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