Telefilm Canada invests over $14.4 million in 27 low-budget projects in the English market
Telefilm Canada announces its investment in 27 feature-length films in the English market with a commitment of over $14.4 million, under the Production Program’s low budget stream, including international coproductions.
This year’s selection demonstrates strong provincial representation and appeals to a wide range of audiences, from science fiction and horror to comedies and dramas.
Last month, 12 big-budget feature films in the English market were announced.
Atlantic
Back For The Holidays (horror/thriller)
Director and screenwriter: Michael Gabriele
Production: Dark Venetian Red Pictures Inc.
Province: Prince Edward Island
Language: English
Clara and Vanessa (drama)
Director and screenwriter: Thom Fitzgerald
Production: Emotion Pictures Incorporated
Province: Nova Scotia
Language: English
Feed (horror)
Director: Nancy Urich
Screenwriters: Nancy Urich and Stephanie Johns
Production: CUT/OFF/TAIL Pictures Inc.
Province: Nova Scotia
Language: English
The Executor (drama)
Director and screenwriter: Joe Cobden
Production: Holdfast Pictures Inc.
Province: Nova Scotia
Language: English
Quebec
Good in the Room (crime-thriller)
Director: Pat Kiely
Screenwriters: Pat Kiely and Mark O’Brien
Production: Banner House Productions Inc. and Grand Touring Production Inc.
Province: Quebec and Ontario
Language: English
Worm (horror)
Director: James Watts
Screenwriters: Kelly Hurcomb and James Watts
Production: Good House Digital Inc.
Distribution: Vortex Media
Province: Quebec
Language: English
Ontario and Nunavut
Below Morning (science fiction/fantasy/tale)
Director and screenwriter: Randall Okita
Production: Lockpicker Productions Inc.
Distribution: Game Theory Films
Province: Ontario
Language: English
Devour (horror)
Director: Erica Orofino
Screenwriters: Erica Orofino and Olivia Loccisano
Production: Wildling Pictures Inc.
Province: Ontario
Language: English
Dinner with Friends (drama)
Director: Sasha Lee Henry
Screenwriters: Sasha Leigh Henry and Tania Thompson
Production: Admiral Productions Inc.
Province: Ontario
Language: English
Dirty (horror)
Director and screenwriter: Devon Graye
Production: Let’s Get Dirty LTD.
Province: Ontario
Language: English
IMPORT (thriller)
Director: Paul Shkordoff
Screenwriters: Frank Graziano and Paul Shkordoff
Production: OPC. TV INC, Sweet George Films and Metafilms
Province: Ontario and Quebec
Language: English
*France/Serbia/Canada coproduction
Intro to Swimming (drama)
Director and screenwriter: Aram Collier
Production: LaRue Productions Inc.
Distribution: Filmoption International Inc.
Province: Ontario
Language: English and Chinese (Cantonese)
Labranza (drama)
Director and screenwriter: Andrea Martinez Crowther
Production: Lulo Films Inc.
Province: Ontario
Language: English, Spanish
*Canada/Mexico coproduction
Los Turistas (The Tourists) (drama)
Directors and screenwriters: Brad Deane and Lina Rodriguez
Production: Rayon Verde Inc.
Province: Ontario
Language: English, Spanish
*Canada/Colombia coproduction
Phreaker (thriller)
Director and screenwriter: Adam Yorke
Production: Phreaker Motion Picture Corporation
Distribution: Mongrel Media
Province: Ontario
Language: English
Rocket Fuel (drama)
Director and screenwriter: Jessie Posthumus
Production: Edge Entertainment Inc.
Province: Ontario
Language: English
The Embers and the Stars (science fiction/fantasy/tale)
Director and screenwriter: William Woods
Production: Obvious Allegory Inc.
Distribution: VVS Films
Province: Ontario Language: English
Tides (drama)
Director and screenwriter: Jessica Huras
Production: Nice Picture Inc. and Shut Up & Colour Pictures Inc.
Province: Ontario and Nova Scotia
Language: English
Western
A Hero of Our Time (Man Vs Truck) (comedy)
Director and screenwriter: Ted Stenson
Production: Kino Sum Productions Inc.
Province: Alberta
Language: English
Alien Boy (science fiction/fantasy/tale)
Director and screenwriter: Fawaz Al-Matrouk
Production: Karma Films Inc.
Province: Saskatchewan
Language: English, Arabic
Any Other World (science fiction/fantasy/tale)
Director and screenwriter: Ben Pickles
Production: Any Other World Productions Inc.
Distribution: Photon Films
Province: British Columbia
Language: English
Baby Tooth (mystery/crime/police)
Director and screenwriter: Connor Gaston
Production: Garden Film Studio Ltd. and Studio 104 Entertainment Inc.
Province: British Columbia
Language: English
CAMP (horror)
Director and screenwriter: Avalon Fast
Production: TNodrick Productions Ltd and 16053106 CANADA INC.
Distribution: Filmoption International
Province: Alberta and Quebec
Language: English
Judas Tree (drama)
Director and screenwriter: Susan Bayani
Production: Understory Films Inc.
Province: British Columbia
Language: English, Farsi (Persian)
New Diamond Restaurant (horror)
Director and screenwriter: Milton Ng
Production: Dear Hero Productions Inc.
Province: British Columbia
Language: English, Chinese (Cantonese)
Northern Lights (drama)
Director and screenwriter: Mackenzie Leigh
Production: Heart Shaped Movies Inc.
Province: Manitoba
Language: English
Switchback (thriller)
Director and screenwriter: Melanie Jones
Production: Instilling Entertainment Inc.
Province: British Columbia
Language: English
Telefilm continues to receive a high volume of applications, particularly in Ontario and the Western region, under the Production Program. In the English market, 216 projects were assessed in the low budget stream including international coproductions, representing over $135 million in funding requests. Project submissions were considered by an Advisory Committee, and Telefilm met with all shortlisted teams.
More funding decisions, including projects from the Indigenous stream and the Theatrical Documentary Program will be announced in the coming weeks. Statistics on all films funded in the year will be published in the 2025-2026 Annual Report.
An advisory committee composed of external and internal representatives has evaluated the projects and made its recommendations. The decision-making process is designed to ensure that Telefilm funds a balanced production portfolio reflecting a variety of genres, budgets, company sizes, regions of the country, and perspectives. A list of the selection committee members will be posted on Telefilm’s Project Financing Advisory Committees page once all funding decisions have been made.
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.
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Media contact:
Joyce Richards
Advisor, Strategic Communications
Telefilm Canada
Joyce.Richards@telefilm.ca