Telefilm Canada and the Talent Fund welcome 16 filmmaking teams selected under the Talent to Watch Program
October 24, 2022 – 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 Advisory Committee. “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
About Telefilm Canada
As a Partner of Choice, Telefilm Canada is a Crown corporation dedicated to the success of Canada’s audiovisual industry, fostering access and excellence by delivering programs that support cultural resonance and audience engagement. With a lens of equity, inclusivity and sustainability, Telefilm bolsters dynamic companies and a range of creative talent at home and around the world. Telefilm also makes recommendations regarding the certification of audiovisual coproduction treaties to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Launched in 2012, the Talent Fund raises private donations which principally support emerging talent. Visit telefilm.ca and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/Telefilm_Canada and on Facebook at facebook.com/telefilmcanada.
About the Talent Fund
The Talent Fund is a national donation initiative dedicated to the impact and longevity of first-time filmmakers’ careers from across Canada. Igniting career paths in cinema, the Talent Fund invests in emerging talent and provides support to build their professional portfolios, fosters community and knowledge-sharing through professional mentorship, and prioritizes emerging creators from historically underrepresented communities. Funds raised are invested in Telefilm Canada’s Talent to Watch program – a career accelerator and launchpad – which helps the next generation of storytellers contribute to a thriving Canadian film industry. Since 2012, the Fund has supported 165 film projects, brought to life by more than 360 emerging artists (writers, producers, and directors) and has financed films that have earned over 180 awards worldwide. Individual donors, family foundations, corporations and sponsors invest in the Talent Fund as they believe in the power of storytelling through film, and the impact this program has on the careers of emerging artists. To learn more about the Talent Fund or to make a donation, visit thetalentfund.ca
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Media contact:
Joyce Richards
Advisor, Public Relations – English Market
Telefilm Canada
647-475-4903
joyce.richards@telefilm.ca