Shaftesbury’s international runaway hit web series Carmilla has begun principal photography on feature-length film Carmilla The Movie (working title). Series stars Elise Bauman and 2017 Canadian Screen Awards Fan’s Choice Award-winner Natasha Negovanlis return for the supernatural spin-off film, and are joined by Dominique Provost-Chalkley (Wynonna Earp, Murdoch Mysteries), Grace Lynn Kung (Mary Kills People, The Strain), and Cara Gee (The Expanse, Inhuman Condition) as well as returning Carmilla cast Annie Briggs (Luvvie, Murdoch Mysteries), Kaitlyn Alexander (Couple-ish, Full Out), Nicole Stamp (The Handmaid’s Tale, First Round Down), and Matt O’Connor (Murdoch Mysteries, Ozion). Carmilla The Movie is currently filming on location in Toronto and is slated for a Fall 2017 release.
“We are in the unique position of producing a feature film with a massive built-in and ever-growing fan base. This film, and the appetite for it, is a perfect example of how we create, connect and ultimately, serve our fans by expanding and extending the brand in new and exciting ways,” said Christina Jennings, Chairman & CEO, Shaftesbury. “In addition to our beloved returning cast, including the wonderfully talented Elise Bauman and Natasha Negovanlis, we’re excited to welcome some fresh faces to the Carmilla world. We can’t wait to continue breaking barriers while exploring Carmilla’s brand potential on the big screen and beyond.”
It has been five years since Laura (Bauman) and Carmilla (Negovanlis) vanquished the apocalypse and Carmilla became a bonafide mortal human. They have settled in to a cozy apartment in downtown Toronto; Laura continues to hone her journalism skills while Carmilla adjusts to a non-vampire lifestyle. Their domestic bliss is suddenly ruptured when Carmilla begins to show signs of “re-vamping” – from a fondness for bloody treats to accidental biting – while Laura has started having bizarre, ghostly dreams. The couple must now enlist their old friends from Silas University to uncover the unknown supernatural threat and save humanity – including Carmilla’s.
Produced by Shaftesbury’s digital studio Smokebomb Entertainment and its branded entertainment agency shift2, in partnership with executive producer U by Kotex®, the Carmilla digital series (108 x 5 minutes) is a scripted transmedia series that puts a modern spin on the cult classic gothic vampire novella by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. Meshing the vlog format aesthetic with scripted storytelling, Carmilla follows the adventures of university student Laura Hollis (Bauman) whose world is turned upside down after a vampire, Carmilla Karnstein (Negovanlis), moves into her dorm room. Carmilla has engaged and inspired fans around the world – the series has been viewed in 193 countries and translated in over 20 languages by fans. Available on YouTube channel KindaTV, the largest scripted YouTube channel for millennials in Canada, and subscription video service Fullscreen, the series has generated over 69 million views and 233 million minutes of watch time across all three seasons since its launch in 2014. Carmilla has been recognized with numerous national and international honours and awards including the Streamy Awards, the Webby Awards, the Shorty Awards, and the Canadian Screen Awards, including a 2017 Fan’s Choice Awards for Negovanlis.
Carmilla The Movie is produced by Shaftesbury with the financial participation of Telefilm Canada, the Canada Media Fund, Fullscreen, and Hollywood Suite. Carmilla The Movie is directed by Spencer Maybee (Carmilla, Letterkenny ORIDG DIDG); story by Alejandro Alcoba (Degrassi: The Next Generation, The Next Step), screenplay by Alcoba and Jordan Hall (Carmilla, Run Dry). The movie is based on Carmilla the digital series, written by Hall, and co-created by Hall, Jay Bennett, and Steph Ouaknine. Carmilla The Movie is executive produced by Christina Jennings and Scott Garvie, produced by Bennett, Ouaknine, and Melanie Windle.
