BRANDY Y PRODUCTIONS Inc. is an independent documentary film, television and digital media company owned by Brandy Yanchyk,
an award winning Canadian filmmaker and journalist.
Documentaries
Since 2009, Brandy Yanchyk has made sixteen documentaries and eleven series for television and the App #BecomingAlbertan for Rogers’ OMNI TV.
Ms. Yanchyk’s productions cover a wide range of social and factual genres.
Her documentaries have aired on international channels including the BBC, CBC, PBS, the CBC Documentary Channel, Rogers, Create® TV, CPAC, TELUS Optik, AMI, YES TV, Knowledge Network, TubiTV, Crackle Plus, Roku, SHAW TV, SBS for NITV Australia, AB Groupe France, VIASAT WORLD in Scandinavia, Axess TV in Sweden, 1HDTV in Russia, HRT Croatian Television, Planet Knowledge in the UK/Eire, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, RUV in Iceland, PRIMA TV and iPrima in the Czech Republic, Amazon Prime Video, Halhara Finances Limited in Cyprus, The Times Internet in India, Discovery Japan, SaigonTourist Cable Television Company Limited (SCTV), Russia’s TV Tatarstan-Novii vek, Taiwanese international airlines Eva Air, Canadian airlines WestJet and Air Canada and at film festivals around the world.
series
Brandy Yanchyk specializes in making documentary travel shows for television and web. This includes her own hosted series Seeing Canada and Seeing the USA which are airing on public TV stations in the USA including PBS and Create® TV. Seeing Canada is also on Amazon Prime Video, TubiTV, Crackle Plus, West Jet, Eva Air and Air Canada’s In-flight Entertainment.
“Between January 12, 2018 and November 21, 2020 half-hour episodes of Seeing Canada were broadcast 25,267 times across 379 public television channels in 165 markets to reach 90% of US Television Households. The program earned 14,208,000 Gross Impressions – and any sponsor with a credit running both at the head and tail of each episode earned 28,417,000 viewer impressions.” (Trac Media)
Brandy’s dinosaur documentary series Dino Trails seasons one and two are available on Amazon Prime Video and are airing on Air Canada’s In Flight Entertainment System, in Russia on 1HDTV and also on TELUS Storyhive’s YouTube channel.
Brandy has also reported for the BBC Travel Show.
Shop
You can stream or buy DVDs of Brandy Yanchyk's films on the website here. Many of Brandy's DVDs are also found in libraries, universities and schools around the world.
Brandy Yanchyk’s films are also available to stream through McIntyre Media and Alexander Street.
I do love growing food and making films so this new series Food's Footprint with Brandy Yanchyk makes me very happy. It focuses on sustainable agriculture and the future of food.
So far I have made three short videos about five minutes each. Please enjoy them and think about all the wonderful things you could be growing in your garden.
The series is on my YouTube channel for free. Please subscribe and share. https://www.youtube.com/@BrandyYProductions
A big thank you to Thomas Dudley and Cory Johnn for their camera work and Johnny Blerot for the sound mix and Michael Macintosh for the colour correction and delivery. I am the director, producer, writer, host and editor on the series!
These short films were made with the support of Alberta's government through Alberta Foundation for the Arts.
I recently attended the 2024 Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) Annual Convention in beautiful Istanbul, Turkey! It was a fantastic opportunity to network at the Media Marketplace and other events, while looking for new stories for my travel series, Brandy Yanchyk Sees the World.
Want to explore Canada this Thanksgiving?
Watch Journalist Brandy Yanchyk's educational travel documentary TV series “Seeing Canada”!
The fourth season is airing in a special marathon from 3 PM to 7 PM EDT on Monday, October 14, 2024 on CPAC - Cable Public Affairs Channel.
It you like to stream you can watch it any time on PBS Passport!
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!
Recently I filmed in Calgary, Alberta at the Land of Dreams.
On this small area of land I met newcomers to Canada who are learning how to grow vegetables and flowers in Alberta's soil.
They are also learning about Indigenous culture and how to raise chickens, be a beekeeper and the importance of compost.
It's an amazing urban farming initiative by the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society.
I was filming for my new documentary series that I am hosting which is currently called "Food's Footprint".
The documentary series "Food’s Footprint" will go on a journey across Alberta and British Columbia to discover the sustainable food practices that are altering the future of food and the environment.
Thank you to the Alberta Federation of the Arts for the funding to start this new series.
The highlight of my recent trip to Louisiana was filming at the Dew Drop Social and Benevolent Hall in what is now Old Mandeville.
This place is famous! It is believed to be the world's oldest unaltered rural jazz hall. Early greats Buddy Petit, Kid Ory and a young Louis Armstrong played there.
I was thrilled to film with Grammy award winning New Orleans musician, actor and author Chris Thomas King.
He's said to be "one of the worlds greatest blues guitar players." Chris also was in the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? and played a character named Tommy Johnson who describes selling his soul to the devil to play guitar.
I also learned so much from Andrea Fulton who is part of the Friends of the Dew Drop organization.
You'll be able to hear Chris' music and learn all about the rich history of the Dew Drop in my new travel documentary series Brandy Yanchyk Sees the World. It will be airing on public TV stations in the USA including PBS.
Holy smokes! January was so busy I’m just catching my breath.
One of the exciting things I did was go to New York City to do 24 speed pitches at TravMedia’s International Media Marketplace. It was an incredible networking experience.
I was there promoting my new travel documentary series Brandy Yanchyk Sees the World.
I can’t wait to share it all with you.
“TravMedia's International Media Marketplace (IMM) is the leading global networking event connecting the travel industry with editors, journalists, broadcasters, and influencers.”
Happy New Year.
I have some exciting plans in the works for 2024 and Brandy Y Productions!
Firstly, I am thrilled to announce that seven episodes of my travel documentary series "Seeing the USA with Brandy Yanchyk" are now available to watch on your smart TV on the PBS Passport video streaming App.
Just download the PBS App and search for the title "Seeing the USA".
You can also watch season one of my other travel series "Seeing Canada" on the PBS Passport App and all four seasons will be available soon.
About the PBSPassport App:
Currently, Passport is available through web browsers on your desktop, laptop, tablet, and mobile devices. It is also available through the PBS video App for users on the below devices:
• Roku
• Apple TV 4
• Amazon Fire TV
• Amazon Fire Tablet
• Android TV
• Android mobile devices
• Apple iPhone and iPad
What an incredible evening.
Thank you so much Vancouver Food Runners and Food Stash Foundation for organizing a wonderful screening and event in Vancouver on Tuesday, December 5th at Food Stash.
Tammara Soma Ph.D. and I were thrilled to share our new documentary "Food is my Teacher" with such an engaged audience.
We have tremendous gratitude to the following organizations and individuals for their support:
Event venue & planning support: Food Stash Foundation
Financial partners: Vancity and Fresh Prep
Panelists: Dr. Tammara Soma, Brandy Yanchyk, and Christina Lee (hua foundation)
Food & beverage donation partners: TJ Conwi and Reroot , purebread, Greenhouse, Legacy Liquor Store, Whole Foods Market
Reusable cups & containers: ShareWares
Chairs: Vancouver Food Networks (Kitsilano Neighbourhood House)
If you missed the screening you can watch the documentary on CBC Gem.
Monday night’s screening of “Food is my Teacher” in Banff was a wonderful success. Around 70 people came to the community potluck, screening and panel.
The food was excellent and it felt so great to share Dr. Tammara Soma and my documentary with everyone.
El Torro Restaurant donated so much food and it was delicious! Thank you.
A big shout out to the Bow Valley Food Alliance and the Filipino Organization in the Rocky Mountains who attended the event and are also in the film.
You can watch it now on CBC Gem!
Thank you Rocky Mountain Outlook for promoting the event in this article.
We can't wait to share our new documentary ""Food is my Teacher" with those living near Banff, Alberta!
Come and join us for a screening & potluck.
Dr. Tammara Soma and I will be there as part of a discussion panel after the documentary.
Register for the potluck and screening here.
You can watch it now on CBC GEM.
I am thrilled to announce that my episode Seeing Canada - "Black History in South Western Ontario" has won FIRST PLACE in the Virtual storytelling category in the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) 7th Annual Canadian Chapter Awards.
The judge said "This was an interesting episode sharing meaningful stories that we as Canadians should be familiar with. This is a sort of journalistic storytelling that I'd like to see more often, travel media stories that turn the camera outwards, shining a spotlight on the local people and their stories as shared by them. I learned a lot from this and enjoyed Brandy as a host, particularly when she was connecting with her subjects in a more relaxed and human way. Congratulations, everyone.”
You can watch the episode "Seeing Canada" - BLACK HISTORY IN SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO online on CPAC-TV.
Here is the description:
Canadian journalist Brandy Yanchyk explores Southwestern Ontario where she learns about the Underground Railroad and the history of the Freedom Seekers who came to Canada and helped build a large, vibrant Black community in the country.
Brandy visits The Amherstburg Freedom Museum, the Buxton National Historic Site & Museum, the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society & Black Mecca Museum and Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site now called the Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History.
Brandy also meets with Teajai Travis, a Descendant of Underground Railroad Travellers, and with Educator, Irene Moore Davis, at the Tower of Freedom in Windsor.
This Sunday join host Brandy Yanchyk when she travels to British Columbia's Cariboo Chilcotin Coast in her travel series "Seeing Canada" season four.
You can catch this new episode on CPAC-TV (Cable Public Affairs Channel) at 9:30 pm ET and then it will be online. The series will also be airing on PBS and Create TV soon.
Here is a description of episode 404:
Exploring British Columbia’s Cariboo Chilcotin Region.
Canadian journalist Brandy Yanchyk travels to the Cariboo Chilcotin Region in British Columbia where she learns how to make cinnabon buns at The Historic Chilcotin Lodge in Riske Creek.
Then Brandy learns how to trim a horse's hooves at the Terra Nostra Guest Ranch in Kleena Kleene.
In Clinton, Brandy meets David Arlen Park, a Musician and Owner of The Junction Cafe, who teaches her how to be a barista.
I am thrilled to announce that the first new episode of my travel series Seeing Canada season four will air this Sunday on CPAC-TV at 9:30 pm ET.
There are eight new episodes in total and they will air each Sunday for the next eight weeks on CPAC-TV.
Season four will also air on PBS stations and Create TV in the future.
Thank you to everyone who was part of "Seeing Canada" season four!
Here is a description of Seeing Canada episode 401:
Indigenous Tourism and Art in South Eastern Ontario
Canadian journalist Brandy Yanchyk meets the rare and endangered Ojibwe Spirit Horses and makes a corn husk doll at the Madahoki Farm in Ottawa’s Greenbelt. Then Brandy travels to Akwesasne where she makes traditional Mohawk cornbread. In Kingston she learns to paint with artist Francisco Corbett at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre.
For a more in depth description of the new Seeing Canada season four series click here: https://vimeo.com/855173823?share=copy
You can stream the new documentary Food is my Teacher here on CBC GEM.
Lots of great articles have been coming in for Dr. Tammara Soma and Brandy Yanchyk’s new documentary Food is my Teacher.
Read them here:
Article by the Edmonton Journal “Local award-winning filmmaker's latest Food is my Teacher premieres Friday
Article by Edify “The Best Teacher of All”.
Article by AlbertaPrimeTimes.com “Food as teacher and healer, the focus of new documentary”.
Article by SFU NEWS “SFU’s Tammara Soma explores the healing power of food in new documentary.”
Article by CBC “Professor, filmmaker travel across B.C., Alberta to explore the healing power of food”.
CBC Edmonton AM interview “Food as a healer and educator”.
You can stream the new documentary Food is my Teacher here on CBC GEM.
It's great to see these articles and interviews about my new documentary Food is My Teacher with Dr. Tammara Soma about the healing power of food.
Article by the Edmonton Journal “Local award-winning filmmaker's latest Food is my Teacher premieres Friday
Article by Edify “The Best Teacher of All”.
Article by AlbertaPrimeTimes.com “Food as teacher and healer, the focus of new documentary”.
Article by SFU NEWS “SFU’s Tammara Soma explores the healing power of food in new documentary.”
Article by CBC “Professor, filmmaker travel across B.C., Alberta to explore the healing power of food”.
CBC Edmonton AM interview “Food as a healer and educator”.
Tune in when “Food is My Teacher” starts streaming on CBC Gem this Friday, August 25th and premieres on CBC TV in Alberta and BC on Saturday, August 26th, at 7 p.m. local time.
Thank you to the wonderful team who helped put this together:
Dr. Tammara Soma: Co-writer/co-director, Brandy Yanchyk: co-writer/co-director and producer, DOP: Mitch Fraser, Camera in BC: Thomas Dudley Productions, Editor: Sarah Taylor Editor, Colour Correction: Michael McIntosh, Post Production Sound: Johnny Blerot and Executive Producer: Sheila Peacock.
#FoodismyTeacher
Whatcha doing on Sunday nights in August?
Hope you’re watching season three of Brandy Yanchyk’s travel documentary series “Seeing Canada”.
For those of you with cable it is available across Canada on CPAC (Cable Public Affairs Channel / Chaîne d'affaires publiques par câble)
Eight new episodes of #SeeingCanada will start airing in September in season four. Yahoo.
"Food is My Teacher" will now air on August 25th and 26th on CBC!
The airing date has changed for my new documentary "Food Is My Teacher".
Food is my Teacher starts streaming on CBC Gem on Friday August 25th, and premieres on CBC TV in Alberta and BC, on Saturday August 26th, at 7 pm local time.
Here is the synopsis of this new documentary:
Food can teach us love and bring people together. But for Tammara Soma, a food professor, food was originally a source of pain. Join her journey to learn about the healing power of food from the perspective of Indigenous, Muslim, Chinese, Filipino, Sikh and Polish Canadian experts.
Food is my Teacher was co-written and co-directed by myself and Dr. Tammara Soma.
I was the producer of the film and Sheila Peacock from CBC was the Executive Producer. It was edited by Sarah Taylor Editor.
The documentary was filmed in Alberta and British Columbia.
On Canada Day (July 1st) , join me, Brandy Yanchyk for a marathon of my travel documentary series "Seeing Canada".
Embark on a journey of discovery across Canada as I showcase fantastic experiences everywhere I visit in season THREE!
Watch the "Seeing Canada" marathon July 1 at 7 am & 1:30 pm ET / 4 am & 10:30 am PT on CPAC (Cable Public Affairs Channel / Chaîne d'affaires publiques par câble).
Also, on Canada Day, if you live in Toronto or Buffalo from 3pm to 6pm tune into the TV station WNED PBS to watch a Seeing Canada Marathon! The station will be airing six new episodes from season three of #SeeingCanada!
Here’s a description of the episodes: https://brandyyanchyk.com/seeing-canada-s3
#seeingcanada #canadasightseeing #canada #travel
My latest Brandy Y's newsletter is out!
If you are interested in keeping up to date on what I'm working on or you want to learn about some of my past documentaries please click and subscribe.
Thank you for all your support.
The URL for this newsletter is: https://mailchi.mp/3c552f54a4a8/thank-you-for-signing-up-to-brandy-ys-newsletter-8863114
Journalist Brandy Yanchyk had 20 speed pitch meetings at #IPW23 in San Antonio, Texas.
This IPW event included four days of networking .
Brandy was there looking for more stories for her travel documentary series Seeing the USA which airs on PBS stations, Create TV and on different airlines.
5,000 delegates from 60+ countries conducted 90,000+ face-to-face appointments at IPW.
This event is all about travel to the U.S.
We are thrilled to announce that Brandy Yanchyk and Dr. Tammara Soma’s new documentary "Food is my Teacher" will be released on CBC Gem on Friday August 25th, and will premiere on CBC TV at 7 pm on Saturday August 26th in Alberta and BC.
Here is the synopsis of this new documentary:
Food can teach us love and bring people together. But for Tammara Soma, a food professor, food was originally a source of pain. Join her journey to learn about the healing power of food from the perspective of Indigenous, Muslim, Chinese, Filipino, Sikh and Polish Canadian experts.
Follow the Facebook page for Food is My Teacher here.
"Food is my Teacher" was co-written and co-directed by Brandy Yanchyk and Dr. Tammara Soma. It was produced by Brandy Yanchyk and Sheila Peacock from CBC was the Executive Producer. It was edited by Sarah Taylor Editor.
The Director of Photographer was Mitch Fraser and filming in BC was by Thomas Dudley.
Rory Lee Design is the Art Director and Graphic Designer. Sound Mix by Johnny Blerot and Colour Correction by Michael McIntosh.
The rough cut of the new documentary “Food is My Teacher” is done! The film focuses on the healing power of food.
Thank you to our editor Sarah Taylor for your hard work on this new documentary.
“Food is My Teacher” is co-directed and co-written by Dr. Tammara Soma and filmmaker Brandy Yanchyk.
Brandy produced the documentary working with Executive Producer Sheila Peacock.
This new film will air on CBC TV and on CBC Gem in the summer of 2023.
Thank you Banff National Park!
You were the perfect destination for the Canadian Chapter of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) conference.
Journalist Brandy Yanchyk attended and gained lots of new story ideas for her travel series Seeing Canada.
A huge shout out to Kim Logan and John Doherty at Banff & Lake Louise Tourism, the SATW Sites Committee, the Fairmont Banff Springs and Flora Fioritti from Rare Indigo for putting it all together.
This photo was were taken at the top of the Banff Gondola from the Sulphur Mountain summit.
On Thursday, January 26th, 2023 along with other international travel journalists Brandy Yanchyk had 24 Speed Pitching meetings at TravMedia’s International Media Marketplace (IMM).
It's the leading global networking event connecting the travel industry.
She can’t wait to make more episodes of her travel series “Seeing Canada”, “Seeing the USA” and more shows in different destinations.
Her series are airing on PBS stations, Create TV, CPAC-TV and on Amazon Prime.
#IMMUSA #IMMNYC #IMM23!
#SeeingCanada #SeeingtheUSA #BrandyYProductions #travel
It started airing on Monday, January 23rd, 2023.
The six new episodes will air on Mondays at 10:30 am ET and repeat at 5:30 pm ET.
Here's their website and more information about Create TV: https://createtv.com.
- Create is currently available in 26 of the top 30 markets in the USA
- Aired by 111 licensees representing 240 stations / 83% of the country
- Reached 40.2M P18+ viewers (in 2020-2021)
- Over-indexes the U.S. average with African Americans and other ethnicities
- Attracts viewers from all income ranges with 47% having HH income of $50,000 or more
- In primetime, Create's average household audience is comparable to long-time cable networks like FYI and FX Movie Channel; and exceeds others such as Great American Channel, Ovation and Vice
- Active presence on five social platforms (250k fans)
You can find out more about #SeeingCanada season three here: https://brandyyanchyk.com/seeing-canada-s3
Filmmaker, Brandy Yanchyk, is looking forward to connecting with you in her new Brandy Y Productions Inc. email newsletter.
If you are interested in learning more about Brandy's upcoming documentary films, her travel series Seeing Canada/ Seeing the USA and other reflections please sign up for the new Brandy Y Productions Inc. newsletter here:
Thank you to everyone who has reached out to journalist, Brandy Yanchyk, by email or direct message about her travel series Seeing Canada! One of the comments we hear all the time is how much you love learning about Indigenous tourism in Canada.
Coming up in season four of #SeeingCanada Brandy visits with Stephen and Florence Paul from Firstnationstourism. In this episode Brandy learns about the activities you can do when you visit the Mi’kmaq of Metepenagiag in New Brunswick.
This new episode is part of season four which is in editing now and will start airing in 2023 on PBS stations, Create TV and on CPAC in Canada starting on Canada Day which is July 1st!
We can't wait to share it with you.
Learn more about visiting Stephen and Florence Paul here:
Editing is in full swing for season four of Seeing Canada.
One of the fascinating people journalist Brandy Yanchyk met in New Brunswick while filming season four is Cornel Ceapa. He is a scientist with a PhD in sturgeon biology and owns Acadian Sturgeon and Caviar Inc!
Brandy tasted three types of Canadian sturgeon caviar and lots of other delicious sturgeon treats.
You can learn more here: https://www.acadian-sturgeon.com/en/products/
These new episodes of #SeeingCanada will be available for PBS stations in time for Canada Day which is July 1st.
Thank you to the World Congress of Science & Factual Producers for another great networking event.
This year’s conference in Glasgow was so inspiring.
Climate change, how we tell that story, how we want the world to be in 2030 and where the money is for programming were themes Brandy Yanchyk was particularly interested in at the conference.
Thank you so much Edmonton Screen Industries Office for giving Brandy Yanchyk a Market and Event Access Grant to come Glasgow to learn and pitch her films.
World Congress of Science and Factual Producers (WCSFP) is a member-driven organization formed by science and factual producers, broadcasters and content providers from around the world.
Each year, members gather for an annual conference in a different country to connect with colleagues through meetings and social events, learn about new industry trends as well as celebrate and be inspired by the smart content we produce and distribute.
#WCSFP22 #SmartContentMatters #Glasgow #filmmaker #documentary
VisitScotland Brandy Y Productions
What a fun night filled with fascinating people.
I even took a selfie with former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien who helped to create many national parks in Canada.
I also had a chance to chat and be inspired by so many Royal Canadian Geographical Society Fellows.
I’m so happy I travelled to Ottawa for the #RCGS 2022 Fellows Annual Dinner at the Canadian War Museum. Thank you to the organizers.
#RCGS Fellow