#FIRSTLOOK: TELEFILM CANADA TO FUND 32 FEATURE-LENGTH FILMS

Telefilm Canada is announcing its commitment to 32 feature-length films, with 25 projects in the English market and seven projects in the French market, under the lower budget stream of the Production Program for fiscal year 2023-2024, with a funding total of $19.4 million.

Previously, Telefilm announced the selection of eight French-language feature film titles and 12 feature-length films in the English market under the big budget stream.

Projects in the English market:

A Tribe Called Love (drama)

Director and Screenwriter: Mohamed Ahmed

Production: Mahaica Point Media Inc.

Distributor: Mongrel Media

Province: Ontario

Anglophone (comedy)

Director and Screenwriter: Chandler Levack

Production: Banner House Productions Inc. and Zapruder Films Inc.

Distributor: Elevation Pictures and XYZ

Province: Quebec and Ontario

APPARATUS (drama)

Director: Sofia Banzhaf

Screenwriters: Sofia Banzhaf and Grayson Moore

Production: Younger Daughter Films Inc

Province: Ontario

Cat’s Cry (drama)

Director: Sanja Zivkovic

Screenwriter: Goran Paskaljevic

Production: YN Films Inc. (Canada), Artizana Film (Croatia) and Nova Film (Yugoslavia)

Province: Ontario

Chopping Boy (historical drama)

Directors and Screenwriters: Adam Belanger and David Lafontaine

Production: Gearshift Films Inc. and Armenta Films Inc.

Province: Ontario

HAL & CHARLIE, 1963 (drama)

Director and Screenwriter: Nick Citton

Production: Resonance Films Inc.

Province: British Columbia

Hangashore (Ainniseoir) (thriller)

Director and Screenwriter: Justin Oakey

Production: Black River Pictures Inc.

Province: Newfoundland/Labrador

Lakeview (drama)

Director and Screenwriter: Tara Thorne

Production: Paw Paw Pictures Incorporated

Province: Nova Scotia

Levels (science fiction/fantasy/tale)

Director and Screenwriter: Adam Stern

Production: Levels Productions MB Inc. and 1373039 BC Ltd.

Distributor: Vortex Media

Province: Manitoba and British Columbia

Lupe Q and the Galactic Earworms (science fiction/fantasy/tale)

Director: Javier Badillo

Screenwriters: Natalie Marshik and Javier Badillo

Production: 1207405 B.C. Ltd. dba Spitshine Flicks

Province: British Columbia

Mother (science fiction/fantasy/tale)

Director and Screenwriter: Jen Walden

Production: Iylond Entertainment Inc. and WaldenPaint Studio Inc.

Province: Alberta and Northwest Territories

Permanent Damage (thriller)

Director: Seth A. Smith

Screenwriters: Seth A. Smith and Darcy Spidle

Production: CUT/OFF/TAIL Pictures Inc.

Province: Nova Scotia

Racewalkers (comedy)

Directors: Kevin Claydon and Phil Moniz

Screenwriters: Kevin Claydon, Evan Landry and Phil Moniz

Production: Collective Pictures Inc. and Bobby F Productions Inc.

Distributor: Level Film Inc.

Province: Ontario

Really Happy Someday (drama)

Director: J. Stevens

Screenwriter: Breton Lalama

Production: Spindle Films Inc.

Province: Ontario

Riding Shotgun (drama)

Director and Screenwriter: Dionne Copland

Production: CyberCraft Video Productions, Inc.

Province: British Columbia

Send the Rain (drama)

Directors: Kaayla Whachell and Hayley Gray

Screenwriters: Kiki Nakasone and Kaayla Whachell

Production: 1375849 B.C. LTD.

Province: British Columbia

Someone’s Daughter (thriller)

Director and Screenwriter: Wiebke Von Carolsfeld

Production: 6909060 Canada Inc.

Distributor: Mongrel Media

Province: Quebec

Sweetness (thriller)

Director and Screenwriter: Emma Higgins

Production: Fela Ocu Inc and Level Film Inc.

Distributor: LevelFILM

Province: Ontario

The Apartment (horror)

Director: Audrey Cummings

Screenwriter: Sarah Gignac

Production: No Fear Films Inc. and Picture Plant Limited

Province: Nova Scotia

The Banquet (comedy)

Director and Screenwriter: Gloria Ui Young Kim

Production: Hawkeye Pictures Inc.

Province: Ontario

The Dismantled (drama)

Director: Jason DaSilva

Screenwriters: Jason DaSilva and Dean Lewis

Production: 11528777 Canada Inc.

Distributor: Filmoption International Inc.

Province: Quebec

The Fallers (drama)

Director: Will Bowes

Screenwriter: Daccia Bloomfield

Production: Night Market Films Inc.

Province: Ontario

The Legacy of Cloudy Falls (comedy)

Director and Screenwriter: Nick Butler

Production: Cloudy Falls Pictures Inc.

Province: Ontario

Unseen (drama)

Director and Screenwriter: Taylor Olson

Production: Hemmings Films Ltd. and Brass Door Productions Inc.

Distributor: Vortex Media Ltd.

Provinces: New Brunswick and Nova Scotia

Witches X (horror)

Directors and Screenwriters: Lowell Boland and Wendy Hill-Tout

Production: Voice Pictures Inc. and Hanger 18 Media Inc.

Distributor: Raven Banner

Province: Alberta and Ontario

Projects in the French market:

Et maintenant ? (drama)

Director and Screenwriter: Jocelyn Forgues

Production: ATO Media Inc.

Distributor: ATO Media Inc.

Province: Ontario

Kaïros (drama)

Director and Screenwriter: Jennifer Alleyn

Production: Les Films de Jennie Inc. (Québec) and Sanosi Productions (France)

Distributor: Les films de Jennie inc.

Province: Québec

Lost Baby (drama)

Directors: Myriam Charles and Myriam De Verger

Screenwriter: Myriam De Verger

Production: Cheminée Deux Inc.

Distributor: Cheminée Deux Inc.

Province: Québec

Montréal, ma belle (drama)

Director and Screenwriter: Xiaodan He

Production: 9047-4767 Québec Inc. (Québec) and Red Dawn Productions Inc. (Québec) and House on Fire Productions (France)

Distributor: Filmoption International

Province: Québec

Phénix (drama)

Director and Screenwriter: Johnathan Beaulieu- Cyr

Production: Les Films Rôdeurs Inc.

Distributor: Studio H264

Province: Québec

Un goût amer d’éternité (drama)

Directors and Screenwriters: Samer Najari and Dominique Chila

Production: Productions l’unité centrale Inc.

Distributor: Maison 4:3

Province: Québec

Vous n’êtes pas seuls (romantic comedy)

Directors: Philippe Lupien and Marie-Hélène Viens

Screenwriter: Marie-Hélène Viens

Production: La Boîte à Fanny inc.

Distributor: La Boîte à Fanny inc.

Province: Québec

More production funding decisions will be announced in the coming weeks. Statistics on all films funded in this fiscal year will be released once all funding decisions have been made.

An advisory committee of external and internal representatives assessed the projects and made recommendations to Telefilm. The decision-making process considered Telefilm’s goal of fostering a diversity of voices in the industry, ensuring that Telefilm funds a balanced portfolio of productions that reflect a variety of genres, budgets and company sizes, regions of the country and points of view. Names of selection committee members will be published on the Project Financing Advisory Committees webpage once all funding decisions have been made. 

#FIRSTLOOK: TELEFILM CANADA ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR 25 MEDIUM to LARGE-SCALE FESTIVALS

Telefilm Canada is supporting 25 film festivals, under the new Medium to Large-Scale Festivals Program (first round of decisions), for a funding total of $1.7 million.

These funding decisions were made as part of the promotion program modernization, which began in 2021 in collaboration with the industry, to allocate funding more efficiently and transparently. As announced in September, the promotion program has been segmented by the type of activity into different funding programs to better meet different needs and to meet clear criteria. For the Medium to Large-Scale Festivals Program, internal representatives evaluated the applications with the input of external advisors to ensure fair and equitable evaluations. Further funding decisions will be announced later this year.

Telefilm’s Medium to Large-Scale Festivals Program provides financial support to long-established medium to large-scale Canadian film festivals that help promote Canadian films and talent and stimulate demand for our multiscreen content. As a partner of choice, Telefilm is committed to advancing the development of the industry and reaching audiences where they are. Through this Program, Telefilm supports film festivals across the country and remains committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion to foster and support an industry that is representative of all communities in Canada.

List of all Medium to Large-Scale film festivals supported by Telefilm (starting between October 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024):

2024 Available Light Film Festival
Carrousel international du film de Rimouski 2024
2023 Devour! The Food Film Fest
Festival de films francophones CINEMANIA 2023
Festival du cinéma international en Abitibi-Témiscamingue 2023
Festival du film de l’Outaouais 2024
Festival du nouveau cinéma 2023
Festival international du cinéma francophone en Acadie 2023
Festival international du film pour enfants de Montréal 2024
Festival International du Film sur l’Art 2024
Festival REGARD 2024
2023 Forest City Film Festival
2024 Halifax Black Film Festival
2023 image+nation. festival film LGBT2SQ+ Montréal
2023 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
2024 Kingston Canadian Film Festival
Les Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma 2024
2023 Reelworld Film Festival
Rencontres internationales du documentaire de Montréal 2023
2023 St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival
2024 Toronto Black Film Festival
2023 Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival
2023 Vancouver Asian Film Festival
2024 Victoria Film Festival
2023 Whistler Film Festival

#FIRSTLOOK: TELEFILM CANADA TO FUND RESTORATION OF 23 CLASSIC CANADIAN FILMS

Telefilm Canada’s Canadian Cinema – Reignited digitization initiative is announcing 23 Canadian titles that will receive funding for digitization and/or restoration this year, for a total of $659,640.

“Digitization and restoration help preserve our film history as well as create new opportunities to celebrate Canada’s filmmaking legacy, while paving the way for continued creativity, innovation, and international success,” said Francesca Accinelli, Vice President of Promotion, Communications and International Relations. “Since 2021, the Canadian Cinema – Reignited initiative restored nine seminal Canadian films with the support of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, the Festival du Nouveau Cinema, Hot Docs and the Toronto International Film Festival.”

Following a call for projects, the selection process is conducted by Telefilm with recommendations made by an advisory committee composed of internal and external experts. Decision-making was based on the cultural relevance of the film and its importance in Canadian film history, as well as its potential for commercial exploitation.

Winter Kept Us Warm (1965)

Director, screenwriter and producer: David Secter

Digitization partner: Canadian International Pictures

Tiki Tiki (1971)

Director: Gerald Potterton

Screenwriter: Jerome Chodorov, Donald Brittain and John Morgan

Producers: Gerald Potterton and Murray Shostak

Digitization partner: Canadian International Pictures

In Praise of Older Women (1978)

Director: George Kaczender

Screenwriter: Paul Gottlieb

Producers: Robert Lantos, Claude Heroux, Harold Greenberg and Stephen J. Roth

Digitization partner: Serendipity Point Films

La maladie, c’est les compagnies (1979)

Director and producer: Richard Boutet

Screenwriter: Danyèle Patenaude

Digitization partner: Cinema Politica

Au clair de la lune (1983)

Director: André Forcier

Screenwriters: André Forcier, Jacques Marcotte, Guy L’Écuyer, Michel Côté, Michel Pratt and Bernard Lalonde

Producers: Bernard Lalonde and Louis Laverdière

Digitization partner: Québecor Média inc./Éléphant : mémoire du cinéma québécois

Les six saisons Attikameks (1983)

Directors and screenwriters: Pierre Dinel and Pierre Hivon

Producer: Pierre Dinel

Digitization partner: Cinémathèque québécoise

Artie Shaw: Time is All You’ve Got (1985)

Director, writer and producer: Brigitte Berman

Digitization partner: Toronto International Film Festival

Joshua Then and Now (1985)

Director: Ted Kotcheff

Screenwriter: Mordecai Richler

Producers: Robert Lantos and Stephen J. Roth

Digitization partner: Serendipity Point Films

Determinations (1988)

Director, screenwriter and producer: Oliver Hockenhull

Digitization partner: Moksha Media Incorporated

Archangel (1990)

Director: Guy Maddin

Screenwriters: Guy Maddin and George Toles

Producer: Greg Klymkiw

Digitization partner: Sphinx Productions

White Room (1990)
Director and screenwriter: Patricia Rozema

Producer: Alexandra Raffé

Digitization partner: Vos Productions and Film Associates International

Masala (1991)

Director and screenwriter: Srinivas Krishna

Producers: Camelia Frieberg and Srinivas Krishna

Digitization partner: Toronto International Film Festival

Deux actrices (1993)

Director, screenwriter and producer: Micheline Lanctôt

Digitization partner: Québecor Média inc./Éléphant : mémoire du cinéma québécois

Eldorado (1995)

Director and screenwriter: Charles Binamé

Producer: Lorraine Richard

Digitization partner: Québecor Média inc./Éléphant : mémoire du cinéma québécois

Cube (1997)

Director: Vincenzo Natali

Screenwriters: Vincenzo Natali, André Bijelic and Graeme Manson

Producers: Mehra Meh and Betty Orr

Digitization partner: Canadian Film Centre

The Sweet Hereafter (1997)

Director and screenwriter: Atom Egoyan

Producers: Atom Egoyan and Camilia Frieberg

Digitization partner: Sphinx Productions

Hey, Happy! (2001)

Director and screenwriter: Noam Gonick

Producer: Laura Michalchyshyn

Digitization partner: Big Daddy Beer Guts, Inc.

Honour Before Glory (2001)

Director, screenwriter and producer: Anthony Sherwood

Digitization partner: Anthony Sherwood Films Inc.

Khaled (2001)

Director and screenwriter: Asghar Massombagi

Producer: Paul Scherzer

Digitization partner: Canadian Film Centre

Saved by the Belles (2003)

Director and producer: Ziad Touma

Screenwriters: Ziad Touma and Brian C. Warren

Digitization partner: Couzin Films

Poor Boy’s Game (2007)

Director: Clement Virgo

Screenwriters: Clement Virgo and Chaz Thorne

Producers: Damon D’Oliveira, Chaz Thorne and Clement Virgo

Digitization partner: Conquering Lion Pictures

Incendies (2010)

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Screenwriter and Dialogue: Denis Villeneuve in collaboration with Valérie Beaugrand-Champagne

Producers: Luc Déry and Kim McCraw

Digitization partner: Microscope Inc.

Monsieur Lazhar (2011)

Director and screenwriter: Philippe Falardeau

Producers: Luc Déry and Kim McCraw

Digitization partner: Microscope Inc.

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW ENGLISH-LANGUAGE FEATURES FUNDED BY TELEFILM CANADA – APRIL 2023

Telefilm Canada is announcing its commitment to 12 feature-length films in the English market under the Production Program (as part of the latest round of decisions in the big budget stream), for a funding total of $23 million.

A round of decisions in the French market under the same stream with eight French-language feature film titles published on April 13th, 2023.

Alien Boy (drama)
Director and Screenwriter: Fawaz Al-Matrouk
Production: Nava Projects Inc. and First Generation Media Inc.
Distributor: Elevation Pictures

Provinces: Nova Scotia and Ontario

Any Other Night (romantic comedy)
Director: Michiel ten Horn
Screenwriter: Patrick Whistler
Production: Lithium Studios Productions Inc. and Film Forge Productions Inc.
Distributor: Elevation Pictures

Province: Ontario

*coproduction Canada/Netherlands

Birth of a Family (drama)
Director: Tasha Hubbard

Screenwriters: Tasha Hubbard and Emil Sher
Production: Experimental Forest Films Inc. and January Films Ltd.
Distributor: Mongrel Media

Provinces: British Columbia and Ontario

Bonjour Tristesse (drama)
Director and Screenwriter: Durga Chew-Bose
Production: Babe Nation Creations Inc. and Elevation Pictures
Distributor: Elevation Pictures

Province: Ontario

*coproduction Canada/France

Can I Get a Witness? (science fiction/fantasy/tale)
Director and Screenwriter: Ann Marie Fleming
Production: AMF Productions Inc.
Distributor: Mongrel Media

Province: British Columbia

Flavia de Luce (mystery/crime/police)
Director: Bharat Nalluri

Screenwriter: Susan Coyne
Production: Mystic Point Productions Inc.
Distributor: Elevation Pictures

Province: British Columbia

*coproduction Canada/UK

Kill Me Now (drama)
Director: Daniel Grou

Screenwriter: Brad Fraser
Production: Genco Pictures Inc.
Distributor: Photon Films and Media

Province: Ontario

*coproduction Canada/France

Maya and Samar (drama)
Director: Anita Doron

Screenwriter: Tamara Faith Berger
Production: January Films Ltd. and Serendipity Point Films
Distributor: Sphere Films

Province: Ontario

*coproduction Canada/Greece

Night of the Zoopocalypse (animation/comedy)
Directors: Ricardo Curtis and Rodrigo Perez-Castro

Screenwriters: James Kee and Steve Hoban

Production: Strange Animals (Copperheart) Productions Inc. and MIPA (NOTZ) Film Inc.
Distributor: Elevation Pictures

Province: Ontario
*coproduction Canada/France/Belgium

Rumours (comedy)
Directors and Screenwriters: Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, and Galen Johnson
Production: Buffalo Gal Pictures Inc., Walking Down Broadway Ltd. and Thin Stuff Productions Inc.
Distributor: Elevation Pictures

Province: Manitoba
*coproduction Canada/Germany

Skite’kmujua’kik (Place of Ghosts) (thriller)
Director and Screenwriter: Bretten Hannam
Production: Shut Up & Colour Pictures Inc., Mazewalker Films Inc. and Plausible Communications Corporation
Distributor: VVS Films

Provinces: Nova Scotia and Ontario

Steal Away Home (thriller)
Director: Clement Virgo
Screenwriters: Tamara Faith Berger and Clement Virgo
Production: Conquering Lion Pictures Inc.
Distributor: Elevation Pictures

Province: Ontario

#FIRSTLOOK: TELEFILM CANADA ANNOUNCE EIGHT NEW FRENCH-LANGUAGE FILMS – APRIL 2023

Telefilm Canada is announcing that eight French-language feature film titles are receiving funding under the Production Program (first round of decision for the big budget stream), for a total of $14 million.

1994-1995 (comedy)

Director and screenwriter: Ricardo Trogi

Production: Go Films L.P.R.S. Inc.

Distributor: Immina Films

Fleur bleue (drama)

Director and screenwriter: Geneviève Dulude-De Celles

Production: Colonelle films

Distributor: Entract Films

*coproduction Canada/Luxembourg/Roumanie

Gagne ton ciel (drama)

Screenwriter: Alexandre Auger et Mathieu Denis

Director: Mathieu Denis

Production: 9174-5018 Québec inc.

Distributor: Maison4tiers

*coproduction Canada/ France

La petite et le vieux (comedy)

Director: Patrice Sauvé

Screenwriter: Sébastien Girard

Production: 9215-8534 Québec Inc. (Parallaxes)

Distributor: TVA Films

Le chef et la douanière (comedy)

Director and screenwriter: Manon Briand

Production: Item 7

Distributor: Sphère Films

Le vaisseau des tempêtes (fantasy)

Screenwriter: Émilie Rosas

Director:
Nicola Lemay et Emilie Rosas

Production: 10e Ave Productions

Distributor:
Maison4tiers

L’univers soufflé (comedy)

Director and screenwriter: Anne Émond

Production: Metafilms

Distributor: Sphère Films

Villeneuve (historical drama)

Screenwriter: Daniel Roby et Guillaume Lonergan

Director: Daniel Roby

Production: Christal Films Productions

Distributor: Les Films Opale

(Photo credit: Telefilm Canada)

#FIRSTLOOK: 16 FILMMAKING TEAMS SELECTED UNDER “TALENT TO WATCH” PROGRAM

Telefilm Canada and the Talent Fund are pleased to announce the selection of 16 first feature-length film projects from emerging independent filmmakers, under the Talent to Watch Program for fiscal year 2022-2023. A commitment of $3.5 million will be invested into these projects by Telefilm and the Talent Fund.

As part of Telefilm’s modernization efforts, the Talent to Watch Program was relaunched earlier this spring with important changes, including an increase funding of $250,000 (up from $150,000) per film project and up to $150,000 for documentary projects. In addition, this year’s Talent to Watch recipients will have access to a new mentorship program administered by the National Screen Institute (NSI) and the Institut national de l’image et du son (INIS). More significant changes made to the program can be found here.

“Class of 2022 features an array of storytellers from across the country, illustrating that Canada is indeed full of incredible talent ready to share their stories through the art of cinematography,” said Francesca Accinelli, Interim Executive Director and CEO, Telefilm Canada. “Talent to Watch alumni like Daiva Žalnieriunas and Josiane Blanc are paying it forward playing the roles of producers in support of new emerging teams. For the first time ever, the Talent to Watch program is supporting a Tibetan- and English- language film project, 100 Sunset, and an Arabic film project set in the Sinaï region of Egypt, The Firehouse. With significant changes made to our program, we can expect more diverse voices coming in our pipeline and making their mark in the Canadian audiovisual landscape.”

“For the past decade, Talent Fund has played a pivotal role in giving emerging filmmakers a career launchpad to showcase their stories to the world,” said Sandi Treliving, Chair of the Talent Fund. “Thanks to the support of our generous donors, this year’s cohort will be able to bring their unique visions to life. We look forward to seeing the results of this year’s recipients and can’t wait for audiences to discover these talented filmmakers.”

Projects selected for 2022-2023:

100 Sunset (mystery)

Director and screenwriter: Kunsang Kyirong

Producer: Joaquin Cardoner

Province: British Columbia

Language: Tibetan/English

Stream: Industry Partner

Partner organization: Vancouver International Film Festival

1001 couronnes pour ma tête (documentary)

Director, screenwriter and producer: Habibata Ouarme

Province: Ontario

Language: French/English

Stream: Filmmaker Apply-Direct

Agent Dynamo (documentary)

Director and screenwriter: Lea Marinova

Producer: Svetla Turnin

Province: Quebec

Language: English/Bulgarian

Stream: Filmmaker Apply-Direct

L’asile (documentary)

Director and screenwriter: David Sanchez

Producer: François Dubé

Province: Quebec

Language: French

Stream: Industry Partner

Partner organization: SPIRA

Boxcutter (drama)

Director: Reza Dahya

Screenwriter: Chris Cromie

Producers: Reza Dahya and Soko Negash

Province: Ontario

Language: English

Stream: Industry Partner

Partner organization: Prism Prize

Chemins de terre (horror)

Director and screenwriter: Laetitia Demessence

Producer: Yann-Manuel Hernandez

Province: Quebec

Language: French

Stream: Industry Partner

Partner organization: Université de Montréal

Do I Know You From Somewhere? (drama)

Director: Arianna Martinez

Screenwriters: Gordon Mihan and Arianna Martinez

Producers: Gordon Mihan and Lance Blakney

Province: New Brunswick

Language: English

Stream: Industry Partner

Partner organization: New Brunswick Film Co-Operative

The Firehouse (drama)

Director and screenwriter: Omar Elhamy

Producer: Jonathan Beaulieu-Cyr

Province: Quebec

Language: Arabic

Stream: Festival Selection

His Father’s Son (drama)

Director and screenwriter: Meelad Moaphi

Producers: Stephen Raglow and Spencer Hahn

Province: Ontario

Language: English/Farsi

Stream: Industry Partner

Partner organization: York University

Johanne (documentary)

Director and screenwriter: Nadine Valcin

Producers: Josiane Blanc, Ania Jamila

Province: Ontario

Language: French

Stream: Filmmaker Apply-Direct

Jude and the Jinn (magic realism)

Director and screenwriter: Rolla Tahir

Producers: Mercedes Cardella and Ladan Siad

Province: Ontario

Language: English/Arabic

Stream: Industry Partner

Partner organization: ReelWorld Film Festival Inc.

Lucky Strikes (comedy)

Director and screenwriter: Darcy Waite

Producer: Madison Thomas

Province: Manitoba

Language: English

Stream: Industry Partner – Indigenous Component

Partner organization: On Screen Manitoba Inc.

The River Will Carry Us (drama)

Director and screenwriter: Mahsa Razavi

Producers: Priscilla Galvez and Tanya Hoshi

Province: Ontario

Language: English/Persian

Stream: Filmmaker Apply-Direct

Seahorse (drama)

Directors: Natalie Remplakowski and Aisha Evelyna

Screenwriter: Aisha Evelyna

Producers: Natalie RemplakowskI and Aisha Evelyna

Province: Ontario

Language: English

Stream: Filmmaker Apply-Direct

The Track (documentary)

Director, screenwriter and producer: Ryan Sidhoo

Province: British Columbia

Language: English/Bosnian

Stream:Filmmaker Apply-Direct

Tandis que lui (drama)

Director and screenwriter: Elisa Gilmour

Producer: Daiva Žalnieriunas

Province: Ontario

Language: French

Stream: Filmmaker Apply-Direct

#FIRSTLOOK: TELEFILM CANDA ANNOUNCE FUNDING FOR 21 NEW FILMS

With a funding commitment of $12.8 million, Telefilm Canada today have announced the support of 21 upcoming English and other language films. After 300 applications were considered, these are the Films to be part of the commitment in their objective of a balanced portfolio, representing diverse voices.

Akashi (drama)

Director and screenwriter: Mayumi Yoshida

Production: Musubi Arts Inc. and Experimental Forest Films Inc.

Province: British Columbia

Languages: Japanese and English

Aversion (horror)

Director and screenwriter: Thom Fitzgerald

Production: Emotion Pictures Incorporated

Province: Nova Scotia

Language: English

Backspot (drama)

Director: D.W. Waterson

Screenwriter: Joanne Sarazen

Production: Plausible Communications Corporation

Province: Ontario

Language: English

The Bearded Girl (science fiction/fantasy/tale)

Director and screenwriter: Jody Wilson

Production: Goodbye Productions Inc.

Province: British Columbia

Languages: English

Best Boy (thriller)

Director and screenwriter: Jesse Noah Klein

Production:
9342-2947 QUÉBEC INC.

Province: Quebec

Language: English

Drive Back Home (drama)

Director and screenwriter: Michael Clowater

Production: Woods Entertainment Canada Inc. and Mason Films Inc.

Province: Ontario

Language: English

The Invisibles (drama)

Director: Andrew Currie

Screenwriters: Andrew Currie and Colin Aussant

Production: Quadrant Motion Pictures

Province: Ontario

Language: English

La Estrella al Lado de la Luna
(historical drama)

Director and screenwriter: Andrea Alvarez

Production: Studio 104 Entertainment Inc. (Canada) and Imaginer Films (Colombia)

Province: British Columbia

Languages: Spanish Castillian and English

Loya (drama)

Director and screenwriter: Sibel Guvenc

Co-production: Kybele Films Inc. and Cedar Island Films Inc. (Canada) and Tradewind Pictures (Germany)

Provinces: Ontario and British Columbia

Languages: English and Turkish

Monica’s News (drama)

Director and screenwriter: Pamela Gallant

Production: Picture Plant Limited

Province: Nova Scotia

Language: English

Motherhood (drama)

Director and screenwriter: Meryam Joobeur

Co-production: Leona Films Inc. (Canada) and Tanit Films (France)

Province: Quebec

Languages: Arabic

The Music Box (science fiction/fantasy/tale)

Director: Jay Dahl

Screenwriters: Jay Dahl, Kristin Langille

Production: Black Dog Films Inc. and Connections Productions Inc.

Province: Nova Scotia

Language: English

Paying For It (romantic comedy)

Director: Sook-Yin Lee

Screenwriters: Sook-Yin Lee and Joanne Sarazen

Production: Wildling Pictures Inc. and Hawkeye Pictures Inc.

Province: Ontario

Language: English

Replacer (horror)

Director: Randall Okita

Screenwriter: Zac Thompson

Production: Play Management Media Inc.

Province: Ontario

Language: English

Re: Uniting (drama)

Director and screenwriter: Laura Adkin

Production: Re Uniting Productions Inc.

Province: British Columbia

Language: English

Sacred Creatures (drama)

Director and screenwriter: Frieda Luk

Production: Frirange Films Inc. (Canada) and Doppio Nodo Double Bind (Italy)

Province: British Columbia

Languages: English and Italian

Shook (drama)

Director: Amar Wala

Screenwriters: Amar Wala and Adnan Khan

Production: Scarborough Pictures Inc. and Film Forge Productions Inc.

Province: Ontario

Languages: English and Hindi

Sweet Angel Baby (drama)

Director and screenwriter: Melanie Oates

Production: Relatable Films Inc.

Province: Newfoundland and Labrador

Language: English

There, There (drama)

Director and screenwriter: Heather Young

Production: Houseplant Films Inc. and Brass Door Productions Inc.

Province: Nova Scotia

Language: English

This Too Shall Pass
(drama)

Director and screenwriter: Rob Grant

Production: Peterson Polaris Corp.

Province: Alberta

Language: English

Une langue universelle (comedy)

Director and screenwriter: Matthew Rankin

Production: Metafilms Inc.

Province: Quebec

Language: Persian, French and English

#OSCARS: NOMINATIONS UNVEILED FOR 2017 ACADEMY AWARDS

As anticipated, LA LA LAND leads the 89th Academy Award nominations which were announced at 8:30 AM EST in Los Angeles.  The Musical, hot off seven Golden Globe wins garnered a whopping 14 nominations including Best Picture, Actress (Emma Stone), Best Actor (Ryan Gosling), Directing (Chazelle), Writing (Chazelle) and more.  It also has two nods for Original Song with Audition and City of Stars. Chazelle in a statement today said, “I am thrilled that the Academy is celebrating the work of Emma and Ryan, who brought these characters to life with such humanity and depth, and also the work of my college roommate Justin who created the beautiful music.”.

Up for Best Picture are:

ARRIVAL

FENCES

HACKSAW RIDGE

HELL OR HIGH WATER

HIDDEN FIGURES

LA LA LAND

LION

MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

MOONLIGHT

We had the pleasure of running promotions in 2016 for seven out of nine of these nominations and would like to congratulate our friends at these Canadian companies who distribute these Films: Elevation Pictures (Moonlight, Hacksaw Ridge), 20th Century Fox Canada (Hidden Figures), Paramount Pictures Canada (Arrival, Fences), VVS Films (Hell or High Water), Mongrel Media (Manchester by the Sea) and eOne Films (Lion, La La Land).

MOONLIGHT, seen widely as LA LA LAND‘s biggest threat for Best Picture, garners the second-most nods, tallying-in at a total of eight. The Film directed by up-and-comer and nominee Barry Jenkins has been a major force this Awards Season, a powerful response to an outcry of the prestigious awards lacking diversity.

This year, we see a total six black actors nominated including Viola Davis (Fences), Denzel Washington (Fences), Ruth Negga (Loving), Mahershala Ali (Moonlight), Naomie Harris (Moonlight) and Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures). We also see an Actor of English-Indian descent nominated for Supporting Actor, Dev Patel (Lion).  FENCES, starring an all-black cast, gets four nominations, while HIDDEN FIGURES, fronted by three black female principal actors, gets three nominations.

Davis, seen widely as the favourite in the Supporting Actress category stated, “Thank you to the Academy for recognizing this extraordinary, important film and my work in it. Thank you Denzel for being at the helm!”.

Although Canada’s submission for Foreign Language Film IT’S ONLY THE END OF THE WORLD missed the final shortlist, Canadians have plenty to be proud of with a total eight nominations, according to a congratulatory Press Release from Telefilm Canada:

Howard Barish, co-producer (13th), Documentary (Feature)
Sylvain Bellemare (Arrival), Sound Editing
Bernard Gariépy Strobl and Claude La Haye (Arrival), Sound Mixing
Ryan Gosling (La La Land), Actor in a Leading Role
Shawn Levy, co-producer (Arrival), Best Picture
Theodore Ushev (Blind Vaysha), Short Film (Animated), National Film Board of Canada
Patrice Vermette (Arrival), Production Design
Denis Villeneuve (Arrival), Directing

Some surprises from today’s announcements include a nod for three-time winner Meryl Streep (Florence Foster Jenkins) in the Lead Actress category and Viggo Mortensen (Captain Fantastic) getting his second nomination today for Lead Actor. Many are surprised that despite getting recognized for Best Picture, ARRIVAL star Amy Adams did not garner a nod for Actress in a Leading Role with two strong performances this year – the other being NOCTURNAL ANIMALS – being a major force all Awards Season. Newcomer and a soon to be on Broadway Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea) finds himself among great company for Supporting Actor.

Streep in a humorous visual statement, had this to say about her recognition:

 

Hilarious. Meryl Streep’s visual statement from @eOneFilms for her #FlorenceFosterJenkins nomination. pic.twitter.com/FANFWXG5kw

— MR. WILL WONG (@mrwillw) January 24, 2017

 

The 2017 Academy Awards air on ABC Sunday, February 26, 2017 at 7 PM EST.

(Photo credit: Oscars)

 

 

#TIFF16: BIRKS DIAMOND TRIBUTE 2016

Telefilm Canada and Birks joined forces once again this year to honour 12 Canadian Women in Film at the Birks Diamond Tribute.  Honourees were selected based on their accomplishments at home and abroad. Held traditionally during TIFF, the event took place tonight at the Shangri La Hotel in a dazzling display of fashion among many of Toronto’s top social influencers and screen talents.

Notables celebrating the affair included Nolan Funk, Kris Holden-Reid, Stacey Mackenzie, Tracy Moore, Steven Lund, Amanda Brugel, The Property Brothers, Kiesza, Eric Johnson and several more.

I am honoured to be among a jury of 20 who selected this year’s recipients of the Birks Diamond Tribute and together we selected the following brilliant women:

Amanda Crew
Tracey Deer
Caroline Dhavernas
Emma Donoghue
Ann Marie Fleming
Christine Horne
April Mullen
Sandra Oh
Jennifer Podemski
Léa Pool
Ann Shin
Marie Vien

See some Snaps from the Affair:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Photo credit: Birks/Mr. Will Wong)

#FIRSTLOOK: TELEFILM CANADA + ROGERS AWARD GRANTS FOR THEATRICAL DOCUMENTARY PROGRAM

With $1.6 million in funding awaited to be distributed, some familiar and emerging names were granted support through Telefilm Canada and Rogers Group of Funds’ Theatrical Documentary Program. To date the program has provided funding for over 60 Films with $12 million granted.  Rogers alone has handed out over $29 million in grants over the last 22 years. These are the Films that will come to grace the Festival circuit and potentially go on to Awards Season glory for Canada.

The latest recipients include:

Anthropocene (Ontario and Nunavut)
Directors: Jennifer Baichwal (Manufactured Landscapes, Watermark), Edward Burtynsky (Watermark)
Writer: Jennifer Baichwal
Production: Anthropocene Films

Anthropocene is a feature documentary film from the multiple-award winning team of Jennifer Baichwal, Edward Burtynsky and Nicholas de Pencier. It marks the third in a trilogy that includes Manufactured Landscapes (2006) and Watermark (2014). The film follows an international group of geologists who want to change the name of our present interglacial epoch, Holocene, to Anthropocene in recognition of human impact. Using high-end production values and cutting-edge camera technologies, we will traverse the globe, go up in the sky, underwater and underground, to document evidence of human planetary domination: from the world’s biggest open-pit mine to the last remaining female northern white rhino, from vast swaths of illegal deforestation in Peru to subterranean salt mines in Siberia. Combining hard science with stunning visual sequences, Anthropocene will mark an historic moment in human history and bring a visceral and unforgettable understanding of our species’ reach and impact.

The Gordon Pinsent Documentary (Western Region)
Writer-Director: Brigitte Berman (Artie Shaw: Time Is All You’ve Got, 1987 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature)
Production/Distribution: Bridge Film Productions

Multi-award-winning actor/writer/director Gordon Pinsent is one of Canada’s most beloved performers, and after a six-decade-long career, he shows no signs of slowing down. This film will be a gripping new-form documentary featuring Gordon Pinsent reliving his stories at the major crossroads of his life. Filled with humour, passion and complexity, this film by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Brigitte Berman will not only tell the story of Gordon Pinsent, but will tell a universal story about the human condition in a format that makes creative use of state-of-the art digital technology.

My Enemy, My Brother (Western Region)
Director: Ann Shin (The Defector: Escape from North Korea)
Writers: Ann Shin, Melanie Horkan
Production: Fathom Media
Distribution: A71 Entertainment

My Enemy, My Brother tells the real-life story of two former enemies from the Iran-Iraq War who become blood brothers for life. Zahed, an Iranian child soldier, risked his life to save a wounded Iraqi soldier, Najah, after finding a photo of his wife and child. Thirty years later, they met again by sheer chance in Vancouver. Now, Najah and Zahed embark on an emotional journey back to Iraq to face the ghosts of their past in a region that has endured decades of conflict. Najah searches for his missing wife and child, and Zahed reunites with his family for the last time. As the struggle for peace in Iraq continues, the two friends try and reconcile the sacrifices they made in war with present-day realities.

The New Corporation (Ontario and Nunavut)
Director: Mark Achbar (Manufacturing Consent, The Corporation)
Writer: Joel Bakan
Production: Grant Street Productions
Distribution: Blue Ice Distribution

Winner of 26 international awards, The Corporation was a sensation when it was released in 2003. The film’s central claim—that the institutional character of the publicly traded corporation is akin to that of a human psychopath—hit a nerve. But today, corporations are widely believed to have changed; renewed, socially responsible, often dedicated to philanthropic causes, and ecologically sustainable. Yet, as their influence on societies and governments continues to grow, these “new” corporations are coming under increasing scrutiny. Grassroots movements around the world, spurred on by new forms of political thought and action, are fueling change. The New Corporation asks: Will these trends converge? What would the role of corporations look like in a truly democratic, just and sustainable future?

French-language projects

Flying Sisters (Quebec)
Writer-Director: Julie Lambert (Un film de chasse de filles, funded under Telefilm’s Micro-Budget Production Program)
Production: Parallaxes
Distribution: Les Films du 3 mars, Spira Distribution

This feature-length documentary takes us into the world of hang-gliding though the story of Camille, 28, a mental-health worker and doctoral candidate in psychology, and Catherine, 35, a nurse practitioner, who combine their sport with a therapeutic health initiative. The women are unique in that they are two of only three women hang-glider pilots in Quebec—proud representatives of a sport with few adherents. They are known as the “Flying Sisters.”

Movements – Louise Lecavalier (Quebec)
Writer-Director: Raymond St-Jean (A Chair Fit for an Angel)
Production: Ciné Qua non Média
Distribution: Filmoption International

The feature length documentary film Movements – Louise Lecavalier is built around a series of cinematographic moments that create an intimate and honest portrait of the dancer and choreographer Louise Lecavalier.

Movements – Louise Lecavalier tells the inspiring story of this indomitable creator, who revolutionized dance in the 1980s with choreographer Édouard Lock and who now, at age 57, is seeing her solo career take off on the international scene. For the last 35 years, Louise Lecavalier has drawn from her life experience—its trials, injuries, sadness and joy—to feed her art. The artist, her close friends and collaborators talk openly about some of the events, equally light and somber, that marked the development of an extraordinary artist. Dance, words and music are linked by well-paced editing to create a moving, accessible and informative film in which are mingled interviews and spectacular dance sequences.

More on the Program here!  Can’t wait to see these on the big screen!