Telus originals, which supports documentary filmmaking in British Columbia and Alberta, announced Wednesday a new slate of greenlit documentary projects exploring themes including aging with dignity, mental wellbeing, biodiversity and belonging.
“We’re proud to support a slate of films that reflects the depth of documentary talent in British Columbia and Alberta and brings forward stories grounded in the lived experiences of the communities we serve,” Teresa Polonio, managing production executive at Telus, said in a company press release. “We believe storytelling can be a powerful force for good, and this newly greenlit slate reflects our commitment to connection, inclusion, wellbeing and environmental stewardship. Together, these projects demonstrate the power of documentary storytelling to capture timely, deeply human experiences that resonate far beyond the screen.”
The Telus originals 2026/2027 lineup includes eight documentary features and two shorts.
Gayblevision (Habitat Productions Inc. and Jack Fox Media) is a 90-minute feature directed by Dave Rodden-Shortt and produced by Jack Fox. It tells the story of an unlikely crew in 1980 creating one of the first TV shows “by gay people, for gay people”.
Havrda (Edwin Productions Inc.), directed by Phillip Jarmain and produced by Jarmain and Jules Bertuzzi, is a 90-minute documentary that follows Nicole Havrda, a young championship-winning Formula 3 racer, as she battles to become the fastest woman on the track and a true Formula 1 contender.
Another greenlit feature is Match Me If You Can (1001434524 Ontario Inc.), directed by Betty Xie and produced by Tony Lau, Jay Wu and Alice Wang. This 75-minute film captures the stories of first-generation Chinese immigrants navigating dating apps and marriage markets as they seek companionship on their own terms.
Directed by Rosvita Dransfeld and produced by Dransfeld and Bonnie Thompson, Parrot People (Parrot People Inc.) is a 90-minute feature that blurs the lines between pet and partner, animal and equal, in its exploration of pets, companionship and mental wellbeing.
The Last Weekend at the Lake (Reel Girls Media Inc.), directed and produced by Ava Karvonen, is a 90-minute examination of an artist’s determination to age with dignity and the challenges facing her unpaid caregiver.
To Carry the Sky (Studio BRB Inc.), an 85-minute documentary feature directed by Josephine Anderson and produced by Jenni Baynham, is a foray into the world of altruistic surrogates, examining the blurred line between selflessness and desire.
The 75-minute hybrid documentary The Coast Salish Woolly Dog (Sugarbear Productions Inc.), directed and produced by Steven Davies, uncovers the almost forgotten legacy of Sqwiqwmi, a sacred and now considered extinct dog breed.
Subi + Tina (Inallu Studios Inc.), an 80-minute documentary directed by Salima Stanley-Bhanji and produced by Dominique Keller, shares the story of a queer South Asian couple building their own version of family in the prairies.
The 30-minute short documentary Deb’s Return (Sweetgrass Stories Inc.), directed and produced by Kerriann Cardinal and also directed by Jules Koostachin, follows Deb Mearns, B.C.’s first Indigenous woman lawyer, as she revisits her activist roots in Vancouver after decades away.
Rounding out the greenlit slate is Where the Heron Lands (Where the Heron Lands Films Ltd.), directed by Gunjan Menon and produced by Saiyam Wakchaure. This 22-minute short highlights themes of biodiversity protection as it follows a conservationist embracing her new chapter of life in Canada.
The next Telus originals pitch intake window is open from June 1 to 30, 2026. Filmmakers are invited to learn more about the program and pitch process by registering for a virtual information session on Tuesday, April 14 (10 a.m. PT/11 a.m. MDT) or by visiting www.telus.com/telusoriginals for more details.
Telus originals supports the production of locally reflective, social-purpose documentaries and docuseries set in B.C. and Alberta that connect mid-career and established independent filmmakers from diverse identities and communities to local and global audiences.
Telus original films are available free on Telus Optik TV Video on Demand channel 8, Telus Stream+, on the Telus originals YouTube channel and in film festivals globally.
