March Alumni Updates: Audiences Find Comfort in CanCon

By Cory Angeletti-Szasz ● March 31, 2020 10:30

This March, maybe more than ever before, CanCon is keeping audiences company, as viewers all over the world look to it for entertainment and solace while they practice social and physical distancing to help stop the spread of COVID-19. In the middle of a very uncertain and unprecedented time, Canadian creators, including numerous CFC alumni, are bringing people joy, escapism, comfort and distraction through their work on numerous TV shows, web series, films and in music. They are also coming up with new ways to connect with individuals and audiences digitally as in-person interactions remain off-limits. We’re proud of our alumni content, and that these creators keep forging ahead and creating even in these strange and scary circumstances. We encourage you to support Canadian creators by watching and sharing their content. Read on for the latest updates from our alumni.

Pugly: A Pug's Life

AWARDS & NOMINATIONS

• Our annual reception in L.A. (originally scheduled for March 18) was cancelled in response to COVID-19; we look forward to celebrating Brad Peyton’s accomplishments and presenting him with the 2020 CFC Award for Creative Excellence in the coming months
• Nine alumni were nominated for 2020 WGC Screenwriting Awards; the award ceremony has been cancelled, but the award winners will be announced in time to correspond with the original ceremony date (April 27)
• Clebs, edited by Xi Feng, won two jury prizes at 2020 Berlinale: the Crystal Bear for Best Short Film, and the Special Prize of the Generation 14plus International Jury for Best Short Film

Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker

WATCHLIST: ALUMNI FILMS, TV SHOWS, WEB SERIES & NEW MUSIC

TELEVISION

• Catch Actors Conservatory alumna Zahra Bentham in Netflix’s limited series Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker, now available to stream on Netflix Canada
• Tune in to Citytv’s new original drama series, The Wedding Planners (which premiered on Friday, March 27) to see Actors Conservatory alumna Kimberly-Sue Murray; the show also features songs By Your Side and Changing Tides by Slaight Family Music Lab alumni songwriting and composing duo Ashley Jane and Timon Wientzek
• Emma Campbell is the producer and a writer on My Perfect Landing, which premiered on Family Channel earlier this month, with casting by Nicole Hilliard-Forde
• Following the series finale (yes, series!) of Schitt’s Creek on April 7 on CBC, you can catch CBC Actors Conservatory alumna Annie Murphy in Best Wishes, Warmest Regards: A Schitt’s Creek Farewell, a 90-minute special featuring interviews with key creatives and footage of table reads, audition tapes and moments from the comedy’s last day on set

FILM

• Canadian Strain, from writer/director Geordie Sabbagh, is now available on digital and on demand in Canada (after a last-minute distribution change following theatre closures), like iTunes
• The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open, from alumnae co-writers and co-directors Kathleen Hepburn and Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers and produced by Lori Lozinski, is now available in Canada on Apple TV and iTunes
• James vs His Future Self,co-written/directed by Jeremy LaLonde and produced by Jordan Walker, skipped its planned theatrical release, and will be available on digital and on demand (iTunes, Bell and Shaw) on Friday, April 3 (and later on will also land on Rogers and Telus)
• Ingrid Veninger has created an international female collective, which includes fellow CFC alumnae Jennifer Podemski, Slater Jewell-Kemker, Isa Benn and Mina Shum, to defy coronavirus with an anthology project
• The theatrical release of Blood Quantum (written and directed by Jeff Barnaby, produced by John Christou, and starring Actors Conservatory alumna Devery Jacobs) originally scheduled for March 27 has been delayed due to COVID-19; in the meantime, here’s an interview with Jeff Barnaby

MUSIC

• Slaight Family Music Lab alumnus Neil Haverty’s band Bruce Peninsula has a new album, No Earthly Sound, now available for pre-order
• Another Slaight Family Music Lab alumnus, Jason Couse, one half of the duo that makes up the band The Darcys, has released new music

Lots of additional Canadian content is just a click away on platforms like:

• CBC Gem
  • Race, featuring CBC Actors Conservatory alumnus Giacomo Gianniotti, is now available
  • Cory Bowles’ Black Cop will be available on April 10
• iTunes
• Crave: now offering a 30-day streaming trial to Canadians!
  • Stream Cardinal (featuring tons of alumni involvement!) seasons 1 through 3 now, before the new season drops on April 6^th!
• Netflix Canada
• The National Film Board

The 2019 Bell Media Prime Time TV Program residents (L-R): Rose Napoli, Lori-Ann Russell, Henry Campbell, Ian Steaman, Amy Halloran and Imogen Grace

ALUMNI INDUSTRY NEWS

• On March 11 we hosted the 2019 Bell Media Prime Time TV Showcase and celebrated six talented writers – Henry Campbell, Imogen Grace, Amy Halloran, Rose Napoli, Lori-Ann Russell and Ian Steaman – and their completion of the program!
• Alumnus Warren P. Sonoda launched Instagram Live chats, “Cooped-Up Creatives,” during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he spoke with various creatives in Canada’s screen industry and (remotely) brought people together to continue championing and exploring Canadian content; more info on Instagram at @shootgoodfilms and Twitter threads of the chats at @reelcultureca
• Sarah Polley has been named 2020 ACTRA National Woman of the Year
• The UBCP/ACTRA Women's Committee named Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers as the International Women's Day honouree, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the Union, the industry, and causes of social justice
• Actors Conservatory alumnus Brandon McKnight’s character on The Flash, Chester P. Runk, has been promoted to series regular for Season 7
• Four CBC Actors Conservatory alumni (Vivien Endicott-Douglas, Araya Mengesha, Ajuawak Kapashesit, and Getenesh Berhe) participated in a full-day table read as part of the 2020 TIFF Writers’ Studio; find more about this in March News from TIFF Industry
• ICYMI: Elle Canada called CBC Actors Conservatory alumna Humberly González a Canadian actress rising to the top
• Read: Danishka Esterhazy on sci-fi and directing on the new series Vagrant Queen, which airs on Sunday nights on Citytv
• Read: Transplant writer (and Bell Media Prime Time TV Program alumna!) Rachel Langer on the sacrifices required to deliver a script

Alumni! Do you have news to share? Want to update your alumni profile? Get in touch anytime at alumni@cfccreates.com

Cory Angeletti-Szasz

Interim Director, Marketing & Communications

Cory Angeletti-Szasz