Indiescreen Awards
This annual prize honours outstanding Canadian producers—both emerging and established.
The CMPA Indiescreen Awards (formerly CMPA Feature Film Producer Awards) take place in early-September as part of the opening day of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The yearly celebration features the handing out of two: the Established Producer Award and the Emerging Producer Award.
The Established Producer Award, presented annually since 2006, recognizes a Canadian independent feature film producer’s body of work, as well as their contribution toward defining the reputation of Canadian cinema on the world stage.
Past recipients include Roger Frappier (2016, Two Lovers and A Bear), Robert Lantos (2015, Remember), Nancy Grant (2014, Mommy) and Kevin Tierney (2009, The Trotsky).
The Emerging Producer Award was added to the Indiescreen Awards program in 2016 to highlight the extraordinary talents of an up-and-coming producer with a bright career ahead.
Winners of both awards are chosen by two separate juries out of the independent Canadian films selected to screen at TIFF.
Check out some highlights from the 2017 CMPA Indiescreen Awards:
The 2018 Indiescreen Awards will take place on September 6 as part of the opening day of the Toronto International Film Festival.
The awards ceremony will mark the official kick-off of the TIFF Industry Conference. Once again, two awards will be handed out at the ceremony: the Established Producer Award and the Emerging Producer Award.
How to apply
Producers are invited to submit their applications for the Indiescreen Awards as soon as their film has been confirmed by TIFF as an official selection for the festival.
In addition to the online form, applicants will be required to submit accompanying supplementary materials, including a headshot, production stills and access to a digital copy of their qualifying film.
Detailed information about these supplementary materials as well as all eligibility criteria can found in the application form.
Applications will be accepted until August 7, 2018 at 12:00 pm ET.
Independent Canadian producers are eligible to apply for an Indiescreen award once their film has been confirmed as an official TIFF selection.
No, it is only required that the applicant is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Previous winners of Established Producer Award (or the CMPA Feature Film Producer Award) are welcome to reapply five years after their award win. Emerging Producer Award winners may apply again after three years.
Winners are chosen by two separate juries (one for the Established Producer Award and one for Emerging Producer Award) out of applications received.
The 2018 Indiescreen Awards will be presented on September 6, 2018 in Toronto.
TIFF passes holders are welcome to attend the event. Otherwise, attendance is by invitation only.
Established Producer Award winners: Luc Déry and Kim McCraw (micro_scope)
About the winners: Kim McCraw and Luc Déry met in university, where they worked on several short films. While McCraw started her career as an assistant director and production manager, Déry worked in distribution and started micro_scope in 2002. He and McCraw became partners in 2004, and the two have since produced more thatn 15 films—among them the Oscar-nominated films Incendies (2010), directed by Denis Villeneuve, and Monsieur Lazhar (2011), directed by Philippe Falardeau.
Luc Déry won the first ever Indiescreen Award (then known as the CMPA Feature Film Producer Award) in 2006. He holds the distinction of the being first and only two-time recipient of the award.
Nominees
Kim McCraw and Luc Déry
- Film at TIFF: Allure
- Production company: micro_scope
Scot McFayden
- Film at TIFF: Long Time Running
- Production company: Banger Films
Mina Shum, Stephen Hegyes and Raymond Massey
- Film at TIFF: Meditation Park
- Production company: Thoughts from the Asylum Production
Jonathan Bronfman and Victoria Sanchez-Mandryk
- Film at TIFF: Pyewacket
- Production companies: JoBro Productions and Just Believe Productions
Kevin McMahon, Michael McMahon, Kristina McLaughlin
- Film at TIFF: There Is a House Here
- Production company: Primitive Entertainment
Jury
Roger Frappier (Producer, Max Films) – Jury Chair and 2016 Established Producer Award winner
Sean Garrity (Director, Bedbugs Films)
Paul Gratton (Director of Programming, Whistler Film Festival)
Bill Marks (Producer, Vortex Comics Inc.)
Mary Sexton (Producer, Rink Rat Productions)
Emerging Producer Award winners: Kristy Neville and Matt Code (Wildling Pictures)
About the winners: Kristy Neville and Matt Code are producers of award-winning film, television and digital media. Matt Code is the founder of Wilding Pictures and, in 2016, Kristy joined the company as a partner, developing and producing projects in collaboration with some of Canada’s most exciting new filmmakers. The pair has produced a number of acclaimed short films that have premiered at festivals such as TIFF, Sundance, Tribeca, Hot Docs, Palm Springs and Santa Barbara.
Nominees
Gabrielle Tougas-Fréchette and Ménaïc Raoul
- Film at TIFF: All You Can Eat Buddha
- Production company: Voyelles Films
Kiarash Anvari and Sadaf Foroughi
- Film at TIFF: AVA
- Production company: Sweet Delight Pictures
Kristy Neville and Matt Code
- Film at TIFF: Mary Goes Round
- Production company: Wildling Pictures
Tyler Hagan
- Film at TIFF: Never Steady, Never Still
- Production company: Experimental Forest Films
Jeanne-Marie Poulain
- Film at TIFF: Ta peau si lisse (A Skin So Soft)
- Production company: Art & Essai
Jury
Hany Ouichou (Producer, Art & Essai) – Jury Chair and 2016 Emerging Producer Award winner
Katie Boland (Actress, Director, Producer, Writer)
Kevan Funk (Director)
Karen Harnisch (Producer, Harnisch Films)
Jennifer Jonas (Producer, New Real Films)
2017 CMPA Indiescreen Awards
View gallery→
2016
Roger Frappier and Hany Ouichou
2015
Robert Lantos
(Ari Lantos accepting)
2014
Nancy Grant
2013
Jennifer Jonas
2012
Daniel Iron
2011
André Rouleau
2010
Denise Robert
2009
Kevin Tierney
(pictured with Jacob Tierney)