Congratulations to director Wendy Ord and the talented team behind To The Worlds, winner of the Canadian Screen Award for Best Documentary 2020. To The Worlds – a feel-good story about crazy dreams and second chances – follows a group of “mature” ladies in sparkles and spandex as they go for gold in an international figure skating competition. It’s the perfect uplifting story for right now and you can view it right here on CBC Gem. 

To The Worlds has also been nominated for 5 Leos, the British Columbia celebration of TV and Film: Best Program, Best Direction, Best Screenwriting, Best Cinematography and Best Picture Editing. Our thanks, always, to the gritty dames who weren’t afraid to fall flat on their faces in front of our cameras.

Composer Tim McCauley won a 2020 Leo for his work on To The Worlds, our film that followed a group of mature female figure skaters to a world championship. This lovely little story was such a challenge musically! Tim had to replace skating scores with original music that of course had the right rhythm but that also was true to both the individual performances and to the overall character and story arcs. He pulled it off magnificently- with his musical talent and his deep dedication to understanding story. Best Musical Score Short Documentary Program. Yay Tim!!

The team that skated their way into our hearts last year just keeps on winning. To The Worlds, which aired on January 2019 on CBC Docs POV, has been nominated for Best Documentary Program at the 2020 Canadian Screen Awards.

 Congratulations to director Wendy Ord, and her kick-ass team of “never say die” senior competitors who fought all their way to win at the 2018 Master’s World Figure Skating Championships in Germany.  Canadian Screen Award winners will be announced Monday March 23^rd and in case you wondering what all the fuss is about, you can view To The Worlds right now on CBC Gem.

Just want to say a big “thank-you” to all who helped spread the word about our wonderful figure skating film, “To The Worlds.”  If you missed the broadcast, you can still stream it in Canada on CBC Gem. For figure skating fans everywhere, watch this space for updates on American and international sales.  We leave you with a few final words on the film, from the esteemed John Doyle, TV critic for the Globe and Mail.

“There are remarkable scenes, especially those of a woman, 76, pushing herself over and over to not only compete, but do it with grace and good humour. It is moving at times but is careful never to be sentimental. It’s about ambition and, while the CBC website says it is about ‘the power of female friendship and the pursuit of happiness,’ it is actually about friendship itself. It’s just that the women featured in the program rarely get the attention they get here. It is also about transcending the expectations culture puts on you, me and others. It’s about joy. But, watch until the end and you’ll find out that this journey, wonderfully chronicled for us, isn’t about a lark at all. It’s about winning.”––John Doyle

January 2016, two Bountiful Films docs aired-back to back on the CBC – Helen’s Hold Your Fire on CBC Firsthand, and Maureen’s Wasted, on The Nature of Things. This little doc duo struck gold at 2017 NYF International TV & Film Awards. Want to thank once again, the families in Hold Your Fire who shared the pain of the loss of their loved ones, and Mike Pond, Maureen’s partner, for revealing his struggle with problematic substance use and our amazing camera crews. We’ve heard from thousands since both films aired. We know they’ve made a difference in the world. And that’s the most gratifying win of all.