Justin Trudeau and his one-time political adviser Katie Telford are in town at the Toronto International Film Festival for a new project, and this one has nothing to do with Parliament Hill.
The ex-prime minister and his former chief of staff are announcing the launch of Hope & Hard Work, which is described as a Toronto-based media and entertainment company set to develop film, television, audio and live entertainment projects.
One of its first projects has a particularly Toronto connection.
Detective Aunty, based on the bestselling novel by Toronto author Uzma Jalaluddin, tells the story of Kausar Khan, a widowed South Asian mother who returns to Toronto after her daughter is accused of murder. Convinced her daughter is innocent, Kausar uses her sharp observational skills and ability to get people talking to investigate the case.
The series is being produced by Neshama Entertainment and producer Todd Berger, with Trudeau and Telford signing on as executive producers.
Although the TIFF launch is key, Hope & Hard Work is positioning itself as more than a celebrity-led production company. A press release describes the company mandate as investing in creators and stories that can bring “more hope, humanity and possibility” into the world.
“At a time when the world can feel increasingly divided, we believe in the power of great storytelling to bring people closer. In building Hope & Hard Work we are finding stories that evoke empathy and understanding that can reach audiences in transformative ways; stories that transcend our own beliefs, and help us see the world through someone else’s eyes, and remind us of what we share. The projects we are working on reflect this ambition and we are excited to bring these stories to the screen,” read a statement from co-founders Trudeau and Telford. “As a Canadian company, we have an opportunity to bring values including kindness, optimism, openness and a belief in one another to everything we make, wherever the story comes from and wherever it ultimately finds its audience.”
The company explained that it is developing a slate of original and adapted projects, with a particular focus on scripted series and feature films, alongside documentaries and docuseries.
Among the projects already in development is Closer by Sea, based on the bestselling novel by Newfoundland writer and producer Perry Chafe, known for Republic of Doyle and Son of a Critch.
There is also Le Collège, an original series written by Jessie Gabe and Shebli Zarghami, writers associated with North of North, Workin’ Moms, Mr. D and Kim’s Convenience.
Another project, Power Moves, is a romantic comedy set in the worlds of politics and media. It follows a political adviser trying to get her boss re-elected whose plans are complicated by a journalist determined to expose the campaign.
And Backchannels, based on Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks’ book The Right Hand: Conversations with the Chiefs of Staff to the World’s Most Powerful People, will explore the behind-the-scenes world of political chiefs of staff.
The company is also partnering with Earth Tones, the media company founded by Aliya Jasmine and Aliza Sovani. Jasmine and Sovani will lead Hope & Hard Work’s unscripted division, with projects including the documentaries and docuseries Take a Hike! and North Country.
Trudeau left office earlier this year after serving as prime minister from 2015 until 2025.