Skip to main content

A Bit About Us

An independent production company experienced in both feature film and television production, Buffalo Gal Pictures was founded in 1994 under the direction of President and Producer Phyllis Laing. In the three decades since, the company has generated a diverse slate of projects by forging collaborative relationships with creative talent and building successful co-production partnerships domestically and internationally. 

In the first three years following its inception, Buffalo Gal Pictures produced over 200 hours of television for WTN, while at the same time developing a slate of drama projects, often based on strong female stories. The company was driven to create world-class projects, and in 1998 took home the highly prestigious Banff Rockie Award as well as the top Canadian film award for its documentary on a favourite Manitoba author, Gabrielle Roy. By 1999, the company was producing an average of 3 movies a year, and by 2002 Buffalo Gal was contributing approximately $15 million in highly skilled technical and creative jobs in the television and film sector. In 2004, Buffalo Gal Pictures had not one but two feature films in the highly coveted Sundance Film Festival. A further growth strategy was created in 2004, which led Buffalo Gal to international partnerships with Iceland, Germany, the UK, South Africa, and Australia. As a result, the company has become a sought-after partner for both national and international projects. 

In the subsequent years and with the aid of experienced local crews, diverse location options and the attractive Manitoba film and television production tax credit, the company has established itself as a significant content developer for film (Through Black Spruce, The Stone Angel) and television (Less Than Kind, Sunnyside, The Pinkertons), and service partner (Heaven is For Real, Haunting in Connecticut, Siberia, JT LeRoy and the Sean Penn-directed Flag Day). In 2010, Buffalo Gal partnered with Tina Keeper to create Kistikan Pictures with the intention of collaborating on the development and production of Indigenous films and television; and in 2016 launched Insidious Pictures, with a focus on developing and producing genre films with local and international talent. 2016 also saw Buffalo Gal Pictures receiving a record 24 Canadian Screen Award nominations for its work on projects such as the television sketch comedy Sunnyside and the feature film Hyena Road.

Buffalo Gal Pictures' most recent projects include CTV's The Spencer Sisters (2023) and the feature Elevator Game (2023), as well as the TV series Acting Good (2022) produced by Kistikan Pictures Inc. 

Buffalo Gal Pictures

PHYLLIS LAING

PRESIDENT / EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

With a keen sense of business acumen and creative vision, Phyllis Laing has Produced or Executive Produced feature films, animated features, series and limited series and partnered with producers across Canada, the US and internationally since 1992.

The list of credits to her name is as impressive as it is extensive. Joining forces with a variety of producing partners, Phyllis has ensured that Manitoba has been at the forefront of quality Canadian production for over three decades. In 2016 Phyllis joined partners Ken Zorniak and Jeff Bell to form Tangent Animation, producing the Spanish/Canadian feature animation OZZY, and the highly acclaimed animated feature film NEXT GEN, followed by the limited series MAYA AND THE THREE, winning the Annie Award for Best Animation, among others. Phyllis was the producer of Guy Maddin’s iconic MY WINNIPEG and Executive Produced Sean Penn’s FLAG DAY, as well as CTV series THE SPENCER SISTERS. Most recently she Executive Produced RUMOURS, directed by Guy Maddin, Galen Johnson, and Evan Johnson, starring Cate Blanchett.

Phyllis’s vision of inclusivity in film and television extends to her partnership with Tina Keeper, forming Kistikan Pictures, an Indigenous production entity. Among their credits, they produced the feature film THROUGH BLACK SPRUCE and five seasons of the #1 CTV Comedy series ACTING GOOD.

Read More + Read Less -

Liz Jarvis

Senior Vice President

Liz Jarvis has worked in the film industry for over 30 years. She joined Buffalo Gal Pictures in 1995 and has contributed to the company as a producer, business affairs executive, post-production supervisor, and assistant director. 

Most recently, Liz served as Production Executive for Sean Penn’s feature FLAG DAY, which premiered in Competition, Festival de Cannes 2021. She was Supervising Producer for the Guy Maddin and Evan Johnson feature THE FORBIDDEN ROOM (Sundance and the Berlinale, 2015) and co-produced the Mexico/Canada/US film YOU’RE KILLING ME, SUSANA and Canadian interprovincial co-productions BOREALIS, MAD SHIP, THE YEAR DOLLY PARTON WAS MY MOM, and HIGH LIFE.

A co-producer on the US-Canada-Kuwait co-production AMREEKA (Sundance and Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes, where it won the FIPRESCI Critics Prize), she also collaborated with writer-director Kari Skogland on THE STONE ANGEL, starring Ellen Burstyn.

Liz also teaches Producing for Film at the University of Winnipeg.

Read More + Read Less -

Bob Neufeld

Senior Production Executive

Bob embarked on his journey in the Canadian Film and Television industry in 1997. Joining Gemini winning John Aaron Productions, Bob gained valuable experience working in all facets of filmmaking. During his time at John Aaron he worked on a trio of films with Academy Award winning (GODS & MONSTERS) production company Regent Entertainment.

In 2001 Bob joined Lester Beach Entertainment. As VP of Finance, he produced films starring Chevy Chase, David Hasselhoff and Gerald McRaney. On the television side Lester’s slate of projects with CMT led to multiple AMPIA awards.

Following his tenure at Lester Beach Entertainment, Bob joined international documentary producer CLG Communications as Director of Finance and Business Affairs. During his time at CLG, Bob produced 14 documentaries including projects shot in India, Egypt, Ethiopia, Brazil, Germany, Jamaica, Columbia and Iran. He also produced a gospel series for Vison TV called GOSPEL TO GO.

Since joining BGP as a senior production executive in 2016, Bob has been providing budgeting, cashflow, tax credit administration, and business affairs support as well as overseeing BGP distribution reporting.

Read More + Read Less -

Kerri Bebak

Financial Controller

Kerri Bebak is a CPA, CMA with extensive experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis. After spending 24 years working for a leading yearbook manufacturer, Kerri transitioned into the film industry, joining Buffalo Gal Pictures as their Corporate Accountant in December 2019. The shift to virtual during the pandemic offered Kerri the opportunity to research and learn more about the Development, Production and Post Production phases that contribute to the accounting processes. She was named Financial Controller in 2021.

Since joining, Kerri has continued managing the corporate accounting for both Buffalo Gal and Kistikan Pictures. Her work also now includes all projects in Development, Pre-Production and Post Production; including works such as Séance, Flag Day, Unspoken, Elevator Game, Spencer Sisters, Acting Good S1 – S4, and Rumours, as well as Production Accounting for the upcoming feature Ancestral Beasts.

Read More + Read Less -

Jessee Havey

Development & Production Associate

Jessee made the leap from music to film by way of the Canadian Media Producers Association’s Production Mentorship program in 2021. 

Spanning over 20 years, her music career should not go without mention. After graduating high school, she co-founded GRAMMY and JUNO Award-winning folk band The Duhks, touring internationally and recording three albums. Her vocals and stage presence enchanted many and, despite taking a break from touring and performing with the band in 2007, she continued to lend her talents to Manitoba Theatre for Young People, working as the Theatre School Administrator in both the mainstream division and Aboriginal Arts Training and Mentorship Program. It was there that Havey inspired a new generation teaching musical theatre, assistant directing and stage managing student productions, as well as performing in main stage and touring productions including THE CAT CAME BACK co-starring Fred Penner and Jay Brazeau in 2011-2012.

She rejoined The Duhks in 2011, recording another album and touring for another five years until the band stopped touring in 2015. From there, she spent the next few years at the West End Cultural Centre as the Community Outreach Coordinator, planning and coordinating classes and workshops for the community and producing concerts and an annual street festival before leaving in 2019. Through her work at the WECC, Havey helped establish We Rock Winnipeg (formerly Girls Rock Winnipeg) - an empowerment through music program for female, trans, two-spirit, and gender expansive youth and adults. In addition to her work with WRW, her current musical endeavours include folk duet Nation of Two, Jessee Havey and the Banana Band who play music for children, and the occasional Duhks show.

She brings a number of transferable skills that lend themselves well to the BGP brand of diversity and inclusion, supporting the Producers on everything from evaluation of scripts, development, and pre-production on a number of projects going to camera in the coming months. 

Read More + Read Less -

Brandice Vivier

Manager, Business Affairs

As Manager of Business Affairs, Brandice brings more than three decades of leadership and expertise to the screen-based industry. Her career spans key roles across broadcasters, production companies, training institutions, and funding agencies, where she contributed to numerous acclaimed and award-winning projects for Amazon, Netflix, Bell Media, Shaw, CBC, HBO Canada, Nickelodeon, and Rogers. A lifelong Winnipegger Brandice is deeply committed to strengthening Manitoba’s position within the national and international creative landscape. She is a champion for talent development and industry growth, actively investing her time in initiatives that foster professional advancement and community impact. Brandice oversees a national mentorship program through the Yorkton Film Festival and recently served as Co-Chair of the On Screen Manitoba Board of Directors. She has also contributed her governance experience to several other not-for-profit organizations throughout her career. Outside of her executive work, Brandice enjoys reading, puzzles, great television, and spending time outdoors—most often cheering on her family at ultimate frisbee matches.

Read More + Read Less -

Kistikan Pictures

Website Coming Soon

To collaborate in the development and production of Indigenous content for film and television, Tina Keeper partnered with Buffalo Gal pictures in 2010 to create Kistikan Pictures Inc. 

Tina Keeper is an award-winning actor, television host, former MP, and creative producer. She is best known for her work on the hit television series 'North of 60', and for serving as a Member of Parliament for the federal riding of Churchill.  

Producing credits include feature films Through Black Spruce, and Road of Iniquity, Sky Stories 360-3D VR, Going Home Star Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Cashing In: S3-4 TV Series/APTN, and The REDress REdress Project (writer, director) short documentary. 

Read More + Read Less -