Newfound Films
Newfound Films Inc. was established in 2001 by Anna Petras and Justin Simms prior to production of their one hour drama Ashore. The film, (written & directed by Simms, produced by Petras), premiered at the Atlantic Film Festival in 2002, was the closing night gala at the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival that same year, and went on to screen at festivals throughout Canada. Ashore was honoured with three prestigious Golden Sheaf Awards at the 2003 Yorkton Film Festival: Best Director (Simms) Best Actor (Joel Hynes), and Best Drama. The film was broadcast by CBC in April, 2004.
Their next short film The King Hunt won one of five National Screen Institute/CBC ZeD Drama Prizes. In March 2005, the film made its world premiere at the NSI’s
Film Exchange Festival in Winnipeg and aired on CBC and Air Canada.
In 2005/2006, Simms attended the Canadian Film Centre’s Director’s Residency Programme in Toronto and completed the highly successful “Face Machine”, a 15- minute short through the NBC/Universal Short Film Programme.
Newfound Films is committed to establishing themselves as producers of thought
provoking, challenging films with mass appeal. The company’s current slate of feature film projects include:
DOWN TO THE DIRT COMPLETED Based on the award-winning novel by Joel Thomas Hynes. Screenwriters: Justin Simms & Sherry White, Director: Justin Simms
THE KING HUNT IN DEVELOPMENT Based on the short film script The King Hunt.
Screenwriter: Justin Simms, Story Editor: Greg Spottiswood, Supported by: Telefilm Canada and the NLFDC
THREE DOGS BARKING IN DEVELOPMENT Based on the play Three Dogs Barking.
Screenwriter: Frank Barry, Story Consultant: Justin Simms, Supported by: NLFDC and the NLAC
Newfound Films is based in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.