Cornerstone Films is selling Hot Curlers at TIFF after the project secured financing and distribution deals; the true-story comedy will film in New Zealand and Calgary in early 2027.
Hot Curlers is a sports comedy based on a true story about four young New Zealand curlers who train in Canada and end up living in a retirement home when funds run out.
The film stars June Squibb and Linda Hamilton, will shoot in New Zealand and Calgary in early 2027, and is being sold by Cornerstone Films at TIFF.
Hot Curlers is a sports comedy project now in pre-production that will shoot in New Zealand and Calgary in early 2027. Cornerstone Films is handling sales at TIFF: The Market after the project secured production and distribution attachments.
David White wrote the script with Anna Taylor and is the creative lead attached to the project. The cast includes June Squibb and Linda Hamilton in principal roles, with Jayne Eastwood, Caroline Aaron and George Ferrier listed as co-stars.
The film is produced by Kelly Martin for South Pacific Pictures and David White, in partnership with Calgary-based SEVEN24 Films. The New Zealand Film Commission is backing the project, providing public-sector support that helps anchor the New Zealand shoot.
Cornerstone Films has boarded Hot Curlers for sales at TIFF. Madman Entertainment has secured rights for Australia and New Zealand. Mongrel Media will distribute the film in Canada. Cornerstone co-presidents Alison Thompson and Mark Gooder commented on the project's tone and appeal at the time of the sales announcement.
Principal photography is scheduled for New Zealand and Calgary in early 2027. The dual-location plan aligns with the story's New Zealand origins and its Canadian training storyline.
The project mixes sports comedy with a true-life setup that leans on cultural and geographical contrasts between a small New Zealand village and Canadian curling culture. The casting of veteran actors such as June Squibb and Linda Hamilton signals a cast-driven approach with potential cross-market appeal. The combination of local public funding, regional distributors, and an established international sales agent positions the film to reach several key English-language markets.
Hot Curlers is a character-driven sports comedy with a clear production plan and early market positioning. It combines an unusual true story with recognizable leads and regional production partners, and is currently being offered to buyers at TIFF ahead of a planned shoot in New Zealand and Calgary in early 2027.
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