Calgary company teams up with Scottish director on family-friendly film Grow

CTV News lan White speaks to director John McPhail about his new film Grow, which is screening at the 2025 Calgary International Film Festival.

A Calgary company is playing a pivotal role in a film at this year’s Calgary International Film Festival – it bankrolled the movie.

On September 24 the Orogen Entertainment team will be able to see their efforts come to fruition when Grow is screened at the Scotiabank Theatre Chinook.

“We were looking for partners and Orogen were just, honestly, the best partners,” said Grow director John McPhail.

Orogen, according to their website, is a “leading capital provider to independent film producers”.

Grow is a family-friendly feature, telling the story of a young girl who grows a gigantic pumpkin for a local festival.

McPhail shot the film in his native Scotland and credits child actor Priya Rose-Brookwell for bringing the story to life.

“Priya’s incredible. Priya was nine when we shot this,” McPhail told CTV News.

“She’s so clever. She’s such a natural talent.”