The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) has announced the winners of the 2025 Indiescreen Awards, celebrating excellence in Canadian independent media production.
Announced at a ceremony on the opening evening of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Winnipeg-headquartered prodco Frantic Films was named the recipient of the inaugural TV Producer Indiescreen Award.
Headed by CEO and Executive Producer Jamie Brown, Frantic Films has been producing award-winning series for over 25 years, including Still Standing, which is now in its 11th season; Baroness Von Sketch Show; Winnipeg Comedy Festival; and cult classic sci-fi comedy Todd and the Book of Pure Evil, among many others. Frantic Films was awarded a $20,000 cash prize, accepted by company president Stephanie Fast.
Paula Devonshire was named the recipient of the 2025 Feature Film Producer Indiescreen Award. Devonshire’s projects have screened at festivals including Venice, Sundance, and TIFF, including Survival of the Dead (2009), Wet Bum (2014), and Atom Egoyan’s Remember (2015), starring Christopher Plummer. Recently, she has served as an executive producer on Steal Away (2025), Nika & Madison (2025), and Blood Lines (2025), all of which are set to premiere this year at TIFF. Her latest project, Blood Lines (2025), explores Métis identity, culture, and language. Devonshire was awarded a $20,000 cash prize.
Leena Minifie is the recipient of the 2025 Kevin Tierney Emerging Producer Indiescreen Award. The CMPA says the Vancouver-based producer was recognized for her dedication to craft and thoughtful approach, demonstrating a versatility of work to come. Minifie’s project, The Good Canadian (2025), a meticulously researched and artfully crafted documentary, traces the legacy of the Indian Act and systemic dispossession of Indigenous people, set to premiere on APTN later this month. Minifie was awarded a $10,000 cash prize.
The award winners were selected by three national juries. To be eligible, nominees must have acted as a producer on a Canadian feature film or series that premiered in the 2025 calendar year.
“With national pride reaching record levels across the country, we’re thrilled to shine a spotlight on Canada’s outstanding producing talent,” said Reynolds Mastin, CMPA President and CEO. “This year’s Indiescreen Awards winners embody the creativity, grit and skill that define what it means to be an independent media producer in Canada today. Congratulations to Paula, Leena, and Frantic Films for their exceptional ability to connect and inspire.”
