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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

In brief: Blink49 Studios expands L.A.-based scripted team

Plus: RBC unveils a new award for emerging Indigenous filmmakers, and Alanis Obomsawin will world premiere a new film at the International First Peoples Festival.

August 5, 2022

HBO Max, Discovery+ merger not planned for Canada

Warner Bros. Discovery intends to consolidate the streaming services in the U.S. market in summer 2023.

August 5, 2022

CMPA brings Indiescreen Awards to Whistler

The association has also doubled the cash prizes for both the Established Producer and Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer awards.

August 4, 2022

ISO sets three-year strategic plan

The organization has also released its 2021/22 annual report, outlining the allocation of $13 million in federal funding.

August 4, 2022

ARRAY Releasing acquires Thyrone Tommy’s Learn to Swim

The drama feature will be released on Netflix and select theatres in the U.S., U.K., Australia and New Zealand on Aug. 15.

August 3, 2022

Telefilm launches authentic storytelling survey

The survey will aid in Telefilm’s plan to create a subcommittee tasked with forming industry guidelines and best practices around authentic storytelling.

August 3, 2022

Federgreen Entertainment adds head of development

For the Sake of Vicious filmmaker Reese Eveneshen will work with Avi Federgreen to boost the prodco’s development capacity for emerging talent and genre titles.

August 2, 2022

Blue Ant Media promotes FAST strategy, acquisitions leaders

Craig Junner and Andrea Harrick have moved up within the global media division to further drive its FAST expansion.

August 2, 2022

CMPA adds voice to CBC/Radio-Canada licence review calls

The producer’s association wants the Federal Court of Appeal to review the CRTC’s decision to remove certain exhibition and expenditure requirements for CBC.

July 29, 2022

Ashgrove grows with U.K. distribution deal

EXCLUSIVE: London-based (Yet) Another Distribution Company has acquired the Jeremy LaLonde-directed thriller to release in tandem with the U.S. and Canada.

July 28, 2022

TIFF CEO previews conversation-sparking festival lineup

TIFF ’22: The 47th edition has unveiled a raft of world premieres among its gala and special presentations, including Canada/U.S. copro Alice, Darling and Uninterrupted Canada documentary Black Ice.

July 28, 2022

CMF allocates $7.3M to English, French docs via POV program

The funder will open a second round of the program for French-language docs in September due to a leftover $1.1 million in funds.

July 27, 2022