Zarrar Kahn’s In Flames has won the top prize at Saudi Arabia’s third annual Red Sea International Film Festival.

The Canada-Pakistan horror film took the US$100,000 Golden Yusr award for Best Feature Film at the closing ceremony of the Jebbah-based festival on Thursday (Dec. 7). It is written and directed by Kahn, and produced by Anam Abbas via Toronto-based CityLights Media and Pakistan’s Other Memory Media.

Set in Pakistan, In Flames follows a young woman and her mother who are faced with horrors in the aftermath of the death of the family patriarch. The film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival this year, with XYZ Films handling global sales. Executive producers include XYZ’s Todd Brown and Maxime Cottray, and Fae Pictures’ Shant Joshi.

Reelworld Screen Institute becomes Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices supporting partner

The Reelworld Screen Institute has joined the Netflix-BANFF Diversity of Voices (DOV) Initiative as a new supporting partner, as the program enters its seventh year.

Netflix has additionally confirmed its re-commitment to the Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) program, which is also supported by the Black Screen Office and the Indigenous Screen Office.

DOV provides up to 100 Black, Indigenous or racialized professionals with access to the festival and networking opportunities, with 25 selected for the DOV Pitch Program to meet with senior industry professionals. Applications are now open, and close on Jan. 4, 2024.

“We know the program is working by the number of past participants who credit DOV with having helped them to advance their careers, secure financing, coproductions and distribution deals,” said Jenn Kuzmyk, VP and publisher of Playback and executive director of BANFF.

Stéphane Cardin, director of public policy for Netflix Canada, added that “providing up to 600 opportunities since 2018 is an achievement that speaks for itself, and we look forward to being a part of adding to that in Banff this June.”

BlackBerry, Slip nominated at Film Independent Spirit Awards 

Canadian feature BlackBerry has garnered a nomination for the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards.

Actor Glenn Howerton is among the 10 nominees for Best Supporting Performance for his role in the film, which is directed by Matt Johnson and produced by Toronto’s Rhombus Media and Zapruder Films.

Boat Rocker Studios’ comedy series Slip, created by Zoe Lister-Jones and produced by Dakota Johnson’s TeaTime Pictures, earned two nominations in the television category: Best New Scripted Series, and Best Lead Performance in a Scripted Series for Lister-Jones.

The 39th Film Independent Spirit Awards will take place at a ceremony in Santa Monica, Calif. on Feb. 25, 2024.

NSI launches production training program for Canadian newcomers

The National Screen Institute (NSI) has introduced a pilot program to provide entry-level production training for refugees and newcomers to Manitoba.

The NSI Intro to Production program is open to a maximum of 10 individuals in Manitoba who have arrived in Canada within the last five years, and who have an interest in working in the film and TV industry. The program includes online workshops on scriptwriting and a six-day in-person workshop where participants will produce a short film, gaining hands-on experience on budgeting, production skills and real-time problem-solving.

Photo courtesy of CityLights Media