Justin Trudeau and Katie Telford Launch New Production Company at TIFF

The company’s name revives “Hope & Hard Work,” a slogan associated with Trudeau and the Liberal Party’s 2015 federal election campaign.
The launch is scheduled for Sept. 11 at an evening event in the TIFF Lightbox building in downtown Toronto.
Trudeau and Telford said the company would bring “kindness, optimism, openness and a belief in one another” to its productions, regardless of where the stories originate or where they find audiences.
The venture had reportedly been anticipated since Trudeau left politics in early March 2025, while Telford had served as his chief of staff throughout his decade-long tenure as prime minister.
Hope & Hard Work follows a broader trend of prominent political and public figures forming production companies, with the articles comparing it to Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground and Prince Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Productions.
Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his longtime chief of staff Katie Telford are launching Hope & Hard Work, a production company focused on film, television, audio and live experiences. CP24 The venture officially debuts September 11 at the Toronto International Film Festival, aiming to develop stories that emphasize empathy, optimism and Canadian perspectives for global audiences.
The company's name revives "Hope & Hard Work," a slogan tied to Trudeau and the Liberal Party's 2015 federal election campaign. Exclaim The launch follows Trudeau's departure from politics in March 2025 and continues a trend of prominent public figures starting media companies — similar to Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground and Prince Harry and Meghan's Archewell Productions.
Trudeau served as Canadian prime minister for a decade. Telford was his chief of staff throughout his tenure. Streets of Toronto The pair said their company would bring "kindness, optimism, openness and a belief in one another" to every production, no matter where stories come from or where audiences discover them.
The production company represents a major career shift for both. Trudeau departed federal politics in early March 2025 after facing internal pressure within his party. Telford now moves from advising a prime minister to developing entertainment that reaches international viewers.
Hope & Hard Work has multiple projects underway. The company is adapting Perry Chafe's novel *Closer by Sea* and Uzma Jalaluddin's *Detective Aunty* for screens. CP24 Trudeau and Telford will serve as executive producers on the latter project, bringing their creative vision directly to the work.
The company also partnered with Earth Tones on unscripted programming, including documentaries and docuseries. This multi-platform approach spans original scripted series, feature films, audio content and live experiences — positioning Hope & Hard Work as a full-service entertainment studio rather than a niche producer.
The September 11 launch event takes place at the TIFF Lightbox building in downtown Toronto — the heart of Canada's film festival. CTV News Timing the debut at TIFF places Hope & Hard Work before industry insiders, international buyers and media decision-makers attending North America's largest public film festival.
This platform gives the production company immediate credibility and access to global entertainment networks. The launch positions Hope & Hard Work alongside established players in the Canadian and international media landscape, signaling serious ambitions to develop content that competes on a world stage.
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