Creative BC Invests $250,000 to Support Emerging and Equity-Seeking Filmmakers

Vancouver, B.C. (February 12, 2025) – Creative BC announces $250,000 in funding to support 25 projects led by emerging and/or equity-seeking filmmakers in British Columbia. Designed to address systemic barriers in the motion picture industry, the Equity and Emerging Development Program enables new and diverse voices to enter the field and develop original intellectual property. By providing financial support without requiring prior commitments from broadcasters or investors, the program reduces entry barriers and allows emerging talent to focus on creativity and innovation. 

The program offers grants of up to $10,000 to support the early stages of project development, including research, concept creation, and scriptwriting. Creative BC, alongside a panel of industry professionals reflecting the province’s key demographics and the systemically excluded groups this program aims to support, evaluated submissions based on the program’s priorities. The assessment considered the project’s overall strength, including originality and the ability to present innovative stories, feasibility for advancing to production, and potential impact in engaging and reaching audiences. 

Acknowledging that there have been systemic barriers to access and that supporting new and diverse talent is crucial to a vibrant and thriving motion picture industry, 100% of the funding is distributed to individuals who are either an emerging filmmaker or self-identify in one or more of the following systemically excluded groups: Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, 2SLGBTQIA+, Women, Non-binary, or people with disabilities. This program embodies Creative BC’s actions for equity and inclusion in program delivery.   

The following is a list of successful B.C. recipients, each awarded $10,000 to create domestically owned and controlled creative content: 

1. Project: 10 STEPS TO LAND BACK FOR WHITE PEOPLE
Company: Violator Films
Key Creative Team: lori lozinski
Type/Location: Documentary Feature, Vancouver 

2. Project: ASSISTANCE IN DYING
Company: Wanda Films
Key Creative Team: Rachelle Younie, Patrycja Mila Kamska
Type/Location: Scripted Feature, Vancouver

3. Project: CRACK – THE FLY
Key Creative Team: Marcelo (Tchelo) Vieira
Type/Location: Animated Series, Vancouver 

4. Project: DARK ROOM
Company: Spindle Films
Key Creative Team: August Winter, J Stevens
Type/Location: Scripted Feature, Esquimalt 

5. Project: DEEPFAKE
Company: Storiel Entertainment
Key Creative Team: Ariel Bond, Lucy McNulty, Magdalena Shenher
Type/Location: Scripted Feature, North Vancouver 

6. Project: ENTITY
Company: Tooth and Nail Pictures
Key Creative Team: Eva Grant, Hunter Grant, Yasmeen Grant
Type/Location: Scripted Feature, Saanichton 

7. Project: GONE ABROAD
Key Creative Team: Kevin Ang and Moheb Jindran
Type/Location: Scripted Feature, Burnaby 

8. Project: GOOD NEWS
Company: Understory Films
Key Creative Team: Susan Bayani, Sepehr Samimi
Type/Location: Scripted Feature, Vancouver 

9. Project: GUARDIANS OF SKINWALKER CANYON
Company: Wapanatahk Media
Key Creative Team: Tania Koenig-Gauchier, Shirley Mclean, Mike Gosselin
Type/Location: Documentary Series, Burnaby 

10. Project: HAPPY YOU’RE HERE
Company: Special Delivery Productions
Key Creative Team: Rosie Choo Pidcock, Kimberly Ho, Rae Takei
Type/Location: Documentary Series, Vancouver 

11. Project: I LOST YOU HERE
Company: Digital Warriors Productions
Key Creative Team: Brishkay Ahmed
Type/Location: TV Documentary, Vancouver 

12. Project: I, MIGRANT
Company: Goodness Pictures
Key Creative Team: Alex Sangha, Vinay Giridhar
Type/Location: Documentary Feature, Delta 

13. Project: IHT’A’Ū’A (LET’S TRADE)
Company: Rez Dog Productions
Key Creative Team: Michael Bourquin, Jessica Hallenbeck
Type/Location: Documentary Series, South Hazelton 

14. Project: KISS OF DEATH
Company: Renuka Singh Inc.
Key Creative Team: Renuka Singh
Type/Location: Scripted Series, Vancouver 

15. Project: LITTLE BOOMS
Company: MOON7
Key Creative Team: Rachel Rose, Jacob Crawford
Type/Location: Scripted Feature, Vancouver 

16. Project: MIDDLE OF NOWHERE
Company: Shotglass Productions
Key Creative Team: Nimisha Mukerji, Mark Ratzlaff
Type/Location: Scripted Feature, Delta 

17. Project: MOMMY ISSUES
Company: Tenderscope Productions
Key Creative Team: Della Haddock
Type/Location: Scripted Feature, Vancouver 

18. Project: PUBLIC MARKET
Company: After Ever Films
Key Creative Team: Osric Chau, Patrick Do
Type/Location: Scripted Series, Richmond 

19. Project: RAY AND PI
Company: Next Pixel Entertainment
Key Creative Team: Nitin Singh
Type/Location: Animated Series, Burnaby 

20. Project: RENAISSANCE WOMAN
Key Creative Team: Rhona Rees
Type/Location: Scripted Feature, Vancouver 

21. Project: SHORT ROPE
Company: NS Creative
Key Creative Team: Lara Shea, Nat Segal
Type/Location: Documentary Feature, Revelstoke 

22. Project: THE PASSAGE
Company: Media Plaster Productions
Key Creative Team: René Brar
Type/Location: Scripted Feature, North Vancouver 

23. Project: THE PERFORMANCE OF A LIFETIME
Company: Sad Sack Cinema
Key Creative Team: Brendan Prost, Daniel Jeffery
Type/Location: Documentary Feature, Vancouver 

24. Project: TROUBLE IN THE HEADWATERS
Company: Ramshackle Pictures
Key Creative Team: Daniel J. Pierce
Type/Location: Documentary Featuret, Vancouver 

25. Project: WRAITHEN
Company: Luna Creatives
Key Creative Team: Sunny Mohajer, Jesse Copeland
Type/Location: Scripted Feature, Surrey 

View a list of the recipients by program online here.    

The Equity and Emerging Development Program is supported by the Province of British Columbia’s historic announcement made on April 19, 2023 of $15.9 million investment, over three-years, into B.C.’s domestic motion productions, workforce, and creators through 2027. This program is also a part of Creative BC’s Reel Focus BC suite of support for B.C.’s domestic motion picture industry.?

For more information on the Creative BC Equity and Emerging Development Program visit: www.creativebc.com/funding-programs/domestic-motion-picture-programs/equity-emerging-development 

QUOTES 

Honourable Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
“Storytelling is the heartbeat of every filmmaker’s passion and commitment to excellence. Through Creative BC, our government is proud to support programs that are breaking down barriers, sparking innovation, and strengthening B.C.’s reputation as a global leader in creativity, equity, and inclusion. It’s encouraging to see our motion picture industry actively opening doors for people of all walks of life to shine-bright and make an impact.” 

Prem Gill, CEO, Creative BC 
“Creative BC is committed to fostering a thriving, diverse, and inclusive domestic motion picture industry in British Columbia. Through programs like the Equity and Emerging Development program, we reduce barriers and amplify underrepresented voices, empowering emerging and equity-seeking filmmakers to create innovative, original content. This investment strengthens the creative landscape and ensures B.C.’s stories resonate both locally and globally.”  

Tchelo Vieira, Interdisciplinary Artist, Program Recipient
“Creating and producing an animated series is a long journey with multiple phases and challenges. Without Creative BC’s support, our project, an unconventional and daring project, might have never left the drawing board. This funding is the spark that reignited the motivation and confidence of a team of talented visionary dreamers.”  

MEDIA CONTACT
Creative BC
Lisa Escudero
media@creativebc.com
+1 604-730-2235 

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About Creative BC
Creative BC is an independent non-profit society created and supported by the Province to sustain and help grow British Columbia’s creative industries: motion picture, interactive and digital media, music and sound recording, and magazine and book publishing. The society delivers a wide range of programs and services with a mandate to expand B.C.’s creative economy. These activities include: administration of the provincial government’s motion picture tax credit programs; delivery of program funding and export marketing support for the sector; and provincial film commission services. Combined, these activities serve to attract inward investment and market B.C. as a partner and destination of choice for domestic and international content creation. The society acts as an industry catalyst and ambassador to help B.C.’s creative sector reach its economic, social, environmental, and creative potential both at home, and globally. Website: www.creativebc.com