Established in 1986, REAL TO REEL PRODUCTIONS INC. (R2R) is a highly respected, award-winning Canadian independent production company with a reputation for excellence. R2R specializes in documentaries both short and long form, factual series, and docu-dramas.
Regardless of format or whether the subject matter focuses on social issues, history, science, wildlife, or the arts, Real To Reel, helmed by husband and wife team Anne Pick and Bill Spahic, promises diverse and fascinating stories, compelling storytelling, inspiring characters and subjects of international interest.
Their recent German co-production GAMBLING ON EXTINCTION which investigates how poaching has pushed iconic animals like elephants and rhinos to the brink of extinction is currently being broadcast in 24 territories around the world. The film has been invited to over a dozen international festivals, has won 4 major European environmental film awards and was screened in the German parliament in November, prior to a vote on whether or not to ban ivory products, all since it’s launch in the New Year.
The feature documentary, A DIFFERENT DRUMMER: CELEBRATING ECCENTRICS directed by John Zaritsky premiered at the Vancouver Film Festival last fall and was then featured at the Victoria International Film Festival, the Windsor International Film Festival and at Hot Docs, was nominated for best documentary at Yorkton and won the audience award at the Moab Film Festival in Utah.
ANIMISM: PEOPLE WHO LOVE OBJECTS, also a feature documentary, this time directed by R2R partner, Bill Spahic, premiered on Global Television in Canada in the Fall of 2013 and has been sold to several international territories including Australia, the US, Europe, Japan and Israel.
In post production is another feature documentary for CBC’s Documentary Channel again directed by John Zaritsky, called NO LIMITS about the world’s worst drug scandal and the thalidomide survivors still fighting for justice, 50 years after this crippling drug was released internationally. Real to Reel has signed two more co-pro agreements, one with Visionquest in Australia for the feature documentary ITS ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC and THE KINGDOM OF FUNGI with Smith & Nasht also in Australia.
They are actively exploring another co-production with Gambling of Extinction partners A& O Buero in Germany. Real to Reel has produced or co-produced hundreds of hours of programming over the past 25 plus years, and won numerous awards around the world. One of their most popular and enduring title’s, RYAN’S WELL the story of a young boy’s determination to make a difference in the world by building a well in Uganda, was recently updated, as a result of popular demand, and re-released on DVD in both English and Spanish. Previous titles include feature drama-doc IRIS CHANG: THE RAPE OF NANKING which was awarded China’s Golden Panda Award and a Special Jury prize at Guangzhou, and a Columbus Festival Chris Statuette among others and was released theatrically in China. It premiered on the History Television and is presently available on iTunes and Amazon.
Executive Bios: Anne Pick | Bill Spahic