Nancy Grant, Anam Abbas Honoured by CMPA
by Staff Editors
(September 8, 2023 – Toronto, ON) The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) has announced that Nancy Grant and Anam Abbas are recipients of its annual Indiescreen Awards, which celebrates the best and brightest in Canadian independent feature film production. The winners were announced at a ceremony, presented in partnership with Telefilm Canada, at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) yesterday, September 7.
Nancy Grant (Metafilms) was named the recipient of the Established Producer Award. The Quebec-based producer was recognized for her exceptional contributions to the Canadian production sector and her steadfast support of emerging filmmakers. Grant has produced dozens of films over her 15-year career, including Falcon Lake (2022), The Death and Life of John F. Donovan (2018), and Felix et Meira (2014). Her latest feature film, Simple Comme Sylvain (The Nature of Love), directed by Monia Chokri, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year and will have its North American premiere at TIFF this fall. As the winner of the Established Producer Award, Ms. Grant was awarded a $20,000 cash prize.
Anam Abbas was named the recipient of the 2023 Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer Award. Ms. Abbas was recognized for her ingenuity and her passion for creating films that feel urgent and essential. Her latest project, In Flames, also premiered at Cannes and will be screening at TIFF. As the winner of the Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer Award, Ms. Abbas was awarded a $10,000 cash prize.
“The Indiescreen Awards bring the industry together to honour the extraordinary talent of Canada’s independent producers who give blood, sweat and tears to bring to life the incredible stories that inspire us all,” said the CMPA’s President and CEO Reynolds Mastin. “Congratulations to the winners—we are thrilled to celebrate and recognize your impressive accomplishments and your contributions to the domestic production sector and beyond.”
The award winners were selected by two national juries. The Established Producer Award jury and the Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer Award jury were each chaired by last year’s CMPA Indiescreen Award winners, Damon D’Oliveira, and Sara Blake, Magali Gillon-Krizaj and Tyler Hagan, respectively.
