Plans for Ottawa studio facility take another step forward

The Ottawa Film Office and TriBro Studios have taken another step toward making the area’s proposed $40-million studio campus a reality. Ottawa’s city planning committee has approved the zoning of the facility’s four sound stages, with construction set to begin as early as this summer. Plans for the studio facility were first unveiled last August and the National Capital Commission (NCC) gave its approval to the plan in November. The production facility will create 500 film, TV and animation jobs over the next three years, according to the Film Office and TriBro.

NFB hits gender-parity goals for a third year

The National Film Board (NFB) on Thursday said it has achieved its gender-parity goals for a third consecutive year. The organization said 48% of its projects were directed by women over the past year, while 38% were helmed by men and 14% by mixed teams. In terms of how production funding is allocated, the NFB said it also hit its target. Over the last 12 months, 44% of its production budget was allocated to works created by women, with 41% going to works created by men and 15% to mixed teams. The announcement comes three years after the NFB first pledged to ensure gender parity across the projects it backs.

Guru, Mercury Filmworks win big at TAAFI

Guru Studio and Mercury Filmworks were among the big winners as Toronto Animation Arts Festival International (TAAFI) announced its winners this week. Guru’s short film Space Between Stars, directed by Samuel W. Bradley, won the best Canadian short prize and the audience choice award. Meanwhile, Hilda: The Bird Parade, a coproduction between Mercury Filmworks and London, U.K.-based Silvergate Media, won the Best of Fest Grand Prix award and the best children’s short prize.