Three Canadian documentaries have been selected to pitch at the 2024 Hot Docs Forum.

A total of 19 projects from 18 countries and 21 filmmakers will be showcased at the pitch forum, which is aimed at securing coproductions and funds for feature-length documentaries. The filmmakers include 15 women and 11 creators who are from racialized communities. An additional wild card pitch will be selected live at the forum, according to a news release.

The Canadian films include Ashley Da-Lê Duong’s Ba’s Book, about a man’s memoir of the Vietnam War and the Iranian Revolution, and his daughter, who makes a film about his harrowing experiences. Intuitive Pictures’ Ina Fichman is producing.

Ngardy Conteh George is a director and producer behind selected doc This Land of Ours (OYA Media Group) with Alison Duke. The film’s logline is: “The cost of paradise, but for whom?”

Lastly, Jennifer Holness and Sidney Fussell are attached as directors on #Whileback. The doc takes a look at viral videos through the perspective of Darnella Frazier, who filmed the murder of George Floyd. Ann Shin, Geeta Gandbhir and Tara Jan are producers on the film, which is a copro between Toronto-based Fathom Film Group and U.S.-based WhileBackFilm.

The filmmakers will pitch their projects to domestic and international decision makers on April 30 and May 1 during the Hot Docs Festival, which takes place from April 25 to May 5.

Mehdi Bereddad wins $10,000 RBC Short Film Pitch Competition

Winnipeg-based filmmaker Mehdi Bereddad has won the $10,000 Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Short Film Pitch Competition for his project Tendance.

The winner of the inaugural competition was announced on March 8 at a ceremony during On Screen Manitoba’s All Access 365 industry event. The competition is a partnership between On Screen Manitoba, RBC Emerging Artists, and the Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain.

Tendance follows the story of two sisters and how a TikTok trend leads to something more perilous.

Bereddad also received a $5,000 equipment rental grant certificate from William F. White International; an editing and directing mentorship from the National Screen Institute – Canada; an equipment rental credit of $1,000 and a one-year membership to the Winnipeg Film Group; a prop, costume and equipment rental credit of $1,000 from Talon Production Services; a one-year membership at On Screen Manitoba; and a complimentary pass to All Access 2025, where the short will have a premiere screening.

Anastasiia Starova selected for Writers Campus at Series Mania

Ukrainian-Canadian screenwriter Anastasiia Starova has been selected for the Writers Campus workshop at Series Mania.

The week-long incubator, hosted by the Series Mania Institute, provides mentorship to writers with a project in development and concludes with a pitch at the Series Mania Forum, which takes place from March 19 to 21.

Starova will pitch her suspense-drama series Veles (10 x 50 minutes) and is one of 16 writers from around the world selected for the workshop.

Veles centres on the story of a group of women who embark on a journey to rebuild their lives after all the men in their village mysteriously vanish into the sea.

CTV’s Oscars broadcast draws 3.5 million viewers

CTV’s live broadcast of the 96th Annual Academy Awards was one of the most watched English-language shows this year, drawing 3.5 million viewers, according to Bell Media.

This year’s Oscar broadcast also pulled in its highest audience in four years, said Bell, citing data from Numeris. The 95th edition of the awards attracted more than 3.4 million viewers in Canada.

The other two most-watched programs on Sunday were Countdown to the Oscars and Etalk After The Oscars, both broadcast on CTV.

Countdown to the Oscars was watched by 1.5 million viewers, while Etalk After The Oscars drew 1.1 million viewers.

With files from Media in Canada

Photo by Joseph Michael Howarth