The Canadian Media Producers Association’s (CMPA) annual Indiescreen Awards are returning in-person this year at a new home at the Whistler Film Festival.

The awards ceremony will take place on Dec. 2, midway through the Nov. 30 to Dec. 4 festival, to name the winners of the Established Producer and Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer prizes. It is presented in partnership with Telefilm Canada.

The CMPA has also doubled the cash prize amount for the two awards, increasing the Established Producer to $20,000 (up from $10,000) and the Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer to $10,000 (up from $5,000). The awards honour an experienced producer’s lifetime achievements and an emerging producer’s promising start, respectively.

Reynolds Mastin, president and CEO of the CMPA, stated that the increase was made to “recognize the inspirational work of Canada’s independent feature film producers, and the incredible complexities they face in bringing stories to the screen.”

The move to Whistler marks the first time the awards will take place in B.C., according to a CMPA spokesperson, with the association planning to hold the event in different locations across the country in future years.

Applications for the annual awards are now open, with eligibility available to an individual who has served as a lead producer or producing team on a “Canadian feature film that has or will premiere in the 2022 calendar year.” The deadline is Sept. 22.

The Indiescreen Awards had previously taken place during the Toronto International Film Festival before the COVID-19 pandemic pushed it online during the CMPA’s virtual Prime Time conference.

Last year’s Indiescreen winners were Karma Film’s Anand Ramayya, earning the Established Producer honour, while Portraits from a Fire producers Kate Kroll, Rylan Friday and Trevor Mack won the Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer prize.

Image: Unsplash