Photo: Still from the short film Inkwo for When the Starving Return directed, co-written and produced by Amanda Strong, co-written by Bracken Hanuse Corlett (both NSI IndigiDocs.)

The Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF) kicks off today in Halifax and runs until September 18. Celebrating its 44^th year, the festival provides a platform for the regional film industry as well as showcasing films made from coast to coast to coast and internationally.

During this year’s AIFF, the winners of the 2024 CMPA Indiescreen Awards will be announced. The Indiescreen Awards recognize independent producers whose vision and entrepreneurship demonstrate a commitment and passion for producing Canadian feature films.

While we wait with bated breath for the winners to be announced on September 12, let’s take a moment to celebrate the alumni among this year’s nominees, as well as those with films screening at the festival. Congratulations to each of you!

CMPA Indiescreen Award nominees

Established Producer Award

• Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story – Alison Duke (Elevate)
• Deaner ’89 – Kyle Irving (NSI Global Marketing), Lisa Meeches (NSI Storytellers)

Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer Award

• A Mother Apart – Ngardy Conteh George (EAVE On Demand Access Program, now Access BIPOC Producers) — WINNER

Feature films

• 40 Acres – executive produced by Sudz Sutherland (NSI Totally Television), produced by Jennifer Holness (NSI Drama Prize, Telefilm Spark Plug Program, NSI Global Marketing)
• Boxcutter – directed and produced by Reza Dahya, written by Chris Cromie, produced by Soko Negash (all Telefilm Talent to Watch)
• Do I Know You From Somewhere? – directed and co-written by Arianna Martinez (NSI Business for Producers – Atlantic Women’s Edition, Telefilm Talent to Watch), co-written and produced by Gordon Mihan (Telefilm Talent to Watch), produced by Lance Blakney (Telefilm Talent to Watch), executive produced by Gia Milani (NSI Business for Producers – Atlantic Women’s Edition)
• Heartbeat – produced by Jay Dahl (NSI Drama Prize, NSI Totally Television)
• Luther: Never Too Much – executive produced by Richard Story (Telefilm Spark Plug Program, Featuring Aboriginal Stories Program)
• Rumours – produced by Liz Jarvis (NSI Features First)
• Skeet – produced / executive produced by Mary Sexton (NSI Features First)

Shorts

• Back to Camp 41 (Reel East Coast Shorts Gala) – directed and produced / executive produced by Greg Hemmings (NSI Global Marketing)
• Freedom (Shorts Programme 1) – directed, written and produced by Scott Jones (NSI Series Incubator)
• Inkwo for When the Starving Return (Shorts Programme 2) – directed, co-written and produced by Amanda Strong, co-written by Bracken Hanuse Corlett (both NSI IndigiDocs)
• Nola (Shorts Programme 1) – co-directed, written and co-produced by Aisha Evelyna (Telefilm Talent to Watch), co-directed and co-produced by Natalie Novak Remplakowski (Telefilm Talent to Watch), executive produced by Daniel Bekerman (NSI Features First)
• Paper (Reel East Coast Shorts Gala) – produced by Evan Kelly (NSI Drama Prize), executive producer Gharrett Patrick Paon (NSI Features First)