Two Canadian narrative features and one homegrown documentary have been chosen to participate in the 43rd edition of the Gotham Week Project Market, happening virtually from September 19 through 24, 2021!
This exciting annual forum is all about making global connections and building long-term business relationships. With a focus on independent creators and artists, this year’s line-up of 135 works features 24 international projects, including our trio of Canadian titles: Betrayal; Brother, Man; and Me, Mom & Sharmila!
The annual Gotham Week Project Market is a great resource for executive producers, sales agents, and financiers to get an early look at outstanding global talent and new projects in the works.
Without further ado, here’s your sneak peek into our three Gotham Week projects:
Spotlight on Documentaries:
Lena Macdonald’s Betrayal
Produced by Lena Macdonald and Noah Bingham of Toronto-based Ferocious Films, this feature-length doc (which in 2018 took home the Corus-Hot Docs Forum Pitch Prize) follows a whistleblower’s quest for justice and his takedown of a Liberian dictator — a man who was like a father to him. This political thriller has diamonds, weapons, international terrorism, and espionage, shown through a personal lens of family, love, violence and betrayal.
P.S.: Earlier this year, Betrayal was part of FIRST LOOK 2021, an exclusive preview initiative of 10 Canadian films in post-production with strong U.S. export potential (organized by Telefilm Canada and the Trade Commissioner Service of the Consulates General of Canada in New York and Los Angeles.)
International Features:
Patricia Chica’s Brother, Man
Written by Vancouver’s Hedyeh Bozorgzadeh, who won the Power Pitch competition at the 2019 Whistler Film Festival, this drama about a 16-year old war refugee who flees Angola for Canada is produced by Bozorgzadeh and Christine Falco, and executive produced by Giuliana Bertuzzi. The young man finds a home and a talent as a track runner, but guilt and the threat of deportation are present in the shadows. The film is directed by Montreal-based filmmaker Patricia Chica.
Fawzia Mirza’s Me, My Mom, & Sharmila
Set in two countries and spanning three decades, this tale of a lesbian daughter and traditional Muslim mother against the backdrop of their shared love for a Bollywood heroine is inspired by Fawzia Mirza’s one-woman play of the same name. The film is written and directed by Mirza, produced by Gharrett Patrick Paon, Andria Wilson Mirza, Jason Levangie and Marc Tetreault, and executive produced by Damon D’Oliveira. Catch Mirza’s short film, The Syed Family Xmas Eve Game Night, at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
