#FIRSTLOOK: “THE PITCH” TVO DOCUMENTARY

When Olympic soccer star Diana Matheson retires, she sets out — alongside fellow players — to build something that has never existed: a professional women’s soccer league in Canada. What follows is a modern David-and-Goliath story, as they confront institutional resistance, doubters and naysayers, and the weight of doing something for the first time. Filmed over two years, THE PITCH, a new TVO Original feature documentary, offers unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the game-changing creation of the Northern Super League (NSL), Canada’s first home for professional women’s soccer.

From Emmy-nominated and Canadian Screen Award–winning director and editor Michèle Hozer (Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould, Sugar Coated), THE PITCH follows Diana Matheson’s ambitious post-retirement journey — from training fields to boardrooms — capturing the raw emotion, strategic hustle, and unshakable resolve behind a historic movement that reaches far beyond sport.

THE PITCH will tour Canada this fall with Film Festival premieres and six community impact screenings. See dates below. Ticket and venue information for community screenings will be announced soon.

World Premiere

Sept. 15 & 16 – Atlantic Film Festival – Click HERE for festival ticket information.

THE PITCH NATIONAL SCREENING TOUR, presented by Canadian Tire Corporation

Sept. 24 – Calgary Impact Screening
Oct. 20 – Vancouver Impact Screening
Oct. 28 – Montreal Impact Screening
Oct. 30 – Ottawa Impact Screening
Nov. 6 – Halifax Impact Screening
Nov. 12 – Toronto Impact Screening

THE PITCH National Screening Tour is presented by Canadian Tire Corporation. Other partners include Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities (Community Partner); Canadian Women & Sport (Impact Partner); Toyota Canada (Mobility Partner); and Coca-Cola (Celebration Partner).

“I thought I was making a film about building something new. What I came to understand is that this league is a response to everything these women were denied,” said Michèle Hozer, Director, THE PITCH. “This is more than a sports story, it’s a story of perseverance, equality and the people building the future of women’s soccer in Canada.”

“It’s been a whirlwind few years—with so many challenges, struggles, emotions, and milestones—and now Canada is home to professional women’s soccer,” said Diana Matheson, Founder and Chief Growth Officer, Northern Super League. “THE PITCH takes me back to those early days and shows how the community and the country rallied around a belief in our league. There’s still much work to do, but everyone at the NSL, along with our supporters, is so proud of what we’ve accomplished so far.”

Executive Producer of THE PITCH is Nathalie Cook. Producers are Bryn Hughes and Michèle Hozer, who also serve as Director. THE PITCH is presented by TVO and produced in association with The Canada Media Fund, Ontario Creates, Rogers Documentary Fund and the Government of Canada.

THE PITCH will air on TVO’s broadcast and digital platforms on November 9 with additional broadcasts on TSN and RDS in Spring 2026.

Follow news about THE PITCH online at thepitchdoc.ca and on Instagram @thepitchdoc_nsl.

About Michèle Hozer & The Cutting Factory

A distinguished filmmaker and editor, Michèle Hozer has been a staple in the Canadian film industry since 1987. With two films gracing the Oscar shortlist, an Emmy nomination, and multiple Gemini and Canadian Screen Awards, her remarkable career has been punctuated by acclaim from prestigious film festivals worldwide.

Her editing on Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire contributed to the film’s 2007 Emmy Award for Best Documentary and the Audience Award at Sundance. She received an individual Emmy nomination for Promise to the Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman. As co-director of Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould, she was shortlisted for an Academy Award and received a Gemini Award for Best Biography. Her solo directorial debut, Sugar Coated (2015), premiered at Hot Docs and won the Donald Brittain Award at the Canadian Screen Awards.

Michèle has also directed SponsorLand (2017), contributed to Frontline’s In the Age of AI, and served as story editor on Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On. In 2024, she completed Atomic Reaction, a feature documentary nominated for a Canadian Screen Award.

About the Northern Super League

The Northern Super League (NSL) is Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league, launching on April 16, 2025 with six founding clubs: Calgary Wild FC, Halifax Tides FC, Montréal Roses, Ottawa Rapid FC, AFC Toronto, and Vancouver Rise FC. Built by players and supporters, the League is rooted in global best practices and strives to champion Canadian excellence in sport, equity, and inclusion. For the latest league news and ticket information, visit www.NSL.ca.

About TVO Media Education Group

TVO Media Education Group inspires learning that changes lives and enriches communities. Founded in 1970, we are a globally recognized digital learning organization that engages Ontarians of all ages with inclusive experiences and diverse perspectives. Through our brands TVO Today, TVO Docs, TVO Learn, TVO ILC and TVOkids, we’re investing in the transformative potential of education for everyone. TVO is a registered charity funded in part by the Province of Ontario and supported by thousands of sponsors and donors. Visit TVO.me for more information.