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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

Unscripted Series of the Year 2020: Canada’s Drag Race

Viral moments and a spotlight on Canada’s unique drag culture made Canada’s Drag Race an unquestionable hit for Crave and producer Blue Ant Studios.

December 15, 2020

Access Reelworld, CBC partner for francophone expansion

CBC/Radio-Canada will support the film festival’s launch of a French-language landing page for its hiring database to be more inclusive to francophone talent.

December 15, 2020

Crave to debut French-language version of Corner Gas Animated

An all-Quebecois cast has voiced seasons two and three, to be released on Crave on Dec. 18, days after the premiere of the series’ first Christmas special.

December 14, 2020

Telefilm to fund all eligible projects within development program

The film funder expanded the budget for its development streams due to an “overwhelming” number of applicants, allowing all eligible projects to access funding.

December 11, 2020

EXCLUSIVE: PNP ups Sarde Hardie to VP role

Hardie, who first joined the distributor in 2019, will lead its sales and acquisitions strategy as the company moves forward with its production plans in 2021.

December 11, 2020

Allison Williams, Boat Rocker Studios partner for Being Erica remake

The U.S. adaptation will see Williams star and executive produce, with Sex and the City scribes Elisa Zuritsky and Julie Rottenberg on board to write the pilot.

December 10, 2020

TIFF says goodbye to 2020 with its Top Ten list

Festival favourites such as Tracey Deer’s Beans (pictured) and Michelle Latimer’s Inconvenient Indian made the cut, with TIFF to announce release plans at a later date.

December 10, 2020

BANFF brings intersectional focus to Diversity of Voices for 2021

Now entering its fourth year, the 2021 edition will be inclusive to racially diverse candidates of all genders and welcomes the Black Screen Office as a partner.

December 9, 2020

Mark Miller steps down as president of Thunderbird Entertainment

Jennifer Twiner McCarron now assumes the dual title of president and CEO of Thunderbird as Miller stays on with the company in a production-focused role.

December 9, 2020

Schitt’s Creek Emmy win fuels international selling spree

The series is now available in 197 territories as distributor ITV Studios credits its record-breaking Emmy wins for buoyed global interest.

December 8, 2020

Brain Power options Fallen Angels Book Club for crime drama

Rhonda Baraka (pictured) is attached to write and executive produce the project, based on the mystery series from author R. Franklin James.

December 8, 2020

Saloon takes the ‘Scenic’ route with new copro

Blue Ant Studios-owned Saloon Media will coproduce a Bill Nighy-narrated natural history docuseries with U.K. prodco BriteSpark East, handling production in North America.

December 7, 2020