Canadian projects took home two out of nine Diversify TV Awards at this year’s MIPCOM.

Moncton, N.B.-based Bellefeuille Production’s Y a une étoile, distributed by FilmOption International, was awarded for Best Representation LGBTQIA+ – Non-scripted. Originally airing on UnisTV, the musical documentary focuses on a young transgender musician exploring the works of Angèle Arsenault.

In children’s programming, Toronto’s Sinking Ship Entertainment won the preschool representation award with Wordsville. Commissioned by TVOKids and PBS, the show focuses on two children solving word-related mysteries in their town.

Sinking Ship Entertainment was also nominated in the representation category for older children for Family Channel’s Beyond Black Beauty, backed by Leif Films and Saga Films. In the same category was Toronto-based Lopii Productions’ Dream It To Be It.

AMI-tv’s The Squeaky Wheel: Canada (TSW Productions, Hitsby Entertainment) was also nominated for scripted disability representation.

Four Canadian films will have their world premiere at Cinemania

Marie-Claude Fournier’s documentary The Athlete (Trio Orange) is one of four Canadian films set to have their world premiere at the Cinemania French Film Festival in Montreal.

The French, English and Haitian Creole-language film focuses on Stevens Dorcelus, a Montrealer of Haitian origin set on Olympics qualification. The Athlete is distributed by Les Films du 3 Mars and will release in Quebec on Dec. 13.

Another film set for a world premiere is Zachary Ayotte’s debut feature Foyers, about a woman, played by Aude Mathieu (That Kind of Summer), and a teenager, played by William Coallier (Jenny), searching for the latter’s biological mother in the Saugenay region of Quebec. The film is produced by Antihoraire Médias and distributed by K-Films Amérique, both based in Montreal.

Next is Marche au pays réel, a documentary from Marie-France L’Ecuyer, focusing on two adventurers on a 91-day journey from southern Quebec to the northernmost point of the province, Cape Wolstenholme. The film is produced by Sainte-Adèle, Que.-based Vital Productions, which is also distributing via Vital Distribution.

Last is Jean-François Leblanc’s Vile and Miserable (Colonelle Films), about a demon who teams up with his human assistant to save their bookstore.

Written by Leblanc and Samuel Cantin, the film is adapted from the eponymous graphic novel by Cantin and distributed by Entract Films.

The 30th edition of Cinemania runs from Nov. 6 to  17.

Made | Nous campaign honours Canadian cultural figures

Late filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallée, Kim’s Convenience star Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and drag artist Priyanka are the subjects of three murals painted as part of the Made | Nous Hometown Hero campaign.

The mural of Vallée — designed by Zek — appears on the Real by Fake building in Montreal, the VFX company which collaborated with the director on several projects; Lee’s mural from Charmaine Wong was added to the Blue Store in the Inglewood neighborhood in Calgary; while Priyanka’s mural from Étienne Dicaire appears at the corner of Church and Wellesley in Toronto’s Gay Village.

The campaign is meant to celebrate the achievements of Canadian talent in their hometowns and raise aware of their work in Canadian communities. As part of the campaign, Made | Nous has donated $5,000 to local charities selected by each honouree or their families. Priyanka’s donation will go to the Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention and 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations; Lee will donate to the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada; with the remaining fund going to the Jean-Marc Vallée Memorial Fund.

Image courtesy of MIPCOM Cannes