Kingston’s creative sector reached a historic milestone this year with the release of Masterpiece, the first fully completed and publicly released feature film to come out of the city. Written and directed by Kingston-born filmmaker Evan Bard and produced by Melissa Eapen, the independent comedy has already garnered festival acclaim and is now embarking on a self-produced theatrical run, with screenings in Toronto and Kingston this September.
For Bard, the journey from idea to feature film has been one of discovery.
Early on, it was about realizing how much talent was right here in Kingston,” he says. “So many people were within reach, from actors to crew, and that support made this film possible.
At its core, Masterpiece is a sharp and witty modern comedy. The story follows Margo, a young artist who must end the passionate affair she has been having if she hopes to preserve her wedding plans. When her lover refuses to let go and crashes her engagement dinner, his arrival sets off a chain of events that reveal long-buried secrets the guests have been hiding.
Anchored by Shoresy’s Michala Brasseur, the film balances drama and comedy, offering audiences biting humour alongside an honest portrayal of the tensions between dedication and responsibility, art and life, and the search for identity and purpose.
“I wanted to make a film that tackled serious themes with a light touch, in the tradition of screwball comedies from the 1940s,” Bard says. “Comedy can be a way of handling dark realities, and I think today’s audiences are especially attuned to that.”
Kingston’s first completed feature
While Kingston has hosted major productions and countless indie shoots, many projects stall in post-production and never see completion.
“For me, it’s incredible that this film is the first one fully completed and released from Kingston,” said producer Melissa Eapen. “I’ve worked on movies that shot here years ago and still aren’t finished. Masterpiece is proof of what Kingston crews can accomplish when given the chance.”
Behind the scenes: creativity on a shoestring
Shot in just 10 days, Masterpiece relied on ingenuity and collaboration. Despite being a “zero-budget feature” by industry standards, the film looks far more polished than many higher-budget productions.
One standout example came during a wedding scene filmed at St. George’s Cathedral with 60 extras. “That day was a magic act,” Bard recalls. “It looked like a million-dollar production — from the costumes and set design to the performances. It was a testament to what a dedicated team can pull off together.”
Made in Kingston, by Kingston
“This was a true labour of love,” Eapen says. “A lot of us had worked together before, so there was already trust and comfort on set. That made it possible to complete a feature on such a tight timeline.”
Kingston as a creative hub
Both Bard and Eapen see Masterpiece not just as a film, but as a signal of Kingston’s potential as an incubation hub for the creative industries.
“The fact that this movie exists is thanks to Kingston. Its people, its film office, and its appetite for creative work,” Bard says. “Other cities might have swept a project like this under the rug, but here, we had the means and support to bring it to life.”
Eapen adds, “We have so much transferable talent here, people with skills in music, arts, gaming, theatre–and it can all flow into film. This movie is just one example of how that creativity comes together.”
What’s next
Masterpiece began its independent theatrical run with a September 6 Toronto screening. The showing is on September 19 at Kingston’s The Screening Room, followed by a Q&A with Bard and members of the cast.
Get your tickets online: September 19
Looking ahead, Bard is already at work on two new features: Demons, a gothic thriller, and Desire, a modern take on the romantic comedy. Both, he says, are rooted in Kingston’s atmosphere and aesthetic.
“I’d love to keep filming here,” Bard said. “Kingston has a gothic quality and an untapped potential for different genres. Even when I picture scenes in other cities, I always imagine Kingston as the real thing.”
A growing creative landscape
As Kingston celebrates Masterpiece, it’s clear this milestone is bigger than one film. From music to gaming, fine arts to film, Kingston is proving itself as a place where ambitious projects can take root and where creativity has room to grow.
