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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

Ontario adds pandemic-related tax credit extensions, flexibility in 2020 budget

Domestic and service productions impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic have received a number of extensions in provincial tax credits in the budget, which also promises action on film classification.

November 6, 2020

Ontario’s new COVID-19 measures call theatre reopenings into question

MTAC stated the government has “disregarded” evidence of the safety of cinemas as new rules revoke previous exemptions for patron capacity.

November 4, 2020

Telefilm’s program spend hits $102M in 2019/20

The funder saw an overall 6% decrease in spend in its most recent fiscal year, but an increase in the number of feature films supported.

November 3, 2020

Allan Ungar readies Flying Bandit biopic

Josh Duhamel has signed on to star and executive produce a biopic based on one of Canada’s most notorious bank robbers, produced by Montreal’s Goldrush Entertainment.

November 2, 2020

EXCLUSIVE: Lark Productions hires Nicole Mendes as VP, scripted development

The former CBC exec is making the move to indie production as she oversees the Vancouver prodco’s development strategy and growing slate of projects.

November 2, 2020

Trickster to make its U.S. debut on The CW

The deal was announced the same week the U.S. network picked up additional seasons of CBC scripted dramas Coroner and Burden of Truth.

October 30, 2020

CBC recruits Jon Dore, Just for Laughs to Humour Resources

Remote production has wrapped on the 6 x 30-minute series, starring Jon Dore as a retired comedian who makes money as an HR manager for comedians.

October 29, 2020

Playback’s 10 to Watch: Asis Sethi

Filmmaker Asis Sethi is a full package deal, using her skills as a journalist and graphic designer to create acclaimed festival shorts that won’t shy away from heavy or taboo subjects.

October 28, 2020

Canadian Academy opens equity and inclusion fund

The fund will help support initiatives such as membership subsidies and reduced entry fees to cut industry barriers and introduce anti-racism training.

October 27, 2020

Gave Lindo to lead TikTok’s Canadian content strategy

The former CBC exec will lead the social media platform’s strategy and operations in Canada, and pilot a team dedicated to increasing its Canadian user base and engagement.

October 26, 2020

Cineplex to bring Monkey Beach to theatres across Canada

The supernatural film, produced and directed by Loretta Todd, opens in additional B.C. locations today and will release in cities across Canada on Oct. 30.

October 23, 2020

CRTC orders Bell to pay $17.9M to production funders after spending misallocation

The CRTC says Bell used its community programming money to cross-promote commercial properties as well as fund its local news stations and independent producer fees.

October 23, 2020