Released on December 5, 2022
The Government of Saskatchewan is excited to announce the filming of a major television production has wrapped in Regina this past week. The project is one of many experiencing the benefits from the recent increases to the Creative Saskatchewan Feature Film and Television Production Grant Program.
Our Big Punjabi Family is a female led, South Asian comedy series exploring four generations of Indo-Canadian family life. This series is the second major production announced this year, after the Government of Saskatchewan increased funding to Creative Saskatchewan's Feature Film and Television Production Grant Program by an additional $15.5 million, for a total of $17.5 million in 2022-23.
"This is an exciting time for our province and I know it is just the beginning," Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Laura Ross said. "After the initial $10 Million of funding was utilized after only a few short months leading to an additional investment of $7.5 million, we know there is a clear demand for everything Saskatchewan has to offer."
The series will be delivered in English and Punjabi, and follows a large, multi-generational Punjabi family forced to live together under one roof. The series features writing by South Asian showrunner Leena Manro, and female directing crew including award winning director, Agam Darshi.
Anand Ramayya and Kelly Balon of Karma Film Inc are the producers on the project, and they have become well-known in the Saskatchewan film scene. Our Big Punjabi Family marks their third production working in Saskatchewan, following the award-winning comedy Donkeyhead, and upcoming project King of Killers: the series.
"The adaptations we've made to our Feature Film and Television Production Grant Program, paired with the significant increased investment by the government, have seriously raised the profile of Saskatchewan's film and television production industry," Creative Saskatchewan CEO Erin Dean said. "We're thrilled to see the volume of exceptional applications and their impressive revenue projections for the province. You can expect even more good news in the coming months."
Our Big Punjabi Family will receive $746,818 from Creative Saskatchewan to support local expenditures on Saskatchewan labour, goods and services. It is estimated that the total economic output of this project will be $3.5 million, as the project now moves to over 100 days of post-production work in Regina.
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For more information, contact:
Sarah Pilon
Parks, Culture and Sport
Regina
Email: sarah.pilon@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-533-4139
Megan Jane
Creative Saskatchewan
Regina
Phone: 306-798-2191
Email: megan.jane@creativesask.ca