Toronto, ON – Women in Film & Television – Toronto (WIFT-T) is pleased to announce emerging producer Heidi Tao Yang as winner of the 2011 CBC Business of Broadcasting Mentorship.

Yang will join CBC Television for a week-long workshop at its downtown Toronto studio in February 2012. She will learn about the production and broadcast components of dramatic content for multiple platforms and receive the opportunity to develop business relationships with CBC drama staff.

“Canada’s public broadcaster is the ideal place for Heidi to develop her burgeoning talent and expand her creative vision,” says Heather Webb, WIFT-T Executive Director. “On behalf of WIFT-T, I’d like to thank CBC for their ongoing commitment to developing the next generation of Canadian production professionals.”

Yang has produced nine short dramatic films, worked on feature films and television series, and supervised over 30 hours of documentary television.

Currently, she is developing a feature film, a children’s animation series, and a documentary about communication barriers between first-generation immigrants and their second-generation children. She is a recent recipient of the CMPA Telefilm Producer Trainee Award.

Now in its fifth year, the CBC Business of Broadcasting Mentorship is a competitive program that provides one emerging Canadian female producer with the opportunity to experience a unique look at CBC Television from “behind the screen.”

“We’d like to congratulate Heidi and welcome her to the CBC Business of Broadcasting Mentorship,” says Trevor Walton, Executive Director of Scripted and Commissioned Programming for CBC English Services.

“Her practical experience, story-telling skills and international perspective will complement CBC’s focus on telling compelling and entertaining all-Canadian stories as we continue to meet the challenges our industry faces head-on,” Walton adds.

As the 2011 recipient, Yang will be acknowledged at the Crystal Awards Gala Luncheon on December 5^th in Toronto. She also receives a WIFT-T programming pass valued at $1,200 for continued professional development.

For more information, please visit www.wift.com.

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More on the CBC Business of Broadcasting Mentorship

For media inquiries or accreditation at the 2011 Crystal Awards, please contact:
Katy Swailes
WIFT-T Communications Officer
416-322-3430 ext. 226
kswailes@wift.com