June 12, 2017

The Board of Directors of the Bell Fund has announced its decisions for the May 1, 2017 round of applications. Over $4.2M in grants has been approved for 18 of the 28 (English and French) applications received, as follows:

The following English language projects received Production Grants under the Bell Fund’s Production Program:

BROADCAST

DIGITAL MEDIA

BotShop
BotShop Productions Inc.
Producer: Tim Tyler

Service Co.: TBD

The DM component introduces the BotShop and characters Becca and Bubo through an interactive webpage. It is a place where episodes can be watched and children can engage in the Robot world of Solderville by building their own robots and even conduct a robot choir.

Canadian Country Music Association Awards 2017 
CCMA Entertainment 2017 Inc.
Executive Producer: Don Green
Producers: Claire Adams and Joel Stewart

CBC, 1 x 120 mins

The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) Awards Show – a live, television special on CBC highlighting the year in country music. The 2017 CCMA Awards will be presented during Country Music Week in Saskatoon, SK from September 7 – 10. As a salute to the year that’s been, this two-hour celebration will feature performances and appearances by some of Canada’s brightest country stars and will announce winners in eight award categories, including the Fans’ Choice Award. 

Canadian Country Music Association Awards 2017
Canadian Country Music Association
Executive Producer: Don Green

Service Co.: Innovate by Day

The CCMA’s digital component will include live event coverage, fan engagement opportunities, live stream elements, digital video series, optimized graphic content, and a social media campaign, to support and amplify the reach of the CCMA Awards Show.

My Enemy, My Brother
Fathom Media Inc.
Executive Producers: Melanie Horkan, Hannah Donegan, Emannuel Vaughn-Lee, Ann Shin
Producers: Ann Shin

Super Channel – 1 x 86 mins

A feature length documentary about a real-life story of two former enemies who become blood brothers for life. Meeting in Vancouver 30 years after, Zahed, an Iranian child soldier saves Najah, a wounded Iraqi soldier. They are now about to embark on an emotional journey back to Iran and Iraq for the first time in 20 years; a journey that will have dramatic consequences for both men.

Eye of the Beholder VR
Fathom Film Group
Executive Producers: Ann Shin

A virtual reality single-player gaming experience that brings audiences and users directly into the moral conflicts and over-arching narrative of the feature-length documentary film “My Enemy My Brother”.

Frankie Drake, Season I
Shaftesbury Films Inc.
Executive Producers: Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie
Producer: Jonathan Hackett

CBC – 11 x 60 mins

Set in the 1920s and starring Lauren Lee Smith (This Life, The Listener), the series follows Toronto’s only female private detective, Frankie Drake. 

Frankie Drake – DM
Shaftesbury Films Inc./Smokebomb Entertainment
Executive Producers: Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie
Producers: Jay Bennett, Ted Biggs, Steph Ouaknine

The Frankie Drake digital crossover is a six-part digital series experiment to support the launch of Frankie Drake. The web series video, commenting, and additional visual and textual elements will be accessible on desktop and mobile versions of the Frankie Drake and Murdoch Mysteries series website.

Indian Horse
Screen Siren Pictures
Executive Producer: Roger Frappier
Producers: Trish Dolman, Christine Haebler, Paula Devonshire

Bell Media – TMN, 1 x 90 mins

Saul Indian Horse was torn from his family as a young boy and sent to one of Canada’s notorious residential schools. There, amidst the horror of abuse, psychological torture and despair, Saul finds salvation in the unlikeliest of places and favourite Canadian past-times — hockey.

Indian Horse
Screen Siren Pictures
Executive Producer: Roger Frappier
Producers: Trish Dolman, Christine Haebler, Paula Devonshire

Service Co.: Aminikii Studio and Hello Cool World

This webpage is an immersive transmedia experience utilizing the upcoming feature film as a springboard for education, action and Reconciliation in response to the legacy of Canada’s Residential school system. This hub site will offer a multimedia experience, integrating cross-platform interactivity and a social media campaign that will challenge audiences to take small actions toward Reconciliation.

Just Like Mom & Dad
Marble Media Inc.
Executive Producers: Mark Bishop, Matthew Hornburg
Producers: Steve Sloan

YES TV, BYU TV, 20 x 30 mins

Just Like Mom & Dad is a heartwarming and fun-filled game show that celebrates and rewards families for how well they know each other.  Shot before an energetic family studio audience, each episode of Just Like Mom & Dad features three teams of parent-kid pairs, competing in fun, interactive and hands-on trivia challenges that put the family dynamic to the test.

Just Like Mom & Dad Interactive
Marblemedia Interactive Inc.
Executive Producers: Mark Bishop, Matt Horburg

Producers: Mark Bishop, Matt Horburg

Through mobile games and a video library, fans of the show are exposed to new content, behind-the-scenes clips and interactive experiences.

Mohawk Girls, Season 5
Rezolution Pictures International Inc.
Executive Producers: Catherine Bainbridge, Christina Fon, Linda Ludwick, Ernest Webb, Tracey Deer & Cynthia Knight
Producers: Catherine Bainbridge, Christina Fon & Linda Ludwick

APTN, 6 x 30 mins

Mohawk Girls is a dramatic comedy about four young women figuring out how to be Mohawk in the 21st century. But with their parents, friends, community, and even their garbage man having an opinion, it’s an impossible task.

Mohawk Girls, Season 5 
Rezolution Pictures
Executive Producers: Tracey Deer, Cynthia Knight, Ernest Webb, Catherine Bainbridge, Christina Fon & Linda Ludwick
Producers: Catherine Bainbridge, Christina Fon & Linda Ludwick

Service Co.: Innovate By Day

Walk a mile in our moccasins! Now in its fifth and final season, Mohawk Girls offers its avid fan-base a comedic look at the lives of four modern-day Indigenous women trying to stay true to their roots while they navigate sex, love, work and friendship by nurturing an online community.

Odd Squad Season 3
Sinking Ship Entertainment
Executive Producers: JJ Johnson, Blair Powers, Tim McKeon
Producer: Stephen Turnbull

TVO, 15 x 30 mins

Odd Squad is a live-action comedy about a high-tech organization run by kids that investigates anything strange, weird and especially odd. If you find yourself suddenly floating or attacked by spaghetti, then that’s a job for Odd Squad.  Also, embedded in each Odd Squad story is a math concept aimed at kids in grades 1 – 2.

Odd Squad 360 Cases
Sinking Ship Entertainment
Producers: JJ Johnson, Blair Powers

Odd Squad 360º Cases is an immersive touch-screen experience, full of puzzles, fun, and oddness. Kids are Odd Squad agents who explore Headquarters in all directions on their mobile devices. With odd things happening, agents search for oddness and solve simple puzzles. Math interactions feature the same friendly, simple, interfaces as the show itself. Featuring a photo-realistic virtual HQ, Odd Squad 360º Cases carries Odd Squad’s trademark visual humour into its immersive surroundings.

Sharkwater: Extinction
2513073 Ontario Inc.
Executive Producers: Brian Stewart, Sandy Stewart, Patrice Theroux, Naveen Prasad
Producers: Rob Stewart, Karen Shaw

Bell Media – TMN, 1 x 90 mins

A thrilling and inspiring documentary feature film by the late filmmaker and activist Rob Stewart to save the world’s greatest predator: the shark. Blending the epic story of the shark—its evolution, sophistication, intelligence and social life—Sharkwater: Extinction also uncovers the billion-dollar industries behind one of the greatest wildlife massacres ever known.

Sharkwater VR
Occupied VR, Sharkwater/2513073 Ontario Inc.
Executive Producers: Sean Evans / Karen Shaw

Sharkwater VR is a virtual reality adventure that introduces participants to the world’s greatest predator – the shark – and turns their fears into fascination!

Sharkwater: Extinction
2513073 Ontario Inc.
Executive Producers: Brian Stewart, Sandy Stewart, Patrice Theroux, Naveen Prasad
Producers: Rob Stewart, Karen Shaw

Bell Media – TMN, 1 x 90 mins

A thrilling and inspiring documentary feature film by the late filmmaker and activist Rob Stewart to save the world’s greatest predator: the shark. Blending the epic story of the shark—its evolution, sophistication, intelligence and social life—Sharkwater: Extinction also uncovers the billion-dollar industries behind one of the greatest wildlife massacres ever known.

Sharkwater VR
Occupied VR, Sharkwater/2513073 Ontario Inc.
Executive Producers: Sean Evans / Karen Shaw

Sharkwater VR is a virtual reality adventure that introduces participants to the world’s greatest predator – the shark – and turns their fears into fascination!

Snap-Wrap
Blue Ant HDTV Productions Inc.
Executive Producer: Sam Linton
Producer: Chayne Japal

Blue Ant Media – AUX, 6 x 15 mins

The TV program will be based around artists who were featured in the digital webisodes.  Each episode will contain four Snapchat stories from the artist’s Snapchat take over along with their music videos, additional footage from live performances, studio sessions, and interviews, giving the user a 360 degree experience of that live performance.

Snap-Wrap Interactive
Blue Ant Media Productions Inc.
Executive Producer: Jamie Schouela
Producers: Collin Sideris, Tyler Munro

A year’s worth of Snapchat artist takeovers (bi-weekly) of the A.Side Snapchat account; the production of 24 supplemental compilation videos; a concurrent social media and promotional campaign driving to the content; and a television series that extends the narrative established in the digital series.  All of these elements will compliment and enhance one another – creating a highly-engaging, cross-platform content experience.

When I Grow Up!
Riverbank Pictures
Executive Producer: David Mitchell
Producers: Francis Mitchell, David Mitchell

TVO, 26 x 11 mins

When I Grow Up! is a 26 X 11’ television series for ages 6-9 that will show how an education in science can lead to countless inspiring jobs. It will create a window into the future and will stoke an interest in both STEM concepts and the professional world.

The following French language projects received Production Grants under the Bell Fund’s Production Program:

BROADCAST

DIGITAL MEDIA

À fond de train II
Blimp Télé
Producteurs : Éloïse Forest, Isabelle Vaillancourt, Marc St-Onge
TV5 – UNIS, 10 x 52 min

C’est juste de la TV, saison 11
URBANIA
Producteurs: Annie Bourdeau, Raphaëlle Huysmans. Philippe Lamarre
ICI ARTV, 21 x 60 min

Cochon dingue II
Trio Orange
Producteurs : Carlos Soldevila, Éric Hébert, Julie Lavallée
Télé-Québec, 39 x 30 min

Hubert & Fanny
Sphère Média Plus
Producteurs : Josée Vallée, Sophie Pellerin, Jocelyn Deschênes
ICI Radio-Canada, ICI ARTV, ICI TOU.TV, 12 x 60 min

La Belle Gang
7043597 Canada Inc.
Producteurs : Caroline Borne, Jean-Pierre Laurendeau
Canal Vie, 120 X 60 min.

Like-Moi III
Zone 3
Producteurs: Josée Fortier, André Larin, Brigitte Lemonde
Télé-Québec, 11 x 30 min

Mordu de la pêche, saison 7
Untamed Productions 2
Producteur: Cyril Chauquet
Évasion, 12 x 42 min

The following organizations received Professional Development funding:

Digital Media Bootcamp
Women in Film&Television

iVentures & iON
Interactive Ontario

Prix Gémeaux 2017
Académie canadienne du cinéma et de la télévision

Reelworld VR Hub
Reelworld Film Festival

Strategic Partners 2017
Atlantic Film Festival

WattpadPresents.com
The Coup Company Limited

Women Directors Apprenticeship Program
Academy of Canadian Cinema & Telvision

About the Bell Fund

The Bell Fund provides grants to Canadian independent producers who develop and produce engaging, interactive cross-platform digital content for Canadian broadcasters to complement and enhance associated television programs. Since 1997, the Bell Fund has invested over $192 M in over 1,900 Canadian digital media projects and television programs. The Bell Fund also undertakes training, research, business development and promotion for the digital media industry.

The Bell Fund receives annual contributions of approximately $17 M from Bell TV as part of its broadcast distribution undertaking (BDU) contributions to the industry. In addition, the Development Program is supported by the interest generated by a $10M endowment. The Bell Fund is incorporated as a not-for-profit organization, governed by an independent Board of Directors representing various sectors of the television and digital media industry.

For further information:

416-977-8154

info@bellfund.ca

www.bellfund.ca

514-845-4418

info@fondsbell.ca

www.fondsbell.ca