Announced at a ceremony on the opening evening of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Winnipeg-headquartered prodco Frantic Films was named the recipient of the inaugural TV Producer Indiescreen Award.

Headed by CEO and Executive Producer Jamie Brown, Frantic Films has been producing award-winning series for over 25 years, including Still Standing, which is now in its 11th season; Baroness Von Sketch Show; Winnipeg Comedy Festival; and cult classic sci-fi comedy Todd and the Book of Pure Evil, among many others. Frantic Films was awarded a $20,000 cash prize, accepted by company president Stephanie Fast.

Paula Devonshire was named the recipient of the 2025 Feature Film Producer Indiescreen Award. Devonshire’s projects have screened at festivals including Venice, Sundance, and TIFF, including Survival of the Dead (2009), Wet Bum (2014), and Atom Egoyan’s Remember (2015), starring Christopher Plummer. Recently, she has served as an executive producer on Steal Away (2025), Nika & Madison (2025), and Blood Lines (2025), all of which are set to premiere this year at TIFF. Her latest project, Blood Lines (2025), explores Métis identity, culture, and language. Devonshire was awarded a $20,000 cash prize.

Leena Minifie is the recipient of the 2025 Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer Indiescreen Award. The CMPA says the Vancouver-based producer was recognized for her dedication to craft and thoughtful approach, demonstrating a versatility of work to come. Minifie’s project, The Good Canadian (2025), a meticulously researched and artfully crafted documentary, traces the legacy of the Indian Act and systemic dispossession of Indigenous people, set to premiere on APTN later this month. Minifie was awarded a $10,000 cash prize.

The award winners were selected by three national juries. To be eligible, nominees must have acted as a producer on a Canadian feature film or series that premiered in the 2025 calendar year.

“With national pride reaching record levels across the country, we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on Canada’s outstanding producing talent,” said Reynolds Mastin, CMPA President and CEO. “This year’s Indiescreen Awards winners embody the creativity, grit and skill that define what it means to be an independent media producer in Canada today. Congratulations to Paula, Leena, and Frantic Films for their exceptional ability to connect and inspire.”

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The Leo Awards, celebrating excellence in B.C. film and television, have announced the 2023 nominees. This year’s feature film nominees are led by Bones of Crows, which earned 13 nominations, including Best Motion Picture and Best Director for Marie Clements. When Time Got Louder received 10 nominations, followed by Float and Sheltering Season, which each earned seven nods apiece. Firefly Lane, Family Law and Riverdale lead Dramatic Series nominees, while Phantom Pups and Apple TV+ series Circuit Breakers lead the Youth or Children’s Program or Series nominees.

The Guild of Music Supervisors Canada (GMSC) and Canadian Music Week (CMW) have unveiled the nominees for the 2023 Canadian Sync Awards, celebrating the craft of music supervision in filmed media in Canada with the presentation of 15 awards, with 8 categories voted on by the public. Cody Partridge of Pear Tree Music Supervision leads with six nominations, followed by Natasha Duprey with five nominations. By production, Crave comedy Shoresy, and feature films Fancy Dance and Bloody Hell received two nods apiece. The Canadian Sync Awards will take place Thursday, June 8 at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto and include performances by Preston Pablo, Milk & Bone, and Adria Kain. Voting is now open until June 2.

Frantic Films CEO Jamie Brown is one of 12 recipients to receive the Order of Manitoba, the province’s highest honor. Brown has served as the CEO and executive producer of the Winnipeg-based production company since 2000. According to the citation, he is being recognized for “winning awards in Canada and abroad for his innovation, creativity and business leadership, he is a tireless community volunteer and an advocate of Manitoba’s creative sector.”

Seneca Polytechnic and the National Film Board (NFB) are strengthening their existing relationship with the signing of a formal framework, committing both organizations to ongoing collaboration and engagement. Through the pact, Seneca students will have opportunities to work on new NFB projects and learn from speaker sessions, workshops and presentations. Seneca will provide technical and creative consultation services and promote NFB films within its animation programs and spaces. While the agreement itself is new, the NFB and Seneca have a history of collaboration on film animation projects with Seneca students and grads having worked on NFB productions including 2004’s Ryan, winner of the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film, and 2013’s Subconscious Password, which won Best Short Film at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival.

Supercollider, part of UK-based Zinc Media, is collaborating with Idris Elba’s GreenDoor Pictures and Sabrina Elba’s Pink Towel to make PAID IN FULL: The Battle for Payback (working title) for CBC and BBC. The new series, produced in association with Catalyst, examines the systematic exploitation of Black artists by the music industry. The series (3×60) is funded and co-produced by a partnership between Abacus Media Rights (AMR) and Media Musketeers Studios, with AMR distributing internationally. It will feature bestselling author and filmmaker MK Asante Jr. and Lawrence Lartey, Director of Innovation, Industry and Enterprise at Ravensbourne University London, who has produced and consulted on documentaries for BBC 4, BBC Radio 1, and Channel 4, including How Hip Hop Changed the World with Idris Elba and MK Asante.

Gary and His Demons, the adult-animated comedy series produced by Look Mom! Productions, will premiere on Amazon Freevee in the U.S on July 7. Seasons 1 & 2 of the series will launch simultaneously. Blue Ant International licensed the rights for the cult-classic, expanding the global distribution group’s relationship with Amazon, following the launch of the series on Prime Video in Canada, Australia and New Zealand in February. The series serves up a story about a 45-year-old demon slayer named Gary who is ready to retire. Just when he thinks he has chased his final demon, Gary discovers his boss can’t find his replacement and he’ll be forced to keep fighting demons for eternity. 

OUTtv has commissioned two new original series, alongside acquiring a new weekly competition series and renewing six of its series for additional seasons. New original series for the service include heartfelt dramedy We Three Queens, and documentary I Work From Home for its OUTspoken slate of unscripted content. OUTtv has additionally acquired weekly competition series The Gold Rush, combining reality TV and docuseries elements. Renewed are Drag Heals for Season 4, Pride for Season 5, and Behind the Drag Queen of the Year Pageant Competition Award Contest Competition, Dr. Jackie, Sugar Highs and Dating Unlocked, all for a second season.

Blue Ant Media has announced the launch of its free, ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels, Homeful and Love Pets on VIZIO WatchFree+ for millions of U.S. users. Homeful features real estate, renovation and transformation series and is home to TV reno expert Mike Holmes’ catalog of series and specials, while Love Pets features heartfelt stories about the animals in our lives. The channels join wildlife and nature brand, Love Nature, which Blue Ant says is currently among VIZIO’s top performing FAST channels, as well as Haunt TV and Drag Race Universe on VIZIO WatchFree+.

AMI-tv has unveiled new and returning original series and documentary programming set to air over the summer months. New AMI-tv series Blind Trust: A Guide Dog’s Journey tells the story of the CNIB Guide Dog program. Returning programs include new seasons of By Hook or By Cook, Postcards From, Blind Adventures with Ron Walsh, Our Community and Adaptable Animals, along with all-new documentary Everyone Belongs in Nature.

Crave’s new, four-part original docuseries, Billionaire Murders, an intimate look at the unsolved murders of Barry and Honey Sherman, premieres June 16. The series narrative is driven by investigative journalist Kevin Donovan, who also hosts Toronto Star podcast The Billionaire Murders: The hunt for the killers of Honey and Barry Sherman. Billionaire Murders delves into the mystery of the killings, including outrageous conspiracy theories about who killed the Shermans. Sources featured include Former Ontario Deputy Chief Coroner Dr. Jim Cairns, former Novopharm executive Aubrey Dan, and former FBI profiler Brad Garrett.

The 2023 Memorial Cup presented by KIA kicks off on TSN, beginning May 26. Play-by-play commentator Victor Findlay delivers the call for all games in Kamloops, alongside analyst Kevin Sawyer, with TSN 1050 Radio (CHUM-FM) and BarDown host Julia Tocheri reporting live rinkside. Laura Diakun leads TSN’s panel coverage on-site in Kamloops, alongside Craig Button and Cheryl Pounder as analysts. TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger joins the broadcast team during the final four days of the tournament. Luca Celebre, Jesse Pollock, and Tocheri are also on-site in Kamloops to deliver updates for BarDown throughout the championship, with content available on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. TSN’s complete broadcast schedule is available here, with French-language coverage available on RDS.

The Sundar Prize Film Festival has announced its inaugural competition for filmmakers who use their art to create meaningful social impact. With over $10,000 in cash prizes, it will award the Top 5 films in select categories, including Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best Short Film, Best Animation, and Best Student Film. The winners will be announced June 15-16, 2024, at the Centre Stage at Surrey City Hall in Surrey, BC. Founded by Alex Sangha, an award-winning social worker and documentary film producer, and Vinay Giridhar, a director, editor, and visual artist, the Sundar Prize Film Festival is an initiative of Sher Vancouver, a registered charity supporting LGBTQ+ South Asians. Films with any theme are welcome, but the festival encourages filmmakers who showcase social justice issues, human rights, immigrants and refugees, Indigenous peoples, people of color, LGBTQ+ communities, vulnerable and marginalized peoples, environment and climate change, and educational films. The festival is now accepting submissions. 

E.D. Films, the Montreal multi-disciplinary animation studio, has received a repayable federal investment of $160,000 to enable the business to improve its ability to market itself internationally by hiring marketing resources, conducting targeted promotional campaigns, participating in large-scale trade shows, and acquiring digital equipment. Founded in 2013 by Emily Paige and Archita Ghosh, along with Daniel Gies, the studio specializes in custom animated illustrations for cinematic and immersive films, virtual reality/extended reality experiences, video games, and physical installations across the cultural, scientific, and themed entertainment industries.

Numeris says as of the June 2023 data release, its VAM (Video Audience Measurement) solution will encompass Facebook Watch and Instagram Reels. While still only available in Ontario and Quebec Franco, the audience measurement agency says VAM’s coverage of the total video landscape now amounts to 90% of video streaming platforms available in Canada. Throughout 2022, VAM added PlutoTV, CBS News, Discovery Plus, ET Online, TikTok, FuboTV, Paramount Plus and Samsung TV Plus to its available data sets.

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Convergence Research Group’s latest Battle for the Canadian Couch Potato Report indicates Canada is increasingly being impacted by the global OTT battle for viewers. Based on analysis of over 50 OTT services (and more than 35 providers), led by Netflix, Convergence estimates 2022 Canadian OTT access revenue grew 23% to $3.3 billion, with 18% growth forecast for 2023, mostly benefitting non-Canadian players. The report estimates 2022 Canadian Cable, Satellite, Telco TV access revenue declined 4% to $7.5 billion and forecasts 3% annual declines through 2025. Convergence also estimates 2022 resulted in a decline of 2% of Canadian TV subscribers, with on average 3% per year declines anticipated from 2023-25. It’s estimated that as of 2022, 6.3 million or 40% of Canadian households did not have a TV subscription with a Cable, Satellite, or Telco TV access provider, forecast to rise to 48% by 2025. 

Screen Nova Scotia hosted its 9th annual Awards Gala on Saturday, May 13. Best Feature Film went to Queens of the Qing Dynasty, the sophomore film from Cape Breton filmmaker Ashley McKenzie. The second season of Bell Fibe TV1 comedy Vollies, starring Jonathan Torrens, won Best Television Series – Scripted Award. Two new awards were handed out including Best Television Series – Unscripted, captured by VICE Canada docuseries Living in Flow, produced by Gorgeous Mistake Productions and directed by Meaghan Wright, which follows six Atlantic Canadian youth with mental health challenges. Outstanding Achievement in Editing went to Kimberlee McTaggart for her work on Moonshine. 

The 2023 Alberta Film & Television Awards, aka The Rosies, are now accepting submissions. This year’s awards will be held in Edmonton on Sept. 30. The deadline for entries is May 31, with finalists to be announced in August. Eligible productions must have been completed between Jan. 1, 2022 and April 30, 2023. 

Entertainment One (eOne) has expanded its long-running partnership with The CW Network to make it the U.S. home for Lea Thompson-led CTV original mystery series The Spencer Sisters, and CBC one-hour dramedy Moonshine. The premiere dates for each series will be announced at a later date. The announcement follows The CW’s pickup of CBC comedies Run the Burbs and Son of a Critch, Corus Studios’ Great Chocolate Showdown, and Global TV’s Family Law.

Prime Video has started production on new Canadian Amazon Original docu-reality series, Luxe Listings Toronto. Based on hit Australian Amazon Original, Luxe Listings Sydney, the Toronto-based edition showcases multimillion-dollar listings through the lives of real estate agents, Peter and Paige Torkan, founders of Team Torkan and Brett Starke, founder of The Starke Group. Luxe Listings Toronto is produced by McGillivray Entertainment Media (MEM) with executive producers Angela Jennings, Nanci Maclean and Scott McGillivray. On June 12, Luxe Listings Toronto will be featured in Banff Media Festival’s Home Reno-ssance: What’s Hot in Property panel, focused on trends and the evolution of the home renovation and real estate genre. 

Frantic Films has announced an agreement to create a new paranormal series with Alexandra Holzer, daughter of famed parapsychologist Hanz Holzer. Frantic says it has also secured two high profile pieces of crime related IP it will develop and take to market as early as Real Screen West. The Winnipeg and Toronto-based prodco is also collaborating with New York-based producer My Entertainment, on recently announced true crime docuseries Nightmare on My Street, featuring Robert Englund, star of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies.  

Hollywood Suite has announced the return of original documentary series A Year in Film. Premiering May 25, the fourth season will shine a cinematic spotlight on the years 1973, 1985, 1999 and 2010, featuring archival material, film clips and interviews with industry insiders and critics. Among the films covered will be The Exorcist, Serpico, Enter the Dragon, Paper Moon, American Graffiti, Back to the Future, The Breakfast Club, The Goonies, PeeWee’s Big Adventure, The Matrix, Fight Club, American Beauty, The Blair Witch Project, The King’s Speech, Inception, Winter’s Bone, True Grit, and more. Meticulously restored Canadian cult classic The Peanut Butter Solution will also receive its broadcast premiere on Hollywood Suite on May 26, immediately following the premiere of the 1985 episode of A Year in Film. The film is also discussed indepth on A Year in Film Podcast with guest, Jay Baruchel.

CTV original competition series Cross Country Cake Off returns with six new episodes, Fridays at 9 p.m. ET/PT, beginning May 26. Hosts Mary Berg and Andrew Han make another trip across the country to find 40 new cake makers hoping to bake their way to the top prize of $50,000 and the title of champion. The new episodes see Berg and Han stop in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Montréal, and Halifax for five regional qualifying rounds, culminating in a national finale face-off, airing June 30.

Gender Equity in Media Society (formerly Women in Film and Television Vancouver) has announced the dates of the second installment of its Emerging TV Producers Program (ETVP) to help support producers from underrepresented communities. ETVP is a six-month initiative aimed at providing training and mentorship for up to 10 women and gender-diverse creators. Funded by the Canada Media Fund (CMF) and BC Arts Council, and sponsored by Warner Brothers Discovery Access Canada, the program is designed in two phases – a series of workshops, to be held in-person in Vancouver, Sept. 22-26 and phase two, Oct. 2 to Dec. 20 – when participants will be matched with a mentor to assist them with packaging their projects for development funding and/or industry markets. The program is free and open to BC-based emerging producers who want to gain producing skills and have a series concept to submit. Program applications are open June 12 to July 9.

The CaribbeanTales Black Incubator and Studio Access Project (CTBISAP) has announced the 2023 cohort of its “Limitless” training program for emerging Black Canadian filmmakers. The program is designed to build capacity in the Black Canadian film industry by providing IP knowledge and skills acquisition, training in marketing and branding, and business skills development. This “Limitless” cohort includes Nauzanin Knight, Noel Cousins, Mahlena- Rae Johnson, Chelsea Nyomi, Murry Peters, Vichy Plancher, Letay Williams, Nelie Diverlus, KhaRa Martin and Aichoucha Haidara. The program will run until the end of September, culminating with participants creating a development and pitch package for their projects.

The National Screen Institute (NSI) has welcomed 10 emerging Indigenous creators as they begin their training through the CBC New Indigenous Voices program, a 14-week program covering the essential elements of working in the film, TV and digital media industries. This year’s cohort includes: Lisa Abel (M’Chigeeng First Nation/ON); Asha Bear (Tobique First Nation/NB); Lucas Boudreau (St. Laurent/MB); Sage Boulanger-McLeod (Berens River First Nation/MB); Renée Courchene (Sagkeeng First Nation/MB); Apollo Dawson (Dzawada’enuxw First Nation/BC); Jacob Dorie (Black River First Nation/MB); Alysha Johnny-Hawkins (Tahltan First Nation/BC); John Luke (Kivalliq Region/MB); and Linsey Murdock (Fisher River Cree Nation/MB). For the first time since 2019, training will be in-person in Winnipeg, with participants working out of Big Sky Studios.

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