levelFILM, Inc.
TypePrivate
IndustryFilm distribution
Founded2013 (2013)
Headquarters
11 Davies Ave, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Pratik Tiki Patel
  • (CFO)
  • Olivier Gauthier-Mercier
  • (VP, Distribution)
  • Lainie Elton
  • (VP, sales and acquisitions )
ProductsMotion Pictures
ServicesFilm distribution
Number of employees
9 (January 2023)
Websitelevel.film

Levelfilm, stylized as levelFILM, is a Canadian film distribution company based in Toronto, Ontario. The company was founded by David Hudakoc and Michael Baker in 2013,[1] and later acquired two other Canadian distribution houses: Search Engine Films in 2018[2] and KinoSmith in 2021.[3] It has released more than 200 titles, with a focus on independent Canadian films.

History

levelFILM was founded by Michael Baker and David Hudakoc in August 2013, who had previously worked together at the U.S. distribution house ThinkFilm.[4] The company's first acquisition, Chen Kaige's Caught in the Web, was announced along with the company's creation.[1]

In 2017, the company sold a majority stake to Laurie Venning, a Canadian investor, entrepreneur, and producer.[5]

At the 2018 Berlin Film Festival levelFILM announced its acquisition of another Canadian distributor, Search Engine Films (SEF). John Bain, the head of SEF at the time, joined as the company's new Head of Distribution.[2] SEF's library was folded into levelFILM's existing catalogue, including titles such as Equals, Kilo Two Bravo, and Mary Shelley.

In 2019, it was announced that levelFILM and U.S.-based distributor Good Deed Entertainment had struck a four-year output deal, ending in 2023.[6]

At the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival levelFILM announced a multi-year output deal with the U.S. company Greenwich Entertainment, beginning with The Capote Tapes.[7] Later in the fall, levelFILM acquired KinoSmith, and folded in its CEO, Robin Smith, as the new Head of Factual. Simultaneously, the company partnered with Smith's other venture, the documentary financing and distribution house Blue Ice Docs, a subsidiary of the Blue Ice Group.[3]

In April 2022 the company was listed at number 9 in The Globe and Mail's list of the 22 most influential people in the Canadian film industry.[8]

During the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival levelFILM signed an exclusive output deal with Bleecker Street. Mafia Mamma, directed by Catherine Hardwicke, is set to be the first release of the deal and is scheduled for April 2023.[9]

In October 2022, levelFILM released Eternal Spring, which was selected to be Canada's official submission to the 95th Academy Awards for the Best International Feature Film category.[10] The film was also eligible for Best Documentary and Best Animated Feature, but did not make the shortlist in either category.[11]

Released films

List of films released by levelFILM
Year Canadian Release Date Title Director Genre
2014April 11, 2014That Burning FeelingJason JamesComedy, Romance
May 30, 2014Hotel CongressMichel Kandisky, Nadia LitzRomance, Comedy
July 18, 2014Lawrence & HollomanMatthew KowalchukComedy, Drama
November 21, 2014RosewaterJon StewartDrama, Thriller
2015March 6, 2015Two Men in TownRachid BoucharebComedy, Drama
April 17, 2015Sunshine on LeithDexter FletcherMusical, Drama
May 5, 2015Soul Boys of the Western WorldGeorge HenckenDocumentary, Music
May 15, 2015Wet BumLindsay MackayDrama, Kids & Family
August 21, 2015Bang Bang BabyJeffrey St. JulesSci-fi, Romance
August 18, 2015Learning to DriveIsabel CoixetComedy, Drama
September 4, 2015Before We GoChris EvansDrama, Romance
November 13, 2015Kilo Two BravoPaul KatisWar, Thriller
December 4, 2015I Smile BackAdam SalkyDrama
December 11, 2015People Places ThingsJim StrouseComedy, Romance
2016January 8, 2016The LiberatorAlberto ArveloDrama, War
March 15, 2016GlasslandGerard BarrettDrama, Thriller
March 18, 2016Coconut HeroFlorian CossenComedy, Drama
July 15, 2016EqualsDrake DoremusRomance, Sci-fi
August 19, 2016Standing TallEmmanuelle BercotDrama
September 23, 2016The Girl KingMika KaurismakiDrama
November 4, 2016Morris from AmericaChad HartiganComedy, Drama
November 11, 2016Jean of the JonesesStella MeghieComedy, Drama
November 29, 2016DégradéArab NasserDrama
December 6, 2016The Great Gilly HopkinsStephen HerekKids & Family, Comedy
2017February 9, 2017Urban HymnMichael Caton-JonesDrama, Musical
May 9, 2017Sled DogsFern LevittDocumentary
May 19, 2017Alone in BerlinVincent PerezDrama, War
August 25, 2017BushwickCary Murnion, Jonathan MilottAction, Adventure
September 22, 2017Don't Talk to IrenePat MillsComedy, Drama
December 1, 2017Wexford Plaza[12]Joyce WongComedy, Drama
December 1, 2017Suck It Up[12]Jordan CanningComedy, Drama
2018January 12, 2018Never Steady, Never Still[13]Kathleen HepburnDrama
January 16, 2018The DevoutConnor GastonDrama, Sci-fi
March 16, 2018I Can Only ImagineAndrew Erwin, Jon ErwinDrama
March 30, 2018Journey's EndSaul DibbWar, Drama
June 22, 2018Hearts Beat LoudBrett HaleyMusic, Drama
June 22, 2018Octavio Is Dead!Sook-Yin LeeDrama, Thriller
July 6, 201822 ChaserRafal SokolowskiDrama, Action
July 13, 2018Mary ShelleyHaifaa Al-MansourDrama, Romance
August 24, 2018Madeline's MadelineJosephine DeckerDrama
September 4, 2018The Night Eats the WorldDominique RocherThriller
October 5, 2018TransformerMichael Del MonteDocumentary
October 16, 2018After EverythingHannah Marks, Joey PowerDrama, Romance
November 30, 2018Dead in a Week (or Your Money Back)Tom EdmundsThriller, Comedy
December 14, 2018BlazeEthan HawkeDrama, Music
2019January 15, 2019The BookshopIsabel CoixetDrama
February 26, 2019Salt and FireWerner HerzogThriller, Drama
March 15, 2019To DustShawn SnyderComedy
March 29, 2019Firecrackers[14]Jasmin MozaffariDrama
May 3, 2019Tell It to the BeesAnnabel JankelRomance, Drama
May 7, 2019MazeStephen BurkeAdventure, Action, History
May 24, 2019I'm Going to Break Your HeartJim Morrison, Annie BradleyDocumentary, Music
June 7, 2019MouthpiecePatricia RozemaDrama, Comedy
July 2, 2019Storm BoyShawn SeetKids &Family, Adventure, Drama
July 5, 2019The Last Black Man in San FranciscoJoe TalbotDrama, Adventure
July 23, 2019The Delinquent SeasonMark O'RoweRomance, Drama
August 23, 2019Angelique's IsleMichelle Derosier, Marie-Hélène CousineauDrama, History
August 23, 2019The Peanut Butter FalconTyler Nilson, Michael SchwartzAdventure, Comedy, Drama
September 13, 2019Riot GirlsJovanka VuckovicAction, Sci-Fi, Drama
November 1, 2019The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open[15]Kathleen Hepburn, Elle-Máijá TailfeathersDrama
December 6, 2019BrotherhoodRichard BellDrama, History
2020January 17, 2020Les MisérablesLadj LyDrama, Action
February 7, 2020The AssistantKitty GreenDrama
February 21, 2020Ordinary LoveLisa Barros D'Sa, Glenn LeyburnDrama, Romance
February 28, 2020The Jesus RollsJohn TurturroComedy, Action
March 13, 2020Hope GapWilliam NicholsonDrama
March 20, 2020The Rest of UsAisling Chin-YeeDrama, Comedt
April 17, 2020White LieYonah Lewis, Calvin ThomasDrama
May 8, 2020Fisherman's FriendsChris FogginComedy, Drama, Music
May 19, 2020The Roads Not TakenSally PotterDrama
May 22, 2020Military Wives[16]Peter CattaneoMusic, Drama, Comedy
June 5, 20202040Damon GameauDocumentary
June 16, 2020You Don't NomiJeffrey McHaleDocumentary
July 31, 2020SummerlandJessica SwaleDrama, War
September 4, 2020Feels Good ManArthur JonesDocumentary
September 18, 2020BlackbirdRoger MichellDrama
September 18, 2020Nadia, ButterflyPascal PlanteDrama, Sports
October 2, 2020The GloriasJulie TaymorDrama, History
November 6, 2020The Kid DetectiveEvan MorganDrama, Comedy, Thriller
2021March 3, 2021The World to ComeMona FastvoldDrama, Romance
March 8, 2021UnderplayedStacey LeeDocumentary
March 9, 2021Jump, Darling[17]Phil ConnellDrama
April 2, 2021No Ordinary ManAisling Chin-Yee, Chase JoyntDocumentary
April 6, 2021Sugar DaddyWendy MorganDrama, Music
May 4, 2021I Am Syd Stone[18]Denis TheriaultDrama
May 7, 2021Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street[19]Marilyn AgreloDocumentary
May 11, 2021Together Together[20]Nikole BeckwithComedy, Drama
June 15, 2021Akilla's Escape[21]Charles OfficerThriller, Drama
August 13, 2021Naked SingularityChase PalmerThriller, Action, Drama
October 21, 2021Sin La HabanaKaveh NabatianDrama, Romance
December 3, 2021The Souvenir Part IIJoanna HoggDrama, Comedy
2022January 7, 2022See For MeRandall OkitaThriller, Horror
January 28, 2022AlineValérie LemercierDrama, Musical
February 25, 2022Scarborough[22]Shasha Nakhai, Rich WilliamsonDrama
March 11, 2022DonkeyheadAgam DarshiDrama, Comedy
March 18, 2022A Small FortuneAdam PerryThriller, Crime, Drama
March 25, 2022Run Woman RunZoe Leigh HopkinsComedy, Drama
April 8, 2022Night BloomsStephanie JolineDrama
April 8, 2022SundownMichel FrancoDrama
April 15, 2022Kicking BloodBlaine ThurierFantasy, Romance, Horror
April 29, 2022QuickeningHaya WaseemDrama
May 6, 2022StanleyvilleMaxwell McCabe-LokosComedy
May 27, 2022The Middle ManBent HamerDrama, Crime, Comedy
May 27, 2022BenedictionTerence DaviesDrama, Comedy, Romance
July 1, 2022Mr. Malcolm's List[23]Emma Holly JonesRomance, Drama, Comedy
August 12, 2022Ainbo: Spirit of the AmazonRichard Claus, José ZeladaAnimated, Kids & Family
September 23, 2022Eternal SpringJason LoftusDocumentary, Animated
October 14, 2022Drinkwater[24]Stephen CampanelliComedy
October 21, 2022Drop the Needle[25]Rob FreemanDocumentary, Music
November 4, 2022The Swearing Jar[26]Lindsay MacKayDrama, Romance, Musical
December 2, 2022The Inspection[27]Elegance BrattonDrama

References

  1. 1 2 Ford, Rebecca (2013-08-15). "LevelFILM Launches With Acquisition of Chen Kaige's 'Caught in the Web'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  2. 1 2 Vlessing, Etan (2018-02-16). "Berlin: levelFilm Acquires Rival Indie Film Distributor Search Engine Films". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  3. 1 2 Kay, Jeremy (2021-10-06). "Toronto's levelFILM acquires KinoSmith, partners with Blue Ice Docs (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  4. ↑ "The Children of ThinkFilm". The New York Times. Retrieved 2023-03-16.
  5. ↑ Lang, Brent (2017-09-07). "LevelFILM Sells Majority Stake to Laurie Venning (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  6. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (2019-02-07). "Canadian Distributor LevelFILM Strikes Output Deal With 'Loving Vincent' Firm Good Deed Entertainment". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  7. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (2021-09-10). "'Free Solo' Distributor Greenwich Entertainment Sets Canadian Output Deal With LevelFILM — TIFF". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  8. ↑ Hertz, Barry (2022-04-07). "The 22 most influential people in Canadian film". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  9. ↑ Ravindran, Manori (2022-09-09). "Bleecker Street Signs Output Deal With Canada's LevelFilm". Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  10. ↑ Tapp, Tom (2022-08-24). "Oscars: Canada Sets 'Eternal Spring' As Its Best International Feature Entry". Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  11. ↑ Giardina, Carolyn (2022-11-09). "'Marcel the Shell With Shoes On' Qualifies for Oscars' Animated Feature Race (Exclusive)". Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  12. 1 2 N'Duka, Amanda (2017-05-30). "MUBI Picks Up 'Lover For A Day'; LevelFILM Nabs Three Titles – Cannes". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  13. ↑ Frater, Patrick (2017-10-12). "LevelFilm Buys U.S. Rights to 'Never Steady, Never Still' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  14. ↑ N'Duka, Amanda (2018-08-22). "levelFILM and Seville International Light Up 'Firecrackers' – Toronto". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  15. ↑ Linden, Sheri (2019-11-27). "'The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  16. ↑ Lang, Brent (2019-09-09). "Toronto: Bleecker Street Wins Rights to 'Military Wives'". Variety. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  17. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (2021-02-02). "'Jump, Darling': First Trailer For Indie Drama Featuring Cloris Leachman In One Of Her Final Starring Roles". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  18. ↑ Grater, Tom (2020-10-08). "LevelFILM Boards 6-Part Short Form LGBT Series 'I Am Syd Stone'". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  19. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (2021-03-10). "Canada Deal For Sundance 'Sesame Street' Doc; U.S. Deal For Doc 'It's Not A Burden' — North American Briefs". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  20. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (2021-02-01). "Sundance Comedy 'Together Together' Gets Canada Distribution Deal". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  21. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (2020-12-15). "'Akilla's Escape' Canada Deal; Raw Hires BBC Studios Exec; Britbox UK First Factual Series — Global Briefs". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  22. ↑ Dowling, Amber (2021-09-10). "'Scarborough' Gives Ground-Breaking Voice to Ignored Toronto Community". Variety. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  23. ↑ Barraclough, Leo (2021-03-19). "Universal Takes International on 'Mr. Malcolm's List,' Zawe Ashton, Theo James and Ashley Park Join Cast". Variety. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
  24. ↑ Assman, Bowen (2022-10-27). "Penticton-set film, Drinkwater, in theatres this week". Kelowna Now. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  25. ↑ Cowie, Del (2022-10-20). "Canadian Hip-Hop Landmark Play De Record Gets Its Due in 'Drop The Needle' Doc". Complex Canada. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  26. ↑ Schneller, Johanna (2022-11-02). "The Swearing Jar is the Canadian rom-com success you didn't see coming". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
  27. ↑ Black, Sarah-Tai (2022-11-01). "Personal, intimate drama The Inspection offers nuanced look at sexuality in the military". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
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