Emerging and Mid-Career English-Language Producers in Quebec Get a Major Boost
QEPC Announces Finalists for Producer Mentorship Program
Montreal — August 22, 2024 — In its ongoing mission to promote English-language media production in the province, the Quebec English-language Production Council (QEPC) — with generous funding from the Canadian Media Fund’s (CMF) Sector Development Program — has announced the seven finalists who will participate in its annual Producer Mentorship Program.
“Thanks to the CMF, we’re extremely happy to be offering the QEPC Producer Mentorship Program for the third straight year,” said QEPC Executive Director, Kirwan Cox. “Our primary mission is to increase English-language media production in Quebec, and a key component of that is helping emerging and mid-career producers to develop the skills and networks they need to remain here and thrive.”
Running from August to November, the hybrid program includes in-person coaching and a series of webinars on wide-ranging topics such as finance strategy, tax credits, pitching, marketing, co-productions, legal issues, and more.
Meet the 2024 Mentees
The seven mentees currently working on or developing a project are a diverse group of talented emerging and mid-career producers. They include:
Angela Goulene, the writer, producer, and founder of Hannagie Productions—a multimedia company specializing in cinema, animation, and games—is working on an animated TV series.
Christina Saliba, a wildlife biologist who pivoted to film & TV as a production coordinator and worked in development for five years with film finance and production house Goldrush Entertainment, is developing a psychological thriller anthology based off a feature film.
Colin Carruthers, a producer and art director, is ready to step in front of the camera as a hipster handyman in his own renter-friendly reno series for millennials.
Jonathan Fournier, a disabled writer and producer with a background in theatre and webseries, is working to produce a quirky roommate sitcom about a man and a unicorn living together.
Mazin Gamar, a Sudanese-Canadian writer and producer who traded in his high-octane corporate career to tell captivating stories, is developing a TV series set in 1960s America.
Octavio Trillos, a criminal lawyer from Venezuela whose film production company Kensho Pictures is committed to empowering LatinX and other underrepresented communities, is creating a thrilling TV series about a criminal lawyer who must save his innocent friend from death row.
Sherri Levesque, a writer and director from Newfoundland, is developing a darkly comedic TV series based on the life and death of a childhood friend with cystic fibrosis—blending salty humor and heartfelt storytelling.
About the Program
The Producer Mentorship Program is one of several QEPC initiatives that support and promote English-language media production in Quebec. This year’s mentors include members of the QEPC Board of Directors, as well as seasoned professionals and industry experts from CBC, C3 Media, Cineflix Media, Poutine Studios, Ideacom International, and other leading production companies in Quebec.
Previous program mentors have come from Galafilm, Muse Entertainment, Apartment 11, among other prominent companies.
About QEPC
The Quebec English-language Production Council (QEPC) represents the official language minority (OLMC) film and television production industry in Quebec. This includes most independent Quebec producers of English-language programming, as well as ACTRA Montreal.
About the Canada Media Fund
The Canada Media Fund (CMF) fosters, develops, finances, and promotes the production of Canadian content and applications for all audiovisual media platforms. The CMF guides Canadian content toward a competitive global environment by fostering industry innovation, rewarding success, enabling a diversity of voices, and promoting access to content through public and private sector partnerships.
The CMF receives financial contributions from the Government of Canada and Canada’s cable, satellite, and IPTV distributors.
Media Contact
Vanessa Marra
Cineflix Media Inc (on behalf of the QEPC)
📞 514-576-1796
✉️ vmarra@cineflix.com