Private Project

A New Leash On Life

After one too many rage-filled outbursts, a magical talking dog named Basketball must talk his owner, Frank, out of having him put down.

***OFFICIAL SELECTION***
Vancouver International Film Festival 2020
DC Shorts Film Festival 2020
Edmonton International Film Festival 2020
Portland Comedy Film Festival - Fall 2020

  • Daniel Jeffery
    Director
    Sad Hill With Sad Hill, Mr:Video, Manboyhood
  • Mackenzie Warner
    Writer
    Coil, Farewell Hotel, The Shannon Entropy
  • Zack Hamm
    Producer
    Old Fox, Nashville, The Fuck It List
  • Fred Ewanuick
    Key Cast
    "Basketball"
    Corner Gas, Dan For Mayor, Robson Arms
  • Brendan Taylor
    Key Cast
    "Frank"
    Supernatural, Fargo, Noelle
  • Nancy Robertson
    Key Cast
    "Dr. Kubler"
    Corner Gas, Hiccups
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 15, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    9,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Vancouver International Film Festival 2020
    Vancouver
    Canada
    September 24, 2020
    Canadian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Edmonton International Film Festival 2020
    Edmonton
    Canada
    October 3, 2020
    Alberta Premiere
    Official Selection
  • DC Shorts International Film Festival 2020
    Washington, D.C.
    United States
    September 10, 2020
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Local Sightings Film Festival - Pacific Northwest 2020
    Seattle
    United States
    September 18, 2020
    Pacific Northwest Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Portland Comedy Film Festival - Fall 2020
    Portland
    United States
    October 22, 2020
    Oregon Premiere
    Winner: Best Actor (Brendan Taylor)
  • Silver Wave Film Festival 2020
    Fredericton
    Canada
    November 5, 2020
    Maritimes Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Chilliwack Independent Film Festival 2020
    Chilliwack
    Canada
    November 20, 2020
    Fraser Valley Premiere
    Nominated: Best BC Film
  • Crossing the Screen Film Festival 2020
    Eastbourne
    United Kingdom
    November 26, 2020
    UK Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Alder International Short Film Festival 2020
    Chicago
    United States
    December 4, 2020
    Illinois Premiere
    Winner: Best Comedy
  • Another Hole In The Head Film Festival 2020
    San Francisco
    United States
    December 11, 2020
    California Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Festival Angaelica 2020
    Pasadena
    United States
    December 21, 2020
    Pasadena Premiere
    Winner: Best Family Shorter Film
  • Canadian Cinematography Awards 2020
    Toronto
    Canada
    November 30, 2020
    Winner: Best Film of the Month, Best Short Film, Best Director, Best Cinematographer
  • NOX Film Fest 2021
    Salto
    Uruguay
    January 12, 2021
    South America Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Vancouver Short Film Festival 2021
    Vancouver
    Canada
    January 22, 2021
    Official Selection
  • Golden Jury Film Festival January 2021
    Mumbai
    India
    January 22, 2021
    India Premiere
    Winner: Best Score
  • Reel Canadian Film Festival 2021
    Fernie
    Canada
    January 25, 2021
    Fernie Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Pluriart Film Festival 2021
    Pluriart
    Italy
    January 26, 2021
    Italy Premiere
    Winner: Best Film
  • Oregon State Film Festival 2021
    Corvallis
    United States
    February 1, 2021
    Corvallis Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Victoria Film Festival 2021
    Victoria
    Canada
    February 5, 2021
    Victoria Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Durango Independent Film Festival 2021
    Durango
    United States
    March 3, 2021
    Colorado Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Twister Alley Film Festival 2021
    Woodward
    United States
    April 29, 2021
    Oklahoma Premiere
    Winner: Best Comedy Short Film
  • Kalakari Film Festival 2021
    Dewas
    India
    May 1, 2021
    Dewas Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Austin Comedy Film Festival 2021
    Austin
    United States
    April 11, 2021
    Texas Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Romford Film Festival 2021
    Romford
    United Kingdom
    May 19, 2021
    East London Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Okotoks Film Festival 2021
    Okotoks
    Canada
    June 3, 2021
    Okotoks Premiere
    Official Selection
  • New Haven International FIlm Festival 2021
    New Haven
    United States
    May 12, 2021
    Connecticut Premiere
    Official Selection
  • New York City Independent Film Festival 2021
    New York
    United States
    June 12, 2021
    New York Premiere
    Official Selection
  • 17th LA Indie Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    LA Premiere
    Official Selection
  • ME Film Festival 2021
    Milledgeville
    United States
    November 1, 2021
    Georgia Premiere
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Daniel Jeffery

Daniel Jeffery is a creator of comedy and documentary short films, covering subjects like adult circumcision, cinephile friendship, and pet euthanasia. Since graduating SFU Film in 2013, he has worked professionally in Vancouver as an editor, actor, and now filmmaker for Lush North America. His editing work has been selected by TIFF, VIFF, DOXA, CBC, Crazy 8s, Telus Storyhive, IGN, Vimeo Staff Picks, Booooooom.com, and has received two Leo Award nominations.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

A New Leash On Life was made to surprise and delight audiences by exploring pet euthanasia (subversively) through the talking dog genre. We hope it resonates with animal lovers everywhere and offers some levity to the inevitably tragic relationship that comes with being a pet owner. We're proud that in this independent Vancouver production, we reunite Canadian comedy icons Fred Ewanuick and Nancy Robertson for the first time since Corner Gas, and introduce Riverton - perhaps the most beautiful (and energetic) golden lab to ever grace a film set.