Halifax filmmaker among Oscar nominees

Halifax-born filmmaker Ben Proudfoot is up for an Oscar alongside his co-director American composer and pianist Kris Bowers.

Nominated for short documentary A Concerto is a Conversation, which is in the Documentary (Short Subject) category, the film follows co-director Bowers as he tracks his family’s lineage through his 91-year-old grandfather. Proudfoot’s California-based company Breakwater Studios produced the film, which is executive produced by filmmaker Ava DuVernay.

On the Actress in a Leading Role side, Vanessa Kirby is up for her role in Montreal-shot Pieces of a Woman, which is produced by Little Lamb Productions, a division of Bron Studios based in Beverly Hills. Kirby is competing against Viola Davis (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom), Andra Day (The United States vs. Billie Holiday), Frances McDormand (Nomadland) and Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman).

Notably, Judas and The Black Messiah, which is produced by Macro and Participant in association with Bron Creative, received six nominees, including Best Picture, Writing (Original Screenplay) and two nods in the Actor in Supporting Role category for Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield.

Greyhound starring Tom Hanks, another Bron Creative project, is also nominated in the sound category. Warren Shaw, Michael Minkler, Beau Borders and David Wyman are all nominated for the film.

Nike’s Big Bet tapped for Hot Docs Special Presentations

Nike’s Big Bet from director/producer Paul Kemp will make its North American debut as a part of Hot Docs 2021 Special Presentations program.

Announced earlier this week alongside 12 other documentaries, the project looks at legendary track coach Alberto Salazar. Alongside Kemp, the film sees Cream Films EVP Corey Russell credited as a producer.

Notably, the film joins Jennifer Holness directed and produced doc Subjects of Desire, which makes its world premiere at SXSW this week.

Hot Docs runs from April 29 to May 9, with the festival expected to reveal its full festival lineup next week on March 23.

Horsepower 3.0 finalists revealed

Quebec-based Media Ranch has revealed the finalists for its format incubator Horsepower 3.0.

The selected participants include Christiane Berthiaume, a fashion professor at LaSalle College in Montréal; Claudia Ferri, a Quebec actress of Italian origin; Elsa Olano, a communications officer at the Center for Public Health and Research; and Charlotte Brassard, a film student at the University of Montreal and program manager for Donaction.

Additional participants are Alexandra Paquin, a film production student at Concordia University; Mathieu Ferland, a high school teacher; Louis-Philippe Vachon, creator of the web series A Guy Trys Himself and Robert Baziramwabo, host of Podcast Mezanmi.

During the 16-week incubator, the participants will be introduced to the world of TV formats — the different types of formats and trends in TV markets around the world — and will learn to write formats.

This edition brings in two new French partners who joined forces with Horsepower Founders, Media Ranch and Quebecor Content: TF1 Group and La Fabrique des formats.

The incubation process will culminate in July with the presentation of the eight virtual pitches to the jury made up of 10 representatives of the four partners. The winning format selected will be the subject of a co-development agreement as well as an international distribution agreement.

Arcana builds out its team

Canadian animation studio and intellectual property house Arcana Studios has promoted Reanna Cameron to head of sales and added two new faces to its team.

Cameron previously served as a producer’s assistant and as a production coordinator with the company. She has a background in acting, casting and visual effects.

Notably, both Heidi Gherman and Reed Kraemer have also joined the team. Gherman serves as marketing manager for the company, while Kraemer is as an executive assistant.

With files from Realscreen

Image: Unsplash