Cutting Class Studios prepping doc on CIA’s MKUltra program

From Playback -Toronto-based Cutting Class Studios has partnered with executive producers Robert Salomon and Brian Knappmiller for a multi-part documentary on the CIA-run MKUltra experiments, and the impact they had on Canadian survivors.

Initiated by the U.S. intelligence agency in the 1950s and lasting until the early ’70s, MKUltra was a secret, illegal program designed to test the viability of various mind-control and brainwashing techniques. A subset of the tests, referred to as the Montreal Experiments, were carried out on unwitting Canadians at McGill University’s Allan Memorial Institute by psychologist Donald Ewen Cameron.

Cutting Class has also partnered with U.K. investigators to chart how theexperiments may have extended outside North America to regions such as the U.K. and Australia. A substantial portion of the documentary was filmed over the past year, with completion expected by the end of 2026. The project is currently planned as a 3 x 60-minute series, but Cutting Class is also exploring options for a feature-film version.

MAGASIN GENERAL NOMINATED!

Race for the Arctic has been nominated for a Buzzie at the World Congress of Science and Factual Producers! In July 2023, the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Healy embarks on a strategic mission in the Arctic: To map, explore, and protect a region profoundly affected by climate change. On board, scientists and military personnel work together to better understand this fragile ecosystem, while asserting American presence in response to the growing ambitions of Russia and China. The rapid melting of ice is opening new maritime routes, fueling competition and reshaping global power dynamics. This immersive documentary series follows the Healy at the heart of the race for the Arctic and gives voice to international experts to unpack the environmental, geopolitical, and human stakes of a territory that has become crucial for the planet’s future.

AVAILABLE FOR LICENSE XGERMANY, XFRENCH CANADA

DARK SLOPE LAUNCHES CREATOR FUND

From Realscreen - Toronto-based virtual production studio Dark Slope has launched a creator-focused funding opportunity offering up to CAD$250,000 (approximately US$178,000) in studio, virtual production and team support for successful creators.

The Dark Slope Creator Studio Challenge is open to creators who have built up a fandom on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram or other platforms. Up to five winners will be selected across true-crime and investigations; family, kids and sports entertainment; short-form fiction and microdramas; pop culture, history and science explainer content; game shows and interactive formats; and sketch comedy and standup.

Each winner will receive CAD$50,000 (about US35,600) in in-kind studio support, including access to Dark Slope’s LED volume, soundstage, virtual production crew and digital art and VFX teams. Winners will also receive an option agreement for Dark Slope to coproduce content for potential inclusion on the company’s digital channels.

Dark Slope’s 75,000-square-foot facility (pictured) has contributed to projects such as Prime Video’s Gen V, Crave’s Heated Rivalry and more.

JOURNY Debut's Original Food & Travel Series TIDE

NextTrip, a technology-forward travel company redefining how people discover, plan, and book travel, today announced the production of TIDE, a vibrant new original series set to premiere exclusively across JOURNY's streaming and Video-on-Demand ("VOD") platforms. Sponsored by luxury cruise line Sea Cloud Cruises, the series combines cultural discovery with the art of dining, delivering immersive storytelling that connects audiences to destinations in a fresh and flavorful way.

At the heart of TIDE is the belief that "every port tells a story, and every story ends on a plate." Each episode follows charismatic chefs as they step ashore to explore vibrant markets, family farms, cafés, workshops, and hidden gems, gathering ingredients and inspiration that fuel one-of-a-kind pop-up dining experiences onboard. These meals, served on deck against stunning backdrops, offer passengers an unforgettable blend of storytelling, culture, and cuisine.

Big Time Decent Launches Distribution Arm

From Deadline. Big Time Decent International will debut at October’s industry get-together, with René Brar expanding his role to lead the division at Head of Development & Sales. Sarah McCormack, the former Beyond Rights sales exec who was most recently at Moonbug Entertainment, has also joined the support the operation.

Big Time Decent will form part of the Canadian Pavilion at MIPCOM, officially marking its international market entry.

“We’re excited to introduce our business and our content to the international market and to grow a distribution label that reflects the same creative values as our production company,” said Brar. “I’m thrilled to have this opportunity and grateful to have Sarah McCormack by my side offering support and sharing her expertise.”

“We’ve always made content with international audiences in mind but with our company now five years old and having secured a number of hits under our belt, the time feels right to start selling it ourselves and to see where else we can take our IP to help the business grow further,” said Matthew Shewchuk, President of Big Time Decent Productions.

L.A.’s Front Foot First pacts with Toronto’s Cutting Class Studios to shop IP

From Realscreen: Los Angeles-headquartered prodco Front Foot First has entered a partnership with Toronto-based prodco Cutting Class Studios to represent and shop the L.A. company’s original IP and properties in Canada and internationally.

The partnership will see Cutting Class work closely with Front Foot to identify market opportunities at events such as MIPCOM and the Realscreen Summit. They will also pitch original concepts and develop relationships with buyers, broadcasters and distributors outside the U.S to explore Canadian copros.

To kick off the partnership, the two are bringing to market a large-scale, home cook food competition format that “puts amazing home cooks through their paces in a fiery showdown”, according to a release announcing the pact. An initial rollout to prospective buyers is already underway.

Front Foot First, co-founded by Lauren and Janah Brooks Golden, is known for its unscripted food-based formats such as Undercover Chef (Food Network), Feral (Outdoor Channel) and Taste the Culture (TruTV, TBS).

Cutting Class Studios, led by Harriet Luke (pictured) and Bracken Burns, is the production and slate managing arm of Cutting Class Media. Its slate spans formats, feature documentaries, docuseries, and lifestyle programming.

TELL TALE'S GREAT WHITE NORTH INVASION FOR SHARK WEEK

They’re back Discovery’s #SharkWeek returns to colder waters in Great White North Invasion.

As great white encounters spike off the coast of Nova Scotia, Andy Casagrande joins a team of scientists, divers, and local fishers on a high-risk mission to tag and track these apex predators — before the next close call turns fatal.

Premieres Tuesday, July 22, 2025 @ 8PM ET on Discovery Shark Week

Ancient Bodies: Secrets Revealed and Fishing for History are back!

Farpoint Films announced today the start of production on the second seasons of two of their most popular shows: Ancient Bodies: Secrets Revealed and Fishing for History. Both shows will premiere on Super Channel Quest and Super Channel+ in Canada in 2026.

The second season of Ancient Bodies: Secrets Revealed (8 episodes) continues to uncover ancient human remains from around the world revealing prehistoric murders and rituals. Archaeologists then examine clues about lives lost, illuminating the tales of how these people lived and died.

Fishing for History’s second season (13 episodes) will see hosts Mike Lenton and Justin Gerbrandt, and their sidekick Toban Gottfried, once again searching with their mighty magnets for submerged treasures in waterways across North America and for the first time, Europe.

MANSION IMPOSSIBLE BREAKS GROUND

With 500K+ views on Youtube, the Fischer family has started construction on their abandoned 65,000 square foot mansion in Northern Ontario, and cameras are rolling.

BTD WINS WILL ROGERS MEDALLION FOR EXCELLENCE IN WESTERN WRITING

Congratulations to Big Time Decent and INSP for their win!

SAVE YOUR DAY FILMS + NEXTTRIP + JOURNYTV

NextTrip, Inc. (NASDAQ:NTRP) a technology-forward travel company redefining how people discover, plan, and book travel, today announced a strategic partnership with Save Your Day Films to accelerate its expansion into the global travel media space through JOURNY.tv, JOURNY curates immersive, adventure, and travel-themed programming centered on exploration and global culture, reaching over 17 million active devices each month via leading smartphones and FAST platforms, and captivating a diverse and engaged audience with high-quality travel storytelling.

"NextTrip has the scale, vision, and ambition to lead the next wave of travel innovation," added Stephen Friedman, Co-Founder of Save Your Day Films. "We're excited to shape a media-forward strategy that brings real value to travelers, brands, and destinations alike."

Under this partnership, JOURNY will expand its slate of travel programming to include: Commissioning new original series produced in collaboration with SYDF; Curating top content from NextTrip's AVOD platform Compass.tv; Acquiring classic favorites and breakthrough travel titles; Launching branded destination series with embedded booking capabilities.

Lucky Number Seven

It wasn’t until I was making a new connection and telling my story yesterday that I realized it was Contentum’s seventh anniversary. What an amazing time to be in our business! Special thanks to A&E, AMI, Discovery Channel, Efram Films, Frantic, GRB Media Ranch, HGTV, Hulu, Isopure, Magnolia,  NHL, OWN, Short Street, Texas Crew Productions, TVF, Two Six West, and UNESCO. I’d also like to say that I am so thankful to revisit old relationships with Chad G, Harriet L, Jeff L, Kyle B, Michael K, Nicola M, Scott L; develop new ones with Dan F, Jeff T, John R, Mark K, and Pavlo C; and burnish the long standing ones that make me excited to do this job every day.

Farpoint Ups Its Ranks

From Playback

Farpoint Films has acquired fellow Winnipeg-based prodco Scotfree Productions.

Effective Wednesday (Jan. 29), Scotfree owner Scott R. Leary (Cruise Ship Killers, pictured right) is Farpoint’s chief content officer and joined its ownership group.

As well, Farpoint’s head writer and partner Chris Charney (pictured left) has been appointed president. In this role, Charney is responsible for Farpoint’s production and post-production strategies, including the series and films under its exclusive deal with Super Channel.

Previous president Kyle Bornais has now moved into the role of CEO.

“This is a result of the strong working relationship I’ve had with Farpoint over the past 15 years and allows me to take on an official role in leading the young and dynamic team that Farpoint has assembled,” said Leary in a statement.

In June 2024, Farpoint Distribution acquired Toronto-based sales and production company 10star Media.

Cutting Class Media Debuts Distribution Slate

From Realscreen

Cutting Class Media

Toronto-based Cutting Class Media has debuted its distribution slate with 10 new and previously announced titles.

The media company, led by Joshua Bowen and Carly Sacks, is shopping its slate of animated and live-action projects at local and global markets such as Realscreen, NATPE and Prime Time.

The animated titles include the 10 x 12-minute series peopleWatching, the comedy feature Matters Beyond, the Lakeside Animation 10 x 10-minute children’s series Beastly Crimes, the adult action-comedy series Not Safe for Work and the 6 x 5-minute children’s series Oh and Go.

Also on the animation slate is a feature film coproduction between Russia’s MetraFilms and Lakeside Animation, Tied Up. It is directed by Oscar-nominated Russian animator Konstantin Bronzit and Dmitriy Vysotskiy. The film follows everyday items that have been discarded as trash that decide to seek paradise.

Rounding out Cutting Class’ animation slate is Lakeside Animation’s 10 x 5-minute The Dollop Animated Series, based on The Dollop podcast, and the 6 x 15 to 22-minute horror anthology Red Iron Road.

In its live-action slate, Cutting Class has two documentaries: The CBC-commissioned feature What We Carry and the medium-length Cutting Class original Continue Playing?, which follows a once professional gamer who overcomes homelessness and depression to become an ultra-endurance athlete.

According to the release from Cutting Class, additional details and titles are to be revealed later in the year.

WALTER THE MATERIALIZER - Thank you, Festival de Santa Cruz!

We inform you that your film, Walter the Materializer, was awarded an Honorable Mention and shown to the public, the film received 6 and a half minutes of standing ovation, we want to congratulate you for this, your film is emotional and real, and touched us all.

Best regards

Festival de Santa Cruz Team

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS SEASON 02 PREMIERS MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th ON TSN AT 7:30PM ET

Watch trailer here

S-Media is excited to announce the season premier of Breaking Down Barriers S02 on Canada’s National Day of Truth and Reconciliation with a special episode celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Little Native Hockey League (LNHL) tournament and its profound impact on hockey within Canada’s First Nations communities.

This season, the series will continue to share inspiring stories, including features on the Black Girls Hockey Club, the PWHL’s exciting outlook for its sophomore season, The Carnegie Initiative, the Willie O’Ree Community Hero Program, the NHLPA’s First Line initiative promoting mental health awareness, and so much more. A massive thanks to our partners who provide us the platforms and resources to tell these incredible stories: Canadian Tire, TSN, Hyundai and the NHL.

SUMMERHILL MEDIA GREENLIGHT

Collar of Duty Kids takes young viewers into the lives of amazing kids who've been matched with extraordinary service animals. It's all about these brand-new partnerships and the adventures they get up to. If you are thinking just dogs, you're in for a surprise because we are talking about creatures from parrots to pigs! Collar of Duty Kids is produced by Summerhill Media Inc. (There's Something You Should Know, Collar of Duty) in association with Fifth Ground Entertainment.

Rezolution wins 13 Canadian Screen Awards!

Crave/APTN’s Little Bird led television honors at the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards, winning 13 awards including: Best Drama Series; Best Direction/Drama Series; Best Supporting Performer/Drama for Braeden Clarke; and Best Lead Performer/Drama Series for Darla Contois.

Congrats to Canadian Screen Awards Nominees

Congratulations to Adrian Callendar for Secrets of the Underground Railroad, Rezolution for Little Bird, and Saloon Media for Canada’s Drag Race and Statue Wars. Well deserved!

NEW YORK TIMES - STRAIGHT FOR PAY REVIEW

From the New York Times, March 26, 2024. Cara Connors is a queer millennial comic whose debut hour shifts from her divorce from a man to a very funny description of lesbian breakups (lots of gratitude in both directions). She says she’s terrified of waking up, opening her phone and seeing this news: “Elon Musk is bisexual.” Her face goes dark. “Now I have to welcome him into the community?” Then she imagines the headline with her hands: “Jeff Bezos, gender-fluid.” She erupts in a baritone: “I can’t do it.” Connors seems to search for reasons to lose her bearings. It’s where she is funniest. Bounding around the stage with “the energy of a mom at a wedding who has had too much to drink,” she offers some dutiful jokes (like the Standup 101 opening analogy of how she appears to others: “I know I look like if they let Timothée Chalamet start eating again”) and a couple that peter out when they should build. But she makes up for the rawness of joke writing with a frenetic charm and a powerhouse voice that shifts from giggly to laid-back to demonic in a flash. It’s a promising debut. ~Jason Zinoman