The inaugural Split Screens Festival began on Friday June 2 and wrapped on Thursday June 8 with jam-packed programming ranging from fan-favourites Mr. Robot and Orphan Black to more indie darlings such as The Girlfriend Experience and Brockmire.

Program director and seasoned film/television critic Matt Zoeller Seitz spoke to us leading up to the festival's premiere and shared that the preparation for a new festival involved playing to their strengths by focusing more on talent and programming based in the New York area. Seitz also took care to keep the fans in mind when selecting shows to highlight, being aware of the power of fandoms such as Orphan Black's Clone Club and Hannibal's Fannibals.

"This is a festival for fans."

Listen to our full interview with Matt Zoeller Seitz here:

Rami Malek attended a one-on-one panel in which he answered many questions about the inner mechanisms of playing Elliot Alderson on USA Network's Mr. Robot. Questions from the moderator and audience ranged from the wear-and-tear of playing such dark material, the portrayal of mental illness, and the filming of the show's complex sequences. Watch the panel here:

With the final season about to premiere, the Clone Club turned out in full force from all over the world in order to attend this send-off panel to the beloved sci-fi series. The cast answered questions about the technical aspects of filming the show, reminisced about the journey, and were moved to tears as many fans in the audience shared stories of the show helping them to come to terms with their sexual orientation. Watch the Orphan Black panel here:

Keeping in line with groundbreaking characters and representation, the series Billions held a panel that focused on the character of Taylor, the first major gender non-binary character to appear on television. In attendance were the show's producers as well as actor Asia Kate Dillon, who is also non-binary, to discuss the character's creative origins, their journey on the series thus far, and more. Watch the Billions panel here:

Brockmire stars Hank Azaria and Amanda Peet delivered tremendous laughs, particularly when Azaria unleashed a wealth of impersonations and characters. But they also shared greater insight into their alcoholic characters, thoughts on social media, and what's to come in season 2. Watch the Brockmire panel here:

Following a screening of the show's first season finale, The Girlfriend Experience co-creators/writers/directors Lodge Kerrigan and Amy Seimetz (via Skype call) discussed their creative process as the driving force behind the series, the complexity of the season finale, and shared hints as to how they would be approaching the season season. Watch The Girlfriend Experience panel here:

Following a last-minute cancellation of the Underground panel, a replacement panel was added to the programming. As the original panel was to take place before an already-scheduled Hannibal panel, the Split Screens team were fast-thinking and added another Hannibal panel to lead into it. This one involved a screening of the penultimate episode "The Number of the Beast Is 666" followed by a quick panel with series actor Raúl Esparza, who agreed to come earlier for the audience. Watch his solo panel here:

The final panel of Split Screens was the originally planned Hannibal one that followed a screening of the series finale "The Wrath of the Lamb" to a room full of Fannibals donning flower crowns. Following the screening, Raúl Esparza and a team of creative individuals inspired by Hannibal spoke about how the series inspired them. Bryan Fuller also joined in to speak on the panel via Skype. Watch the full Hannibal panel here:

Despite being a new festival, Split Screens has delivered a high quality of programming and demonstrated a skilled adaptability in their recovery after a last-minute panel cancellation. Program director and moderator Matt Zoeller Seitz was personable with the panelists and engaging with the largely fan-dominant audience. Split Screens has all the makings of becoming a massively popular festival stop for TV-lovers in years to come.

READ MORE

New York, NY – May 7, 2014 – BBC AMERICA announced today the renewal of its award-winning original series “Orphan Black” for a fourth season.  The drama starring Tatiana Maslany has been re-commissioned for a 10 episode order from Temple Street Productions and is slated to air in 2016. Hailed as “utterly original and spellbinding” by The Daily Beast and “a multi-layer cake of performance” by The Los Angeles Times, season three is currently airing and will finale on Saturday, June 20 at 9PM ET.

Sarah Barnett, BBC AMERICA President and General Manager, stated, “’Orphan Black’ is an entirely fresh and original show that stands out even in today’s crowded TV landscape. Tatiana Maslany’s buzzy, virtuoso performance headlines a brilliant cast and we are delighted to let our vocal and passionate fan base know that this wildly entertaining ride will continue next year.”

Co-creators John Fawcett and Graeme Manson said: “We’re thrilled to be moving forward with season four of the Orphan Black saga. Huge thanks to our partners Temple Street Productions, and to BBC AMERICA and Space. We’re extremely excited about where our story lines are going, and look forward to riding the rollercoaster with our amazing fans #CloneClub.”

The series has received considerable critical and award attention. It earned a Peabody Award in 2014 and lead actress Tatiana Maslany has received two Critics’ Choice Awards for Best Actress, a TCA Award for Individual Achievement, a Young Hollywood Award, a Gracie Award, two Canadian Screen Awards and Golden Globe®, SAG and People’s Choice nominations.

The cast includes Tatiana Maslany, Ari Millen, Jordan Gavaris, Dylan Bruce, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Skyler Wexler, Kevin Hanchard, Evelyne Brochu, Kristian Bruun, Ksenia Solo, Michiel Huisman, Josh Vokey, Zoé De Grand Maison, Justin Chatwin and Kyra Harper.

“The growth of ‘Orphan Black’ and the amazing response from audiences over the past three seasons has exceeded our expectations and we’re delighted to be able to continue the journey in season four,” commented David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg, executive producers of “Orphan Black” and Co-Presidents of Temple Street Productions. “We are incredibly proud of our talented cast and crew and grateful for the support from our broadcast partners at BBC AMERICA and Space.”

“Orphan Black” is produced by Temple Street Productions in association with BBC AMERICA and Space. Executive producers are Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier of Temple Street Productions, Graeme Manson and John Fawcett. “Orphan Black” is distributed by BBC Worldwide.

“Orphan Black” Season Three Audience and Social Media Highlights:

• The AMC Networks roadblock of the “Orphan Black” Season 3 premiere garnered the largest ever audience for the show, with 1.9 million viewers. 
  • BBC AMERICA accounted for 60% of the audience with 1.1 million viewers on premiere night.
  • Source:  Nielsen, Live+3, 4/18/15, Orphan Black Ep 301 (BBCA, AMC, IFC, SUND, WEtv), P2+ gross impressions.
    Includes premiere night encore on BBCA.

• With a Median Income of $77K, “Orphan Black” ranks as the 2nd most affluent drama on ad-supported television in the 2014/15 season, behind only AMC’s “Mad Men.”
  • Together, AMC and BBC AMERICA account for the Top 4 most affluent dramas on ad-supported TV this season: “Mad Men,” “Orphan Black,” “Better Call Saul,” and “Doctor Who.”
  • Source:  Nielsen, Live+SD, 2014/15 STD (9/22/14-5/3/15), Broadcast & Ad-Supported Cable: Primetime Original Dramas (excludes repeats), Median Income (P2+).
• “Orphan Black” continues to show tremendous social media engagement, ranking as the #1 basic cable drama on Twitter and Tumblr in its premiere week, and continuing to rank among the Top 10 cable dramas on both platforms each week thereafter.
  • Twitter Source: Nielsen SocialGuide, week of 4/13/15, basic cable program rank based on unique authors.
  • Tumblr Source: ListenFirst Media, week of 4/13/15, basic cable program rank based on engagement (notes & tags).

About BBC AMERICA

BBC AMERICA delivers U.S. audiences high-quality, innovative and intelligent programming. Established in 1998, it has been the launch pad for talent embraced by American mainstream pop culture, including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, Graham Norton, and successful programming formats including ground-breaking non-scripted television like Top Gear and top-rated science-fiction like Doctor Who. A joint venture between BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, and AMC Networks, BBC AMERICA has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards including four Emmy® Awards, five Golden Globes® and 12 Peabody Awards. The channel attracts one of cable’s most affluent and educated audiences and is available on cable and satellite TV in nearly 80 million homes. It broadcasts in both standard and high-definition, with content available On Demand across all major digital platforms. Online, www.BBCAmerica.com is the place to go to dig deeper into pop culture with a British twist. Follow us on www.twitter.com/BBCAMERICA.

About AMC Networks Inc.

Dedicated to producing quality programming and movie content for more than 30 years, AMC Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: AMCX) owns and operates several of the most popular and award-winning brands in cable television. AMC, IFC, SundanceTV, WE tv, and IFC Films produce and deliver distinctive, compelling and culturally relevant content that engages audiences across multiple platforms. The company also operates BBC AMERICA through a joint venture with BBC Worldwide.  In addition, the company operates AMC Networks International, its global division. More information is available at www.amcnetworks.com.

About Temple Street Productions

Temple Street Productions is a leading producer of television, film and digital media content based in Toronto and Los Angeles. A selection of Temple Street’s past and present projects include, Orphan Black (BBC AMERICA, Space), X Company (CBC), Being Erica (CBC, SOAPnet), The Next Step (Family Channel), Wingin’ It (Family Channel), Say Yes to the Dress Canada (W), Million Dollar Critic (W, BBC America), Cook’d (YTV), Over the Rainbow (CBC), Recipe to Riches (CBC, Food Network, Global), Cover Me Canada (CBC), Billable Hours (Global, Showcase), Canada’s Next Top Model (CTV), How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? (CBC), Queer as Folk (Showtime, Showcase), and Darcy’s Wild Life (NBC, Discovery Kids, Family Channel). For more company information www.templestreetproductions.com twitter @TempleStreet or connect with us on Facebook.

READ MORE

Starring the award-winning Tatiana Maslany in her breakout roles

“We do terrible things for the people we love”

New York – Monday, March 2, 2015 – You can’t choose your family…or can you? BBC AMERICA’s original drama Orphan Black, starring Tatiana Maslany in multiple roles, returns April 18. The groundbreaking series’ second season brought new enemies to light, culminating in a shocking finale which revealed a new line of militaristic male clones, played by Ari Millen. Season three plunges the clone sisterhood, Project Leda, into unexpected territory with the realization that they’re not alone. Orphan Black returns Saturday, April 18, 9:00pm ET on BBC AMERICA.

After neutralizing the threat by the DYAD Institute (the company that monitored them) – Sarah, Helena, Cosima and Alison (Maslany) are finally all united in their journey towards the truth of who and what they are. But new discoveries that include Helena’s kidnapping, a book that could contain the answers to their existence and the most shocking discovery of them all – a set of treacherous male clones with an unknown agenda – will test how tight their new bonds are.

No sooner has Sarah caught her breath after a stealthy escape from DYAD and the ruthless clone Rachel (Maslany), she is called upon to face the crazed, captive Castor clone, Rudy (Millen). But it is the discovery of Helena’s disappearance that spurs Sarah into action, rallying her sisters in the quest to reunite their clone family, and find peace once and for all.

Their greatest threat is a band of highly trained soldiers – identical brothers dubbed Project Castor. Unlike the sisterhood, Mark, Rudy, Seth, Miller and others (Millen) grew up together, fully aware of who and what they are. Developed by the military, this wolf pack was raised as regimented clones – singular in thought, movement and allegiance. Hell-bent on kicking up dirt, they’re dispatched to tackle their mission from all sides. But differences in approach betray cracks in their armor, and may be the very thing the sisters need to escape their clutches.

The sisters will need all the help they can get. With Cosima’s fluctuating health and no known cure for the mystery illness that ails her, she is holding onto life by a thread while nursing a broken heart left by her scientist lover Delphine (Evelyne Brochu).  Can she find a cure in time to save herself and her sisters? As the turbulent world of Alison turns, she faces fresh suburban woes and new marital challenges with lovable oaf of a husband Donnie (Kristian Bruun). How far will Alison go to keep up the façade of her cookie cutter life?  Sarah’s torn between her desire for a life with daughter Kira (Skyler Wexler) and Kira’s father Cal (Michiel Huisman) and the urge to protect her foster family – loyal and feisty brother Felix (Jordan Gavaris) and mother Mrs. S (Maria Doyle Kennedy). But Mrs. S’s betrayal may cause her to turn her back on the only mother she’s known.

The hits keep coming for the girls but their commitment to this new family is as important as ever. No clone can do it alone, and Sarah must align with unlikely bedfellows in order to take on what is yet to come… and hopefully, discover the truth – her truth – along the way. How far are they willing to go to save each other and protect their families?

Co-created by Graeme Manson and John Fawcett, with Manson also serving as writer and Fawcett as director, the Peabody Award-winning drama also stars Dylan Bruce as Paul, an army officer working for secret forces in the clone world, Kevin Hanchard as Art, a detective caught in the clone trap and Zoe De Grand’Maison as Gracie, a Prolethean escapee.  Guest-starring this season will be Justin Chatwin as Jason Kellerman, a neighborhood dealer, James Frain as Ferdinand, a cleaner sent to Dyad and Ksenia Solo as Shay, a new woman in Cosima’s life.

Orphan Black is produced by Temple Street Productions in association with BBC AMERICA and Bell Media’s SPACE. The original drama is executive produced by Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier of Temple Street Productions. The international hit series is distributed by BBC Worldwide and can be seen in more than 170 countries.

The first two seasons of BBC AMERICA’s Orphan Black are on VOD, streaming on Amazon Prime, and available to purchase on digital platforms as well as Blu-ray/DVD.

Twitter: @BBCAmerica @OrphanBlack Hashtags: #OrphanBlack

BBC AMERICA delivers U.S. audiences high-quality, innovative and intelligent programming. Established in 1998, it has been the launch pad for talent embraced by American mainstream pop culture, including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, Graham Norton, and successful programming formats including ground-breaking non-scripted television like Top Gear and top-rated science-fiction like Doctor Who. Owned by BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, BBC AMERICA has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards including four Emmy® Awards, five Golden Globes® and 12 Peabody Awards. The channel attracts one of cable’s most affluent and educated audiences and is available on cable and satellite TV in 80 million homes. It broadcasts in both standard and high-definition, with content available On Demand across all major digital platforms. Online, www.BBCAmerica.com is the place to go to dig deeper into pop culture with a British twist. Follow us on www.twitter.com/BBCAMERICA.

READ MORE