A bold, inventive, and compassionate team
With production partners across the globe et aussi chez nous au Québec!
Poutine Studios is made up of creative, bold and determined storytellers who all share in the company's mandate to create thought-provoking entertainment that champions diversity and underrepresented POVs, both on and off camera. The company, led by seasoned producer, Debra Kouri, is recognized for maintaining transparent and collaborative relationships with their producing partners and financiers.
Working alongside Telefilm Canada, CMF, Sodec and broadcasters including Bell Media, CBC, Corus, Telus, SRC, TVA amongst others internationally, Poutine Studios alternates between scripted and unscripted entertainment that inspires social change and generates buzz.
Debra Kouri
President & Producer
With over two decades of experience, Debra Kouri has mastered the art of producing across both English and French screen industries, spanning various scripted and unscripted genres. Her passion lies in creating socially impactful content that resonates with a wide audience.
Renowned for her compassion, fairness, and unwavering dedication, Debra oversees each project from conception to completion, seamlessly blending creativity, finance, line producing and administration. Her impressive portfolio includes producing credits for feature films like "Office Games" (tubi), "The Bend" (SuperChannel), and "Happy Slapping," along with the debut season of "The Detectives" (CBC). Her expertise also extends to a plethora of unscripted series and formats that she's produced, co-created, or showrun.
Recent successes include documentary films such as "Le Défi de l’info/Breaking the News" (Bell Media) and Melki Films' "Trafficked Voices" (CBC Passionate Eye). Currently, she's in production on their compelling projects like "Butterfly Hunters" (Telus Originals) and "La Plaque tournante" (SRC/RDI). Debra simultaneously spearheads Poutine Studios' dynamic development slate, featuring initiatives like "This Changes Everything Canada" in collaboration with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media and Creative Chaos vmg, as well as "Bled Dry: The High Cost of Women’s Pain." Additionally, she's driving forward narrative projects like "Whalebone" and the comedy series "Quality Time" with DUO Productions.
Certified by Coalition MÉDIA & HEC’s Entrepreneurial Training Cohort for Producers, Debra is also an active board member of the QEPC, showcasing her commitment to excellence and innovation in the industry.
Martin Cabral
Creative & Technical Director
With a background in IT, computer programming and technical support, Marty’s easygoing adaptability is his biggest asset. He’s renowned for being a jack-of-all trades in the film and television industry, performing a variety of roles wherever he’s needed – both on and off set. As a unionized technician, he performs multiple roles in the camera department including expert-level drone piloting, and often also works with the locations and/or unit departments in order to ensure a smoother-running show. But if asked to choose only one function to perform for the rest of his life, he’d easily pick using his creative side, helping to create worlds, characters and plot lines for the many projects on Poutine Studios’ slate.
