Ed Gass-Donnelly, with roots in the theatre, has often served as director, producer, writer, and editor. After numerous short films and music videos, Gass-Donnelly's feature debut, This Beautiful City, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2007 and went on to be nominated for four Canadian Academy Awards (Genie Awards). His second feature, Small Town Murder Songs, premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival and recently won the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Film at the Torino Film Festival, and Best Actress (Martha Plimpton) at the Whistler Film Festival. Small Town Murder Songs will be released in 2011. Ed is also producing and directing two new films in 2011, Permafrost, a survivalist 'eco-horror', and Lavender, a supernatural thriller.