For Immediate Release Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Fourth Women in Film Festival Packs a Five-day Punch Vancouver Chapter Celebrates 20 Years of Reel Women
Vancouver, BC, Canada – The 4th Annual Women in Film Festival (WIFF), presented by Women In Film & Television Vancouver (WIFTV), features a record number of events from Wednesday March 4 to Sunday, March 8, 2009. This year marks the 20th anniversary of WIFTV.
Peggy Thompson, WIFTV President and award winning screenwriter (Better Than Chocolate), says, “This much needed festival celebrates women's storytelling and helps advance women filmmakers. Join us and meet some great filmmakers, see some great films, and celebrate our diverse and exciting cultural perspective.” Film and TV director Anne Wheeler (Bye Bye Blues) is the Honourary Festival Chair for 2009.
The festival opens on Wednesday, March 4 with the festival’s first New Media Forum during the day, followed by the presentation of the Women in the Director’s Chair Feature Film Award, Vancouver premiere of the feature comedy The Baby Formula, and the festival’s Opening Reception. Filmed in Toronto, The Baby Formula – which has garnered recognition at film festivals around the world – focuses on two pregnant women in love, and their journey of unexpected twists. Director Alison Reid will be in attendance.
March 5-7 offers shorts, mid-length, and feature films, interspersed with five free filmmaker panels, including the first CTV Women In the Director’s Chair Career Advancement Module (CAM) public panel discussion on directing. WIFTV also celebrates the achievements and talent of the BC film industry at the 9th Annual Spotlight Awards Gala on Saturday, March 7.
“It’s WIFTV’s 20th anniversary and we’re celebrating it at the Spotlight Awards Gala, where we will honour some fabulous women and men who have contributed so much to our local and international film community,” Thompson states. Notable Canadian actress Molly Parker will host the event.
The 2009 Spotlight Award winners are as follows: • Woman of the Year: Babz Chula – Actor, Activist, Teacher • Woman of Vision Special Jury Prize: Amanda Tapping – Actor, Director, Producer • Artistic Achievement Award: Maureen Medved – Screenwriter, The Tracey Fragments • Wayne Black Service Award: Shauna Hardy Mishaw – Whistler Film Festival Founder/Director • Special Jury Award for Lifetime Contribution: Al Parsons – National Film Board of Canada • Honourary Friend: John Dippong – Telefilm Canada • Sharon Gibbon Lifetime Achievement Award: Jacqui Ellis – Accountant and outstanding volunteer • Kodak Image Award: Moira Simpson – Documentary Director of Photography and Director
Also presented at the Spotlight Awards Gala are the Legacy Awards, which are given to the top three BC- made films of the festival. The Legacy Awards are guest juried by Eve & the Fire Horse director Julia Kwan, Corner Gas actress Gabrielle Miller, She’s a Boy I Knew director Gwen Haworth, and Creative Native host Tamara Bull.
The festival concludes on Sunday, March 8 with two short film programs including the Women In Film & Television International WIFTI short film showcase to celebrate International Women's Day. Most festival events take place at the Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver) with the exception of the International Women’s Day screenings at the BC Women’s Hospital Chan Centre For Family Health Education at CFRI (4500 Oak Street, Vancouver).
Established in 1989, Women In Film & Television Vancouver is an internationally-affiliated non-profit society committed to advancing & celebrating women in screen-based media. For event information, tickets, or information on WIFTV, visit the website at www.womeninfilm.ca.
- - 30 - Media contact: Sandra Garcia, WIFF Publicist [email protected] 604.721.0030
WOMEN IN FILM FESTIVAL 2009 FACT SHEET
What: 4th annual Women in Film Festival (WIFF)
Presented by: Women In Film & Television Vancouver (WIFTV) Celebrating 20 years of supporting women in screen-based media
When: Wednesday, March 4 – Sunday, March 8 (International Women’s Day)
Where: Wednesday, March 4 – Saturday, March 7 VIFC Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC
Sunday, March 8 Chan Centre For Family Health Education at the Child & Family Research Institute – on the BC Women’s Hospital campus 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC
How to order tickets: All available at www.womeninfilm.ca or at the door
Pass prices: Festival pass - $125 members, $145 non-members (All Films and New Media Forum)
Early bird passes $90 members, $125 non-members (until Feb. 10th)
New Media Forum pass - $60 members, $75 non-members
*Passes do not include Spotlight Awards Gala Event or Opening Film. Passholders must arrive at least 15 minutes in advance of a screening to guarantee seating.
Ticket prices: Opening film & reception - $20 members, $25 non-members
Matinee Screenings - $7 members, $9 non-members
Features/evening screenings - $8 members, $10 non-members
All public panels - FREE
SPOTLIGHT AWARDS GALA - $65 members, $85 non-members
Individual New Media Forum panels – available at door, subject to availability
WIFTV NEW MEDIA DAY - Sponsored by Telefilm Canada & BC Film Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The New Media Forum is a full day of PANELS, APPLICATIONS, INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, and NETWORKING. A blend of technology, social media, and connectivity this day will inspire and engage those who want to tell stories in a more interactive space.
8:30-9:00am Registration/Coffee/Networking 9:00-10:30am Panel #1: Getting Your Feet Wired
A lively discussion from a diverse group of new media professionals about where to step in and how to play. From the perspectives of artists, educators, and entrepreneurs hear how others tried (and learned) to bridge the traditional and new forms.
Panellists: Catherine Warren, Bridget O’Neill, Dennis Chenard, and Daniella Sorentino. Moderator: Danika Dinsmore
10:45am-12:00pm Panel #2: Social Media How To
'Characters' are becoming quite popular on social media platforms. They can help tell the story, allow audience interaction, create 'buzz', and keep your fans talking. Our panel of social media savvy gals, with a history in broadcasting, will explore the 'effective' and 'destructive' ways to use social media in your stories and give you the low down on how to personally make best use of it.
Panellists: Carol Sill, Monica Hamburg, Gillian Shaw. Moderator: Erica Hargreave
12:00-1:00pm Break/Networking/Interactivity
1:00-2:30pm Panel #3: Emerging Trends and Technology
As storytellers, we need to keep apprised of new and emerging technologies, applications and platforms. Knowing what’s in the works allows us to creativity utilize new technologies to tell stories and create 'new media'. Find out from our technology, business and artistic experts about emerging technologies and trends on the horizon.
Panellists: Thecla Schiphorst, Shannon McKarney, Jean Hebert, and James Eberhardt. Moderator: Jennifer Ouano
2:45-4:00pm Panel #4: Monetizing Your Content
How do to turn your digital content into dollars? How do people finance their new media projects? Every year, more people are doing it. Find out what has worked, what hasn't, what others have learned, and how you can complement your more traditional media by thinking outside the box.
Panellists: Maura Rodgers, Amielle Lake, Bradley Shende, and Rochelle Grayson. Moderator: Tracey Friesen
4:00-6:00pm Reception/Interactivity; complimentary beer sponsored by Molson
WIFTV NEW MEDIA DAY - Sponsored by Telefilm Canada & BC Film Wednesday, March 4, 2009
APPLICATIONS INCLUDE: work at play Strutta tagga Quickmobile HootSuite memelabs Overlay.tv
EXHIBITORS INCLUDE:
Angela Smailes: "Egg Cinema" Tassia Poynter & Sharon Lee: "Tongue Tales" Maia Iotzova: "Know a place" Karin Schmidlin: "Fluxus" & "Mordant" James Eberhardt: "The Artlierist" Elmar Dela Cruz: “MovieSphere” Tangible Interaction: “Graffiti Wall” Maayan Cohen: "murmur "
SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM INCLUDES:
Raul Pacheco Rebecca Bollwitt Marina Antunes Tris Hussey Peter Marshall Dan Udey
For panelist and moderator bios, please visit www.womeninfilm.ca.
NEW MEDIA FORUM DAY PASS: $60 WIFTV members, students, seniors / $75 non-members Available at www.womeninfilm.ca Single panel tickets may only be purchased at the door if space is available.
For media access, please contact:
Sandra Garcia, WIFF Publicist [email protected] 604.721.0030
WIFTV OPENING FILM Wednesday, March 4, 2009
THE BABY FORMULA (Ontario)
In the beginning...sperm came from men.
Two adventurous women in love are desperate to have their own biological child. They take a chance on an experimental scientific process and make sperm from their own stem cells. Pregnant with humour and unexpected twists, their journey tailspins out of control when their families discover there is no father.
The Baby Formula has garnered international recognition at the Mannheim Heidelberg International Film Festival, Rotterdam International FF, Montreal World Film Festival, and Whistler Film Festival.
Director in attendance. Running time: 81 mins. Website: www.thebabyformulamovie.com
Event information:
Doors will open at 6:00pm and the screening begins at 7:00pm.
Preceded by short film Awkward (7 mins.) – BC - Selected by critic's circle in Clermont-Ferrand, nominated for a Writer’s Guild of Canada Screenwriting Award, short subject
The Women In the Director’s Chair (WIDC) Feature Film Award will be awarded to recipient Katrin Bowen by WIDC President Carol Whiteman. Through the generous support and industry leadership from some of the most significant companies in western Canada, Creative Women Workshops Association (CWWA) administers this annual award valued at nearly $100,000 in in-kind rentals including one-week studio rental, production equipment rentals, and post production services, towards a feature film project directed by a Canadian woman. In addition, BC Film has pledged a $15,000 cash contribution towards post-production for BC-based recipients.
Please visit www.womeninfilm.ca for Katrin Bowen’s full bio.
Tickets to the opening film are $20 for members and $25 for non-members, available at www.womeninfilm.ca.
Reception follows at 9:00pm.
For media access, please contact:
Sandra Garcia, WIFF Publicist [email protected] 604.721.0030
WOMEN IN FILM FESTIVAL 2009 FILMS BY GENRE & TOPIC OF INTEREST
FEATURE FILMS EXPERIMENTAL
The Baby Formula A_Way_Away Fifty Dead Men Walking Blush Girlfriend Experience Roastbeef Mothers&Daughters Women
MOCKUMENTARY ANIMATION & CLAYMATION
The Baby Formula Amma Girlfriend Experience A_Way_Away Mothers&Daughters Dirty Girl Kingdoms of Grace COMEDY DOCUMENTARY & TRUE STORIES Awkward The Baby Formula The Art of Contact Ben Voyons Camille! Ayaa Birthday Girl Blush The Brute Daughters of Gardeners No Bikini Dawson Town Melted Down The Problem with Pets Fifty Dead Men Walking The Professionals The Great Lover Queen of Beechwood Drive Indigenous Plant Diva Sarah in the Dark Montana de Luz September Seventeen Short Films About Breasts Seventeen Short Films About Breasts Your Mother Should Know
DANCE & MUSIC FRENCH-LANGUAGE FILMS
30-Love Bon Voyons Camille! The Art of Contact The Great Lover A_Way_Away Paso SPANISH-LANGUAGE FILM Roastbeef Montana de Luz Women IMMIGRATION & RACIAL ISSUES FANTASY & MYTHOLOGY First Winter Last River Out in the Cold Kingdoms of Grace Smile Women Wanting the Wine
For the full WIFF 2009 schedule and photos, please visit www.womeninfilm.ca.
WOMEN IN FILM FESTIVAL 2009 FILMS BY GENRE & TOPIC OF INTEREST
MOTHERHOOD LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
Amma 30-Love The Baby Formula Amma The Escort Awkward Mothers&Daughters The Baby Formula Queen of Beechwood Drive The Brute Seventeen Short Films About Breasts Crashing into Stars Your Mother Should Know Girlfriend Experience The Great Lover BODIES & HEALTH ISSUES Growing Up Vegas Infectious The Baby Formula Liminal Daughters of Gardeners Paso Dirty Girl Queen of Beechwood Drive Liminal River Montana de Luz Roastbeef No Bikini Sarah in the Dark Open Your Eyes Sunday Break PSA Breast Cancer Sarah in the Dark CHILDREN & GROWING UP Seventeen Short Films About Breasts Sunday Break Amma The Baby Formula MEN Bon Voyons Camille! Birthday Girl The Brute Growing Up Vegas Fifty Dead Men Walking Montana de Luz Girlfriend Experience No Bikini Growing Up Vegas The Problem with Pets Out in the Cold Queen of Beechwood Drive The Professionals September River Smile Your Mother Should Know NATURE & PLACE
Dawson Town Melted Down Growing Up Vegas Indigenous Plant Diva Montana de Luz (Honduras) Out in the Cold
For the full WIFF 2009 schedule and photos, please visit www.womeninfilm.ca.
WOMEN IN FILM FESTIVAL 2009 FILMMAKER PANELS All panels are FREE and open to the public. THURSDAY, MARCH 5
10:00-11:30am Meet the Directors: Reel Women
Women’s stories are as diverse as the storytellers. Writer/directors reveal the process of storytelling from inception to screen, and share the challenges found in creating their unique points of view, as well as the challenges of being a female director. Followed by Q& A.
Panelists: Alison Reid (The Baby Formula), Carole Ducharme (Ben Voyons Camille), Ileanna Pietroburo (The Girlfriend Experience), Peg Campbell (Your Mother Should Know).
Moderator: Carol Whiteman, Producer of Women In the Director’s Chair (WIDC)
4:00-5:30pm In Front of the Camera: The Actors Challenge
Vancouver actors Gabrielle Rose, Babz Chula, Tantoo Cardinal, and Camille Sullivan share the process of creating and bringing characters to life through improvisation on the feature film, Mothers&Daughters. The film was created documentary style, with in-character interviews punctuating the narrative action. The actors spent four months in workshops shaping the improvisational narrative based on the intriguing relationship between a mother and her daughter. This unique approach to filmmaking gave the actors a challenge not often seen in conventional narrative films. Followed by Q& A.
Moderator: Jacqueline Samuda, writer/director
FRIDAY, MARCH 6
9:30-11:00am The Making of a Filmmaker: Emerging Filmmakers
Are you ready to make a film? Festival filmmakers reveal their process for getting their films made against all odds. In addition to balancing the business of film and the creative aspects, they reveal the importance of festival attendance, viral marketing and tips on funding your project. Followed by Q&A.
Panelists: Marilyn Thomas (Ayaa), Allison Beda (30 Love), Claudia Morgado Escanilla, (No Bikini), Ana de Lara (First Winter Last).
Moderator: Tracy D. Smith, writer/director
WOMEN IN FILM FESTIVAL 2009 FILMMAKER PANELS
3:30-5:00pm CTV WIDC Career Advancement Module (CAM) Public Panel
Moderated by Women In the Director’s Chair (WIDC) Producer Carol Whiteman, the CAM Mentors will discuss strategies to how to advance and promote one’s career and projects in today's marketplace. Followed by Q & A.
Moderator: Carol Whiteman, Producer of Women In the Director’s Chair (WIDC)
About the CTV WIDC Career Advancement Module
Presented by Creative Women Workshops Association through the CTV / CHUM Benefits, the CAM is modeled on the mentorship module of the acclaimed Women In the Director's Chair program. At the CAM, up to 4 female filmmakers are pre-selected to receive individualized and private group mentorship to hone the personal skills needed to achieve career and project success in the film and television industry. Over the next 3 years, the CAM will be offered in collaboration with the St John's International Women's Film Festival, Women In Film Festival (Vancouver), and the Female Eye Film Festival (Toronto).
SATURDAY, MARCH 7
9:00-10:15am The Female Voice: Screenwriting with Maureen Medved
“A volatile compound of anger, vulnerability, curiosity, recklessness and fear.” A.O. Scott, The New York Times review of The Tracey Fragments.
Join award winning screenwriter, novelist and playwright Maureen Medved in dialogue with Kat Montagu, as she discusses creating powerful female voices and telling real women’s stories, and shares the writer’s journey. The Tracey Fragments grew from a one-woman show (performed by Medved), to a novel and finally to the award-winning feature film starring Ellen Page. Medved is this year's Spotlight Award Artistic Achievement Award recipient. Followed by Q& A.
Moderator: Kat Montagu, writer, feature story editor and screenwriting instructor.
WIFTV SPOTLIGHT AWARDS GALA Saturday, March 7, 2009
Established in 2000, the Spotlight Awards have brought together filmmakers, the film industry, government and media to celebrate the outstanding achievements of BC women and men in screen- based media. Conceived as an event to recognize and promote exceptional professionals in film and television, the Spotlight Awards are acknowledged today as one of the industry’s most prestigious accolades.
Since 2000, more than 100 remarkable people have received a Spotlight Award. Many of today’s outstanding filmmakers and industry leaders are past recipients of a Spotlight Award – a testament to women’s contributions to Canada’s entertainment community.
A traditional sell-out event, the Spotlight Awards Gala features an awards presentation, cocktail reception, and a fabulous silent auction. As part of WIFTV’s 20th Anniversary, we will be selling $20 gift bags filled with lots of goodies, with 50% of the proceeds being donated to the Babz Chula Lifeline for Artists Society.
This year, the Spotlight Awards Gala will also feature a 20-year retrospective to showcase WIFTV members and their films.
Event details: Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver Saturday, March 7, 2009 Gallery shoot of winners: 6:00-6:30pm Gala pre-reception & silent auction: 6:30-8:00pm Gala Ceremony 8:00-9:15pm Tickets $65 for members, $85 for non-members at womeninfilm.ca Refreshments to be served
Host: Molly Parker
An actress of fierce intelligence, strength and delicacy, Molly Parker consistently garners acclaim for her craft and her bold, diverse choices in characters. Most recently seen in the lead role on the CBS series “Swingtown,” set in 1970’s suburbia and dealing with family life and the lure of couple swinging. The pilot was directed and the series is produced by Alan Poul of “Six Feet Under” fame. She will soon be seen in the feature The Road by Director John Hillcoat, opposite Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron. She did three seasons as Alma Garrett on HBO's critically heralded "Deadwood." and was recently seen in Focus Features' Hollywoodland, a drama about the mysterious death of George Reeves (television's "Superman"). In Neil LaBute's version of the cult classic The Wicker Man, Parker appears opposite Nicolas Cage and Ellen Burstyn as an island community teacher. Finally, she stars opposite Lukas Haas and Adam Scott in Matt Bissonnette's independent feature Who Loves the Sun, which centers on the rivalry between two reunited childhood friends who compete for the love of the same woman. Parker won the Best actress Award at the Beverly Hills Film festival for her work in the film.
Parker’s credits also include Wayne Wang’s Center of the World (Independent Spirit Award nomination, Best Female Lead) opposite Peter Sarsgaard; the Golden Globe-nominated drama, Sunshine, in which she co-starred with Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz; Keith Gordon's Waking the
WIFTV SPOTLIGHT AWARDS GALA Saturday, March 7, 2009
Dead, with Billy Crudup and Jennifer Connelly; Menno Meyjes ' Max, co-starring John Cusack; and Michael Winterbottom’s acclaimed Wonderland, which filmed in London and premiered in competition at the Cannes film festival. Parker also starred in Wiebke von Carolsfeld's Marion Bridge (Genie Award winner, Best Supporting Actress); Looking for Leonard, which she also executive produced; the comedies Men with Brooms and Last Wedding, for which she received Genie Award nominations; Rare Birds with William Hurt; Jeremy Podeswa's The Five Senses with Mary Louise- Parker and the Venice Film Festival entry Suspicious River. Parker made her feature film debut as an alluring necrophiliac in Lynne Stopkewich's stunning Kissed, for which she received a Genie Award for Best Actress. Parker began a relationship with HBO when she appeared as Rabbi Ari on the award-winning series “Six Feet Under” and subsequently starred with Hilary Swank and Angelica Houston as a young suffragette in “Iron Jawed Angels.” Additional television credits include “Twitch City,” the Fox miniseries “Intensity” and the telefilm “Serving in Silence” with Glenn Close.
2009 HONOUREES:
Woman of the Year – Babz Chula The Woman of the Year Award is presented to a woman who has achieved significant success in the field of film or television, and who is recognized for mentoring other women in the industry.
Babz is an enigmatic, charismatic woman, a celebrated actor, a sexy grandmother and a mother of five. Known as the West coast’s “Indie Film Queen,” her collaborations with director Bruce Sweeney in Dirty and Last Wedding earned accolades from international film festivals. Amongst some of her awards and accolades, Babz has won the best supporting actress award at the New York Independent Film Festival, a Leo Award for her performance in Love Charm and also the Best Actress Gemini Award for her portrayal of Esme in CBC’s These Arms of Mine.
Recent feature film appearances include Mothers&Daughters by Carl Bessai, Lucky 7 (of which she received a 2006 Genie nomination for Best Supporting Actress), Ben Ratner’s Moving Malcolm and Connie & Carla Do L.A. alongside Nia Vardalos and Toni Collette. This past year she has been awarded The Vancouver Film Critics Award, a Leo Lifetime Achievement Award and was nominated for a Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Guest Role, Dramatic Series for jPod.
Woman of Vision (Special Jury Prize) – Amanda Tapping The Woman of Vision Award is given to the person who has had the creative vision to take something from conception to resounding success.
Amanda Tapping enjoys a record-breaking career in television as one of the “leading ladies of Sci Fi,” having spent 12 seasons on Stargate: SG-1 and it’s popular spinoff Stargate: Atlantis as Air Force Colonel Samantha Carter. She has now taken on the lead role of Dr. Helen Magnus for the new television series Sanctuary; a project she has helped nurture from its inception on the Internet. Tapping has come to secure a strong and direct influence on her projects from behind the lens. Now Executive Producer of Sanctuary, she also directed an episode of Stargate: SG-1 ("Resurrection") in 2004, which garnered her a Leo Award nomination for Best Director. Tapping has also earned three Leo Awards for Best Actress, has been nominated for one Gemini Award and four Saturn Awards for her role on SG-1 and won the 2005 Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress. Multichannel News and Women
WIFTV SPOTLIGHT AWARDS GALA Saturday, March 7, 2009 in Cable & Telecommunications in New York also honored her in 2003 as a “Wonder Woman on Air.”
Amanda’s love of comedy lead her to co-found the all female Canadian comedy troupe, Random Acts, and her natural ability to make people laugh garnered her a Canadian Comedy Award for best actress in 2007. She continues to advocate mentorship and works to improve the world of arts by being active in a number of professional organizations including WIFTV with which she participated in the “Flash Forward” program, as well as performing in “The Vagina Monologues” in support of V-Day, a worldwide movement to end violence against women and girls. Tapping has had the distinct honor of supporting various charities and organizations such as The Coast Foundation, a support agency for people with mental disabilities, The Canadian Cancer Society, UNICEF, The Waterkeepers Alliance and she participated in a USO Tour in Qatar. She will be launching a new initiative this year supporting various children’s charities. She is a strong advocate for the ”little voices” that are often not heard.
Artistic Achievement Award – Maureen Medved Artistic Achievement Award honours a woman who demonstrates filmmaking excellence in the telling of women’s stories for her artistic achievement. This award goes to a director, producer, writer, actor, director of photography or editor who has created a major film, television program or digital work in the past two years, or who has created a significant body of work in the telling of women’s stories.
Maureen Medvedʼs novel The Tracey Fragments was first published in 1998 by House of Anansi Press. Maureenʼs plays have been produced in Vancouver, Waterloo, and Toronto, and her writing has been published in literary journals and magazines. In 2007, Bruce McDonald directed Maureenʼs screen adaptation of The Tracey Fragments, which opened the Panorama program of the 57th Annual Berlin International Film Festival and won the Manfred Salzgeber Prize. The film has gone on to feature at a number of international film festivals and has also garnered other nominations and awards, including a Genie Award nomination for Adapted Screenplay. Anansi has published a new edition of the book to coincide with the Canadian release of the film in Fall 2007, and Les Allusifs has published a French language version of the book. Maureen is currently completing her second novel as well as other projects for film. She is a film reviewer for the magazine HERIZONS, and she is an Assistant Professor in the Creative Writing Program at the University of British Columbia.
The Wayne Black Service Award – Shauna Hardy Mishaw The Wayne Black Service Award honours a woman with a ‘behind-the-scenes’ role and for her continued efforts within the film and television community. This award is named in memory of Wayne Black of Alpha Cine who gave tirelessly of his time and talent to help filmmakers.
Shauna Hardy Mishaw co-founded the Whistler Film Festival in 2001, which evolved into a charitable, not-for-profit cultural and educational organization committed to celebrating, promoting and developing a strong film industry in Western Canada, and to showcasing the best films from Canada and around the world. Today, the Whistler Film Festival Society produces one of Canada’s leading film festivals and plays a leadership role in offering professional development programs and opportunities for filmmakers through the Whistler Filmmaker Forum, an industry conference that takes place concurrently with festival, and the CFC GO WEST Project Lab with the Canadian Film Centre. To date over $50 million in production and
WIFTV SPOTLIGHT AWARDS GALA Saturday, March 7, 2009 revenue has been created in Canada as a result of relationships made and deals inked from the Filmmaker Forum. No other Film Festival in Canada does more to promote Canadian films as its core mandate. With over 15 years experience in sales, marketing and event production, this Alberta native is a pioneering spirit by nature. She has run her own sales and marketing consultancy, advertising agency, 4x4 expedition company, and has worked on several of Whistler and Vancouver’s highest profile events. She has also worked as a journalist and photographer. An active volunteer, Shauna has been a proud member of the Whistler Arts Council Board since 2002, and is a Team Whistler volunteer for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. A strong supporter of Women In Film & Television Vancouver, she was part of the inaugural Spotlight Awards Gala committee in 1998 and worked on three consecutive events in a sponsorship and marketing capacity. Shauna was named the 2008 Business Person of the Year by the Whistler Chamber of Commerce for helping “to transform the look and feel of Whistler during a critical time, and to create an economic benefit that continues to have a great impact on the entire community”. Shauna holds an honors degree in political science from the University of Western Ontario and a Marketing Communications Diploma from BCIT. She lives in Whistler with her husband Glenn and sons, Calum (3) and Jaxon (1).
Special Jury Award for Lifetime Contribution – Al Parsons The Special Jury Award is given to an individual deserving of recognition based on his or her achievements, commitments and overall involvement in the BC film industry and to WIFTV.
Al Parsons has worked closely with many of our members, both through launch and promotion of Vancouver productions and generously offering advice to those seeking ‘another’ perspective on their productions, or career in general. His door has always been open to our members. Al has been described as devoted, a mentor, a great friend, encouraging, supportive, “the nicest” and “the best kind” by members of our women in film and television community.
Al graduated high school in Quebec before attending Acadia University in Nova Scotia and Ryerson University in Toronto. While at Ryerson, and after graduation, Al worked in independent video production in Toronto, and broadcasting, including CITY TV in Toronto and CFVO (French-language) TV in Ottawa. Following two years of coordinating and promoting A/V within the Eastern Ontario Public Library System, Al joined the NFB in Ottawa, where he worked for seven+ years, before relocating to Vancouver with his wife, Lesley. In his 32 years with the National Film Board of Canada in film distribution, marketing, advertising, publicity, as well as more recently in sales management, Al has consistently met and surpassed the NFB’s revenue goals (and previous year’s results). Al has been recognized for his “superior” accomplishments by the NFB on several occasions.
For eight consecutive years since 2001, Al has been a valued member of the steering committee for Fast Forward, the largest educational marketplace staged annually within Canada. He has served annually on the fundraising committee for Odd Squad Productions, the producers of Through a Blue Lens, a documentary about drug-addicted life on Vancouver’s downtown eastside. Al and Lesley have one daughter, Kim, and a son, Chris. Al retired from the NFB’s Pacific and Yukon Studio in December, following two and a half decades in the production and launch of the Board’s releases here on the west coast.
WIFTV SPOTLIGHT AWARDS GALA Saturday, March 7, 2009
Honourary Friend – John Dippong The Honourary Friend Award recognizes a person who has played a significant role in supporting women in the industry and, although not a professional member, has promoted the success of the organization.
In his current position as Regional Feature Film Executive, John Dippong oversees Telefilm Canada’s feature film development, production and marketing decisions in the Western Region. Prior to joining Telefilm in 1997, John spent two years as programmer of the Canadian Images Series at the Vancouver International Film Festival, was the Founding Director of Moving Pictures, Canadian Films on Tour - a travelling film festival designed to bring Canadian films into smaller centres in Western Canada, and co-produced Bruce Sweeney’s second feature film, Dirty, which screened at the Sundance, Berlin and Toronto International Film Festivals.
Kodak Image Award – Moira Simpson The Kodak Image Award winner is awarded by a special jury to a female director or DOP for excellence in a recent short work that shows excellence in overall production value or a unique, visionary approach to the cinematography or storytelling.
Over a career spanning more than three decades, international award- winning DOP and director/writer Moira Simpson’s work in film, video and new media has been informed by a passionate belief in using film as a tool for social change. Whether working with media activists in the slums of Nairobi (Slum TV), working on issues of advocacy and disability (This- Ability, Behind the Scenes with Open i), or collaborating on a grassroots feminist intervention using mobile phone video cameras with women in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (Fearless City Mobile), Mo has never wavered from her commitment to empowering women, youth and marginalized communities to tell their own stories in their own ways.
Mo was Director, writer and DOP on the NFB’s Kosovo: fragile peace (2002), DOP for Me and the Mosque directed by Zarqa Nawaz (2005), and DOP for Finding Dawn (2007), a feature length documentary directed by Christine Welsh on the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women across Canada. As Co-director with Jan Padgett, DOP and editor Mo recently completed From Under the Bushy Trees, an independent documentary that reveals the complexities of offering aid to Africa.
Sharon Gibbon Lifetime Member Award – Jacqui Ellis The Sharon Gibbon Lifetime Member Award honours a member in recognition of the volunteer work with WIFTV advancing the organization’s goals in the British Columbia film and television community. The award is named in memory of Sharon Gibbon, who exemplified these qualities in a career cut short too soon.
After emigrating from the UK in July 2000, Jacqui quickly achieved her goal of working in Vancouver’s entertainment industry as an accountant. She shared her skills on three local feature films during 2002: A Wrinkle in Time, Still Life (writer/director Katherine Surridge), and On the Corner (writer/director Nathaniel Geary). Later in 2002, Jacqui joined Force Four and managed the production accounting for a wide variety of television projects including “The Shopping Bags”, “The Ties that Bind”, “Making it Big”, and “Human
WIFTV SPOTLIGHT AWARDS GALA Saturday, March 7, 2009
Cargo”. Jacqui now works as a freelance accountant in the Vancouver film and TV industry and enjoys connecting with many fun characters and artistic people.
A committed member of Women in Film and Television Vancouver, Jacqui also belongs to the University Women’s Club and volunteers as their club photographer.
Legacy Awards The Legacy Awards are given to the top three BC filmmakers at the festival, awarded by the Women in Film Festival’s special guest jury. The prizes total $1500, $1000, and $500 and are generously sponsored by Deboragh Gabler, CEO of Legacy Filmworks.
Winners:
1st Prize: Claudia Morgano Escanilla, Director of No Bikini 2nd Prize: Peg Campbell, Director of Your Mother Should Know 3rd Prize: Aparna Kapur, Director of Amma
For media access or interview requests, please contact:
Sandra Garcia, WIFF Publicist [email protected] 604.721.0030
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY Sunday, March 8, 2009
Women In Film & Television International (WIFTI) is a global network comprised of over 35 Women In Film & Television chapters worldwide and more than 10,000 members. All are dedicated to advancing professional development and achievement for women working in all areas of film, video and other screen-based media. To accomplish this goal, WIFTI provides networking and learning opportunities, scholarships, a film finishing fund, a presence at major worldwide film festivals, as well as offering help and encouragement to women who aspire to work in the film and TV industries. www.wifti.org
1:00-2:30pm WIFTI Short Film Showcase
Celebrating International Women’s Day, this elite selection of female film talent will be screened in over 15 cities worldwide and will feature short films culled from over 40 finalist selections submitted by our international members and Film Festival Partners. There are currently 182 events planned from over 18 different countries to mark this March 8th occasion.
Women in Film Chapters are participating in China, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Sweden, and 12 cities throughout the U.S.
2:30-3:00pm Complimentary Reception
3:00-4:30pm Shorts screening: Growing Up
All events take place at the Chan Centre For Family Health Education at CFRI, located on the same campus as the BC Women’s Hospital, 4500 Oak Street in Vancouver, BC.
Tickets at www.womeninfilm.ca.
For media access, please contact:
Sandra Garcia, WIFF Publicist [email protected] 604.721.0030