See For Me and Peace by Chocolate are set to make their world premieres online as a part of the 2021 Tribeca Festival, presented by AT&T.

Unveiled alongside the launch of the festival’s Tribeca At Home yesterday (May 3), the two Canadian projects are a part of the feature narrative film lineup in the new Tribeca Online Premieres section, which will be exclusively online audiences in the U.S. via the online platform for those unable to attend the festival’s in-person events across New York City this year.

The festival, founded in 2001 after the World Trade Centre attacks to spur the revitalization of lower Manhattan, runs from June 9 to 20. All told, Tribeca Online Premieres will showcase 35 films, composed of 24 features and 11 short films.

Directed by Randall Okita and written by Adam Yoke and Tommy Gushue, See For Me follows a blind former skier who cat-sits in a secluded mansion. When thieves invade, her only means of defence is an app which connects her to a veteran and volunteer across the country who spends her days playing first-person shooter games and must now help her.

Produced by Toronto-based prodco Wildling Pictures, the film stars visually impaired actor Skyler Davenport, Pascal Langdale, Joe Pingue, George Tchortov, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Laura Vandervoort, Kim Coates.

It is funded by DiBrina Films, which coproduced the film, Telefilm Canada, Ontario Creates and Wildling Pictures. Canadian distributor LevelFILM is attached to the film in Canada, with Elle Driver handling international sales.

“When you’re making an independent feature film, you’re always up against a lot of challenges. Having to suspend See For Me mid-production due to COVID-19, come back months later during the pandemic and in a completely different season (we started in the winter and came back in the summer) the challenges often felt insurmountable. It makes sharing this Tribeca premiere with the cast and crew extra special,” said Wildling Pictures director of production Kristy Neville in a statement to Playback Daily.

Meanwhile, representing Jonathan Keijser’s debut feature, Peace by Chocolate tells the story of a Syrian family that moves to a small town in Nova Scotia, where the son is caught between following his dream of becoming a doctor and preserving his family’s chocolate business legacy. It is based on a true story.

Directed and produced by Halifax-born, L.A.-based Keijser, who is credited as a co-writer on the film alongside Abdul Malik, Peace by Chocolate is produced by Martin Paul-Hus, Catherine Leger and Kathy Wolf. A project from Montreal and L.A.-based prodco Magnetic North Pictures, the film also sees Chadi Dali serve as an executive producer and stars the late legendary Syrian actor/director Hatem Ali, as well as Yara Sabri, Ayham Ammar, Mark Camacho, Catherine Kirkpatrick and Najlaa Khamari.

UTA Independent Film Group represents worldwide rights to Peace by Chocolate, excluding Canada. Vortex Media represents the titles Canadian rights.

It should also be noted that last month the festival announced two Canadian projects were tapped for its 2021 Shorts Program lineup: Try to Fly and Joe Buffalo.

Directed and produced by The Affolter Brothers, Try to Fly is written by the brothers and Simone Swan and is making its New York premiere in the Animated Shorts Curated by Whoopi G section.

Meanwhile, Joe Buffalo is in the Go Big selection and is directed by Amar Chebib and written by Chebub and Joe Buffalo. The project is also produced by Hayley Morin and Mack Stannard and is also making its New York premiere.

Image: Skyler Davenport in See For Me. Photo courtesy of Wildling Pictures.