Ten documentary projects from Western Canada are getting the greenlight from TELUS originals. The docs include nine feature films and one limited series.
Films coming soon include Untamed, directed by Julia Ivanova and produced by Rosie Dransfeld, which considers endangered horses that roam the Rocky Mountains. A very different animal tale comes in Significant Others, the feature directorial debut of Milena Salazar. The film explores the relationship between senior citizens and the robotic pets that offer companionship without presenting the physical challenges entailed in providing for a living animal, like walking or grooming.
“Significant Others explores connection, companionship, and the ethical complexities of integrating social robots into elder care,” Salazar notes in a statement. “As social isolation rises, particularly among seniors, I hope this film sparks a thoughtful dialogue about how we support aging populations and navigate the evolving landscape of care.”
Also tapped for funding are two docs that consider food scarcity: Thieves of Ashes and Roots and Tides: The Malahat Reawakening. The former, directed by Lumir Kosar and produced Marc Franceour, Wanda Kapralova, and Klara Mamojkova, follows two European mushroom hunters as they search for morel mushrooms in the charred remains of the B.C. landscape. The latter, directed by Tiffany Ayalik and produced by Ayalik and Caroline Cox, examines efforts among members of the Malahat Nation to reclaim traditional methods in the quest for food sovereignty.
“Canadians are hungry for narratives that reflect their lives and perspectives,” said TELUS originals Managing Production Executive Leah Camenzind in a statement. “The exceptional talent showcased in this slate of projects demonstrates the incredible capabilities of Canadian documentary filmmakers. We’re thrilled to begin engaging with mid-career and established producers again this spring to learn about the documentary projects they have in development to identify stories for our next funding round.”
Meanwhile, stories of health and wellness fuel docs like Menopause: Coming in Hot, director/producer Kate Green’s personal journey through life’s natural cycles. The doc is produced with Amber Orchard. Similarly, My Friend Harry sees filmmaker Liz Cairns enlist her retired friend Harry to make a film about his cancer diagnosis. Erica Landrock produces with Cairns. And in Starry Night, director Bruce Thomas Miller and producer Kevin Dong tell the story of artists with schizophrenia who devise a play that explores their experiences.
Finally, stories of everyday heroes come in Northern Stars as former Olympic cross-country skier Sharon Firth reclaims her stride to honour her late sister. Todd Forsbloom directs with Jim Shockey, Mike Wavrecan, and Erik Virtanen producing. In the greenlit five-part series, Off Road Rescue, director/producer Pamela Tomlinson spotlights the work of YouTuber Bruce Cook as he recovers cars and trucks that slide off the road. Details about the final feature project have yet to be released.
