William F. White International (WFW) has partnered with Manitoba’s Big Sky Studios to provide its equipment and expertise to the newly opened studio space. The deal will see WFW and parentco Sunbelt Rentals take exclusive equipment rights at the studio, as well as provide branding, marketing and consultation services.

Big Sky Studios is 187,000 square-feet and includes two sound stages, one at 17,000 square feet and another at 12,800 square feet, production offices, workshops, on-site equipment rental and areas for film departments. Two more 15,000 square foot sound stages are under construction and are expected to be completed in December. It is owned and operated by Vancouver’s Eighth Avenue Development Group.

“The City of Winnipeg has a strong and established reputation as a production hub for the film and television industry,” said Robert Rowan, GM, WFW Calgary and Winnipeg, in a statement. “We believe that this brand-new, world-class studio complex coupled with our extensive equipment offering will help promote the city as a top destination, especially for larger film and television productions.”

Bell Media

Bell Media streaming service Crave has acquired Kent Donguines’s 30-minute documentary Kalinga (Care). The doc tells the stories of Filipina women living and working in Vancouver as nannies and caregivers to provide for their families in the Philippines. The film is written, directed and produced by Donguines, a Playback 10 to Watch alum, and is also produced by Robin Macabulos and Maxime Beauchamp.

Kalinga was produced with the support of Telus Storyhive, Creative BC and the National Screen Institute, and was selected for Story Money Impact’s Story to Action Program to train filmmakers on the creation and execution of impact campaigns. It had its world premiere at the DOXA Documentary Film Festival in Vancouver.

Bell Media has also announced the sale of three original Quebec dramas to international buyers. ComediHa!-produced series La Confrérie has been sold to France (Playzer) and Belgium (Pickx+) in a deal via the prodco’s distribution arm; and Moi non plus!, produced and distributed by Encore Télévision has been sold to France (6play). Both series were released on Noovo in Quebec. Meanwhile, Crave original series Une Affaire criminelle, produced by Sovimage and distributed by Encore Télévision-Distribution, has been sold to Australia (SBS), as well as the media company Olympusat for Latin America, the U.S., the U.K., and Spain.

Super Channel

Super Channel has acquired season two of BBC thriller The Pact from distributor Lionsgate Television. The series is created by Pete McTighe (A Discovery of Witches) and produced by Cardiff prodco Little Door Productions. It stars BAFTA-winning actor Rakie Ayola, who leads a new cast for season two, portraying a social worker who is confronted by a stranger who claims to be connected to her late son. The Pact season two will premiere on Super Channel on Nov. 22.

Nelvana

Nelvana has inked new licensing agreements for Australian kids series Bluey. The Corus Entertainment-owned company has brought on Point Zero (Arctic Squad) to release kids swimwear and outerwear for Canada and Unique for party games, accessories and favours for both the U.S. and Canada. Bluey is produced by Ludo Studio in association with Screen Queensland and Screen Australia and was co-commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and BBC Studios.

Image courtesy of WFW