Departure

CHRISTINA FON JOINS SHAFTESBURY AS VICE PRESIDENT, STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS & SCRIPTED CONTENT

TORONTO, CANADA: September 8, 2023 – Shaftesbury is pleased to announce that Christina Fon, formerly the Vice-President/Executive Producer at Rezolution Pictures (Little Bird, Mohawk Girls, RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the World), will join the company as VP, Strategic Partnerships and Scripted Content, effective September 11. Based out of Montreal and Toronto, Fon will be part of the Shaftesbury creative team that will source and develop a new slate of content and seek broadcast and distribution partners to finance these projects. 

“I’m excited to embark on this new chapter with Shaftesbury and join forces with one of the industry’s most prolific and acclaimed production houses,” said Christina Fon. “After dedicating over 20 years to Rezolution Pictures, I’m thrilled to bring my experience and passion to a new environment in the world of television production. This opportunity allows me to contribute to an established team and continue my journey in helping to shape captivating content for audiences worldwide.”

“We are delighted that Christina Fon is joining Shaftesbury,” said Christina Jennings, Chairman and President, Shaftesbury. “Her passion for storytelling and excellence is well known in our business. She is a respected executive whose track record speaks for itself, including the most recent success with Little Bird.”

With over 27 years of industry experience, Fon has dedicated her career to helping creators tell stories that inspire and entertain audiences around the world. Most recently, she was executive producer on the CRAVE/APTN/Fremantle original series Little Bird, which received critical acclaim and was picked up for broadcast on PBS this October. She is the recipient of a Sundance and Peabody Award, received a nomination for an Emmy® Award in 2020 and has won multiple Canadian Screen Awards. She has orchestrated the greenlight on several projects including Mohawk Girls (streaming on Universal NBC’s Peacock), RUMBLE: the Indians Who Rocked the World (Netflix) and Reel Injun, now in the Academy Museum in LA. 

About Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury is an award-winning creator and producer of original content for television, film, and digital, established in 1987 by Christina Jennings, Chairman and President. Shaftesbury’s current primetime slate includes 16 seasons of the international hit series Murdoch Mysteries for CBC, ITV Studios and UKTV, and five seasons of Hudson & Rex for Citytv, both available in over 120 countries worldwide. Other projects include: the acclaimed horror anthology series Slasher on Shudder and Hollywood Suite, with Emmy® Award-winner Eric McCormack starring in the upcoming fifth season; three seasons of the acclaimed six-part event series Departure for Global starring Emmy® Award-winner Archie Panjabi and the late Academy® Award-winner Christopher Plummer; and SisterS, a new Irish Canadian co-production by and starring Sarah Goldberg (Barry) and Susan Stanley, for Crave, RTÉ and IFC.

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Liz Levine
SHAFTESBURY APPOINTS LIZ LEVINE SENIOR PRODUCER AND VICE PRESIDENT, TELEVISION

TORONTO (June 23, 2022) – Shaftesbury has named award-winning producer Liz Levine, Senior Producer and Vice President, Television.

Reporting to Christina Jennings, Chairman and President of Shaftesbury, Levine will oversee all aspects of Shaftesbury’s scripted slate as properties leave development and move into production.

“It’s wonderful to have a producer with Liz’s breadth of experience on our team to take stories from the page to the screen,” says Jennings, Chairman and President. “Her writing and journalism career combined with her years as an independent producer means that she thoroughly understands the entire process of storytelling for the screen.”

“The team at Shaftesbury has supported me throughout my career and taking on this job feels a lot like coming home,” says Levine, Senior Producer and Vice President, Television. “It’s an exciting time to be at Shaftesbury and I look forward to helping shepherd a new generation of stories through production and to audiences both in Canada and abroad.”

Levine has over two decades of experience in film and television, spanning a myriad of platforms and genres. She started in the business in Toronto with Moses Znaimer’s CITY-TV. Since that time, she has worked as a writer and journalist, and as a development executive and producer in Canada and the US. She has developed and produced films such as Kyra Sedgwick’s directorial debut Story of a Girl, starring Kevin Bacon (DGA Nomination) and Across My Land (Palme D’or nominated, Cannes). She has developed and/or produced television for CBS, CW, Disney Channel, Sony Pictures Entertainment and TBS. Recently, she executive produced seasons 2 and 3 of the multi-award-winning anthology series Two Sentence Horror Stories for CW/Netflix. Levine holds a Master of Journalism degree from the University of British Columbia and has written for the National Post, The Walrus, Playback, and The Vancouver Sun. Her memoir Nobody Ever Talks About Anything But the End (Simon & Schuster 2020) received critical acclaim, made the must-read lists of The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Quill and Quire and CBC, and was shortlisted for the 2021 Hubert Evans Nonfiction Prize.

About Shaftesbury

Shaftesbury is an award-winning creator and producer of original content for television, film, and digital, established in 1987 by Christina Jennings, Chairman and President. Shaftesbury’s current primetime slate includes 16 seasons of the international hit series Murdoch Mysteries for CBC, ITV Studios and UKTV, and five seasons of Hudson & Rex for Citytv, both are available in over 120 countries worldwide. Other projects include: the acclaimed horror anthology series Slasher on Shudder and Hollywood Suite, with Emmy® Award-winner Eric McCormack starring in the upcoming fifth season; three seasons of the acclaimed six-part event series Departure for Global starring Emmy® Award-winner Archie Panjabi and the late Academy® Award-winner Christopher Plummer; and SisterS, a new Irish Canadian co-production by and starring Sarah Goldberg (Barry) and Susan Stanley, for Crave, RTÉ and IFC.

Shaftesbury has a growing roster of Kids & Family programming, bringing fresh content to a new generation of children, tweens, and young adult viewers. With over 150 hours of award-winning content, Shaftesbury’s current slate includes: Ruby and the Well, a popular series heading into its second season on BYUtv and WildBrain/Family Channel; What the Stink?, based on the Stinky Science books by Edward Kay; Mary & Flo on the Go!, based on the period drama Frankie Drake Mysteries; The Infinite Worlds of Ella Jane, a scripted podcast in partnership with Wattpad; and Life with Luca, based on the long-running, global hit series Life with Derek.

Current digital projects include two seasons of Slo Pitch, an award-winning, mockumentary series about a queer, underachieving beer league softball team for IFC and OUTtv, and Topline for CBC Gem, an acclaimed musical dramedy about growing up, that follows 16-year-old Tala, a reclusive singer/songwriter who is discovered online. For more information, go to shaftesbury.ca.

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SEASON 2 OF CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED GLOBAL ORIGINAL DEPARTURE PREMIERES WEDNESDAY, JULY 13

Emmy® Winner Archie Panjabi and Oscar® Winner Christopher Plummer Return for an Action-Packed Season 2

Praised by Variety as “a drama that will hook those who seek from their viewing a charge of adrenaline,” Season 1 of Departure is available to watch now with STACKTV and the Global TV App.

TORONTO, June 16, 2022 – All aboard! Global is set to launch Season 2 of event thriller Departure on Wednesday, July 13 at 9 p.m. ET, with an encore presentation Friday, July 15 at 8 p.m. ET on Global and Monday, July 18 at 9 p.m. ET on Showcase. Departure stars Emmy Award® winner Archie Panjabi and the late Academy Award® winner Christopher Plummer, in his last onscreen role. The intense conspiracy series follows the ensuing investigation into a mysterious crash of a controversial new high-speed train travelling between Toronto and Chicago. Back for an action-packed all-new six-episode season, Departure was a Top 20 hit with total viewers and the #1 Canadian series across all key demos when it premiered in 2020.

Alongside Panjabi (The Good Wife) and Plummer (Knives Out), Season 2 features an all-star ensemble cast including Kris Holden-Ried (The Umbrella Academy), Jason O’Mara (The Man in the High Castle), Karen LeBlanc (The Kings of Napa), Donal Logue (Gotham), Mark Rendall (Versailles), Etienne Kellici (Murdoch Mysteries), Kelly McCormack (A League of Their Own), Wendy Crewson (Frankie Drake Mysteries), Charlie Carrick (Reign), Dion Johnstone (Sweet Magnolias), David Hewlett (The Shape of Water), Greg Bryk (Mary Kills People) and Florence Ordesh (Dublin Murders). The gripping drama is directed by Canadian Screen Award winner T.J. Scott (Orphan Black, Star Trek: Discovery) and created by Vincent Shiao (Ransom).

“Departure is a proven hit with international audiences, and we are thrilled it is back this summer to take Canadians on an all-new adventure like no other,” said Lisa Godfrey, Senior Vice President of Original Content and Corus Studios. “Archie Panjabi returns as expert investigator Kendra Malley, and while it will be bittersweet for audiences to bid farewell to the late Christopher Plummer, we look forward to celebrating the internationally-renowned Canadian acting legend in his final television performance as Malley’s mentor Howard Lawson.”

Departure Season 2 is a six-part event series that follows the investigation into the derailment of high-speed train The Apollo. Brilliant investigator, Kendra Malley (Archie Panjabi), heads to the U.S. to find the cause of the devastation in rural Michigan. With the eyes of the entire world on her, Kendra and her team unravel a series of interconnected threads, which lead to a number of mysterious motives. Was it the tech mogul inventor of the train’s automation software? Was it a mysterious member of a Mexican drug cartel? Was it a disgruntled employee resisting new technology? Working in conjunction with the FBI, Kendra must race to uncover the truth behind the crash and help to heal the damage caused by the terrible tragedy.

Departure Season 2 is a Canada/Ireland Co-Production from Shaftesbury (Canada) and Deadpan Pictures (Ireland), in Association with Corus Entertainment, Starlings Television and Red Arrow Studios International. Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Malcolm MacRury, Jackie May, T.J. Scott, Paul Donovan, Ailish McElmeel, and Archie Panjabi are Executive Producers. Vincent Shiao and Chris Moreton are Co-Executive Producers. Patrick Cassavetti is Producer. For Corus, Kathleen Meek is Production Executive; Rachel Nelson is Vice President, Original Content, Drama, Kids and Factual; Lisa Godfrey is Vice President of Original Content, Corus Entertainment. Chris Philip and Karine Martin are Executive Producers for Starlings Television, along with Propagate Content’s Ben Silverman. Carlo Dusi and Rodrigo Herrera Ibarguengoytia are Executive Producers for Red Arrow Studios International. David A. Stern and Matt Geller are Executive Producers for Sleeping Giant.

Global is a Corus Entertainment Network and is available through all major TV distributors, including: Shaw, Shaw Direct, Rogers, Bell, Videotron, Telus, Cogeco, Eastlink, SaskTel and STACKTV, available via Amazon Prime Video Channels, Rogers Ignite TV and Ignite SmartStream. The Global TV App is available on iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TVs, Roku streaming players, Roku TV™ models, and at watch.globaltv.com.

Source: Numeris PPM Data, Total Canada, FL’20 (Sep 14 – Dec 20/20), 3+ airings, AMA(000), CDN CONV COM ENG National Networks, Total Viewers = Ind. 2+, Key Demos = Ind. 2+ A25-54, F25-54

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About Corus Entertainment Inc.

Corus Entertainment Inc. (TSX: CJR.B) is a leading media and content company that develops and delivers high quality brands and content across platforms for audiences around the world.  Engaging audiences since 1999, the company’s portfolio of multimedia offerings encompass 33 specialty television services, 39 radio stations, 15 conventional television stations, a suite of digital and streaming assets, animation software, technology and media services. Corus is an internationally-renowned content creator and distributor through Nelvana, a world class animation studio expert in all formats and Corus Studios, a globally recognized producer of hit scripted and unscripted content. The company also owns innovative full-service social digital agency so.da, lifestyle entertainment company Kin Canada, leading 2D animation software supplier Toon Boom and children’s book publishing house, Kids Can Press. Corus’ roster of premium brands includes Global Television, W Network, HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, Magnolia Network Canada, The HISTORY® Channel, Showcase, Adult Swim, National Geographic, Disney Channel Canada, YTV, Global News, Globalnews.ca, Q107, Country 105, and CFOX, along with broadly distributed Canadian streaming platforms STACKTV, Nick+, the Global TV App and Curiouscast. For more information visit www.corusent.com.

About Shaftesbury

Shaftesbury is an award-winning creator and producer of original content for television, film, and digital, established in 1987 by Christina Jennings, Chairman and President. Shaftesbury’s current primetime slate includes 16 seasons of the international hit series Murdoch Mysteries for CBC, ITV Studios and UKTV, and five seasons of Hudson & Rex for Citytv, both are available in over 120 countries worldwide. Other projects include: the acclaimed horror anthology series Slasher on Shudder and Hollywood Suite, with Emmy® Award-winner Eric McCormack starring in the upcoming fifth season; three seasons of the acclaimed event series Departure for Global starring Emmy® Award-winner Archie Panjabi and the late Academy® Award-winner Christopher Plummer; and SisterS, a new Irish-Canadian co-production by and starring Sarah Goldberg (Barry) and Susan Stanley, for Crave, RTÉ and IFC. For more information, go to shaftesbury.ca.

About Starlings Television

Starlings Television is a division of Starlings Entertainment, a global group of companies that develops and produces award-winning film and television. Starlings’ expanding TV slate includes the award-winning drama series Departure, now in post-production for its third season. The first two seasons had a successful launch on Peacock in the U.S. and strong sales worldwide.

Other Starlings Television offerings include the YA sci-fi action series Pandora, with two seasons on The CW and now headed into its third season worldwide; Sherlock’s Daughter, offering a new take on the classic sleuth from EP/Showrunner James Duff (The Closer, Major Crimes) and creator/writer Brendan Foley (Cold Courage, The Man Who Died); and, with Athena Pictures, Shadowland from Creator Jacqui Barcos, Director Darnell Martin (American Rust, The Good Lord Bird, Cadillac Records) and Executive Producer Peter Elkoff (Sons of Anarchy, Chance, The Resident), with global streamer Viaplay nabbing pre-sales for multi-territory rights.

About Red Arrow Studios International

Red Arrow Studios International is a world-leading TV distributor of scripted, formats and factual shows from a global network of in-house production companies, outstanding third-party producers and digital-content partners. With offices in Munich, London and Los Angeles, Red Arrow Studios International co-produces and finances global entertainment, and distributes acclaimed content to over 200 territories worldwide. Red Arrow Studios International is part of Red Arrow Studios, which is comprised of an acclaimed network of international production companies and labels in seven territories, as well as digital studio, Studio71. Red Arrow Studios is a ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE company, one of Europe’s leading media groups. For more information, please visit: redarrowstudios.com/international

For media inquiries, please contact:

Nick Seliwoniuk
Senior Publicist, Global Television
647.461.1178
[email protected]

Jacqui VanSickle
Publicity Manager, Global Television
416.860.4224
[email protected]

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