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Event of the Year 2020: Canada’s film festivals
The organizers from some of Canada’s top film festivals look back on the herculean task of pivoting to digital during the pandemic and try to predict what’s in store for 2021.
Dealmaker of the Year 2020: Bruno Dube
With a pair of savvy and opportunistic acquisitions in 2020, the Sphere Media principal is quietly building an indie-production empire to be reckoned with in the global marketplace.
Trailblazer of the Year 2020: Jesse Wente
The influence of the executive director of the Indigenous Screen Office has never been greater since stepping into a new role as the chair of the Canada Council of the Arts this summer for a five-year term.
Boat Rocker folds Temple Street into scripted division
Kerry Appleyard has been named as SVP, creative affairs, at Boat Rocker Studios, Scripted, effective today, as Boat Rocker Media retires the Temple Street banner.
CBC sets winter 2021 lineup
New titles on the schedule include Humour Resources, Pretty Hard Cases, Anyone’s Game and Arctic Vets.
Corus slates eOne’s Project Bakeover for winter 2021
Fronted by Steve Hodge and Tiffany Pratt, the show is eOne’s first cooking show since Chopped Canada, which went off the air nearly four years ago.
Sarah Polley to direct Women Talking starring Frances McDormand
Polley will write and direct the feature adaptation of Miriam Toews’ bestselling novel.
Hot Sheet: Digital Demand for Dec. 8 to 14, 2020
The Mandalorian leads, followed by The Crown at #2 and Animaniacs at #3 on the Digital Original list.
Breakout Star of the Year 2020: Hamza Haq
The star of CTV’s Transplant has emerged as one of Canadian television’s leading lights, garnering international acclaim and shifting the way Muslims have historically been portrayed on screen.
Blue Ant Media launches HauntTV on The Roku Channel
The media company views its debut in the FAST market as a unique offering in Canada.
Tyson Hepburn launches new production banner
Holly Brace-Lavoie has also joined the new entity, Tyson Media, which has put out a call for submissions for unique unscripted series ideas.
In brief: Project 10 partners with BIPOC TV & Film on comedy accelerator
Plus: Wattpad readies production for three original series in Indonesia and Shaftesbury supports a new creative writer residency at Victoria College.
Canadian Moment of the Year 2020: Schitt’s Creek’s Emmy sweep
The historic Schitt’s Sweep was the height of a game-changing year for Canadian television as international appetite for Cancon climbed to new heights.
Playback’s 10 to Watch: Shazia Javed
The founder of prodco LifeSketch Media has recently seen success with her documentary 3 Seconds Divorce and her Breakthrough Development Award.
Production Company of the Year 2020: SEVEN24 Films
Tom Cox and Jordy Randall feared the pandemic could spell the end for SEVEN24. Here’s how they adapted, rebuilt their entire production slate and put themselves in a position to grow in 2021 as the industry navigates insurance issues, Bill C-10 and more.
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