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Awards, Featured

Nominations for the 2025 WGC Screenwriting Awards announced

From a media release:

Recognizing the talent behind the most engaging and powerful Canadian-made series, films, and shorts, the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) is pleased to announce the nominations for the 29th annual WGC Screenwriting Awards. The Awards will take place at Koerner Hall in Toronto on Monday, April 28, co-hosted by Andrew Phung and Jonathan Langdon, and written by Anthony Q. Farrell.

In contention for the 2025 awards are scripts from Late Bloomer (Lakna Edirisinghe, Jagjiwan Sohal, Shebli Zarghami), Allegiance (Anar Ali, Sarah Dodd, Mark Ellis, Penny Gummerson, Stephanie Morgenstern), Open Season: Call of Nature (Mike Girard, Joel Buxton, Tom Berger), Popularity Papers (Kyah Green, JP Larocque, Vivian Lin), Wilfred Buck (Lisa Jackson), Sharp Corner (Jason Buxton), and many others.

Please see the complete list of categories and nominees below.

In addition to the 10 featured screenwriting categories, one WGC member will be awarded the prestigious Showrunner Award, a special prize honouring a recognized showrunner who has demonstrated great writing and leadership skills. Other special prizes will be awarded, including the Jim Burt Screenwriting Prize, and the Sondra Kelly Award, which is generously supported by AFBS.

New this year, the Margaret Collier Award will be presented as part of the WGC Screenwriting Awards, with supporting partner, the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television (the Canadian Academy). Started in 1986 by the Canadian Academy at the annual Gemini Awards, and then as part of the Canadian Screen Awards in 2013, the Margaret Collier Award honours a Canadian writer or team of writers for their outstanding body of work in film or television. This distinguished award is named after Margaret Collier, who began her career at ACTRA in 1964, and played a pivotal role in establishing the Writers Guild of Canada, serving as its first Executive Director from 1991 to 1994.

CHILDREN’S

  • Camp Snoopy, “Sally’s Tooth” | Written by Carly DeNure
  • Hamsters of Hamsterdale, “The Potato King” | Written by Madeleine Patton
  • Open Season: Call of Nature, “Cash Camp Pt 1 & 2” | Written by Mike Girard
  • Open Season: Call of Nature, “Squirrel Down” | Written by Joel Buxton
  • Open Season: Call of Nature, “What a Chinook” | Written by Tom Berger
  • Zokie of Planet Ruby, “Los Muchos Amores de Earl” | Written by Dan Dillabough

COMEDY SERIES

  • Children Ruin Everything, “Bedtime” | Written by Andrew De Angelis
  • Don’t Even, “Skidmark, My Heart” | Written by Eva Thomas
  • Late Bloomer, “Heat Check” | Written by Lakna Edirisinghe
  • Late Bloomer, “The Turban” | Written by Jagjiwan Sohal
  • Late Bloomer, “Turn Down for What” | Written by Shebli Zarghami
  • Sort of, “Sort of Hospital Again” | Written by Tricia Fish

DRAMA SERIES

  • Allegiance, “8 x 6” | Written by Mark Ellis & Stephanie Morgenstern
  • Allegiance, “The Legacy” | Written by Penny Gummerson
  • Allegiance, “Pilot” | Written by Anar Ali
  • Allegiance, “Safe Harbours” | Written by Anar Ali & Sarah Dodd
  • Murdoch Mysteries, “Rhapsody in Blood” | Written by Christina Ray
  • Wild Cards, “The Infinity Thief” | Written by Michael Konyves

DOCUMENTARY

  • Altona | Written by Heath Affolter, Nathan Affolter, Thomas Affolter, and Jon Affolter
  • Botanical Jungle, “Peony Extravaganza” | Written by Thomas Conway & Michael Sykora
  • Wilfred Buck | Written by Lisa Jackson

FEATURE FILM

  • The Invisibles | Story by Andrew Currie/Screenplay by Andrew Currie & Colin Aussant
  • Out Come the Wolves | Story by Joris Jarsky, Adam MacDonald, and Enuka Okuma/Screenplay by Enuka Okuma
  • Sharp Corner | Written by Jason Buxton
  • We Forgot to Break Up | Story by Pat Mills & Zoe Whittall/Screenplay by Noel Baker

MOW & MINISERIES

  • Gilded Newport Mysteries: Murder at the Breakers | Written by Keri Ferencz
  • Guess Who | Written by Matt Wells, Ian Carpenter, and Aaron Martin
  • Legend of the Lost Locket | Written by Michelle Ricci

PRESCHOOL

  • Dylan’s Playtime Adventures, “Dylan the Firefighter” | Written by Emer Connon
  • Go Togo, “Arctic Chill” | Written by Celeste Koon
  • Let’s Go, Bananas!, “Yelloween” | Written by Brandon Hackett
  • Let’s Go, Bananas!, “Papa the Daddy” | Written By Aaron Eves
  • Luna, Chip & Inkie Adventure Rangers Go, “Lights, Camera, Save Eagle Creek!” | Written by Shelley Hoffman & Robert Pincombe
  • Luna, Chip & Inkie Adventure Rangers Go, “Who’s Your Mama?” | Written by Tony Tran
  • Vida the Vet, “Kipp’s Dizzy Mystery” | Written by Gillian Pike

SHORT FILMS (UNDER 60 MINUTES)

  • Jim Henson’s The Storyteller – The Seven Ravens | Written by Simon Racioppa
  • Let Me In | Written by Joel Buxton
  • Memento Mori | Written by Emily Hurson & Andrew Moodie

SHORT SERIES (EPISODES UNDER 15 MINUTES)

  • Get Up Aisha, “Exercise” | Written by Nisha Khan, Rabiya Mansoor, and Marushka Almeida
  • Near or Far, “The Phone Call” | Written by Duana Taha
  • Nesting, “Money” | Written by Rosa Laborde
  • Space Janitors, “Clones War” | Written by Brendan Halloran
  • Stories from my Gay Grandparents, “Dodging Balls” | Written by Perrie Voss & Scott Farley

TWEEN & TEENS

  • Davey & Jonesie’s Locker, “Orange is the New Snack” | Written by Evany Rosen
  • Media Stamped, “What’s in a Frame?” | Written by Nicole Stamp
  • Popularity Papers, “Let’s Sick Together” | Written by JP Larocque & Vivian Lin
  • Popularity Papers, “Odds Squads” | Written by Kyah Green & Vivian Lin
  • Popularity Papers, “The Wonderful Wizard of Mapleview Part 2” | Written by Vivian Lin
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Featured, North of North

Indigenous stories, characters and cast front and centre in CBC’s charming North of North

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It’s hard to re-invent yourself, especially when you live in a small town, where everyone knows you. How can you convince a community that you shouldn’t be pigeonholed or dismissed? And how do you do it with an air of positivity and humour?

That’s the premise behind North of North, CBC’s newest comedy.

Airing Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on CBC and CBC Gem (and the spring on Netflix), North of North stars Anna Lambe (True Detective, Trickster) as Siaja, a young Inuk mother who strives to be something other than the wife of her self-absorbed husband, Ting (Kelly William). So, she exits her marriage, moves herself and her daughter in with her mother, Neevee (Maika Harper), and chases down a job at the community centre in fictional Ice Cove, Nunavut.

With so much upheaval in her life, one could assume North of North is dark and dour. It’s anything but. Created by Stacey Aglok MacDonald (Qanurli, The Grizzlies) and Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (Angry Inuk, The Grizzlies) and produced alongside executive producer Miranda de Pencier (Anne with an E, The Grizzlies), North of North is jam-packed with quips and comedy, largely due to lead Lambe, whose presence jumps off the screen.

“I was honestly so terrified of comedy,” Lambe says during a recent interview. “So much Indigenous film and television [is drama-based], and I think that’s important and necessary, but comedy was one of those things where it was either going to hit or it’s going to miss so bad that maybe it will be funny.” Add to that the fact the series was filmed in Iqaluit, Lambe’s hometown, and surrounded by background cast that knows her, and the pressure was on.

She need not have worried. Lambe’s Siaja is charming and fun to watch on screen. Siaja’s repartee with Neevee is funny and irreverent (their relationship seems more sisterly than mother-daughter), innocent flirting with the handsome Kuuk (Braeden Clarke) smile-inducing and awkward conversations with Alistair (Jay Ryan), laugh-inducing.

Yes, there are nods to colonialism and residential schools in the dialogue, but they are often used for comic effect in scripts and storylines.

“There was a real challenge to finding what the final tone of the show was going to be and having someone fail so publicly,” Lambe says. “But one of the things I love so much about the show is how authentic it is about how we get through life.

“The only way out of a bad situation is through the bad situation and why not laugh along the way? Why not try to find those funny moments?”

North of North airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on CBC and CBC Gem.

Images courtesy of CBC.

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Featured, Industry News

Buffalo Gal Pictures sparks a global “Fiasco” on 30th anniversary

From a media release:

Celebrating 30 years of industry acclaim, Buffalo Gal Pictures proudly announces the launch of sister enterprise Fiasco Global Media. A new television development company dedicated to creating rich, character-driven stories rooted in the spirit of working-class communities and rural prairies, Fiasco is designed to connect with viewers across the globe.

Headquartered in Winnipeg and Los Angeles, the company is poised to expand Buffalo Gal’s international reach while staying true to its creative roots. 

Fiasco Global Media is led by Jennifer Beasley (above), a former writer-turned-seasoned executive producer whose credits include Less Than Kind, Cra$h & Burn, The Spencer Sisters, the hit comedy Acting Good, and the 2024 horror satire Rumours, starring Cate Blanchett. Fiasco, under Beasley’s leadership, will focus on characters and stories that immerse audiences in compelling worlds and create cultural touchstones.

Fiasco’s slate is growing, with the company picking up IP that will attract talent and deliver a mix of escapism and resonance. Early projects include a rural half-hour family workplace comedy series from acclaimed writer Garry Campbell (North of North, Kids in the Hall, Less Than Kind) and a comedic two-hander police procedural from Hollis Ludlow-Carroll, creator of Wong & Winchester.

Joining Beasley as Consulting Head of U.S. Series Development is Burrad Marsh, whose career began at ICM as a literary agent before he transitioned into television development. Marsh has held key executive roles at Alchemy, Shed Media, Outright Distribution, and Amaze Film & TV, developing and producing series for broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms. He also consults for the Canadian Consulate on cross-border content initiatives.

For more information, visit fiascoglobal.com.

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Featured, Reality, Lifestyle & Documentary

Get ready to laugh again! AMI’s second All Access Comedy special debuts February 7 on AMI-tv and AMI+

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From a media release:

After a successful first All Access Comedy, Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) and Pilot Light Productions, in association with Ha!ifax ComedyFest, are excited to announce the second special—hosted by international comic superstar D.J. Demers—debuts Friday, February 7, at 9 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv and AMI+.

All Access Comedy is a stand-up special like no other, with comedians from the disability community coming together to celebrate their unique outlook on life for a packed audience of all abilities.

What is it like to use hearing aids? What are the challenges associated with cerebral palsy? What is it like to navigate the world when you are blind? What is it like to process life on the Autism Spectrum? All Access Comedy answers these questions and many more. The performances are observational, insightful and laugh-out-loud funny.

All Access Comedy is hosted by JUNO-nominated stand-up comedy veteran D.J. Demers (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Conan), who starred in his own AMI/CBC series One More Time, currently available on AMI+, in 2024. When he’s not busy with TV projects, Demers tours extensively on the comedy club circuit in both Canada and the U.S.

All Access Comedy features performances by Ontario comic and motivational speaker Michael McCreary, who started performing at 12 years of age, channeling his experiences on the Autism Spectrum into comedy gold; Toronto-based comedian Joze Piranian, originally from Lebanon, who jokes that as a child, his speech impediment obliged him to stutter in four different languages; Toronto writer and performer Dan Barra-Berger, who knows what it’s like to navigate Canada’s biggest city using a white cane; and New York City-based American comedian Tina Friml, who started her career at small-town comedy clubs in Vermont and now tours extensively, including appearing on network late-night shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.

All Access Comedy was recorded in front of a live audience at the Spatz Theatre in Halifax as part of the 2024 Ha!ifax ComedyFest. Arrangements were made to meet the needs of the diverse audience in attendance. Rows of seats were removed to create prime viewing spots for wheelchair users. A simultaneous subtitling system (CART) was provided on-site to assist Deaf and/or hard of hearing audience members. To accommodate American Sign Language users, a live ASL interpreter was on stage. The live production was overseen by a professional Accessibility Coordinator at both the planning and execution stages.

All Access Comedy debuts Friday, February 7, at 9 p.m. Eastern on AMI-tv and AMI+.

Stream the first All Access Comedy special anytime, for free, on AMI+.

All Access Comedy is produced by Halifax-based Pilot Light Productions.

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Featured

Tubi CEO Anjali Sud first keynote announced for the 2025 Banff World Media Festival

From a media release:

The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) is thrilled to announce Anjali Sud, CEO of Tubi, as the first confirmed keynote speaker for its 2025 BANFF Summit Series. Recognized as a dynamic leader in streaming and media innovation, Sud will take center stage as the first announced speaker at the 46th annual event, running June 8–11, 2025, at the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta, Canada.

The BANFF Summit Series, launched in 2019, has become the festival’s flagship program, spotlighting transformative thinkers and leaders shaping the future of media and entertainment. Sud’s keynote promises to offer invaluable insights into the evolving streaming landscape, drawing on her groundbreaking leadership at Tubi, one of the fastest-growing streaming platforms in the world.

“Audiences around the globe increasingly value a premium entertainment experience that is also 100% free, fun and reflective of culture,” said Anjali Sud, CEO, Tubi. “Tubi has built a large and growing fanbase by putting viewers first, and I’m excited to share our perspective at the Banff World Media Festival this year.”

“Anjali Sud is a leader whose impact on the media and entertainment industry exemplifies the innovation and bold thinking that BANFF celebrates,” said Sean Cohan, Chair of the Board of Directors, BANFF, and President of Bell Media. “Her insights will set the tone for a dynamic and forward-looking conversation about the future of media.”

Additional keynotes for the festival in June will be announced in the coming months. Past Summit Series speakers include Rob Wade, Channing Dungey, Bela Bajaria, George Cheeks, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Paula Kerger, Pearlena Igbokwe, Ted Sarandos and Maverick Carter, to name a few.

BANFF is renowned for its vibrant mix of thought leadership, networking, and deal-making opportunities that take attendees behind the scenes of the industry’s most talked-about appointments, projects and pivots as well as over 1,200 networking sessions and 25,000+ meetings, connecting global media professionals to foster partnerships and spark new collaborations.

“Anjali Sud’s impressive leadership at Tubi is inspiring, and we can’t wait to hear her viewpoints on the global industry, from our main stage,” said Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director, Banff World Media Festival. “BANFF is a vital meeting point for film and TV players from across the world, and our team is more focused than ever on bringing the most innovative and exciting business and creative minds to the Festival in June.”

Returning to the program is the highly anticipated Rockie Awards International Program Competition, one of the world’s most prestigious screen industry competitions, with participation from more than 45+ countries annually including an international jury of 150 industry professionals. In addition, the industry-favourite Rockies Gala will return to celebrate the best content and most influential entertainment industry executives, talent and creators in the world.

About Anjali Sud
Anjali Sud is CEO of Tubi, America’s most watched free TV and movie streaming service. Under Sud’s leadership the company has exhibited exciting growth and momentum, scaling to over 80 million monthly active viewers, expanding globally and solidifying its position as a major entertainment destination.

Prior to Tubi, Anjali served as CEO of Vimeo (NASDAQ:VMEO), the global online video platform. During her six year tenure she took the company public and established Vimeo as the home for video creators and professionals worldwide, building a community of over 300 million users. Before that, she held various positions in e-commerce and media at Amazon and Time Warner.

Anjali has been featured in Fortune’s 40 under 40, Crain’s 40 under 40, Adweek’s Power List, Variety’s Power of Women, and The Hollywood Reporter’s Next Gen Under 35. She is a designated Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum and a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute. She serves on the board of directors of Dolby Laboratories (NYSE:DLB) and as Chair of the board of Change.org. Anjali grew up in Flint, Michigan, and lives in New York City with her husband and two young sons.

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