CBC today announced the launch of a new slate of content created for young adults between the ages of 13 and 24 that will be available on the CBC Gem streaming service. Select titles will be available beginning this month with more titles to come, building on the national public broadcaster’s commitment to offer expanded content for younger audiences in Canada.
The new slate includes CBC Gem original series WARIGAMI (10×10), a contemporary samurai saga starring Emily Piggford (The Girlfriend Experience, Michael: Every Day), produced in partnership with The CW, First Love Films and New Form, and four short films produced as part of the CBC New Indigenous Voices training program, presented by the National Screen Institute, in support of emerging Indigenous filmmakers and creators. CBC will continue to add new original series to the slate each month, including upcoming title UTOPIA FALLS (10×60), a young adult sci-fi drama infused with dance and music, produced in partnership with Sonar Entertainment, and featuring renowned music producer Boi-1da (Drake, Rihanna, Eminem, Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj and Kendrick Lamar) as Executive Music Producer.
“Our new slate of programming for young adults will help us build stronger relationships with a broader range of Canadians, by providing them with content that reflects their interests and perspectives and is available to stream whenever and wherever they want,” said Gave Lindo, Executive Director, OTT Programming, CBC.
The following titles from the new slate will be made available to stream on CBC Gem:
WARIGAMI (Drama, 10×10, produced by First Love Films and distributed by New Form – a CBC Gem original series in partnership with The CW) – All episodes begin streaming Friday, July 12
Wendy Ohata (Piggford) has just made three startling realizations: One, she has a twin brother; two, she’s a kami-jin – a descendent of an ancient Japanese people who can turn paper into deadly weapons; and three, there’s a kami-jin warrior hunting her down for reasons she doesn’t understand. The series is created by Eddie Kim and directed by Jason Lapeyre, with showrunner Andrew Allen. Starring Piggford, Kai Bradbury (The Terror), Akiel Julien (The Next Step), Miho Suzuki (Colossal), and David Hewlett (Stargate: Atlantis).
UTOPIA FALLS (Sci-Fi Drama, 10×60, produced by Sonar Entertainment – a CBC Gem original series) – Coming in 2020
UTOPIA FALLS follows a group of teens chosen to compete in the prestigious Exemplar performing arts competition in the seemingly idyllic colony of New Babyl. When they stumble upon a hidden archive of musical and cultural relics, the experience drives them to question everything they have been taught, thus beginning a thrilling journey of self-discovery and search for the truth. The series’ creative team includes creator/director R. T. Thorne (Find Me in Paris, Degrassi: The Next Class) and showrunner Joseph Mallozzi (Dark Matter, Stargate franchise), who are also executive producers, in addition to music producer Boi-1da (Drake, Rihanna) and three-time MTV VMA-nominated choreographer Tanisha Scott (Rihanna, Cardi B). The series stars Robyn Alomar (Riot Girls), Akiel Julien (The Next Step), Robbie Graham-Kuntz (Full Out), Phillip Lewitski (Supernatural), Humberly Gonzalez (Orphan Black), Devyn Nekoda (Degrassi: The Next Generation), and Mickeey Nguyen (Make It Pop).
CBC New Indigenous Voices Short Films – begin streaming Friday, July 26:
Dead Bolt (directed by Jon Berg): Sheila Williams is doing laundry in her apartment complex. When she goes to switch her clothes to the dryer, she props open her front door with the deadbolt, giving a stranger quick access to her apartment. Locked out with no keys, phone or ID, Sheila struggles find out who is in her home.
Forgotten (directed by Jesse Spence): Levi lives a simple life until escalating visions too strong to ignore lead him to reconnect to his Indigenous heritage.
Nappy Hair & Eagle Feather (directed by Adeline Bird): Maleena is the only mixed-race student in her school and experiences racism from her school friends, but does not understand why. With the help of her loving and understanding mother, Maleena is able to reconcile her identity as a mixed-raced girl.
Star Line (directed by Nikita Day): A scared Indigenous woman on the run encounters two young girls who offer her refuge in exchange for a story. But the demons of her past may threaten the safety of them all before she can finish.
CBC New Indigenous Voices presented by the National Screen Institute is a culturally sensitive training course that exposes young Indigenous people to a variety of creative and challenging employment opportunities in film, TV and digital media. The three-phase course includes classroom training, film production and an industry internship.
ACKLEY BRIDGE Seasons 1–2 (Drama, 18×60, The Forge, UK)
Season 1 begins streaming Friday, July 12
Season 2 begins streaming Friday, August 9
Ackley Bridge offers a gritty, funny, and truthful look into the daily drama of teachers, teenagers, and families whose lives and cultures collide when two schools are integrated after years of racial segregation in a small Yorkshire town.
MR. STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT (Comedy, four seasons, each 10×10, New Form, USA) – All episodes begin streaming Friday, July 12
Tyler Prendergast (Jeremy Shada, Adventure Time) is the most ambitious student body president in the history of Berenger High. With his Machiavellian chief of staff, Hadley (Arden Rose, Guidance), Prendergast runs the school like a slick politician on Capitol Hill, as he maintains power by any means necessary. School is now in session.
MY MAD FAT DIARY Seasons 1–3 (Comedy/Drama, 16×60, Tiger Aspect Productions, UK)
Season 1 begins streaming Friday, July 12
Season 2 begins streaming Friday, July 19
Season 3 begins streaming Friday, August 23
My Mad Fat Diary takes a warm, hilarious and honest look at teenage life from the perspective of an overweight sixteen-year-old girl in mid-90s Lincolnshire. Adapted from Rae Earl’s real-life diary and book of the same name and starring Sharon Rooney (Dumbo) in the BAFTA Scotland Award-winning lead role, the series is written by Tom Bidwell (Watership Down). It’s a coming-of-age show about a fat, funny girl who – despite a bonkers mother and her own mental health issues – has a huge lust for life and a burning desire to get laid. Co-starring BAFTA Award-winning actress Jodie Comer (Killing Eve).
REPLAY (Drama, 12×10, New Form, USA) – All episodes begin streaming Friday, July 12
What if you could repeat the most important day of your life until you perfected every moment? Receiving her one birthday wish, Allison Lee (Lyndsy Fonseca, Agent Carter) gets more than she asked for when she’s stuck repeating an epic 25th birthday bash that just went down in flames. Also starring Tyler James Williams (The Walking Dead, Dear White People) and Cyrina Fiallo (Good Luck Charlie).
JADE OF DEATH (Drama, 6×10, Last Frame Productions, Australia) – All episodes begin streaming Friday, July 19
Jade (Bernie Van Tiel) has a powerful ability: she can hear when and how people are going to die. She ran away from her hometown and gets by working at a seedy carnival as the “Fortune-Teller of Death,” but now people are after her. There’s more to her past than she lets on, and more to her abilities than she knows.
SHITTY BOYFRIENDS (Comedy, 8×8, New Form, USA) – All episodes begin streaming Friday, July 26
Amanda (Melissa Hunter, Adult Wednesday) technically has it all – she’s an intelligent feminist, talented cartoonist and has a lot of love to give – but can’t get it right in the dating department. Either that, or she’s the victim of some weird boy curse, because she just attracts one shitty guy after the next in her pursuit of true love. Executive produced by Lisa Kudrow and co-starring Sandra Oh (Killing Eve).
