At Cove Film we make creative documentaries that tell powerful stories, provide production and post services, and host edit/post/finishing retreats with a view of the sea.
Cove was founded in 2023 by filmmakers Joe Bender and Samara Chadwick. Bender is a director, cinematographer, and producer with two decades of experience making feature documentaries for HBO, CBC, and other major broadcasters; Chadwick is a documentary director and producer whose expertise in creative development, financing, and distribution was shaped by years leading major documentary institutions — including her time as Executive Director of the Flaherty Film Seminar and programming roles at RIDM and CIFF. Together they are developing a slate of original documentary projects rooted in the landscapes, communities, and ideas of Atlantic Canada, while also offering production, post-production, and finishing services from their South Shore studio. Oh, and we also have the only full service editing and color suite on the South Shore ✂✂✂.
OUR FILMS
Being Still
CBC · 2026 · Directed by Joe Bender & Scott Munn
Across Atlantic Canada, four photographers slow time with glass plates and celluloid film, using light and chemistry to transform the world around them and reminding us what it means to truly see.
On the docks of Lunenburg, NS, photographer Alanah Corriea makes old-time tintype portraits, developed on the spot. In Halifax, software trainer Allen Crooks looks back on a childhood where being an artist felt out of reach. On the streets of uptown Saint John, photojournalist Chris Donovan documents communities in the shadow of the Irving oil corporation on rolls of black and white 35mm film. In Sackville, artist Karen Stentaford photographs the tides of the Bay of Fundy on glass plates coated with water drawn from the bay itself. Through their eyes, Being Still reveals how material processes can make hidden worlds visible and point to richer, more sustaining ways of connecting with the world around us. In a world of distorted truths built by AI and spread on social media, their quiet activism offers a saner way to navigate modern life.
Services
We love to collaborate — beyond our own films and Joe's cinematography, we have experience and resources in every aspect of documentary creation. Here are a few examples, but please get in touch to explore how we can help get your project done.
When remote editing stops working and you need a change of scene for that big story breakthrough, come to the South Shore. We have a fully-equipped edit suite, synchronous fiber internet, and accommodation for 2-3. Director and editor working remotely? Meet here for an intensive, hit a deadline, or just get the energy back when you need it. Or bring your fine cut for Joe to polish, color, and master. Please drop us a line or leave a note in the form below for details.
CanCon production partner for international projects:
Non-Canadian producer with Canadian content obligations? Partner with a CAVCO certified producer with experience delivering shows at the highest quality for festivals, platforms, and broadcast. For qualifying productions, our work is also eligible for up to 32% provincial incentives, ensuring the highest quality while substantially reducing the cost of compliance.
Bilingue · n'hésitez pas à nous consulter pour tout besoin, içi ou ailleurs !