For Immediate Release
March 25, 2010

Toronto, ON – The Women in Film & Television – Toronto (WIFT-T) Board of Directors is pleased to support the nomination of the following candidates for election to the Board:

Victoria Ha Partner & Producer, Stitch Media
Samantha McWilliams Legal Counsel, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Edith Myers Managing Director, Pinewood Toronto Studios
*Please see below for candidate bios.

This slate was developed after soliciting input from the WIFT-T membership in February and throughout March. Please note only WIFT-T full members are eligible to serve on the Board.

The Board is also pleased to support the nomination of the following Board members for a second term:

Gaye McDonald Branded Entertainment Management
Kara Russell Kara Russell Law
Madeline Ziniak National Vice President, Rogers OMNI Television
Akhaji Zakiya Manager, Nordicity Group Ltd.
*Click here for Board member bios.

Please note the following Board members will continue for the 2010 term:

Wanda Bradley Director of Operations/Sales, NBC Universal Television Distribution
Mary Bredin Vice President, Guru Studio
Bonnie Brownlee Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, CTVglobemedia
Prentiss Fraser Vice President, Head of Sales, E1 Television International
Maureen Judge President, Makin’ Movies
Muriel Solomon Vice President, Marketing Strategy, Specialty, Canwest Broadcasting
Diane Williamson President, Digital Wizards Inc.

The Board is pleased to announce that Board Chair Susan Ross’ second term has been extended for a final year.

The Board thanks the following directors who have completed their terms:

Jane Tattersall President, Tattersall Sound and Picture
Leesa Levinson Executive Director, Lights, Camera, Access!
Gabriella Martinelli President and CEO, Capri Films

The election of the 2010 Board of Directors takes place at the WIFT-T Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, April 8 at the National Film Board of Canada. Everyone is welcome to attend the AGM; however, voting for the Board of Directors is restricted to full members. If you are a full member and are unable to attend, you may vote by proxy. Please note nominations will not be accepted from the floor on the evening of the AGM.

Candidate Bios

Victoria Ha | Stitch Media partner Victoria Ha has extensive production experience in media with a background that includes coordinating international news events, editing, and production management for a large scale, award winning alternate reality game and several award winning international documentaries. In 2008, she spearheaded a new media presentation with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for the New Creations Festival. The project consisted of a live multi-camera shoot and multiple projections synced with the performance of the orchestra. Recent projects at Stitch Media include producing a ten-week cross media branded campaign called “Workout with Sidney Crosby” for Reebok and Sympatico/MSN; a web-series called Saving Penny that educates women to be financially savvy; and a three-part TV series, full length feature documentary, and integrated interactive website called Redress Remix. Victoria has been a keynote speaker, panelist and participant in events for Women in Film & Television-Toronto, Crossover Canada, the Canadian Film Centre, Interactive Ontario, FITC, and educational institutions. She was a panelist speaker at last year’s SXSW for a discussion called “Future of Visual Storytelling,” and returned this year for “Interactive Documentaries.”

Samantha McWilliams | Samantha joined the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as Legal Counsel in 2006. She is part of the transactional team at CBC with a focus on contract negotiation. She works with CBC Sports on both amateur and professional sports rights acquisition and enforcement, and is an officer with an active role in the partnership with documentary. Samantha has also played a central role in the corporation’s procurement process, conducting cross-country training and acting as the legal liaison for the English Network. She has a B.A. from the University of Calgary (1999) and an LL.B. from the University of Alberta (2003), and has practiced corporate/commercial law since her call to the Ontario bar (2004). She is actively involved in the legal community with the Ontario Bar Association and also volunteers with Journalists for Human Rights.

Edith Myers | Edith is Managing Director of Pinewood Toronto Studios, Canada’s largest studio complex providing facilities for film, television and commercial production. Previously, Edith was the Chief Operating Officer for the Scott Group of Companies owned by film directors Ridley Scott and Tony Scott. The Scott Group includes RSA Films (London and Los Angeles), one of the world’s largest television commercial production companies, and Scott Free, a film and television production company responsible for Black Hawk Down and Déjà Vu, as well as the television series Numb3rs and The Good Wife. Edith has an MBA from Concordia University and a post MBA from McGill University.

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