About

Alona Metzer

Alona Metzer is a two-time CMPA Indiescreen Emerging Producer Award nominee for Backspot, set to have its International Premiere at SXSW ’24, and had its World Premiere at TIFF ’23, as well as Learn to Swim, which had its World Premiere at TIFF ‘21.

A graduate of the Canadian Film Centre’s Producers’ Lab, as well as TIFF’s Talent Accelerator for Producers, Alona is passionate about creating work that sits at the crossroads of art and entertainment.

Alona produced D.W. Waterson’s feature debut Backspot alongside producer Martin Katz and Executive Producer Elliot Page. The film stars Devery Jacobs, Evan Rachel Wood, Wendy Crewson and Shannyn Sossamon. It follows Riley (Jacobs), a driven cheerleader struggling to handle the pressure of an elite cheer squad.

Alona’s debut feature, Learn to Swim (dir. Thyrone Tommy), was selected by TIFF as one of Canada’s Top Ten. It was nominated for two Canadian Screen Awards and won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Original Song “And Then We Don’t” written by TiKA and Casey Manierka-Quaile. Learn to Swim was produced in participation with CBC Films, released domestically by Mongrel Media, and internationally by Ava DuVernay’s ARRAY, and Netflix.

Previous films include Volcano (dir. Karen Kicak; TIFF ’19, Palm Springs Shortest ‘20) I Came Here Alone (dir. Connor Gaston; Palm Springs Shortest ’19), and Mariner (dir. Thyrone Tommy; Vimeo Staff Pick, TIFF ’16, TIFF Canada’s Top Ten ’16, Telefilm Not Short on Talent - Cannes).