Writer-directors Seth and Peter Scriver’s Endless Cookie (Scythia Films, Stellar Citizens, Tiger Mister Productions) won the Grand Prix in the Contrechamp Features competition at the 2025 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

The animated documentary (pictured) explores the lives of the two directors, who are half-brothers.

Earlier in May, the film took home the $50,000 2025 Rogers Hot Docs Audience Award, after making its world premiere in the World Documentary Cinema Competition at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

Félix Dufour-Laperrière’s La mort n’existe pas (Death Does Not Exist; Embuscade Films, Miya Productions) also won the Jury Special Distinction for an Original Soundtrack in a Feature Film; while Francis Desharnais’ three-minute short Le grand party annuel des créatures de la Lune (The Great Annual Party of the Creatures of the Moon) took home the Young Audience Award.

This year’s Annecy festival ran from June 8 to 14.

Blink49 appoints Dylen Postnikoff to VP role

Toronto and L.A.-based Blink49 Studios has appointed Dylen Postnikoff as VP, marketing and communications, effective Monday (June 16).

Based in the L.A. office, Postnikoff reports to chief operating officer Nelson Kuo-Lee. Prior to joining the prodco she served as Shaftesbury‘s VP of brand marketing and communications since February 2019, and has also served as CBC’s head of TV entertainment and content marketing.

“Dylen brings a powerful combination of strategic insight and creative vision, backed by a proven track record of building globally recognized brands and campaigns,” said Kuo-Lee. “Her leadership in crafting breakthrough marketing strategies and elevating premium content will be a tremendous asset as we continue expanding our global footprint.”

Bob Odenkirk, Jane Schoenbrun board Jess McLeod’s short film as EPs

Bob Odenkirk (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul) and I Saw the TV Glow director Jane Schoenbrun have boarded writer, director, producer, co-editor and star Jess McLeod’s short film She’s Nonbinary (Respectfully Productions) as executive producers.

Inspired by McLeod’s lived experiences, this dark comedy short explores the relationship strain between Max (played by McLeod) and their straight, cisgender boyfriend following the unexpected news that Max has been approved for top surgery.

She’s Nonbinary was shot in Vancouver and will appear at festivals later this year, according to a June 13 release.

“[McLeod is] a powerhouse, and I’m so happy to get in on the ground floor of their filmmaking career with this important short film,” said Schoenbrun in a statement.

McLeod’s first short, DTF?, premiered at Atlanta’s Out On Film festival in 2024.

Titan1Studios partners with Dave Bautista’s Dogbone Entertainment

Toronto- and Calgary-based Titan1Studios has partnered with Dave Bautista’s Dogbone Entertainment to collaborate on a multimedia rollout for U.S.-based writer and director Steve Lerner’s Cat Assassin franchise.

The rollout includes an animated series, publishing initiatives and video games.

The franchise is set in a neo-noir world of anthropomorphized cats and focuses on one cat assassin in particular who is caught between various cartels and power brokers.

Anne Émond’s Amour Apocalypse wins Cabourg prize

Anne Émond’s Amour Apocalypse won the Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Cabourg Film Festival in Normandy, France this past Saturday (June 14).

The award is accompanied by a promotional campaign in Publicinex network theaters in France. Produced by Metafilms’ Sylvain Corbeil, Amour Apocalypse reaches Quebec theatres starting Aug. 8.

The film was one of four features in the Window on Quebec Cinema selection, a program created through a partnership between Cinemania and the festival.

The romantic comedy follows a kennel owner, suffering from depression, played by Patrick Hivon (My Brother’s Wife). He falls in love with a Northern Ontario mother played by U.S. actor Piper Perabo. It also stars Gilles Renaud, Elizabeth Mageren, Éric K. Boulianne, Connor Jessup, Gord Rand, Jean-Carl Boucher and Fabiola Nyrva Aladin.

Amour Apocalypse was one of three Canadian features that made its world premiere at this year’s Directors Fortnight, a parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival.

Immina Films is distributing the feature while financial support was provided by Telefilm Canada, La Société de Développement des Entreprises Culturelles, provincial and federal tax credits, Crave, Noovo and Indie Sales.

Corbeaux to screen in Spain

The first two episodes of Corbeaux (Crows) produced by Encore Television in collaboration with Quebecor Content, will screen in the Best Fiction Series category at the South International Series Festival in Cadiz, Spain from Sept. 12 to 17.

The 6 x 43-minute series was created by Pierre-Louis Sanschagrin, directed by Stéphane Lapointe and stars Mylène Mackay and Pascale Bussières. It was released on Illico+ on Dec. 5, 2024. Encore Television-Distribution is the series’ world sales agent.

Corbeaux – the sole Canadian screening at the festival – follows a veteran investigator teaming up with a young rebellious peer to solve a murder.

In January, the drama was also chosen as part of the European Film Market’s Berlinale Series Market Selects.

Image courtesy of Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival