Paradise Lost, Bleep Me! win Content Canada Copro Pitch competition
L-R: Jim Donovan, Randy Duniz and Byron A Martin
CONTENT CANADA: Paradise Lost, a scripted drama series from Undertow Entertainment and Byron A Martin Productions, and Bleep Me!, an unscripted format from Moving Visions Productions, are the winners of the Content Canada Copro Pitch 2025.
Paradise Lost tells the story of Nomakhaya ‘Khaya’ Sisulu, a highly skilled field logistician for a crisis-response project in a flood-devastated region of Togo, who is called upon to use every bit of resourcefulness, ingenuity and problem-solving ability she has to help save lives and keep her team safe.
The project comes from Jim Donovan (director, producer), Byron A Martin (producer) and Randy Duniz (creator, scriptwriter).
Bleep Me!, meanwhile, is a lighthearted yet informative travel docuseries exploring profanity and its origins around the world. The project comes from Nikila Cole (writer, director, producer) and Maciej Pawełczyk (producer), with Moving Visions Productions partnering with Poland’s Inborn Media.
Six finalists were selected to present at C21’s Content Canada on Wednesday from a field of nearly 100 submissions, with two winners (one scripted, one unscripted) being chosen. A full list of the projects pitched can be found here.
The pitches were judged by Adam Steinman (executive VP, global formats and acquisitions, Blink49 Studio), Lynne Carter (director, original programming, Corus Entertainment), Peter Hill (executive director, TV distribution, Sony Pictures Entertainment Canada), Beth Iley (VP of international series development and executive producer, Lark Productions) and Rachel Goldstein-Couto (head of development, original programming, Bell Media). The pitch contest was hosted by Osmosis Global president Eli Shibley.
Of Paradise Lost, the panel of judges said: “Paradise Lost has clear potential for international success with its format, story and characters strategically bridging Canadian and countless international locales. The varied nature of the episodic casework and the lightly serialised character stories speak to the series’ playability on both linear and non-linear platforms worldwide. Kayah’s flawed backstory provides a unique lens through which to explore topical and emotionally resonant stories that travel.”
The panel added that Donovan and Duniz’s “thoughtful research and development gives us confidence in their ability to sell this series.”
The judging panel called Bleep Me! a “project that has a broad opportunity to represent locality for coproduction partners while being global in theme – after all, profanity is universal and adds colour to culture.
“The use of comedians maintains levity and accessibility while educating the audience on the deeper histories behind the profane. This is a fun take on a travel series that allows us to see ourselves wherever we go. We are confident that Nikki has the vision and experience to deliver this multi-episode factual format. Fuck yeah!”
Each of the winning teams receive a prize of US$15,000 worth of marketing across C21Media’s digital, print and event products to support development and pre-sales promotion of their show.
