✖

Kelly Townsend

Kelly Townsend is the editor at Playback, with previous experience in B2B and entertainment journalism. Before joining the Playback team in 2018, she worked in the editorial, marketing and communication departments at B2B publisher Dovetail Communications. She has a bachelor's degree in English from York University and is a graduate of Humber College’s journalism program. Her byline has appeared in IndieWire and she spent several years covering Canadian TV as associate editor of The TV Junkies.

Posts by Kelly Townsend

Nova Scotia takes the spotlight with Moonshine

Creator Sheri Elwood shares how the semi-autobiographical series came to life and how it’s part of a growing revival of the province’s film industry.

November 3, 2021

ImagineNATIVE artistic director departs

Niki Little first joined the Indigenous film festival in 2019 alongside executive director Naomi Johnson.

November 2, 2021

EXCLUSIVE: Tara Woodbury tapped as Netflix’s first Canadian content exec

The former Sphere Media development exec begins mid-November, reporting to Danielle Woodrow, director, Canada series.

November 1, 2021

Lionsgate’s Kevin Beggs elected as Banff World Media Festival chair

The Lionsgate Television Group chairman succeeds former Bell Media president Randy Lennox, who served as chair for three years.

November 1, 2021

Adam Beach, Camille Sullivan lead upcoming B.C. thriller

Production on Exile begins in early November, produced and directed by Vancouver’s Jason James.

October 29, 2021

Wattpad WEBTOON finances three titles with development fund

Popular WEBTOON comic GremoryLand is among the titles set for early development, with novelist Gabriel Bergmoser attached to adapt it for film.

October 28, 2021

Crave launches mobile-only plan as it adjusts tiered prices

The Bell Media-owned OTT has done away with tiered pricing to make its content available to all subscribers, with a $9.99 price for mobile-only plans.

October 28, 2021

Pier 21 Films’ strategic focus on fresh comedic voices

Founder Laszlo Barna and COO Nicole Butler share how Run the Burbs is part of a longer strategy to attract global buyers with in-demand domestic talent.

October 27, 2021

Pablo Rodriguez to return to Canadian Heritage portfolio

The Heritage portfolio has changed hands at a critical time for the audiovisual sector with the Liberals expected to table new legislation for the Broadcasting Act in the coming months.

October 26, 2021

Rogers stock price falls amid battle of the boards

The company’s inner turmoil went public over the weekend as former chairman Edward Rogers attempts to overhaul the board of directors.

October 25, 2021

Corus Studios expands global sales team

The Corus Entertainment-owned studio hit 1,300 hours of content sales in the previous fiscal year, with more than 70 hours already sold in Q1.

October 25, 2021

Underrepresented writers lost ground amid reduced commissions in 2020: report

The Writers Guild of Canada’s updated Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Report shows members from underrepresented communities saw a mix of small gains and losses in opportunities.

October 22, 2021