With this year winding down to an end, 2021 projects are already in the pipe, and FilmPEI has just announced the four film projects selected for their next Film 4Ward program. An incubator for local talent, Film 4Ward will see these projects through production in the coming year. Judged by industry professionals throughout PEI and Canada at large, the selected participants and projects will receive mentorship, funding up to $20,000, and in-kind access to production services and facilities.
Developed through a partnership with the Department of Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture through Innovation PEI and the Culture Action Plan, with additional funding provided by Telefilm Canada and CBC, Film 4Ward’s endeavours are a way to continually strengthen provincial and Canadian television and film offerings.
The project promises to represent a diverse spectrum of filmmakers across the province in 2021. Here are the four selected teams and their projects for the upcoming year:
Elvira
Keara Higgins, Sarah Segal-Lazar
A short comedy about a woman living in a small, rural community who becomes convinced that her chicken can solve crimes. The only problem is there aren’t any.
In My Heart
Jeana MacIsaac, Luc Trottier
Based on a true story this poignant short film is about the selflessness of a birth mother and how the adoption process can change a baby’s life.
Paradox of Life
Ronak Nanda and Jahan Bloch
A short drama about an immigrant health care worker living through a pandemic on an emotional journey to figure out the new dynamics of life, relationships, his duties and dreams.
Grandmothers
Mark Sandiford and Millefiore Clarkes
A lyrical, art-based, documentary that lends deep listening to, and seeks universal wisdom from, three formidable women elders from diverse communities.
“Now in our third season of Film 4Ward, I am thrilled to see such a diverse cross-section of new talent entering the program,” states FilmPEI executive director Renee Laprise. “It is also heartening to see that gender parity is occurring naturally in the selected projects.”
This past year’s Film 4Ward projects included Chase The Ace (Jason Arsenault, Jeremy Larter), The Rolling Pin (Emma Fugate, Trilby Jeeves), Sorry, Mommy (Louise Lalonde, Donna Davies), and The Wraith of Malpeque Bay (Nathan Carter, Justin O’Hanley).
The selected films are intended to be shot between February and April of 2021, with a public release scheduled for the end of June.