WFG FALL 2023 MFM PRODUCTION FUND RECIPIENTS
We are excited to announce the following recipients as part of the 2023 cycle of the MFM Post/Production Fund:
Alexander Gordon was awarded $2,000 in cash for “The Martians”.
Alex Gordon has been pursuing a career in film since 2021. Alex attended the University of Winnipeg, and in 2023, he received a Bachelor of Arts in filmmaking. Over the past two years, Alex has directed eight short films, including The Martians, which he intends to screen at festivals. Alex has been an active member of the Winnipeg film community, working on professional film sets, participating in the 48-hour film challenge, and regularly attending the Dave Barber Cinematheque. In 2023, Alex co-created Solid Fuel Productions, a video production company specializing in Winnipeg’s independent music scene. Alex is currently writing scripts for his next project, which he hopes to begin filming early next year.
Jessica Landry was awarded $2,000 in cash for “I Fall to Pieces”.
Jessica Landry is a screenwriter, director, and Bram Stoker Award-winning author. Her projects have been developed through TIFF’s Series Accelerator, NSI’s Series Incubator, the CFC/Netflix Project Development Accelerator, Whistler Film Festival’s Screenwriters Lab, and Blood in the Snow’s Horror Development Lab. Jessica has several optioned projects in active development, including WE SHALL BE MONSTERS, a docuseries about women in horror; BODY COUNT, a slasher feature; and THE NIGHT BELONGS TO US, a feature adaptation of her Shirley Jackson Award-nominated novelette. She’s written several MOWs, including LIST OF A LIFETIME, which was nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award, as well as the Rockie-nominated feature documentary, TRUE STORY. Jessica has most recently written and directed multiple episodes of APTN’s factual series, 7TH GEN; and several of her own short films, including TESTAMENT (developed through NSI’s Cinematoba program), which is currently on its festival run.
Jordan Johnsen was awarded $2,000 in WFG services for “*Francine (working title)”.
Jordan was born and raised here in Winnipeg, MB, and currently works as the Creative Director and Producer at Prolex Media. Using his skill set from the commercial sector, Jordan has begun to explore his dreams of becoming a filmmaker. Since 2021, Jordan has directed and co-written two short films – “The Wake” and “The Last Chance Casino”, the latter earning accolades for Best Actor and Best Cinematography.
Jordan’s main goal is to continue to solidify the production skill set for himself and his crew as they pursue the ultimate goal of creating a feature film. Jordan is currently working on his 3rd short film – Working title: “Francine”, that asks the question: “Can AI be trusted to do what’s right when humans fail to do so?”
Joshua Banman was awarded $2,000 in cash & $1,000 in WFG services for “The Sculptor: Birth of the Patavision”.
Joshua Banman is a creator living and working from Winnipeg. You might know him from his work as an actor, his interactive art-installations at Nuit Blanche Winnipeg, for his work producing HYPER: Tech + Art Conference, or walking his dogs in the West-End.
“The Sculptor: Birth of the Patavision is a story that’s taken me years to tell. Thank you so much to those who have helped get it this far. I’m thrilled to get this award to help cross the finish line!
Cowabunga!
🐉❤️🔥
-Josh Banman
MC de Natividad was awarded $2,000 in WFG services for “*griePH”.
MC de Natividad is a Filipina-Canadian non-traditional emerging filmmaker residing as a settler in Treaty One Territory / Winnipeg.
Because of her unique experience as a 1.5-generation immigrant and woman of colour in a key leadership position, she uses this privilege to build bridges, create opportunities and uplift communities, stories and voices long overlooked and underrepresented in the film industry.
Her motivation is to explore uncharted waters in film, challenging traditional norms and conventions. Her dedication to portraying cultural identity in nuanced and authentic ways serves as a compass guiding her artistic endeavours.
de Natividad believes that filmmaking has the ability to create transformative change. She aims to ensure each project she works on is a vehicle to educate, challenge biases, and foster empathy. Her overall goal is to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable film industry for future generations.
——————————————————————————————————————–
Several submissions were received for this cycle of the award, and were juried by a peer assessment committee comprised of filmmakers Gwendolyn Collins and Bisong Taiwo.
THE WINNIPEG FILM GROUP ACKNOWLEDGES MANITOBA FILM & MUSIC FOR GRACIOUSLY FURNISHING THE CASH COMPONENT OF THE AWARDS.
