The MATRIARCH Teaser has been released! The 1-hour crime drama series was developed through the Canadian Film Centre’s Bell Media Prime Time TV Program. At its heart, MATRIARCH is about a mother and winemaker inadvertently creates the most dangerous agricultural crime organization in Canada when trying to save her family from crippling debt. A special thanks goes out to the incredible cast and crew who helped make this teaser a reality.
For more details on MATRIARCH, click here.
Festival season is around the corner and we’re delighted to announce that Helmann’s 1-hour pilot, THE DISAPPEARED ONES, is a semi-finalist while his second script, CREEMORE VILLAGE, has placed as a quarter-finalist at the 52nd annual Nashville Film Festival. Founded in 1969, the Nashville Film Festival will be held this year on September 30th – October 6th. For a complete list of all the quarter-finalists, please visit: https://nashvillefilmfestival.org/.
Some very exciting news — Helmann is 1 of 25 participants selected for the 2021 Netflix-Banff Fellowship and Pitch Program where he will receive an exclusive one-on-one mentorship with Joseph Kay, EP/showrunner of TRANSPLANT. As part of the program, Helmann will also be given a full access pass to the Banff World Media Film Festival.
The festival, which is partnered with the Black Screen Office, the Canada Media Fund, the Indigenous Screen Office (ISO), and la Société de développement des entreprises culturelles, will take place virtually this year from June 14 – July 16th. To learn more about the Banff World Media Festival, visit https://banffmediafestival.playbackonline.ca/2021/
”“This is an important collaboration and step towards a more diverse, equitable and inclusive cultural community. Congratulations to this year’s participants, your voice is vital in continuing to build and elevate a vibrant industry and ensuring that all Canadians feel represented, in front of and behind the camera."
Chris ReginaDirector, Original Series at Netflix
We’ve just received word that two of Helmann’s scripts have placed at the 27th annual Austin Film Festival. His original 1-hour dramatic pilot, THE DISAPPEARED ONES, was selected as a Second Rounder while his spec for SUCCESSION (“Human Piñata”) placed as a semi-finalist, making it the top 2% out of 13,000 submissions. This is the second year one of Helmann’s scripts have placed at the Oscar-qualifying festival, which is going virtual this year. For more information on speakers and badges, have a look here: https://austinfilmfestival.com/
We’re thrilled to announce that Helmann will be part of the Reelworld Emerging 20 Program for his 1-hour pilot, CREEMORE VILLAGE! Every year Reelworld selects the top 20 emerging BIPOC filmmakers from across the country.
The E20 Program is Reelworld’s initiative to connect some of Canada’s most talented emerging BIPOC talent with industry executives and professionals within the Canadian entertainment industry. E20s are given the opportunity to network, learn, and pitch their projects to industry decision makers.
After the program has concluded, E20 participants are eligible to apply for up to $150,000 from Telefilm’s Talent to Watch program to make their first feature film.
For more info about Reelworld’s Emerging 20, check out their website here.
”“We had over 250 submissions this year and it was with great difficulty that our jury had to whittle that down to only 20 projects. Each year the competition gets more fierce. Congratulations to all our E20’s. I look forward to seeing their projects bloom and find rightful homes on our screens.”
Tonya WilliamsFounder, Reelworld Film Festival & Screen Institute
Great news! Helmann’s pilot, THE DISAPPEARED ONES, is a quarter-finalist at the Atlanta Film Festival (2020). The script was chosen out of 1300 submissions for the feature, pilot, and short categories. Now in its 44th year, the Atlanta Film Festival is an Academy Award qualifying festival that will take place April 30 to May 10, 2020.
