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 Gómez Producer: Natalia Bernal Province: Ontario Languages: English, Spanish, French Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream

A New Age (drama) Director and screenwriter: Ethan Eng Producer: Jackie De Niverville Province: Ontario Language: English Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream

À l’ombre de la flamme (documentary) Director, screenwriter and producer: Hélène Lebon Province: Prince Edward Island Languages: French, English, Japanese Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream and OLMC project*

Coldsnap (horror) Director and screenwriter: Richard Pierre Producers: Rachel Bulatovich, Krishna Kolanupaka, Richard Pierre Province: Ontario Language: English Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream

Forget Me Not (drama) Director and screenwriter: Vanessa King Producer: Megan Thelosen Province : New Brunswick Language: English Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream

Holako – Dans les yeux de l’infini (drama) Director: Okey Beeschope Screenwriter: Sarah Kéita Producers: Mamoudou Camara, Okey Beeschope Province: Quebec Language: French Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream

Keepers Light (documentary) Director and screenwriter: Maximilian Flint Producer: Samira Eblaghi Province: Nova Scotia Language: English Industry Partner Stream Partner organization: Atlantic Filmmakers Cooperative

Last Fire (drama) Director and screenwriter: Dustin McGladrey Producer: Victoria Juanita Rose Johnnie-Mills Province: British Columbia Languages: English, Nisga’a Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream Indigenous component

Looking Glass Hands (documentary) Director and screenwriter: Mika Yatsuhashi Producer: Max Holzberg Province: Quebec Languages: English, Japanese Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream and OLMC project*

Matrimoine (drama) Director, screenwriter and producer: Sara Bourdeau Province: Quebec Language: French Industry Partner Stream Partner organization: Paraloeil

Minor Estrangements (comedy) Director and screenwriter: Meysam Motazedi Producer: Soledad Vega Province: Ontario Languages: English, Farsi Filmmaker Apply-Direct Stream

Niagara Crush (horror) Director and screenwriter: Christina Dovolis Producers: Torrin Blades, Braden Brickner Province: Ontario Language: English Festival Selection Stream

NIGHTLIFE (drama) Director, screenwriter and producer: Alexandre Forgues Province: Ontario Language: French Festival Selection Stream

She’s Nonbinary (romantic comedy) Director and screenwriter: Jess McLeod Producers: Isabelle Deluce, Erin Purghart, Eva Tavares Province: British Columbia Language: English Festival Selection Stream

Sur les pas d’Hauris (documentary) Director, screenwriter and producer: Samuel St-Pierre Province: Quebec Language: French Industry Partner Stream Partner organization: Institut national de l’image et du son (INIS)

Welcome To The Bluebird (mystery/crime) Director: Griffin Cork Screenwriter: Anthony Schokalsky Producer: Adrian Gonzalez de la Peña Province: Alberta Languages: English, French Industry Partner Stream Partner 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.

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