Hollywood Suite and Yes TV series Potluck Ladies will make its U.S. debut at SeriesFest in Denver, Colo.

The series was selected for the Independent Pilot Competition in the drama category. Created, directed and produced by Shazia Javed of Mississauga, Ont.’s LifeSketch Media, Potluck Ladies follows three women who bond after newly immigrating to Canada.

Potluck Ladies was licensed by Hollywood Suite and Yes TV last July, with the series set to premiere on Hollywood Suite on May 1.

The 10th edition of the SeriesFest TV festival also includes the annual Pitch-A-Thon! Program, which selects five unproduced projects to pitch to TV and media executives. Among this year’s selections is Canada’s The Haunting of Trisha Lozada, written by Robyn Matuto, produced by Malachi Ellis and developed by Matuto, Ellis and Dylan Pun.

Rounding out the Canadian projects heading to the festival is Day Players, which will make its world premiere as part of the Digital Shorts Series competition. The series sees wannabe actors compete to impress their acting coach, and is created by Farid Yazdani, who also stars and produces the series alongside Ali Mashayekhi.

Documentary I Shall Not Hate wins audience award at Netherlands film festival

The Canada/France documentary I Shall Not Hate won the audience award at the 2024 Movies that Matter festival in the Netherlands. The film is directed and produced by French director Tal Barda and tells the story of Palestinian doctor Izzeldin Abuelaish, who overcomes unspeakable tragedy to seek peace between Israel and Palestine.

Additional producers on I Shall Not Hate include Montreal’s Paul Cadieux and Maryse Rouillard of Filmoption International and Isabelle Gripon of Paris-based Mandala Films. The doc is supported by the Canada Media Fund, the Rogers Documentary Film, and federal and Quebec tax credits. It is produced in association with the documentary Channel and in collaboration with TVA Group. Canadian distribution and international sales are handled by Filmoption.

Canadian Content Studios in the running for Webby Award

Nova Scotia’s Canadian Content Studios is up for a Webby Award.

The international awards, created to honour excellence across the internet in podcasting, videos, advertising, social media, and more, announced their 2024 nominees this week.

Canadian Content Studios and sister company Same Page Talent garnered a nomination for Best Creator, Features, in the social media category. The companies produced a short social media for creator Madison Tevlin, titled “Down Syndrome is the Least Interesting Thing About Me.”

The 28th Webby Awards will take place May 13 in New York City, with comedian Amber Ruffin set to host.

Image courtesy of Hollywood Suite