Media Release for Immediate Release

Media release For immediate release Andra Sheffer and Mike Geiger will receive the YMA Special Prizes + New Host Announced! Montreal, March 25, 2015 – The Youth Media Alliance (YMA) is proud to give its Outstanding Achievement Award to Andra Sheffer and its Emerging Talent Award to Mike Geiger. These distinguished professionals will be honoured at a gala to be held on May 27th at the CBC Glenn Gould Studio, in Toronto. Outstanding Achievement Award Andra Sheffer is the CEO of two private funds supporting the Canadian digital media, television and film industries: the Independent Production Fund which invests in drama series created for digital platforms; and the COGECO Program Development Fund for the development and production of television drama. She was the founding Executive Director of the Bell Fund (1997-2014) which supports interactive digital media projects associated with Canadian television programs. Previously, she was the founding Executive Director of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television producing the annual Genie and Gemini Awards (now the Canadian Screen Awards). She lectures on the business of television and digital media and is the editor of publications about the business of TV and digital media production: New Media, New Business: The Producer’s Guide (2001), Create a Winning Proposal – the Handbook for New Media Producers (1999) and the co- editor of MAKING IT: The business of film and television production in Canada (1986 & 1995). Andra also served as Managing Director of the Toronto International Film Festival, with the federal government as a Certification Officer setting up the original CAVCO office (and Canadian content “point” system), and at the Film Festivals Bureau promoting Canadian films internationally. Emerging Talent Award Mike Geiger has worked in broadcast animation for over a decade in roles ranging from animator to director. He has also produced various independent work which has been screened at more than 30 animation and comedy festivals worldwide, including a tour with the Spike and Mike's festival of animation. He most recently took home 3 awards for his animated web series "Super Duper Super Hero”, and his self- released interactive story app "I Feel Super" hit #1 in the Books category on iTunes Canada, spending 30 days on the "Best new apps for kids" front page. Mike is currently a creative consultant on his series "Winston Steinburger and Sir Dudley Ding Dong" set to air on Teletoon and ABC Australia. YMA Gala to be hosted by Ashley Comeau Ashley Comeau from Second City Works will be hosting the upcoming Awards of Excellence gala. Ashley is an actor, improviser, and writer hailing from Toronto. She is a Second City Works mainstage alumna who wrote and starred in three revues. Her revues garnered her a Dora nomination and a Canadian Comedy Award nomination. She was named runner up for Best Female Improviser in Toronto from NOW Magazine's "Best Of Awards 2014". She performs all over North America with her Sketch duo - The Lusty Mannequins, her improv duo Chomo and Cash and in many shows like Theatresports, Throwdown, and Wayward. She has performed with the likes of Martin Short, Colin Mochrie and John Cleese. She is a contributor to CBC's Punchline, She Does the City, The Women's Post, The Walrus Laughs and stars in her own vlog, PolitiComeau. The English-Language Awards of Excellence Gala is made possible thanks to generous support from our sponsors: CBC/Radio- Canada, Shaw Rocket Fund, the Canada Media Fund, the Independent Production Fund, the Bell Fund, 9 Story Media Group, Sinking Ship Entertainment, Thunderbird, TVO, Guru Studio, Fresh TV, Radical Sheep and J.S.T. Productions. – 30 – Contact: Genevieve Brault, Special Events and Communications Coordinator, [email protected] | 514-597-6809 .

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