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
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
Telefilm Canada have just announced the green-lighting of six Indigenous films through their Indigenous Stream, under the Theatrical Documentary Program and the Production Program, for a total commitment of over $3 million.
Titles are as follows:
Angela’s Shadow (drama)
Director and screenwriter: Jules Koostachin
Production company: AaSheNii Productions Inc.
Province: British Columbia
Anicinabe Park 1974 (documentary)
Director: Shane Belcourt, Tanya Talaga
Screenwriter: Jordan Wheeler
Production company: Makwa Creative Inc.
Province: Ontario
Nechako (documentary)
Director and screenwriter: Lyana Patrick
Production company: Nechako Films Inc.
Province: British Columbia
Pow Wow Summer (family drama/comedy)
Director and screenwriter: Darrell Dennis
Production Company: Orca Cove Media Inc.
Province: British Columbia
Seeds (drama/comedy)
Director and screenwriter: Kaniehtiio Horn
Production company: Kaniehtiio Horn-Batt Entertainment Inc. & New Real Film Inc.
Province: Ontario
Stoney Nakoda Film Project (documentary)
Director and screenwriter: Cody Lefthand
Production company: Stoney Film Project Ltd.
Province: Alberta
More on Telefilm Canada‘s Indigenous initiatives here.
Twelve new English Features, balancing the diverse voices of our country and industry have been green-lit with funding from Telefilm Canada, totaling $16.47 million!
Upcoming titles to be produced in Canada include:
The Boy in the Woods (historical drama)
Director and screenwriter: Rebecca Snow
Production: Lumanity Productions Inc. and JoBro Productions Inc.
Distributor: Photon Films
Province: Ontario
The Braid (drama)
Director and screenwriter: Laetitia Colombani
Production: Moana Films (France), Curiosa Films (France) and Forum Films Inc. (Canada)
Distributor: MK2-Mile End
Province: Quebec
Die Alone (thriller)
Director and screenwriter: Lowell Dean
Production: Minds Eye Entertainment Ltd.
Distributor: Filmoption International
Province: Saskatchewan
Ethel(drama)
Director: Aisling Walsh
Screenwriter: Celeste Parr
Production: Go Films L.P.R.S. Inc. (Canada) and Port Pictures Ltd. (Ireland)
Distributor: MK2-Mile End
Province: Quebec
The Last Whale Singer (action/adventure/animation)
Directors: Reza Memari and Steven Majaury
Screenwriter: Reza Memari
Production: Telescope Animation (Germany) and La Boîte à Fanny Inc. (Canada)
Distributor: Maison 4:3
Province: Quebec
Longing (drama)
Director and screenwriter: Savi Gabizon
Production: Scythia Films Inc. (Canada) and CFE Longing Ltd. (Israel)
Distributor: Mongrel Media
Province: Ontario
Out Standing in the Field (drama)
Director: Mélanie Charbonneau
Screenwriters: Martine Pagé and Mélanie Charbonneau
Production: G.P.A. Films Inc. and January Films Ltd.
Distributor: MK2-Mile End
Provinces: Quebec and Ontario
Paradise (thriller)
Director: Jeremy Comte
Screenwriters: Jeremy Comte and Will Niava
Production: Entract Studios Inc. (Canada), Elevation Pictures Productions Inc. (Canada), Cinenovo (France), and Constellation Productions (France)
Distributors: Elevation Pictures and Entract Films
Provinces: Quebec and Ontario
The Silent Planet (science fiction)
Director and screenwriter: Jeffrey St. Jules
Production: JoBro Productions Inc. and Panoramic Pictures
Distributor: Aqute Media
Provinces: Ontario and Newfoundland
Space Cadet (musical/animation)
Director: Eric San
Screenwriter: Mylene Chollet
Production: Les Films Outsiders Inc.
Distributor: Maison 4:3
Province: Quebec
Warrior Strong (drama)
Director: Shane Belcourt
Screenwriters: Dan Gordon and Shane Belcourt
Production: Darius Films Inc.
Distributor: Aqute Media
Province: Ontario
Young Werther (comedy)
Director and screenwriter: José Lourenço
Production: Wildling Pictures Inc.
Distributor: Level Film
Province: Ontario
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