Susanne Serres, the recipient of the 2022 WIDC Feature Film Award from Women In the Director’s Chair, is officially rolling on her winning project.

Celestine has commenced principal photography in Montreal with the first of two shooting blocks. The first will run to the end of March, while the second block will take place in August at a virtual production studio.

The film marks Serres’ feature directorial debut. It was written by Serres and Kim Barr, and is produced by cinematographer Benoit Beaulieu under the Montreal-based banner Slykid. Maison 4:3 is attached as a distributor.

Celestine follows an 18-year-old girl who struggles with coming out to her devoutly religious family and creates an Afro-futuristic graphic novel to cope, until her fictional characters start to bleed into reality.

The graphic art used in the film is created by artist D. Mathieu Cassendo, who uses a “street-Afrofuturistic-accessible style,” according to a spokesperson for the film.

Celestine is supported by Telefilm Canada, along with $250,000 worth of in-kind support provided through the WIDC award. Front Row Insurance Brokers, Entertainment Partners Canada and MELS Studios are among the service providers listed for the 2022 prize. The film’s budget was not disclosed.

Serres and WIDC co-creator Carol Whiteman are executive producers on the film, with Lee Paula Springer as associate producer.

Cast members include Chanel Mings (Motel Paradis), Maxine Denis (Polarized), Thomas Wilkinson Fullerton (Ghosts), Phyllis Gooden (The Bold Type), Nouella Grimes (Crisis), and Ralph Prosper (District 31).

Celestine previously received development support from WIDC’s 2019 Story & Leadership Program. That cohort also included Kim Albright, whose project With Love and a Major Organ had its world premiere at the recently-concluded SXSW festival.

Photo of Susanne Serres courtesy of GAT PR