Levelfilm


Levelfilm, stylized as levelFILM, is a Canadian film distribution company based in Toronto, Ontario. The company was founded by David Hudakoc and Michael Baker in 2013, and later acquired two other Canadian distribution houses: Search Engine Films in 2018 and KinoSmith in 2021. It has released more than 200 titles, with a focus on independent Canadian films.

History

levelFILM was founded by Michael Baker and David Hudakoc in August 2013, who had previously worked together at the U.S. distribution house ThinkFilm. The company's first acquisition, Chen Kaige's Caught in the Web, was announced along with the company's creation.
In 2017, the company sold a majority stake to Laurie Venning, a Canadian investor, entrepreneur, and producer.
At the 2018 Berlin Film Festival levelFILM announced its acquisition of another Canadian distributor, Search Engine Films. John Bain, the head of SEF at the time, joined as the company's new Head of Distribution. SEF's library was folded into levelFILM's existing catalogue, including titles such as Equals, Kilo Two Bravo, and Mary Shelley.
In 2019, it was announced that levelFILM and U.S.-based distributor Good Deed Entertainment had struck a four-year output deal, ending in 2023.
At the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival levelFILM announced a multi-year output deal with the U.S. company Greenwich Entertainment, beginning with The Capote Tapes. Later in the fall, levelFILM acquired KinoSmith, and folded in its CEO, Robin Smith, as the new Head of Factual. Simultaneously, the company partnered with Smith's other venture, the documentary financing and distribution house Blue Ice Docs, a subsidiary of the Blue Ice Group.
In April 2022 the company was listed at number 9 in The Globe and Mail's list of the 22 most influential people in the Canadian film industry.
During the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival levelFILM signed an exclusive output deal with Bleecker Street. Mafia Mamma, directed by Catherine Hardwicke, is set to be the first release of the deal and is scheduled for April 2023.
In October 2022, levelFILM released Eternal Spring, which was selected to be Canada's official submission to the 95th Academy Awards for the Academy Award for [Best International Feature Film|Best International Feature Film] category. The film was also eligible for Best Documentary Feature Film|Best Documentary] and Best Animated Feature, but did not make the shortlist in either category.

Released films

YearCanadian Release DateTitleDirectorGenre
2014April 11, 2014That Burning FeelingJason JamesComedy, Romance
2014May 30, 2014Hotel CongressMichel Kandisky, Nadia LitzRomance, Comedy
2014July 18, 2014Lawrence & HollomanMatthew KowalchukComedy, Drama
2014November 21, 2014RosewaterJon StewartDrama, Thriller
2015March 6, 2015Two Men in TownRachid BoucharebComedy, Drama
2015April 17, 2015Sunshine on LeithDexter FletcherMusical, Drama
2015May 5, 2015Soul Boys of the Western WorldGeorge HenckenDocumentary, Music
2015May 15, 2015Wet BumLindsay MackayDrama, Kids & Family
2015August 21, 2015Bang Bang BabyJeffrey St. JulesSci-fi, Romance
2015August 18, 2015Learning to DriveIsabel CoixetComedy, Drama
2015September 4, 2015Before We GoChris EvansDrama, Romance
2015November 13, 2015Kilo Two BravoPaul KatisWar, Thriller
2015December 4, 2015I Smile BackAdam SalkyDrama
2015December 11, 2015People Places ThingsJim StrouseComedy, Romance
2016January 8, 2016The LiberatorAlberto ArveloDrama, War
2016March 15, 2016GlasslandGerard BarrettDrama, Thriller
2016March 18, 2016Coconut HeroFlorian CossenComedy, Drama
2016July 15, 2016EqualsDrake DoremusRomance, Sci-fi
2016August 19, 2016Standing TallEmmanuelle BercotDrama
2016September 23, 2016The Girl KingMika KaurismakiDrama
2016November 4, 2016Morris from AmericaChad HartiganComedy, Drama
2016November 11, 2016Jean of the JonesesStella MeghieComedy, Drama
2016November 29, 2016DégradéTarzan and Arab NasserDrama
2016December 6, 2016The [Great Gilly Hopkins (film)|The Great Gilly Hopkins]Stephen HerekKids & Family, Comedy
2017February 9, 2017Urban HymnMichael Caton-JonesDrama, Musical
2017May 9, 2017Sled DogsFern LevittDocumentary
2017May 19, 2017Alone in BerlinVincent PerezDrama, War
2017August 25, 2017BushwickCary Murnion, Jonathan MilottAction, Adventure
2017September 22, 2017Don't Talk to IrenePat MillsComedy, Drama
2017December 1, 2017Wexford PlazaJoyce WongComedy, Drama
2017December 1, 2017Suck It UpJordan CanningComedy, Drama
2018January 12, 2018Never Steady, Never StillKathleen HepburnDrama
2018January 16, 2018The DevoutConnor GastonDrama, Sci-fi
2018March 16, 2018I Can Only ImagineAndrew Erwin, Jon ErwinDrama
2018March 30, 2018Journey's EndSaul DibbWar, Drama
2018June 22, 2018Hearts Beat LoudBrett HaleyMusic, Drama
2018June 22, 2018Octavio Is Dead!Sook-Yin LeeDrama, Thriller
2018July 6, 201822 ChaserRafal SokolowskiDrama, Action
2018July 13, 2018Mary ShelleyHaifaa Al-MansourDrama, Romance
2018August 24, 2018Madeline's MadelineJosephine DeckerDrama
2018September 4, 2018The Night Eats the WorldDominique RocherThriller
2018October 5, 2018TransformerMichael Del MonteDocumentary
2018October 16, 2018After EverythingHannah Marks, Joey PowerDrama, Romance
2018November 30, 2018Dead in a Week (or Your Money Back)Tom EdmundsThriller, Comedy
2018December 14, 2018BlazeEthan HawkeDrama, Music
2019January 15, 2019The BookshopIsabel CoixetDrama
2019February 26, 2019Salt and FireWerner HerzogThriller, Drama
2019March 15, 2019To DustShawn SnyderComedy
2019March 29, 2019FirecrackersJasmin MozaffariDrama
2019May 3, 2019Tell It to the BeesAnnabel JankelRomance, Drama
2019May 7, 2019MazeStephen BurkeAdventure, Action, History
2019May 24, 2019I'm Going to Break Your HeartJim Morrison, Annie BradleyDocumentary, Music
2019June 7, 2019MouthpiecePatricia RozemaDrama, Comedy
2019July 2, 2019Storm BoyShawn SeetKids &Family, Adventure, Drama
2019July 5, 2019The Last Black Man in San FranciscoJoe TalbotDrama, Adventure
2019July 23, 2019The Delinquent SeasonMark O'RoweRomance, Drama
2019August 23, 2019Angelique's IsleMichelle Derosier, Marie-Hélène CousineauDrama, History
2019August 23, 2019The Peanut Butter FalconTyler Nilson, Michael SchwartzAdventure, Comedy, Drama
2019September 13, 2019Riot GirlsJovanka VuckovicAction, Sci-Fi, Drama
2019November 1, 2019The Body Remembers When the World Broke OpenKathleen Hepburn, Elle-Máijá TailfeathersDrama
2019December 6, 2019BrotherhoodRichard BellDrama, History
2020January 17, 2020Les MisérablesLadj LyDrama, Action
2020February 7, 2020The AssistantKitty GreenDrama
2020February 21, 2020Ordinary LoveLisa Barros D'Sa, Glenn LeyburnDrama, Romance
2020February 28, 2020The Jesus RollsJohn TurturroComedy, Action
2020March 13, 2020Hope GapWilliam NicholsonDrama
2020March 20, 2020The Rest of UsAisling Chin-YeeDrama, Comedt
2020April 17, 2020White LieYonah Lewis, Calvin ThomasDrama
2020May 8, 2020Fisherman's FriendsChris FogginComedy, Drama, Music
2020May 19, 2020The Roads Not TakenSally PotterDrama
2020May 22, 2020Military WivesPeter CattaneoMusic, Drama, Comedy
2020June 5, 20202040Damon GameauDocumentary
2020June 16, 2020You Don't NomiJeffrey McHaleDocumentary
2020July 31, 2020SummerlandJessica SwaleDrama, War
2020September 4, 2020Feels Good ManArthur JonesDocumentary
2020September 18, 2020BlackbirdRoger MichellDrama
2020September 18, 2020Nadia, ButterflyPascal PlanteDrama, Sports
2020October 2, 2020The GloriasJulie TaymorDrama, History
2020November 6, 2020The Kid DetectiveEvan MorganDrama, Comedy, Thriller
2021March 3, 2021The World to ComeMona FastvoldDrama, Romance
2021March 8, 2021UnderplayedStacey LeeDocumentary
2021March 9, 2021Jump, DarlingPhil ConnellDrama
2021April 2, 2021No Ordinary ManAisling Chin-Yee, Chase JoyntDocumentary
2021April 6, 2021Sugar DaddyWendy MorganDrama, Music
2021May 4, 2021I Am Syd StoneDenis TheriaultDrama
2021May 7, 2021Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame StreetMarilyn AgreloDocumentary
2021May 11, 2021Together TogetherNikole BeckwithComedy, Drama
2021June 15, 2021Akilla's EscapeCharles OfficerThriller, Drama
2021August 13, 2021Naked SingularityChase PalmerThriller, Action, Drama
2021October 21, 2021Sin La HabanaKaveh NabatianDrama, Romance
2021December 3, 2021The Souvenir Part IIJoanna HoggDrama, Comedy
2022January 7, 2022See For MeRandall OkitaThriller, Horror
2022January 28, 2022AlineValérie LemercierDrama, Musical
2022February 25, 2022ScarboroughShasha Nakhai, Rich WilliamsonDrama
2022March 11, 2022DonkeyheadAgam DarshiDrama, Comedy
2022March 18, 2022A Small FortuneAdam PerryThriller, Crime, Drama
2022March 25, 2022Run Woman RunZoe Leigh HopkinsComedy, Drama
2022April 8, 2022Night BloomsStephanie JolineDrama
2022April 8, 2022SundownMichel FrancoDrama
2022April 15, 2022Kicking BloodBlaine ThurierFantasy, Romance, Horror
2022April 29, 2022QuickeningHaya WaseemDrama
2022May 6, 2022StanleyvilleMaxwell McCabe-LokosComedy
2022May 27, 2022The [Middle Man (film)|The Middle Man]Bent HamerDrama, Crime, Comedy
2022May 27, 2022BenedictionTerence DaviesDrama, Comedy, Romance
2022July 1, 2022Mr. Malcolm's ListEmma Holly JonesRomance, Drama, Comedy
2022August 12, 2022Ainbo: Spirit of the AmazonRichard Claus, José ZeladaAnimated, Kids & Family
2022September 23, 2022Eternal SpringJason LoftusDocumentary, Animated
2022October 14, 2022DrinkwaterStephen CampanelliComedy
2022October 21, 2022Drop the NeedleRob FreemanDocumentary, Music
2022November 4, 2022The Swearing JarLindsay MacKayDrama, Romance, Musical
2022December 2, 2022The InspectionElegance BrattonDrama
2024TBAThe InvisiblesAndrew CurrieScience fiction