The Alberta Screen Impact - AMPIA

In this special Banff World Media Festival edition of the Alberta Screen Impact Podcast , hosts Brent Kawchuk and Justine Gamez Huckabay sit down with Andrew Addison , Senior Vice President of Communications and Marketing at the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA). Andrew shares a national perspective on how Alberta fits into Canada’s evolving screen industry and why IP ownership, collabor...

In this special Banff World Media Festival edition of the Alberta Screen Impact Podcast , hosts Brent Kawchuk and Justine Gamez Huckabay speak with Rod Butler , Vice President of Content and Regulatory at the Canada Media Fund (CMF). From kids’ content to Indigenous storytelling and emerging tech, Rod shares how the CMF is adapting funding strategies to meet changing industry needs while ensuring...

Film, TV, Music, and More: How Alberta is Building a Creative PowerhouseIn this special Banff World Media Festival edition of the Alberta Screen Impact Podcast , hosts Brent Kawchuk and Justine Gamez Huckabay sit down with the Honorable Tanya Fir, Alberta’s Minister of Arts, Culture, and Status of Women. From her roots as a self-proclaimed “high school drama nerd” to her leadership in shaping Albe...

In this special Banff World Media Festival edition of the Alberta Screen Impact Podcast , hosts Brent Kawchuk and Justine Gamez Huckabay speak with Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director of the Banff World Media Festival and Publisher of Playback. Recently named to the Hollywood Reporter ’s inaugural list of the most powerful women in Canadian entertainment, Jenn has been instrumental in transforming Ban...

The Alberta Screen Impact Podcast is back with a Banff Special Edition , recorded live at the Banff World Media Festival. This special four-part series brings you exclusive conversations with industry leaders and decision-makers, including: The Honourable Tanya Fir , Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women Jenn Kuzmyk , Executive Director, Banff World Media Festival Rod Butler , Canada Media...

In this episode of the Alberta Screen Impact Podcast, we sit down with Katherine Penhale, Executive Director of the Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF). Katherine shares her remarkable journey from a last-minute venue coordinator in 2016 to leading one of Canada’s most celebrated festivals through its 25th anniversary and beyond. She dives into the strategic vision behind CIFF’s Constellati...

In this episode of the Alberta Screen Impact Podcast, we sit down with Kaitlan Stewart, founder of Fenix Film & Television and executive producer of the hit docuseries Push (CBC Gem) and Only Up (Super Channel). Kaitlan pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to bring a series from concept to screen. She shares how to build pitch-ready ideas, partner with showrunners, cast compelling ta...

In this episode, seasoned producer Bruce Harvey (Champlain Media West) offers a no-nonsense look into sustaining a career in screen production. From navigating the shrinking mid-budget space to producing over 30 films a year, Bruce shares lessons learned, the realities of volume production, and advice for emerging talent who want to move beyond passion projects into a viable long-term career in fi...

In this episode, Sharon Stevens, Vice President of Programming at Hollywood Suite, offers rare behind-the-scenes insights into what it really takes to get a project greenlit. With over 20 years of industry experience, Sharon shares how passion, persistence, and great storytelling drive selection and how filmmakers at every level can position themselves for success. From genre trends to pitch tips...

Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Saxon de Cocq joins us to explore the powerful journey behind Treaty Road , the growth of his company Three Story Pictures, and the challenges of balancing personal story with public impact. Saxon shares what it means to build a culturally grounded production company, how oral histories shaped his view of truth and integrity, and why meaningful collaboration is at the...

Episode Summary: Director Grant Harvey brings over three decades of storytelling experience to the Alberta Screen Impact Podcast. With credits ranging from cult classics like Ginger Snaps: Back to hit series like Orphan Black , Heartland , and Pretty Hard Cases , Grant has built a career defined by range, visual style, and story-driven precision. In this candid conversation, Grant reflects on how...

In this episode, we’re joined by two powerhouses of Alberta’s film industry: Luke Azevedo, newly appointed CEO of Edmonton Screen, and Dorian Rowe, Edmonton’s Film Commissioner. Together, they unpack Alberta’s evolving screen landscape from the global impact of The Last of Us to the growing strength of local IP and talent development in Edmonton. With decades of experience between them, Luke and D...

Super Channel President & CEO Don McDonald joins the Alberta Screen Impact Podcast to share the broadcaster’s evolving role in Canadian media, how to pitch to Super Channel, and the growing importance of Canadian-first content. From genre channels and licensing models to the power of authentic stories, Don offers crucial insights for emerging and experienced producers alike. In this episode Th...

In this episode of the Alberta Screen Impact Podcast, we sit down with Tom Cox and Jordy Randall, the executive producers behind SEVEN24 Films. With Heartland as Canada’s longest running one-hour drama and one of the most-watched shows on Netflix globally, these two Alberta industry leaders reflect on building a production company that’s helped define the province’s screen identity. From early day...

Welcome to the Alberta Screen Impact Podcast , a dynamic new series showcasing the creativity, innovation, and stories driving Alberta’s thriving film, television, and digital media sectors. In this trailer episode, hosts Justine Gamez Huckabay and Brent Kawchuk offer an exclusive preview of what’s ahead: powerful conversations with emerging talent, celebrated industry leaders, and the creative fo...