Film Volt Group To Champions Human-Centric Storytelling at TIFF 2025 with Bold Slate of Projects
Led by CEO and Founder Mark Busby, Film Volt Group is showcasing a collection of bold, socially resonant titles including the highly anticipated feature film Daring Greatly and the ground-breaking documentary series Beyond Bionics. These projects signal a return to purposeful filmmaking in an industry increasingly dominated by algorithms and spectacle. 'We've spent the past 18 months developing stories that matter stories that don't just entertain, but resonate,' said Busby. 'Audiences are hungry for truth, for human connection, and for stories that reflect the world around them. That's what we're bringing to Tiff in September.'
Daring Greatly: A True Crime Drama That Dares to Go Deeper
At the centre of the Cannes slate is Daring Greatly, a true-crime psychological thriller based on real events in Toronto's LGBTQ+ community. Written by British screenwriter Julie Ann White, the film is a gripping, emotional journey that exposes institutional failures while celebrating resilience and the fight for justice.
Set for full pre-production later this year, Daring Greatly is part of Film Volt Group's UK-Canada co-production initiative and has already drawn early interest from distributors in North America and Europe. Casting announcements are expected in the coming months, with a launch event planned for TIFF 2025.
Beyond Bionics: A Global Documentary with a Human Pulse
Film Volt Group is also unveiling Beyond Bionics, an international documentary series exploring the use of prosthetics in war zones and under-resourced communities. With filming taking place in Ukraine, Canada, and parts of Asia, the project is being produced in collaboration with medical NGOs and military veteran organizations.
Through personal stories of trauma, recovery, and innovation, Beyond Bionics offers a visceral look at how technology and humanity intersect and how resilience transcends borders.
A Mission-Driven Slate Backed by Data
All Film Volt Group titles are evaluated using its proprietary Sabre Analytics™ system a forecasting and data modelling tool that assesses audience trends, emotional engagement, and market alignment. Early data shows that purpose-driven films and series with social impact themes have experienced a 42% spike in engagement across AVOD and SVOD platforms over the past year.
This data-led strategy is already proving effective, with several Film Volt titles securing international broadcast discussions ahead of TIFF 2025.
Partnerships, Platforms, and Global Growth
Film Volt Group is actively pursuing co-production, distribution, and financing partnerships for its 2025–2026 slate across the UK, Canada, Australia, the U.S., and beyond. With the launch of new operations in Toronto and a planned studio division in Australia (2025/26), the company is scaling up to meet global demand for meaningful, diverse storytelling.
We're building bridges not just between countries, but between creators and audiences,' said Busby. 'From neurodivergent filmmakers to veterans-turned-creatives, our slate reflects the world as it really is.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
17 hours ago
- The National
Remembering the summer of Blur and Oasis … and the attention war that followed it
Thirty years ago, the UK was gripped by a battle of the bands – reminding us that the past really is a foreign country and they definitely do things differently there. Blur and Oasis, the pre-eminent Britpop music acts of the era, released their respective singles Country House and Roll With It on August 14, 1995. Such was the popularity of the two bands at the time that if the release dates of their songs had been staggered, then both would have claimed the coveted number one spot in the weekly charts. But when Blur and Oasis chose the same day for release, only one could claim top spot. In this pre-streaming era of 1995, weekly sales were the hard currency of the day and the Blur-Oasis contest ensured nearly 500,000 copies of the two singles combined were sold that week, a huge number in a time when about 70,000 sales pretty much guaranteed a number one hit in the UK. The rising tide lifted all the boats that week, as single sales raced to record heights for the decade. Country House won out, with the UK finding out the results through the Sunday evening radio broadcast of the chart countdown. Anyone old enough to recall the 'Britpop battle' in the UK will have a memory of the extraordinary late summer of 1995, when those two bands occupied the entire cultural space. Maybe your memory might be jogged still further when the moment is dramatised in The Battle stage play, which will open in the UK next year. The contest set up the most binary moment in households across Britain, particularly as it tugged at the class and geographic schisms of UK society, apparently pitting northern, working-class Oasis against southern, middle-class Blur – or surly Mancunians and chirpy Londoners, as some described it. Yes, the mid-90s really were a peak moment in derogatory labelling. John Harris's 2003 book, titled Britpop: Cool Britannia and the Spectacular Demise of English Rock, describes the week in which the bands locked horns as a period that birthed 'an outpouring of comment and coverage that turned Britpop into an inflated caricature of itself', while noting that the two singles in question were close to being their worst work of that era by both bands. Contemporary critics also described both singles as lacklustre – describing Country House as mod pastiche and Roll With It as stadium rock quality – not that it mattered much given those level of sales and the fevered interest in the bands. Decades later, Roll With It doesn't appear on Spotify's popular Oasis songs list, but Country House does show on Blur's streaming platform roll of honour. Oasis have been entertaining huge crowds on their revival tour this summer and have played Roll With It on every night so far, according to Set List data. Blur, meanwhile, played Country House to generous applause during their Abu Dhabi Grand Prix post-race set a decade ago, providing a relatively rare outing for the song. It didn't feature at all during their last live outings at Coachella in April 2024. Roll With It may be a firm fan favourite this summer, but it wasn't the favourite in that summer week of 1995. Blur claimed victory in the chart battle, but within months Oasis were said to have won the war, by dint of superior album and concert ticket sales. Less than a year later, the Manchester band were playing two huge sold-out concerts at Knebworth House, while Blur appeared to wear the spoils of that August 1995 victory wearily. Beyond the nostalgia and the moderately ripping yarn of that 1995 moment, what else is there to take away from a peculiarly British cultural moment? First, it reminds us how radically the metrics of success have changed over time. In the streaming era, the battle is almost irrelevant; it is the war for long-term dominance and overall consumption and attention that matters. And yet, in a playlist and suggested-for-you driven world, the individual song is as important as ever in the compounding nature of the subscription economy. Those millions of listens your favourite artist accrues every month are more likely to have been gathered from cleverly selected platform playlists than from the 20th-century tradition of listening to an album from start to finish. The mid-90s were a peak time for tribalism and the primary way of showing your colours was to actively go out and buy physical media. People still wanted to own the music they loved in those days, something far removed from the habits of now. As the relative popularity of those two songs on platforms shows us, there can also be unlikely twists and turns in the history of a popular release. Oasis's song for the ages, Wonderwall, released later in 1995, didn't make it to number one on the UK singles chart either, but is one of the top 3 most streamed songs from the 1990s, only bettered by a pair of songs that also did not top the charts when released. The 1980s provides other examples of the same trend and underscores, perhaps, that past performance is not indicative of future results. Back in 1995, a piece published in The Telegraph the day after the result was known compared it to the fuss to 30 years before, when the Rolling Stones and The Beatles were chart rivals and speculated that 'it seems unlikely that, in 2025, either Blur's or Oasis's offerings will have earned similar status in the rock n roll pantheon'. Some might say, predictions are a fool's errand.
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Khaleej Times
Fizah Pasha: The face behind Brulee Beauty's success
Fizah Pasha, a believer in celebrating womanhood, and embracing, beauty in every form, speaks of her journey as a beautician, a founder of her own line of makeup Brulee Beauty and her career as a life coach. A young, dynamic and graceful Fizah started her own beauty line Brulee Beauty in 2020, when the world, outside the doors, had stopped due to covid. Brulee Beauty is an aptly chosen name for Fizah's brand of beauty products, as in French it means golden caramelised sugar, which Fizah relates to Asian and Middle Eastern skin tones. Equipped with a professional training in makeup from Delamar Academy London, Fizah Pasha soon became a well sought after makeup artist in UK and the UAE. Having worked across New York, London and Dubai Fizah realised that women in the middle east and subcontinent have very different variations in their skin tones as compared to the women in the western world. With a belief that every woman is beautiful and it is her own imperfections that make her unique and different from others Fizah has formulated a makeup line that is impeccable for eastern complexion. 'I would always mix two to three shades of foundation when working with my clients from the middle east and the subcontinent. Genetically our skin tones are different ranging from warm to olive to beige. Hence, I decided to address the issue by bringing in shades that would blend effortlessly with eastern complexion.' Brulee Beauty is manufactured in the fashion capital of Italy and has made its mark in the cosmetic industry within a very short period of time. The brand comprises of an array of products including tinted treatment with an SPF, colour concealers and corrector and a multi mousse blush. The products, produced in Italy are of a very high standard and are also vegan friendly. Fizah is passionate about her work and enjoys working with her clients who have increased many folds since she started in 2020. The philosophy behind her product line is to bring a great colour match to the Asian skin tones. A white chalky and cakey look is definitely a thing of the past and as the world moves to a more 'no makeup' look it is imperative that the makeup used by women matches their skin tone and also enhances their features rather than creating a different look that doesn't reflect their own features. The high level of commitment, professionalism and an eagerness to deliver the very best has made "Brulee Beauty" a much sought after name in the cosmetic industry. Fizah takes great joy in establishing that 'without an active advertising and promotion campaign Brulee Beauty has attracted a large number of clients both in the UAE and UK. It is the high quality of the products that has caught the attention of well reputed companies like Estee Lauder, Sephora and Space NK. Fizah's clients continue to grow, and her products are equally popular amongst women from all walks of life including the Bollywood stars. 'Starting a business in the UAE is easier as compared to the rest of the world. The government here is very supportive and it helps to facilitate new startups. UAE is a great hub of various cultures and it's vibrant demographics make it very lucrative for most people to start their own business here.' Fizah is a great champion for education specially for women and is an active supporter of The Citizen Foundation in Pakistan. Brulee has helped to sustain literacy in Pakistan by contributing regularly to the cause.
The National
a day ago
- The National
Where Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid visits when in London, from Harrods to Saddle Cafe
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has long been a regular visitor to London, often spotted at some of the city's most exclusive landmarks. From leisurely strolls in Hyde Park to shopping trips in Knightsbridge, his visits reflect his connection to the UK capital. This summer he was seen at luxury department store Harrods, where he stopped by Somewhere Cafe. Founded by Emirati entrepreneur Amal Al Marri and Saudi businesswoman Deem Al Bassam, the cafe has built a following overseas, and his visit highlighted its growing international presence. The cafe opened its London outpost in December. This latest stop is just one of many over the years. Here are some of the London locations he has visited. The restaurants Parker's at Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel Sheikh Mohammed was the first official guest at Parker's in the Jumeirah Lowndes hotel when it opened in 2024. A popular home-grown Dubai eatery with Emirati owners, it is also famed for its viral Matilda cake, an indulgent chocolate creation inspired by the Roald Dahl book. Parker's was founded in 2015 as a pop-up in Al Khazzan Park, one of Dubai's oldest neighbourhood parks. It then opened its original flagship outlet in Dubai Mall in 2016. The concept comes from UAE hospitality company Independent Food, the same group behind the region's beloved burger venture Salt. Saddle London in Knightsbridge Sheikh Mohammed has also been spotted having coffee at Saddle. Founded by Emirati entrepreneur Mohamed M Al Falasi in 2017, Saddle first launched as a speciality coffee truck. It quickly gained popularity for its all-day breakfast and coffee, leading Al Falasi to expand the concept into a coffee chain known as Saddle Cafe. He further expanded by opening a restaurant called Saddle House. Today, the brand has 21 locations in five countries, including Riyadh, Cannes and Saint Tropez. Saddle London offers a menu filled with items such as pistachio milkshake, acai bowls and a selection of breakfast options. Shopping and leisure Shatha Essa Kids at Harrods Last year, Sheikh Mohammed met Emirati designer Shatha Essa Al Mulla at her retail space in Harrods. Al Mulla shared a photo of herself with the ruler of Dubai and thanked him for his "unlimited support". Al Mulla launched her eponymous modestwear label in Dubai in 2016. She added childrenswear in 2023 and the retail space at Harrods in 2024. Part of an initiative by Dubai Culture, Shatha Essa Kids is sold in a dedicated section of Harrods located on the fourth floor. All pieces, created for toddlers and girls up to the age of 14, were designed and produced in Dubai, Al Mulla says. Harrods is a famous luxury department store in Knightsbridge. Opened in 1849, it has become synonymous with opulence and exclusivity, with more than 300 departments spread across seven floors. Everything from high-end fashion and jewellery to gourmet food halls are available. Hyde Park Sheikh Mohammed has visited the historic public park many times. In 2023, he visited with his brother, Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid. The 140-hectare historic Royal Park is the largest of the green spaces that form a chain from Kensington Palace to St James's Palace, also including Kensington Gardens, Green Park and St James's Park.
