Save The Date - October 17-25, 2020

JOHN KAPELOS - Actor / Writer / Producer

In the three decades since John Kapelos co-starred in the pop cultural phenomenon: THE BREAKFAST CLUB he has consistently proven himself as one of the most versatile and popular actors of his generation, heralded for his work in both comedy and drama on the big and small screens.

John co-starred in a several of John Hughes’ generation-defining Brat Pack films, notably THE BREAKFAST CLUB (as Carl the Janitor), 16 CANDLES and WEIRD SCIENCE. John Hughes discovered John while Kapelos was a member of the resident company at Chicago’s legendary SECOND CITY. He spent 8 years with Second City, both on their Chicago main stage, in their National Touring Company and in ORWELL THAT ENDS WELL, their triumphant 1984 off-Broadway return at the celebrated Village Gate in Manhattan.

Since that time John has made his mark in more than 70 features films including LEGALLY BLONDE, ROXANNE, THE SHAPE OF WATER. John loves independent film and has worked on over 250 film and television projects in his career as actor, writer, and producer. He is a London Ontario native and a big supporter of the film industry in this region. John will be seen in Guillermo del Toro's upcoming film NIGHTMARE ALLEY.

COURTNEY McCALLISTER - Head of Development + Co-productions at Vortex Pictures

Courtney is a passionate and dedicated writer/producer. Most recently, Courtney wrote an elevated horror script (Don’t Click) that is going into production in April, 2019.

Over the past two years, she has helped both emerging and established filmmakers develop and package their scripts. Of the 100+ scripts she’s read and provided notes for, she has proudly seen seven greenlit projects go to camera— selling well internationally afterwards. And though her background is in writing, this past spring/summer, Courtney produced the critically acclaimed documentary series Street Spirits for Bell Canada. Moreover, Courtney managed the production on Night Owl, a web-series that premiered at SXSW Film Festival in March, 2018.

JOHN KAPELOS - Actor / Writer / Producer

In the three decades since John Kapelos co-starred in the pop cultural phenomenon: THE BREAKFAST CLUB he has consistently proven himself as one of the most versatile and popular actors of his generation, heralded for his work in both comedy and drama on the big and small screens.

John co-starred in a several of John Hughes’ generation-defining Brat Pack films, notably THE BREAKFAST CLUB (as Carl the Janitor), 16 CANDLES and WEIRD SCIENCE. John Hughes discovered John while Kapelos was a member of the resident company at Chicago’s legendary SECOND CITY. He spent 8 years with Second City, both on their Chicago main stage, in their National Touring Company and in ORWELL THAT ENDS WELL, their triumphant 1984 off-Broadway return at the celebrated Village Gate in Manhattan.

Since that time John has made his mark in more than 70 features films including LEGALLY BLONDE, ROXANNE, THE SHAPE OF WATER. John loves independent film and has worked on over 250 film and television projects in his career as actor, writer, and producer. He is a London Ontario native and a big supporter of the film industry in this region. John will be seen in Guillermo del Toro's upcoming film NIGHTMARE ALLEY.

COURTNEY McCALLISTER - Head of Development + Co-productions at Vortex Pictures

Courtney is a passionate and dedicated writer/producer. Most recently, Courtney wrote an elevated horror script (Don’t Click) that is going into production in April, 2019.

Over the past two years, she has helped both emerging and established filmmakers develop and package their scripts. Of the 100+ scripts she’s read and provided notes for, she has proudly seen seven greenlit projects go to camera— selling well internationally afterwards. And though her background is in writing, this past spring/summer, Courtney produced the critically acclaimed documentary series Street Spirits for Bell Canada. Moreover, Courtney managed the production on Night Owl, a web-series that premiered at SXSW Film Festival in March, 2018.

CRAIG THOMPSON - Experienced director / Writer / Producer

Craig Thompson is an experienced Director, Writer and Producer whose company, Ballinran Entertainment, marks its 25 th anniversary in 2020. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Craig and his team adapted quickly to the changing film and television production landscape. In March, his 22- minute documentary Inside Wuhan was one of the highest-rated programs of the season for CTV’s W5. Directed and Produced from Canada, Inside Wuhan was shot undercover in the epicentre of the coronavirus using a camera smuggled into the city where a Canadian expat provided a glimpse of life in a city under lockdown. Other recent credits include the Alex Trebek documentary Game Changers, nominated for a 2020 Canadian Screen Award for Best Arts or Biography Documentary; streaming worldwide on Netflix, The Truth is in the Stars, with William Shatner and featuring a raft of international celebrities including Stephen Hawking in one of his last documentary interviews. Ballinran is currently in production on the Cirque du Soleil documentary, Balancing Act, filmed in China and is adapting for the screen Richard Wright’s award-winning novel Clara Callan. Prior to setting out as an independent producer, Craig was an on-camera reporter for CTV National News with Lloyd Robertson, a correspondent for CBC’s The National and for three years in the 1980s served as the London correspondent for CBC National Radio News, covering “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland. In addition to his production career, Craig has taught documentary filmmaking at the University of Waterloo. He is also active in his community of Stratford, Ontario, operating the art house cinema, Queen of the Square Cinema, located in the city’s historic city hall auditorium.

ALEX ROGALSKI - Film programmer

Alex has been a professional film programmer for more than a decade focusing on documentary and Canadian cinema for festivals across the country including TIFF, Hot Docs, Calgary International Film Festival, Victoria Film Festival, Gimme Some Truth, and others. He is the founder of the One Take Super 8 Event. This event started in Regina in 2000 and has spread across North America, helping to create more than 1000 independent films.

In addition to his film curation, Alex is currently a program consultant with the Saskatchewan Arts Board and was previously the Executive Director of PAVED Arts in Saskatoon. He holds a Masters in Communication and Culture from York and Ryerson Universities and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film from the University of Regina and has written for publications including POV magazine.

CRAIG THOMPSON - Experienced director / Writer / Producer

Craig Thompson is an experienced Director, Writer and Producer whose company, Ballinran Entertainment, marks its 25 th anniversary in 2020. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Craig and his team adapted quickly to the changing film and television production landscape. In March, his 22- minute documentary Inside Wuhan was one of the highest-rated programs of the season for CTV’s W5. Directed and Produced from Canada, Inside Wuhan was shot undercover in the epicentre of the coronavirus using a camera smuggled into the city where a Canadian expat provided a glimpse of life in a city under lockdown. Other recent credits include the Alex Trebek documentary Game Changers, nominated for a 2020 Canadian Screen Award for Best Arts or Biography Documentary; streaming worldwide on Netflix, The Truth is in the Stars, with William Shatner and featuring a raft of international celebrities including Stephen Hawking in one of his last documentary interviews. Ballinran is currently in production on the Cirque du Soleil documentary, Balancing Act, filmed in China and is adapting for the screen Richard Wright’s award-winning novel Clara Callan. Prior to setting out as an independent producer, Craig was an on-camera reporter for CTV National News with Lloyd Robertson, a correspondent for CBC’s The National and for three years in the 1980s served as the London correspondent for CBC National Radio News, covering “The Troubles” in Northern Ireland. In addition to his production career, Craig has taught documentary filmmaking at the University of Waterloo. He is also active in his community of Stratford, Ontario, operating the art house cinema, Queen of the Square Cinema, located in the city’s historic city hall auditorium.

ALEX ROGALSKI - Film programmer

Alex has been a professional film programmer for more than a decade focusing on documentary and Canadian cinema for festivals across the country including TIFF, Hot Docs, Calgary International Film Festival, Victoria Film Festival, Gimme Some Truth, and others. He is the founder of the One Take Super 8 Event. This event started in Regina in 2000 and has spread across North America, helping to create more than 1000 independent films.

In addition to his film curation, Alex is currently a program consultant with the Saskatchewan Arts Board and was previously the Executive Director of PAVED Arts in Saskatoon. He holds a Masters in Communication and Culture from York and Ryerson Universities and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film from the University of Regina and has written for publications including POV magazine.

KRIS PEARN - Writer / Director / Storyboard artist

His recent Feature animation for Netflix, The Willoughbys starring Ricky Gervais and Martin Short, premiered in the spring of 2020 to excellent reviews. Other credits include Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs one and two, Star Wars: Solo, Open Season, Arthur Christmas, Pirates- Band of Misfits, Shawn the Sheep, Surf’s Up, and Home to name a few. Currently he’s in LA working on his next feature animation project for Netflix.

NEIL HAVERTY - Senior Manager, MVP Project / Prism Prize at the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television

Neil Haverty oversees multiple initiatives that aim to spotlight artistry in the Canadian music video industry. The Prism Prize was established in 2012 to recognize extraordinary achievement within the field. The MVP Project, a joint initiative with RBCxMusic, was recently launched to assist in the creation of new music video work by way of production grants for emerging artist teams (comprised of recording artists, directors and producers). Haverty also works as a film composer and musician, most notably as a founding member of Toronto-based ensemble Bruce Peninsula.

Neil Haverty - Film/TV Composer & Senior Manager, MVP Project / Prism Prize

As Senior Manager, MVP Project / Prism Prize at the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, Neil Haverty oversees multiple initiatives that aim to spotlight artistry in the Canadian music video industry. The Prism Prize was established in 2012 to recognize extraordinary achievement within the field. The MVP Project, a joint initiative with RBCxMusic, was recently launched to assist in the creation of new music video work by way of production grants for emerging artist teams (comprised of recording artists, directors and producers). Haverty also works as a film composer and musician, most notably as a founding member of Toronto-based ensemble Bruce Peninsula.

JESSICA SHADLOCK – Development Manager, Temple Street

Jessica Shadlock is the Development Manager at Temple Street, part of the premium scripted division of Boat Rocker Media. Jessica is responsible for developing television projects for the Canadian and international markets from concept to series order, collaborating with writers, creators and executives across Temple Street’s slate.

Prior to joining the Temple Street team, Jessica was Development Manager at Back Alley Film productions where she helped develop drama series Coroner (CBC) and Bellevue (CBC, WGN America) in addition to managing the company’s development slate and sourcing new projects and IP. Jessica joined Back Alley in 2011, supporting the Executive Producers and company principals during the production of Bomb Girls (Global, Reelz) and the development and production of Played (CTV). A graduate of Ryerson’s RTA School of Media, Jessica got her start on set in the unscripted space on series including Canada’s Worst Driver.

Judging happens in 5 categories:

Narrative
Documentary
Animation
Experimental
The Pitch

ENTRIES TO BE SUBMITTED BY OCTOBER 12

IT IT FREE TO SUBMIT BUT ALL CHOSEN APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY A $30 ENTRY FEE PRIOR TO THEIR PITCH.

Limited space! The 10 participants will be selected by October 17