TORONTO, September 10, 2026 – The Canadian Media Producers Association today announced the winners of the 2026 Indiescreen Awards, which celebrate excellence in Canadian independent media production. Production company KOTV was named the recipient of the TV Producer Indiescreen Award, Tyler Hagan was named the recipient of the 2026 Feature Film Producer Indiescreen Award, and Anthony Cauchy was the recipient of the 2026 Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer Indiescreen Award. The winners were announced at a ceremony hosted by the CMPA on the opening evening of the Toronto International Film Festival.  

Left to right: Tyler Hagan (Experimental Forest Films), Louis Morissette (KOTV), Anthony Cauchy (Locomotive Media)

At a time when cultural sovereignty has never mattered more, this year’s Indiescreen Award winners are seizing the moment,” said Reynolds Mastin, CMPA President and CEO. “Each winner represents what makes Canadian independent production so exciting right now, from ambition and versatility to a willingness to push Canadian stories further than ever before. Thank you for reminding us of what we’re fighting for at this critical moment in our nation’s history.”

KOTV received the CMPA’s TV Producer Indiescreen Award. Founded in 2011, the Quebec-based company was recognized for the depth and versatility of its body of work, which spans English- and French-language productions across genres and formats. Plan B, an innovative Quebec original sustained across multiple seasons and successfully adapted for English-language audiences, was recognized as a testament to that creative ambition. KOTV was awarded a $20,000 cash prize, accepted by company president Louis Morissette. The award was presented in partnership with the Canada Media Fund.

Tyler Hagan (Experimental Forest Films) was named the recipient of the CMPA’s 2026 Feature Film Producer Indiescreen Award. Hagan was recognized for his dedication to mentorship, sustainable production, and community-building, and as a passionate advocate for emerging and underrepresented filmmakers, with a body of work that has elevated important new voices and brought Canadian cinema to leading international stages. His projects have screened at acclaimed festivals such as Berlinale and TIFF, and his producing credits include The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open (2019), Until Branches Bend (2022), for which he previously won the Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer Award, Seagrass (2023), and Seventeen and In Alaska (2026), among others. Hagan was awarded a $20,000 cash prize. The award was presented in partnership with Telefilm Canada.

Anthony Cauchy (Locomotive Media) was named the recipient of the CMPA’s 2026 Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer Indiescreen Award. The Vancouver-based producer was recognized for his ambition in bringing French-language storytelling with impressive craft and production value to Western Canada. Through Surf Bay, Côte Ouest, Cauchy showcases strong storytelling instincts and a drive to create Canadian work that crosses linguistic and regional boundaries. Cauchy was awarded a $10,000 cash prize.

The award winners were selected by three national juries, chaired by last year’s winners. The CMPA thanks the 2026 jury members for their time and commitment.

TV Producer Indiescreen Award jury:

• Jamie Brown, jury chair and 2025 Indiescreen Award Winner (CEO/Executive Producer, Frantic Films)
• Adrienne Mitchell (Producer/Director, BentFrame Film & TV)
• Jennifer Shin (Co-Founder & Producer, Ammonite Media)

Feature Film Producer Indiescreen Award jury:

• Paula Devonshire, jury chair and 2025 Indiescreen Award winner (Producer, Devonshire Productions Inc.)
• Lauren Davis (Executive Consultant & Creative Advisor for Screen Media)
• R.T. Thorne (Director/Writer/Producer, BackHome Co.)

Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer Indiescreen Award jury:

• Leena Minifie, jury chair and 2025 Indiescreen Award winner (Producer/CEO, Stories First Productions)
• Emmanuel Kabongo (Actor/Producer)
• Don Carmody (Don Carmody Productions Inc.)

More information about the CMPA Indiescreen Awards can be found here.

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ABOUT THE CMPA INDIESCREEN AWARDS

Established in 2006, the CMPA Indiescreen Awards recognize producers whose vision and entrepreneurship demonstrate a commitment to and passion for producing Canadian feature films and television series.

Awards are presented in three categories. The Feature Film Producer Indiescreen Award recognizes a producer’s filmmaking accomplishments and contributions to Canada’s film production community over the course of their career. The TV Producer Indiescreen Award, introduced in 2025, celebrates the achievements of a Canadian independent media production company focused on television production. The Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer Indiescreen Award, established in 2016, named after the late Kevin Tierney, a dedicated mentor and champion of emerging talent, recognizes the extraordinary talents of an up-and-coming producer with a bright career ahead.

Past recipients of the Feature Film Producer Indiescreen Award include Paula Devonshire (2025, Blood Lines), Martin Katz (2024, The Shrouds), Nancy Grant (2023, The Nature of Love & 2014, Mommy), Damon D’Oliveira (2022, Brother), Anand Ramayya (2021, Donkeyhead), Jennifer Holness (2020, Stateless), Félize Frappier (2019, Kuessipan), Simone Urdl and Jennifer Weiss (2018, Falls Around Her), Kim McCraw and Luc Déry (2017, A Worthy Companion), Roger Frappier (2016, Two Lovers and a Bear), and Robert Lantos (2015, Remember). cmpa.ca/indiescreen-awards

ABOUT THE CMPA

The Canadian Media Producers Association is the national advocacy organization for independent producers, representing hundreds of companies engaged in the development, production, and distribution of English-language content made for television, cinema, and digital media channels. For more than 75 years, the CMPA has worked to promote the continued success of the Canadian production sector and to ensure a bright future for the diverse content made by our members for both domestic and international audiences. cmpa.ca

For media inquiries, please contact:

CMPA
Gamiela Fereg
Senior Manager, Media Relations & Communications, CMPA
gamiela.fereg@cmpa.ca