VANCOUVER, CANADA – JULY 19, 2017 – Four films finished at Umedia’s new Vancouver studio dominated the festival circuit this season, picking up a distribution deal with IFC Films and earning a total of 16 nominations and nine wins at the 2017 Leo Awards.
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SWEET VIRGINIA premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was subsequently acquired by IFC Films for US distribution.
A riveting thriller directed by Jamie M. Dagg, the film follows a motel owner with a dark past (Jon Bernthal) who unknowingly develops a rapport with the young hitman behind a recent spate of small-town violence (Christopher Abbott). The film was graded by supervising colourist Andrea Chlebak, alongside Dagg and cinematographer Jessica Lee Gagne, and mastered at Umedia’s Vancouver studio.
“Umedia’s world-class facility is second to none,” said Dagg. “Andrea has great instincts and an incredible eye for detail. She and [finishing producer] Sam Trounce bent over backwards to accommodate our film.”
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HELLO DESTROYER was the feature film standout at this year’s Leo Awards, with five wins in Program, Direction, Screenwriting, Cinematography and Lead Performance by a Male. In all, the film received seven nominations in six categories (Program, Direction, Screenwriting, Cinematography, Supporting Performance by a Male, Lead Performance by a Male).
A timely and devastating story that raises profound questions about the disposability of athletes in professional sport, HELLO DESTROYER was colour graded and mastered at Umedia’s Vancouver studio in fall 2016. Following a worldwide festival tour, the film is now available on iTunes.
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SIDEKICK received five Leo Award nominations (Visual Effects, Sound, Production Design, Costume Design, Make-Up) and took home three awards (Visual Effects, Costume Design, Make-Up).
Directed by Jeff Cassidy, this touching short superhero film features Josh Dallas, Emily Bett Rickards and Tom Cavanagh. Cassidy and Umedia’s Chlebak worked closely to develop a bold final look that would enhance the firm’s profound themes.
“Sam, Andrea and everybody at Umedia created a seamless workflow and a visually stunning end result,” said Cassidy. “I can’t say enough good things about this team!”
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CHASING EVEL: THE ROBBIE KNIEVEL STORY was nominated for Best Canadian Feature at Edmonton’s Northwestfest, received four Leo Award nominations (Program, Direction, Cinematography, Musical Score) and earned one Leo Award win (Cinematography).
A feature documentary directed by Jesse James Miller, CHASING EVEL explores Robbie Knievel’s pursuit of sobriety and his father’s legacy. Finished at Umedia’s Vancouver studio in late 2016, this audience favourite premiered at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in February 2017 and went on to screen at Edmonton’s Northwestfest and the Nashville Film Festival.

“Without Umedia and Andrea Chlebak, the film would never look this good,” said Miller.
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“We would like to congratulate each of the film’s creators on their festival recognition and thank them for the opportunity to be involved,” said Dave Hollingsworth, head of finishing at Umedia’s Vancouver studio. “We feel very lucky to have worked on these projects. Andrea, Sam and the rest of the finishing team did an amazing job—and it shows on screen.”
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