The drama series Rise of the Raven (pictured) from Canadian producer Robert Lantos will make its debut screening at the 40th edition of MIPCOM in Cannes on Oct. 22.

Rise of the Raven is an 11-episode drama is set in 15th century Europe. Executive Producers include Tibor Krsko, Cecilia Hazai, Kinga Hazai and Koby Gal Raday, with Ari Lantos as producer. Hungary’s Balázs Lengyel is the series showrunner.

The series is produced by Toronto’s Serendipity Point Films, Beta Film, Twin Media, HG Media and MR Film, coproduced by Hungary’s TV2 Network and Austrian public broadcaster ORF, and supported by the National Film Institute of Hungary. Beta Film is distributing Rise of the Raven internationally.

Canadian films to screen at the 29th Busan International Film Festival

Matthew Rankin’s Universal Language is being screened as part of the Busan International Film Festival’s World Cinema program. The feature has generated buzz after being selected as Canada’s submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025 Academy Awards.

Produced by Sylvain Corbeil from Montreal’s Metafilms, Universal Language is distributed in Quebec by Maison 4:3 and the rest of Canada by levelFILM.

Arianna Martinez’s debut feature Do I Know Your From Somewhere? (Strike Pictures) will screen in competition as part of the festival’s Flash Forward program, which shows first or second features from non-Asian filmmakers. Vortex Media is the Canadian distributor.

World premiering as part of Busan’s Wide Angle short film showcase is the 17-minute drama Ash Valley: Janyl from Calgary-born filmmaker Shu Zhu. Produced by Sultan Pirzhan (East Wind Production), the film is a Canada-Kyrgyzstan copro with funding from the Canada Arts Council.

Busan runs from Oct. 2 to 11.

Sustainable Production Forum to host certification workshops in Toronto

A first-of-its-kind Sustainable Production for Entertainment Certification (SPEC) will be given to 30 participants during the Sustainable Production Forum (SPF) Toronto on Sept. 23.

The selected individuals will receive training to become certified on-set sustainability managers and coordinators, a program supported by Amazon MGM Studios and U.S. Green Building Council California.

This environmental certification combines professional development with training that will apply cross-functionally as an industry standard.

This program joins another new program, the SPF24 Education Partner Program, a knowledge-sharing opportunity for faculty and students working in film, media arts and culture-related environmental sciences fields to increase their skills in decarbonization and sustainability in film and TV.

Allana Harkin, Robin Duke recognized at the Firecracker Department Awards

The Firecracker Department will present Allana Harkin and Robin Duke with the Blaze Award and the RedPoint Award, respectively, at the annual Firecracker Department TIFF Brunch on Sept. 7 in Toronto.

The Blaze Award will be presented to Harkin, an Emmy Award-winning producer, director and correspondent known for her work on Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. The award is presented annually to an artist who exemplifies creative excellence and demonstrates an impressive body of work across various platforms.

The RedPoint Award will be awarded to Duke, and recognizes those over the age of 50 who continue to create impactful and inspiring art. Actor and comedian Duke, a Saturday Night Live and SCTV alumna, has left her mark on the comedy world and continues to contribute to the industry as a writer and mentor.

The Firecracker Department is a community-driven creative collective supporting female and non-binary artists.

Photo by Kristof Galgoczi Nemeth