Producer Michael Tanko Grand’s (he/him) most recent work includes 3 feature documentaries: SATAN WANTS YOU which is had its World Premiere at SXSW 2023 and its Canadian Premiere at Hot Docs 2023, and is now airing on TUBI in the US & CBC in Canada; I’M JUST HERE FOR THE RIOT, an ESPN 30 for 30, which had its World Premiere at Hot Docs 2023, did a festival run including VIFF and Big Sky, and is slated to broadcast internationally summer 2024; THE GRIZZLIE TRUTH, which won the Audience Award at its World Premiere at VIFF 2022, Best Documentary and the Audience Award at Reel Asian 2022, and is a CRAVE Original. Michael is also known for the 2018 short documentary FINDING BIG COUNTRY (Telus, ESPN, ABC, Sportsnet), consulting on 2019’s impactful breakthrough mini-series SURVIVING R KELLY (Lifetime Network, Netflix), and 10-part documentary series ABANDONED (VICE).
Michael has also produced comedy video content for CBC GEM, the New York Times, and award-winning podcasts such as Hindsight for Al Jazeera, and This Sounds Serious, which won the Rockie award for best podcast, and made the New Yorker’s 2020 top-ten podcast list.
From concept development to team building to pitch, Producer Michael Tanko Grand will go through the steps of development, pitching and putting yourself in the best position to fund documentary projects. Crowd participation will be incorporated where possible within the flow of the presentation, come ready with real examples and questions. Michael will draw on the experience of funding feature documentaries such as The Grizzlie Truth, I’m Just Here For The Riot, Satan Wants You and a documentary currently in production called Saints And Warriors.
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