UNB professors receive Telefilm funding for two more feature films
Author: UNB Newsroom
Posted on Jan 8, 2021
Category: UNB Fredericton
Two faculty members and a graduate from the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton have received development funding from Telefilm Canada for their next two feature films.
Dr. Robert Gray, a professor in the English department, Dr. Matt Rogers, an associate professor in the faculty of education, and Jon Dewar, a UNB education and arts graduate and instructor at Leo Hayes High School in Fredericton, received the news early in January 2021 as they were launching their first feature film, Entropic, on digital streaming platforms.
“This is an incredible boost,” says Dr. Gray. “It gives us foundational support for the next projects and positions us well for other funding. It’s such a great way to start the new year.”
The three created Frictive Pictures as a way to support each other’s filmmaking and together made 12 short films before receiving feature-film funding for Dr. Gray’s first feature in June 2017 from Telefilm Canada’s The Talent Fund through the New Brunswick Film Co-op. This fund was created to assist filmmakers with the production of an original feature-length film. The film, which took two years to produce, involved UNB students and alumni in many roles, from production to acting.
Dr. Rogers will direct Frictive Pictures’ second feature, The Last Tree, and Mr. Dewar will direct their third, The Wonderful Future. The funding will aid in the research, writing and development of the projects.
Entropic, their first feature film, is available to rent or own on Apple, Amazon (USA, UK), Roku, and NFB (Canada).
Media contact: Kelsey Pye
Photo: L-R: Jon Dewar, Matt Rogers, and R.W. Gray on set in this file photo. Credit: Kaleigh Stultz