St. John’s-based writer, director and set designer Nathalie Javault (pictured) won the CBC Pitch This! Competition on Saturday (April 5) at the 2025 Women in Film and Television Atlantic (WIFT-AT) Wave Awards.

Javault was one of five finalists competing for a $10,000 CBC-sponsored grant via a five-minute short film pitch. Javault’s pitch followed a group of nudist stand-up paddleboarders in Newfoundland and Labrador, according to a WIFT-AT spokesperson.

Javault will also receive in-kind equipment rentals from Equifilm, Sunbelt Rentals and Star Power Atlantic and in-kind post-production services from the Hideout Studios and 902 Post.

SODEC extends Cannes Festival deadline

The Société de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC) has extended the registration period to April 14 for Quebec companies that want to participate in the Cannes Film Festival and its Marché du Film under SODEC’s Québec pavilion.

SODEC’s Québec pavilion provides dedicated space to professionals in the film, television and new media industries, facilitating the work of companies and promoting Quebec cinema in Cannes.

ATN celebrates 25 years on the TSVX

Markham, Ont.-headquartered Asian Television Network (ATN), known for its content and sports broadcasting serving South Asian communities in Canada, celebrated 25 years of being listed on the TSX Venture Exchange.

ATN, billed as Canada’s largest South Asian broadcaster, is focused on leveraging and monetizing its digital library which, according to a Monday (April 7) release from the company, has grown significantly over the past few decades.

The network also has exclusive rights to many cricket competitions in Canada. In November 2024, the network renewed exclusive Canadian rights to New Zealand cricket for three years.

With files from Nicholas Sokic

Images courtesy of Luisa Alvarez Restrepo; Rahul Chaturvedi photo courtesy of the Canadian Film Centre/Janice Reid