FINDING DIAMONDS FEATURED IN THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

Finding Diamonds - the hit CBC Gem show starring Ian Bawa and Diamond was recently featured in the Winnipeg Free Press:

Who rescued whom?

New docuseries highlights stories of animal-assisted healing

By: Eva Wasney

As the saying (sort of) goes: Diamond is Ian Bawa’s best friend.

Diamond, a one-eyed yellow Labrador retriever mix, came into Bawa’s life when he was in desperate need of companionship following the death of his father.

“I was alone in my small condo for three, four months, just kind of melting away from the world,” he says. “She made my life better.”

The Winnipeg filmmaker, 37, and his canine co-host (“maybe eight or nine? No one really knows”) are now stars of a new CBC docuseries, Finding Diamonds, which follows the pair as they travel across the country highlighting other stories of animal-assisted healing in the face of grief and trauma.

Visit here to read the full article.

SUPER CHANNEL AND FARPOINT FILMS CONTINUE OUTPUT DEAL FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW

FARPOINT TO PRODUCE 150 HOURS OF SCRIPTED AND UNSCRIPTED TELEVISION

(WINNIPEG, MB) APRIL 9, 2024 - Farpoint Films and Super Channel announced today the continuation of an output deal signed last year, which will again see Farpoint produce 150 hours of both unscripted and scripted television for Super Channel over the next year.

This last year saw Farpoint produce a number of projects for Super Chanel including Ancient Bodies: Secrets Revealed (8x60), Death of the Party (26x60), An Hour To Kill (30x60), and the feature documentaries The Wandering Barber, The Devil’s Handshake and Fire on Ice.

In 2024, Farpoint is already in production or post-production on several shows, including I Died and Came Back (13x60), Fishing For History (14x60), and One Way Mirror (26x60).

The upcoming projects continue Farpoint's track record of developing shows in-house with Farpoint Distribution acting as the international sales agent.

“This is a continuation of the fantastic partnership we have with Don McDonald and Super Channel,” said Farpoint Films president, Kyle Bornais. “Our shows have been resonating with not only Canadian audiences, but also viewers around the world and this deal ensures we continue to produce world-class entertainment.”

“We are thrilled to be continuing our partnership and expanding our slate with Kyle and his team,” said Don McDonald, President & CEO, Super Channel. “Farpoint has consistently provided us with compelling and entertaining content that has become a solid addition to our schedule. We look forward to seeing what this next phase of the partnership brings.” 

FISHING FOR HISTORY FEATURED IN BEAUMONT ENTERPRISE

One of Farpoint’s newest shows, Fishing For History, was recently featured in the Beaumont Enterprise during a trip to Texas.

THEY'RE FISHING FOR HISTORY, EH

By Kim Brent, Photojournalist

April 7, 2024

For decades, commercial fishermen Justin Gerbrandt and Mike Lenton have navigated the frigid waters of Canada’s Lake Winnipeg fishing for walleye.

Now, they’ve cast a line in a different direction. They're on a hunt for history.

In between their work on the often icy lake, the pair are stars of Canadian production company Farpoint Films’ newest television series, Fishing for History.

It’s a concept that show producer/director Scott Leary developed during the pandemic while watching YouTube videos and stumbling upon one about magnet fishing.

The idea is similar to using metal detectors to search for treasures buried underground but on the water. Practitioners use high-powered magnets to retrieve items from below the surface.

It seemed like the perfect fit to Farpoint’s documentary feature film and television work, and Leary already had a group of fishermen from which to choose as his star cast.

He’d been behind the lens of another series years before, called Ice Vikings. The show documented the life and times of Canada’s commercial fishermen, including Gerbrandt and Lenton.

Read the full article here.

Photo made Wednesday, April 3, 2024 Kim Brent/Beaumont Enterprise

WANDERING BARBER FEATURE DOCUMENTARY FEATURED IN WINNIPEG FREE PRESS

One of Farpoint Films current projects, The Wandering Barber, was recently featured in the Winnipeg Free Press. The feature travel documentary, featuring Jeremy Regan from Winnipeg’s Hunter & Gunn, is about people who cut hair in unique, sometimes challenging areas, around the world.

Winnipeg Free Press, April 4, 2024:

By Kevin Rollason

Winnipeg barber Jeremy Regan didn’t cut much hair when he was in Ukraine, but he did style a documentary.

Regan, founder of the Broadway barbershop Hunter and Gunn, was in the eastern European country last week conducting interviews for an upcoming documentary film.

It’s the haircut equivalent of food-based shows like Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations or Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy.

As part of it, Regan spoke to fellow barbers, but also politicians, soldiers and everyone in between to tell their stories and get a feeling for the country, its culture and the war it is fighting since Russia invaded more than two years ago.

Read the full article here.

FINDING DIAMONDS LAUNCHES TOMORROW ON NATIONAL PUPPY DAY ON CBC GEM

Farpoint Films announced today that new CBC Gem original unscripted series, Finding Diamonds (6x15), will launch tomorrow - Saturday, March 23, also National Puppy Day - on CBC Gem. All six episodes will be available to stream on-demand.

Finding Diamonds is a docu-series that follows filmmaker Ian Bawa and his dog, Diamond, as they travel across Canada exploring the relationship between humans and support animals in the face of trauma and grief.

Shortly after Bawa released his critically acclaimed short film about his relationship with his dad, Strong Son, his father passed away.

While Ian was in the lowest depths of grief and despair, a shining light came into his life: Diamond. Diamond is a one-eyed yellow Labrador/Husky that Ian had initially signed up to foster, but soon realized there was no way to let go of this dog — Diamond is his everything.

"My dog, Diamond, has been a gift to me, and to be able to share our story across Canada has been an even greater gift,” said Bawa.

“Diamond came to me during one of the saddest and darkest times of my life. Her energy and gentle nature brought me back to life. Finding Diamonds has allowed me to see that I was not alone in finding solace and strength in my furry best friend - and for that I am grateful."

Finding Diamonds features tales of grief and redemption found in the love of the smallest confidantes. These are stories filled with sadness, laughter, and ultimately, perspective.

While the series deals with deep subject matter and moments of grief and pain, it is also a love letter to the resiliency of the human spirit and connection to the animal bond.

All six episodes of Finding Diamondswill be available to watch for free on CBC Gem starting Saturday, March 23.

DEAL SET TO TAKE CITY’S FARPOINT FILMS TO NEXT LEVEL

By Ben Waldman, Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg-based production company Farpoint Films has inked a deal to produce 150 hours of scripted and unscripted television programming this year for Super Channel, a national television network operating on a subscription model.

The deal was announced Tuesday morning, and comes with an option for the companies to extend the term by one year in both January 2024 and January 2025.

Since its founding in 2000, Farpoint has produced various television shows and films including Room for Rent, Menorca, Vandits, and Bachman, a documentary on guitarist Randy Bachman. The Swearing Jar, a 2022 movie, was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival, featuring Patrick J. Adams (Suits) and the Golden Globe-winning actor Kathleen Turner.

Visit here to read the full article

WINTERTIDE FEATURED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES

December 8, 2023

By Erik Piepenburg

Beth (Niamh Carolan) spends her days — or is it nights? — patrolling her small Canadian town where sunlight no longer exists and where zombielike humans called strays wander the snow-covered streets. To fight malaise, townspeople are supposed to take happy pills, but Beth has stopped doing so, apparently immune to whatever is causing her neighbors to turn rabid. As she increasingly has nightmares about a pustule-covered version of herself who turns people into strays, Beth starts to wonder if she may be the affliction’s cause — and cure.

Much like “Shifted,” another recent Canadian gem, John Barnard’s film is an intimate and eerie study in pandemic-era isolation and its long tentacles. A horror-science fiction hybrid that would make David Cronenberg proud, this film works its magic in slow burn style, buoyed by Barnard and Carrie-May Siggins’s finely-tuned and humane script, and Markus Henkel’s cinematography that makes Winnipeg, where the movie was filmed, look like a haunted Arctic.

Read the full article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/08/movies/horror-movies-streaming.html

WINTERTIDE OPENING IN THE US ON NOVEMBER 14

The award-winning film, Wintertide, from writer/director John Barnard and writer Carrie-May Siggins will be released in the US on November 14, 2023 by Gravitas Ventures.

See below for coverage:

Gravitas – https://t.ly/-FIF0

Coming Soon.net – https://t.ly/Py83K

IGN – https://t.ly/EDG_W

IGN YouTube – https://t.ly/juyzj

Upcoming Horror Movies – https://shorturl.at/emtBL

Yahoo – https://shorturl.at/mDLXZ

Game News 24 – https://shorturl.at/zDFRT

PARANORMAL FOLLOW-UP TO FAKING A MURDERER ROLLS IN WINNIPEG

Playback, Oct. 12, 2023 - The team behind the mockumentary Faking a Murderer has commenced production on a paranormal follow-up, titled Don’t F*ck With Ghosts.

The “metaphysical documentary” is written, directed and produced by Toronto-based 5’7 Films’ Stu Stone and Adam Rodness, who reprise their Faking a Murderer personas to investigate a haunted house, according to a news release.

Kyle Bornais of Farpoint Films is an executive producer on the film and previously worked with Stone and Rodness on their hit holiday heist film, Vandits.

Principal photography is now underway in Winnipeg and will continue through October, and is an interprovincial coproduction between 5’7 Films and Winnipeg’s Farpoint Films. Robb Wells (The Trailer Park Boys) is set to make a cameo appearance.

Read more:  https://playbackonline.ca/2023/10/12/paranormal-follow-up-to-faking-a-murderer-rolls-in-winnipeg/#ixzz8Fx39DSfA

STRONG SON TEAM NAMED TO TELEFILM TALENT TO WATCH PROGRAM

Congratulations to writer, director & producer Ian Bawa, producer Markus Henkel and executive producer Kyle Bornais are among the teams chosen for the Telefilm Talent to Watch Program!

The project, Strong Son, is based on a short film from Bawa (who is currently in the CFC's Norman Jewison Film Program - Director's Lab).

"Films from the Talent to Watch Program consistently shine a spotlight on emerging talent spread across the country," said Julie Roy, Executive Director and CEO, Telefilm Canada. "The opportunity we give to propel their careers as filmmakers and establish themselves amongst our nation's vibrant film community is one we take pride in. This year's selections present a dynamic range of cinematic gems, and we cannot wait to see the final product."

Stay tuned for more information on Strong Son.

Way to go Ian, Markus and Kyle!

Read the full Telefilm press release here.

NATHALIE MASSARONI CHOSEN FOR PRESTIGIOUS WOMEN IN POST PROGRAM

Congratulations to Farpoint’s Nathalie Massaroni for being selected to the prestigious Women in Post program!

The Canadian Academy’s Women in Post program is geared to provide higher-level industry access and professional development for women-identifying and non-binary creatives interested in working in all areas of post production.

Participants will hone their post production skills through an observer placement at a post production company or shadowing a post production role, and an eight-part online learning module consisting of panels and workshops with industry professionals. Community building activities and industry events allow participants to form peer-to-peer relationships and broaden their networks, with the opportunity to attend the CCE's EditCon 2024, and an invitation to take part in Canadian Screen Week 2024.

Nathalie Massaroni is a Winnipeg-based editor and post production supervisor. After graduating from the University of Winnipeg’s film program, she gained experience in various roles on projects such as Night Hunter, Siberia, How It Ends, and GONE: My Daughter. Nathalie got the opportunity to pursue her dream career – as a professional film editor – when she joined Farpoint Films, an award-winning production company. Since then, she has edited features and series including: Wintertide, Alter Boys, Seeking Fire, and Ice Vikings. In addition to her work as an editor, Nathalie is a post production supervisor of more than 250 hours of television. She has also edited for APTN (D dot H) and CBC (I Hurt Myself, Home Away from Home, and Next Gen). If she’s not working on a computer, you can find Nathalie at the dance studio, or sipping coffee with a cat on her lap.

Visit here for more information on the program.

RYAN COOPER, EVA THOMAS SET FEATURE DEBUT WITH ABERDEEN

September 26, 2023 - Playback - Kelly Townsend

Cameras are rolling in Winnipeg on the directorial feature debuts of filmmakers Ryan Cooper and Eva Thomas.

Cooper and Thomas are writers and directors on the Indigenous-led drama Aberdeen, which is in production in Winnipeg and its surrounding areas into October.

Aberdeen is produced by Farpoint Films and Cooper’s banner Back to Space Productions, and is part of a first-look production deal between the two companies, which was signed last year. Farpoint’s Kyle Bornais and Kathleen Easton are producers on the film alongside Cooper.

Visit here to read the full article.

INDIGENOUS FEATURE FILM – ABERDEEN - STARTS PRODUCTION

(WINNIPEG, MB) SEPTEMBER 25, 2023 - Farpoint Films announced the start of production on an Indigenous Feature Film, Aberdeen. Filming has started and continues for the next month in Winnipeg and outlying areas. 

Aberdeen, written and directed by Ryan Cooper (named one of Playback’s Ten to Watch in2021) and Eva Thomas (Shelved), is a drama set in Treaty One Territory in modern-day downtown Winnipeg. It centers on the indomitable Aberdeen, an Indigenous climate change refugee that has been forced from her home due to flooding and must adjust to big city life along with overcoming intergenerational cycle of trauma that has been tearing her family apart for 5 generations.

“This script is so personal and precious to me and it was important to be surrounded by creative artists I trust to bring this film to life,” said Ryan Cooper. “This is not only my story, really, it’s everyone’s.”

Aberdeen is produced by Kyle Bornais (The Swearing Jar), Ryan Cooper (Alter Boys) and Kathleen Easton (Almost Unsolved).

“Ryan’s powerful storytelling continues to impress on a daily basis and it’s a privilege to be on this journey with him and Eva,” said Farpoint’s Kyle Bornais. “This is a story that needs to be seen not only in Canada, but around the world.”

“I’m excited & privileged to be a part of helping Ryan & Eva bring to the big screen such a personal story & one that is tremendously important to the community & larger audience as a whole,” added Kathleen Easton.

Aberdeen stars Gail Maurice (Bones of Crows), Billy Merasty (Acting Good), Liam Stewart-Kanigan (Orphan: First Kill), Ryan Black (Dance Me Outside), and Jennifer Podemski (Reservation Dogs).

Aberdeen is part of the first-look producing deal between Farpoint Films and Ryan Cooper’s Back to Space Productions.

WINTERTIDE PICKED UP FOR US DISTRIBUTION BY GRAVITAS VENTURES

Farpoint Films announced today their latest feature film, Wintertide, directed by John Barnard, has been picked up for distribution in the United States by Gravitas Ventures, an Anthem Sports & Entertainment Company.
Wintertide is arriving in the U.S. after playing to great critical acclaim in film festivals around the world – now it's America's turn to be scared and thrilled by this film.

Written by Barnard and Carrie-May Siggins, Wintertide is about an isolated northern city battling a plague of depression that transforms its victims into zombie-like automatons, when a woman discovers the key to immunity lies within her dreams.

“After the great reception and acclaim The Swearing Jar received, we are excited to partner once again with the great team at Gravitas Ventures in bringing Wintertide to the U.S.,” said Farpoint president and co-founder, Kyle Bornais. “They have the track record and integrity that audiences trust and we can't wait for them to share Wintertide.”

This is the second feature film directed by Barnard, who previously wrote and directed the award-winning, Menorca (Whistler Film Fest 2016), and the music documentary, Bachman (Hot Docs 2018), on legendary singer/songwriter Randy Bachman.
Wintertide stars newcomer Niamh Carolan (Elephant Sheets), an Irish immigrant to Canada in her first feature film. Rounding out the cast are Solange Sookram (Tales From The Loop) and Jesse Nobess (The Perfect Match).

As well, Wintertide has also been picked up for distribution in India by VR Films and Studios, Ltd.
Wintertide is produced by Kyle Bornais (From The Vine), Tony Wosk (The Swearing Jar) and John Barnard of Farpoint Films with the participation of Manitoba Film & Music and Super Channel.

Read Playback’s coverage here.

SEAN CISTERNA BEGINS LONG RIDE HOME IN CALGARY, BRAZIL

Via Playback:

The kick-off to production on Canadian director Sean Cisterna’s new film had a bigger audience than most.

Production on the Canada-Brazil copro Long Ride Home (produced by Kyle Bornais and others) began in July at the Calgary Stampede in Alberta in front of 20,000 people, which, producers say, makes this the first narrative feature film to be shot at the annual event. That was followed by a shoot this past week in São Paulo at the Festa do Peão de Barretos, Brazil’s largest rodeo, where the production filmed sequences in front of a 40,000-person crowd.

Visit here to read the full article.

Sean Cisterna and Quan Luong filming at the Calgary Stampede earlier this year.

FARPOINT FILMS CASTS OFF WITH MAGNETIC NEW SERIES, FISHING FOR HISTORY

Series to explore the global sensation of magnet fishing

(WINNIPEG, MB) AUGUST 23, 2023 - Farpoint Films announced today the start of production on a new 13-episode series, Fishing For History. Filming starts this week and runs through the rest of the year in Manitoba, Canada and the United States. The show will premiere on Super Channel in 2024.

Magnet fishing is basically fishing, but instead of lures, high-powered magnets are used and cast off in waterways around the world. The results can include such small items as coins and keys – but can be as monumental as historical guns, swords, grenades and so much more.

Each episode will see a different waterway explored from the Mississippi, MacKenzie, Potemac, the Rio Grande and more. But fishing with magnets isn’t as easy as you’d think – you need experienced fishermen who know how to reel in a big catch, and that’s where our adventurous hosts come in.

Mike Lenton and Justin Gerbrandt are commercial fishermen based in Gimli, Manitoba that starred for three years on the hit Cottage Life network show, Ice Vikings. Mike and Justin know a thing or two about big hauls and that’s why they’re the perfect hosts for Fishing for History.

“We’ve spent three ice cold winters on the frozen Lake Winnipeg with Justin and Mike and know they have the intestinal fortitude to persevere to reel in the big catch,” said Farpoint producer, Scott R. Leary. “While we don’t know yet what they’ll find with their magnets, we know audiences will be instantly hooked by their dynamic chemistry.”

Fishing For History is directed by Cam Bennett (Ice Vikings) and will feature underwater photography from Dave Gaudet (The Medicine Line).

Fishing For History is part of Farpoint’s exclusive deal with Super Channel to provide 150 hours of scripted and non-scripted shows over the next year, and will premiere in 2024.

Playback article (paywall)

NIAMH CAROLAN WINS BEST ACTRESS AT SCIENCE FICTION FILM FESTIVAL

Congratulations to Niamh Carolan who won Best Actress, Feature Film at the 2023 Science Fiction Film Festival!

The SFFF is Australia’s leading celebration of Science Fiction and Fantasy Cinema.

POST-PRODUCTION WORKFLOW COURSE WITH NATHALIE AND ELIZABETH

They say if you want to be the best, then learn from the best - and that's what you'll get with an upcoming Film Training Manitoba workshop with our own Nathalie Massaroni, with assistance from Elizabeth Ricard!

FTM’s SWIFT Presents – Post-Production Workflow (In Partnership with Farpoint Films)

This two-day course will help the learner gain a deeper understanding of the workflow of post from beginning to end with a special focus on the role of the supervisor and assistant editor. FTM’s SWIFT is an initiative to provide training for female-identified, trans, and non-binary adults interested in the post-production workflow. 

With the rapid growth of the media production and film industry in Manitoba, more industry professionals are looking to increase their knowledge about the post-production process.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to learn from Nathalie and Elizabeth and improve your skills and career (and get to know two of the best people in the world ever - fact).

Visit here for more info and to register: https://www.filmtraining.mb.ca/ftms-swift-presents-post-production-workflow/

CAMERAS ROLL ON FARPOINT FILMS’ PARANORMAL SERIES GHOSTS OFF GRID

By Kristi Alexandra / Playback

Winnipeg-based production company Farpoint Films has kicked off production on its newest series, Ghosts Off Grid.

The 14 x 60-minute series is filming in Manitoba, across western Canada and in the U.S., with production wrapping in early 2024, according to a release.

Ghosts Off Grid is produced by Chris Charney and Scott Leary, and executive produced by Kyle Bornais. It will follow YouTube duo Johnny Wiebe and Jordyn Penner, known to their viewers as the Paranormies, as they investigate paranormal activity in the outdoors. There are no writers and directors announced as of press time, but Wiebe and Penner plan to helm a some episodes, as well as appear on screen.

Visit here to read the full article.

US DISTRIBUTION FOR VANDITS

The hit holiday heist film, Vandits, has been acquired by Quiver Distribution who will distribute the film in the United States.

Vandits premiered in December 2022 across Canada to critical acclaim and is currently available in Canada on Hollywood Suite and Amazon Prime.

Vandits is about a gang of small time crooks that look to make a big score when they embark on a ridiculous heist to rob a bingo hall on Christmas Eve.

Starring: Robb Wells (Trailer Park Boys), Francesco Antonio (Wayne), Jann Arden (Jann), Enrico Colantoni (Flashpoint), Jesse Camacho (Locke and Key), Tony Nappo (Faking A Murderer), Victoria Turko, Megan Best, and Ivy Châtelain.

Directed by Stu Stone

Written by Stu Stone and Adam Rodness

Executive Produced by Kyle Bornais

Line Produced by Rhonda Lanouette