‘In Flames,’ ‘The Nature of Love’ producers win Canadian Media Producers Assn.’s 2023 Indiescreen Awards

Pakistani Canadian filmmaker Anam Abbas has won the Canadian Media Producers Assn.’s 2023 Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer Award, it was announced Sept. 7 at the Indiescreen Awards, the opening event of the Toronto International Film Festival’s industry conference at Glenn Gould Studios.

Abbas’ latest feature is writer and director Zarrar Kahn’s feature debut “In Flames,” a Pakistani Canadian horror-drama about a Karachi woman and her mother who are beset by malevolent figures from their past after the family patriarch dies. The film, which screens next week in Toronto, premiered in Director’s Fortnight at Cannes, where XYZ Films’ announced the title would launch its New Visions slate.

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The award, which comes with a C$10,000 ($7,300) cash prize, recognizes the talents of emerging feature producers. Abbas was recognized by the jury for her ingenuity and her passion for creating films that feel real and essential.

Nancy Grant of Metafilms received the CMPA’s 2023 Established Producer Award in recognition of her contributions to the Canadian production sector and support of emerging filmmakers such as Maxime Giroux, Xavier Dolan, Denis Côté and Anne Émond. The Quebec-based producer’s latest film, Monia Chokri’s “The Nature of Love,” premiered at Cannes and screens in Toronto next week.

The Established Producer award comes with a C$20,000 ($14,000) prize.

“The Indiescreen Awards bring the industry together to honor 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 president and CEO Reynolds Mastin. “We are thrilled to celebrate and recognize your accomplishments and your contributions to the domestic production sector and beyond.”

Juries for the two awards selected the winners from a previously announced shortlist of nominees.

The CMPA is the country’s leading member-based advocacy organization for independent producers.

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