’image et du son (INIS)

Welcome To The Bluebird (mystery/crime)

Director: Griffin Cork

Screenwriter: Anthony Schokalsky

Producer: Adrian Gonzalez de la Peña

Province: Alberta

Languages: English, French

Industry Partner Stream

Partner organization: Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers (CSIF)

 
Telefilm Canada remains committed to transparency in its funding decisions by providing the industry with information on projects selected through its various programs. As part of this commitment, and to support Official Language Minority Community (OLMC) projects across its programs*, Telefilm introduced a new declaration for OLMC-produced projects.

This year’s selection also reflects the Program’s pan-Canadian reach, with projects showcasing a wide range of genres, languages and perspectives across seven provinces.

 
About Telefilm Canada
Founded in 1967, Telefilm is a Crown corporation dedicated to investing in the development, production, promotion, and distribution of Canadian and Indigenous audiovisual content. As the largest investor in Canadian cinema, Telefilm contributes to the economic strength and cultural impact of the audiovisual sector in collaboration with industry members. Telefilm also makes recommendations to the Department of Canadian Heritage regarding the certification of audiovisual treaty coproductions and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on LinkedIn, Letterboxd, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.