Afterlight Films was founded in 2005 by Canadian writer, producer and director, Michael Penney. In 2023, we incorporated his near 20-year legacy of cinematic storytelling into Afterlight Films Ltd. A battle-tested brand forged on the front lines of helping marginalized communities find their voice and the support to be heard.
Our documentary work has raised awareness for at-risk youth, early infant loss, homeless shelters and over $285,000 for the Daily Bread Food Bank. In 2009, The Last Gold Rush helped Afro-Colombians retain land rights in the Chocó by convincing the United Nations to implement the world’s first Fairtrade standard for ethical mining.
Our narrative work has screened internationally, bridging genres of drama, comedy, and thriller. Our Bravo-funded short Yeah Rite (2012) won a Peoples’ Choice Award and our viral hit Game Night (2018) topped 6000 views within 2 weeks of its online release.
Over the years, we have donated services to a number of charities. Then in 2022, we launched Legacy on Film to document the lives and legacies of extraordinary individuals, local businesses, and communities.
OUR SERVICES
We offer a variety of services for all stages of film production; including writing and development, producing, directing, cinematography, editing and other post-production services. To learn more about our work and services, please get in touch.
OUR FOUNDER’S LEGACY
Raising a son alone through critical health challenges taught Michael that politics of age, race, gender, and belief do not determine the relevance or relatability of our stories and need for support.
“The health of our garden is not determined by the privilege of its seed and soil, or the curation of visible varieties to represent ideal forms of beauty; it’s measured by its capacity to sustain new growth and equitable access to its resources. Strength of character blooms in the shadows; an artist’s worth cannot be seen from the garden’s edge, and the value of our stories is not defined by our differences, but by our ability to remind any audience of our common ground below the surface of the plot… to see our potential to not only endure our world but change it together.”
We are presently developing our first narrative feature film and looking to collaborate with other Canadian and international filmmakers. Contact us if you are interested in knowing more.
