aBOUT US
Heroes and Ghosts is an independent film and television studio based in Toronto, Canada founded in 2016.
From scripted narratives to immersive documentaries, we partner with visionary creators to bring unique, authentic stories to global audiences.
OUR WORK
Heroes & Ghosts specializes in projects within the $2M–$5M budget range. This deliberate focus provides the creative freedom to take narrative risks while maintaining the financial discipline and high production values required to compete globally. By combining agile physical production with a sharp development strategy, we maximize every dollar on screen. Our track record spans a variety of genres and formats. Notable recent projects under the Heroes and Ghosts banner include:
Tales from the Void: A horror anthology television series based on viral internet stories. The series screened at festivals including Fantasia, SXSW Sydney, and the Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, securing distribution with Cineverse (US), Super Channel (Canada), and Paramount+ (France).
Alone Across the Arctic: A wilderness survival documentary following explorer Adam Shoalts' 4,000 km trek. Released theatrically in Canada, it won 18 festival awards, including Best Documentary Feature at the New York International Film Awards, and earned a Best Cinematography nomination at the Canadian Society of Cinematographers Awards.
Refugee: A documentary chronicling a Syrian family navigating the European migrant crisis. The film premiered at DOC NYC, was featured on BBC News and The Guardian, and screened for the United Nations.
At Heroes and Ghosts, we are driven by the heroes who push us forward and the ghosts that stay with us. Whether you are developing an original concept or seeking a co-production partner, we look forward to partnering with you on your next project.
Our Team
FRANCESCO LOSCHIAVO
CEO & Founder
Francesco is an accomplished Canadian independent filmmaker, with credits as a screenwriter, director and producer. He is an alumni of The Gotham Film & Media Institute in NYC, the Met Film School in London, the Sundance Collab Program, and is the founder of boutique Toronto production company Heroes & Ghosts.
Francesco created the acclaimed TV series TALES FROM THE VOID, a horror anthology based on the most viral and haunting stories from the internet's largest independent horror community: Reddit No Sleep (18M readers/writers). He co-wrote/showran, and directed the series for Screambox & Bloody Disgusting, which went on to find fanfare amongst horror audiences around the world screening at: Fantasia, Grimmfest, SXSW Sydney, Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, Panic Fest, FilmQuest, Blood In The Snow and The Vancouver Horror Show. The series was distributed by Cineverse in the US, Super Channel in Canada, Paramount+ in France, and sold internationally by The Exchange.
When he's not writing & directing, Francesco actively helps visionary filmmakers bring their projects to life. To date, his production company has successfully produced a slate of feature films, tv series/specials, and short forum projects across both narrative and documentary formats. The most notable projects include REFUGEE, a documentary feature about the European migrant crisis that premiered at DOC NYC and went on to screen for the United Nations, after being featured on BBC News & The Guardian.
Barclay J. Maude
Partner | Head of Production
& Business Development
Barclay J. Maude has produced over 100 hours of broadcast television, including roles as a Producer, Line Producer, and Unit Production Manager for hit series such as: TALES FROM THE VOID, PARANORMAL WITNESS, WEB OF LIES, and FORBIDDEN. He has filmed and managed commercials and postproduction for leading brands such as Canadian Red Cross, President’s Choice, The Keg, and Kraft, and held positions as an Executive Producer at leading production houses: Nice Shoes, Unrivaled Studios, and Red Lab.
Barclay’s first independent production ALONE ACROSS THE ARCTIC, a documentary about acclaimed Canadian explorer Adam Shoalts’ 4,000 km trek across Northern Canada was released theatrically in Canada. The film won 18 festival awards including Best Documentary Feature at the New York International Film Awards, Best Canadian Documentary at Hollywood North Film Awards, and a Nomination for Best Cinematography at the Canadian Society of Cinematographer Awards.
JOHN THOMAS KELLEY
Head of Development
John Thomas Kelley is an award-winning screenwriter and producer who currently serves as Head of Development for Heroes & Ghosts.
John served as co-showrunner on the streaming series TALES FROM THE VOID, a horror anthology based on viral stories from the Reddit NoSleep community. The series screened episodes at Fantasia, Panic Fest, Grimmfest, SXSW Sydney, FilmQuest, and Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, amongst others, before premiering as a Screambox & Bloody Disgusting original in 2024. The series has sold in multiple international territories with partners like SuperChannel and Paramount+
Previously, John was named to the 2021 BloodList for his horror/thriller script, Liability. He also won the Gold Prize from PAGE International for his science fiction script, Sterling, and has multiple scripts that have placed in the Tracking Board LaunchPad Competition and the Austin Film Festival Script Competition. His first produced feature, Tear Us Apart, played multiple festivals across North America and was released on VOD and Digital in 2020.