Heather K. Dahlstrom
- Producer
- Production Department
- Creative Consultant
Heather was born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario and is the owner of The XY Company. A grad of the Confederation College Film Production program ('99), her films have played worldwide at festivals - including Sundance ('09), the Toronto International Film Festival ('10, '13) & the Cannes* Short Corner ('11) (*Out of competition).
Heather is alumni of the Canadian Film Centre ('10 - Short Dramatic Film Program). Most people apply to the CFC: Heather was invited to produce for the program, and paid no fees to do so.
(2011) She was nominated for Ontario's Premier Award for being an Outstanding College Graduate, in the category of Creative Arts & Design.
(2012) On July 7, 2012, Heather survived being pinned between two cars on the set of the BravoFACT short film, 'The Golden Ticket', in Mississauga, Ontario. Heather is provincially and federally registered as disabled in Canada.
September 2012 - Heather was selected for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Talent Lab, with Artistic governors Stephen Woolley, Jennifer Baichwal, Scott McGehee and David Siegel, and many special guests including Ed Burns, Jason Reitman and James Schamus.
Peter Stebbings heavily recommended to TIFF staff that Heather be selected for that years Talent Lab, as he was impressed with Heather's directing skills as a Producer. "You actually know what you want, I have worked with many who do not" is what he told her, after seeing her work on 'Empire of Dirt' as a co-Producer, which prepped September 2011 to September 2012, and filmed in Fall 2012.
(2013) Heather co-produced and help supervise post production on the feature film 'Empire of Dirt' (RedCloud Studios/Mongrel Media, Director: Peter Stebbings - TIFF 2013 World Premiere). She also produced the comedy web-series, Microwave Porn for Cancelproof & YouTube (2 million+ hits). She relocated to Sudbury, Ontario to continue to work in the Northern Ontario film industry.
(2014) 'Empire of Dirt' received 5 Canadian Screen Award nominations, including Best Motion Picture, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Original Screenplay & Best Picture Editing. 'The Golden Ticket' won Best Short at the Canadian Film Festival, and Best Short at the Director's Guild of Canada Awards. 'The Golden Ticket' was additionally nominated for Best Comedy at the Golden Sheaf Awards, and Best Short Film at the Canadian Comedy Awards. Heather worked full time as the Film Outreach Officer at CION, providing film liaison and consulting services to emerging and established filmmakers working in the Northern Ontario area.
(2017-present) After witnessing years of industry abuse, including rampant provincial/federal tax credit fraud, and being stalked by a local Sudbury filmmaker in her office, Heather left her position at CION and returned to freelance work.
Heather is the Lead PR for The Whisper Network Canada, a position born from the AfterMeToo conference (December 2017, Toronto) and consults for change in the Canadian Film, TV & Digital Media Industry.
In addition to producing and mentoring, Heather is an accomplished visual artist and photographer, and is well known for her extensive garden and epic cooking. She also sings a mean GNR cover, in the tune of Axl Rose. She spends a lot of time with other Buddhist Filmmakers.
Heather is alumni of the Canadian Film Centre ('10 - Short Dramatic Film Program). Most people apply to the CFC: Heather was invited to produce for the program, and paid no fees to do so.
(2011) She was nominated for Ontario's Premier Award for being an Outstanding College Graduate, in the category of Creative Arts & Design.
(2012) On July 7, 2012, Heather survived being pinned between two cars on the set of the BravoFACT short film, 'The Golden Ticket', in Mississauga, Ontario. Heather is provincially and federally registered as disabled in Canada.
September 2012 - Heather was selected for the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Talent Lab, with Artistic governors Stephen Woolley, Jennifer Baichwal, Scott McGehee and David Siegel, and many special guests including Ed Burns, Jason Reitman and James Schamus.
Peter Stebbings heavily recommended to TIFF staff that Heather be selected for that years Talent Lab, as he was impressed with Heather's directing skills as a Producer. "You actually know what you want, I have worked with many who do not" is what he told her, after seeing her work on 'Empire of Dirt' as a co-Producer, which prepped September 2011 to September 2012, and filmed in Fall 2012.
(2013) Heather co-produced and help supervise post production on the feature film 'Empire of Dirt' (RedCloud Studios/Mongrel Media, Director: Peter Stebbings - TIFF 2013 World Premiere). She also produced the comedy web-series, Microwave Porn for Cancelproof & YouTube (2 million+ hits). She relocated to Sudbury, Ontario to continue to work in the Northern Ontario film industry.
(2014) 'Empire of Dirt' received 5 Canadian Screen Award nominations, including Best Motion Picture, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Original Screenplay & Best Picture Editing. 'The Golden Ticket' won Best Short at the Canadian Film Festival, and Best Short at the Director's Guild of Canada Awards. 'The Golden Ticket' was additionally nominated for Best Comedy at the Golden Sheaf Awards, and Best Short Film at the Canadian Comedy Awards. Heather worked full time as the Film Outreach Officer at CION, providing film liaison and consulting services to emerging and established filmmakers working in the Northern Ontario area.
(2017-present) After witnessing years of industry abuse, including rampant provincial/federal tax credit fraud, and being stalked by a local Sudbury filmmaker in her office, Heather left her position at CION and returned to freelance work.
Heather is the Lead PR for The Whisper Network Canada, a position born from the AfterMeToo conference (December 2017, Toronto) and consults for change in the Canadian Film, TV & Digital Media Industry.
In addition to producing and mentoring, Heather is an accomplished visual artist and photographer, and is well known for her extensive garden and epic cooking. She also sings a mean GNR cover, in the tune of Axl Rose. She spends a lot of time with other Buddhist Filmmakers.
