Telefilm Canada invests nearly $3.6M in 16 Talent to Watch projects

Following funding decisions under the 2026-27 Talent to Watch Program, Telefilm Canada announces an investment of $3,598,068 in 16 feature film projects from emerging filmmakers.

A total of 136 applications were received, representing $31,242,084 in requested funding.

The Talent to Watch Program supports emerging filmmakers seeking to finance the production of their first feature film. This year’s selected projects come through the program’s three streams: the Industry Partner Stream, the Festival Selection Stream and the Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream.

Funded projects

A Handyman (drama)Director and screenwriter: Felipe López GómezProducer: Natalia BernalProvince: OntarioLanguages: English, Spanish, FrenchFilmmaker Apply-Direct Stream

A New Age (drama)Director and screenwriter: Ethan EngProducer: Jackie De NivervilleProvince: OntarioLanguage: EnglishFilmmaker Apply-Direct Stream

À l’ombre de la flamme (documentary)Director, screenwriter and producer: Hélène LebonProvince: Prince Edward IslandLanguages: French, English, JapaneseFilmmaker Apply-Direct Stream and OLMC project*

Coldsnap (horror)Director and screenwriter: Richard PierreProducers: Rachel Bulatovich, Krishna Kolanupaka, Richard PierreProvince: OntarioLanguage: EnglishFilmmaker Apply-Direct Stream

Forget Me Not (drama)Director and screenwriter: Vanessa KingProducer: Megan ThelosenProvince : New BrunswickLanguage: EnglishFilmmaker Apply-Direct Stream

Holako – Dans les yeux de l’infini (drama)Director: Okey BeeschopeScreenwriter: Sarah KéitaProducers: Mamoudou Camara, Okey BeeschopeProvince: QuebecLanguage: FrenchFilmmaker Apply-Direct Stream

Keepers Light (documentary)Director and screenwriter: Maximilian FlintProducer: Samira EblaghiProvince: Nova ScotiaLanguage: EnglishIndustry Partner StreamPartner organization: Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative

Last Fire (drama)Director and screenwriter: Dustin McGladreyProducer: Victoria Juanita Rose Johnnie-MillsProvince: British ColumbiaLanguages: English, Nisga’aFilmmaker Apply-Direct StreamIndigenous component

Looking Glass Hands (documentary)Director and screenwriter: Mika YatsuhashiProducer: Max HolzbergProvince: QuebecLanguages: English, JapaneseFilmmaker Apply-Direct Stream and OLMC project*

Matrimoine (drama)Director, screenwriter and producer: Sara BourdeauProvince: QuebecLanguage: FrenchIndustry Partner StreamPartner organization: Paraloeil

Minor Estrangements (comedy)Director and screenwriter: Meysam MotazediProducer: Soledad VegaProvince: OntarioLanguages: English, FarsiFilmmaker Apply-Direct Stream

Niagara Crush (horror)Director and screenwriter: Christina DovolisProducers: Torrin Blades, Braden BricknerProvince: OntarioLanguage: EnglishFestival Selection Stream

NIGHTLIFE (drama)Director, screenwriter and producer: Alexandre ForguesProvince: OntarioLanguage: FrenchFestival Selection Stream

She’s Nonbinary (romantic comedy)Director and screenwriter: Jess McLeodProducers: Isabelle Deluce, Erin Purghart, Eva TavaresProvince: British ColumbiaLanguage: EnglishFestival Selection Stream

Sur les pas d’Hauris (documentary)Director, screenwriter and producer: Samuel St-PierreProvince: QuebecLanguage: FrenchIndustry Partner StreamPartner organization: Institut national de l’image et du son (INIS)

Welcome To The Bluebird (mystery/crime)Director: Griffin CorkScreenwriter: Anthony SchokalskyProducer: Adrian Gonzalez de la PeñaProvince: AlbertaLanguages: English, FrenchIndustry Partner StreamPartner organization: Calgary Society of Independent Filmmakers (CSIF)

Telefilm Canada remains committed to transparency in its funding decisions by providing the industry with information on projects selected through its various programs. As part of this commitment, and to support Official Language Minority Community (OLMC) projects across its programs*, Telefilm introduced a new declaration for OLMC-produced projects.

This year’s selection also reflects the Program’s pan-Canadian reach, with projects showcasing a wide range of genres, languages and perspectives across seven provinces.

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About Telefilm Canada

Founded in 1967, Telefilm is a Crown corporation dedicated to investing in the development, production, promotion, and distribution of Canadian and Indigenous audiovisual content. As the largest investor in Canadian cinema, Telefilm contributes to the economic strength and cultural impact of the audiovisual sector in collaboration with industry members. Telefilm also makes recommendations to the Department of Canadian Heritage regarding the certification of audiovisual treaty coproductions and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund.

Media inquiries:

Joyce Richards Advisor, Strategic Communications Telefilm Canada Joyce.Richards@telefilm.ca

Press release issued by Telefilm Canada, shown as published.