eSource

July | 2011

WIFT-T News

iWDMS | 2011
Registration Opens Tuesday

October 23-25 | Stratford, Ontario | Early Bird $450
The countdown is on! Registration for WIFT-T’s International Women in Digital Media Summit (iWDMS) opens tomorrow, Tuesday July 5, at 9AM EDT.

Register early to take advantage of big savings and special opportunities—including the Early Bird rate, reduced rates on hotel rooms and suites, discounted tickets to the Sunday matinee of Camelot and more!

Registration includes the Opening and Closing Receptions, Welcome Dinner, and lunch and breaks on both Monday and Tuesday. Additional activities—such as the Pubs, Pilsners and Spirits tour—can be selected for an extra fee.

Featuring keynote speaker Arianna Huffington, the iWDMS will bring together leaders from traditional and digital media communities to explore innovation, content creation, emerging trends and business models, and the role of women in digital media globally. Click here for a preview.

Connect with fellow delegates before, during and after the Summit! Registrants will receive an invitation to Wink, a private online community designed to facilitate networking, collaboration and mentorship. Upload a profile, receive recommendations based on your interests and expertise, and create your personalized Summit schedule. Select content from the iWDMS will also be available to delegates via Wink for a limited time after the Summit.

For more information about the iWDMS, please visit our website or contact Gjen Snider at 416.322.3430 ext. 221 or programming@wift.com.

WIFT-T Industry Study
Survey Closes Friday

Survey Response Deadline | Friday July 8, Midnight
WIFT-T has partnered with Nordicity and Environics to undertake a study on employment trends in Canada’s screen-based industries. Read more.

You may receive an email from WIFT-T, Nordicity/Environics or another organization you are member of inviting you to participate in the industry study survey. Vital to the success of our study, your responses to the survey are due Friday July 8 at 12AM (midnight) EDT. Your answers will remain anonymous in all respects and will be combined with the answers of others. We encourage you to take the time to participate.

NOTE: Do not complete the survey more than once. If you have already completed the survey, we thank you for your participation.

Highlights from the study’s final report will be presented in October at the International Women in Digital Media Summit (iWDMS). The full report will be distributed by WIFT-T and made available online shortly after the Summit.

Your opinions and experiences are important to WIFT-T and the Canadian screen-based industries. We thank you in advance for completing the survey.

2011 Crystal Awards
Nominate a Worthy Professional

Nomination Deadline | Friday July 29, 5PM EDT
Women in Film & Television – Toronto is now accepting nominations for the 2011 Crystal Awards Gala Luncheon, taking place Monday December 5 in Toronto.

Active WIFT-T members are invited to nominate an exceptional candidate, with a minimum of ten years’ experience in screen-based media (film, television or digital media), for a 2011 Crystal Award. Click here to learn more.

WIFT-T's annual Crystal Awards Gala Luncheon honours the outstanding achievements of Canadian women and men in the screen-based media industry. For more information, please contact the WIFT-T Membership & Administration Manager at 416.322.3430 ext. 224.

WIFT-T Programs

Corus Convergent Media Stream
Now Accepting Applications

Application Deadline | Monday August 15, 5PM EDT
The Corus Convergent Media Stream (CCMS) is for teams of two producers (male or female) who are currently developing an interactive digital media project.

Over three intensive days at the International Women in Digital Media Summit (iWDMS), participants will examine the latest strategies for producing interactive projects—from financing, to rights management, to managing project teams and more. A maximum of 10 teams will be accepted into this competitive program.

The CCMS runs concurrently with the iWDMS, October 23 – 25, 2011, in Stratford, Ontario. Registration for CCMS includes all Summit activities; however, participants are required to attend all CCMS programming in full. Successful applicants receive the WIFT member rate for registration. Click here for complete details and the application form.

CCMS BURSARIES
Application Deadline | Tuesday August 2, 5PM EDT
Three bursaries are available for the Corus Convergent Media Stream covering the cost of registration and two nights’ shared accommodation in Stratford (excluding travel expenses).

To be eligible, applicant teams must include at least one female team member or at least one member who is a visible minority, Aboriginal or a person with a disability (male or female). In addition, team members must have worked together on at least one joint project within the past five years and must meet all general eligibility requirements. Click here for complete guidelines and the application form.

Deluxe Producer Internship
Now Accepting Applications

Application Deadline | Monday July 25, 5PM EDT
The Deluxe Producer Internship provides one emerging Canadian female producer with invaluable hands-on pre- and postproduction training. The successful applicant joins Deluxe for a three-week internship to learn about production equipment planning and requirements and postproduction video, film and sound. The internship will commence in November, 2011. Click here for complete guidelines and the application form.

WIFT-T @ Open Roof Festival
Music, Film & Free Popcorn

Thursday July 7 | $15 | Amsterdam Brewery
The Open Roof Festival has selected Family First, a short film by WIFT-T member Jennifer Liao, for a special WIFT-T partnered screening.

Liao’s disturbingly hilarious comedy will be followed by Trigger, a film from director Bruce McDonald (Pontypool, Hard Core Logo, Dance Me Outside) about two rock n’ roll women who reconnect years after the breakup of their band. The screenings will be preceded by a live performance from Betty Burke.

WIFT-T members receive complimentary popcorn! Email wift@wift.com with "Open Roof" as the subject to receive your small popcorn voucher.

Event Schedule
Doors open | 7:30PM
Musical performance | 8PM
Film screenings | 9PM

Family First was featured earlier this year as part of the WIFT-T Short Film Showcase. If you missed the Showcase, be sure to check out WIFT-T’s co-presentation at the Open Roof Festival! Click here to purchase tickets.

Support the Foundation

Annual or Monthly Giving

Annual and monthly gifts enable the Foundation for Women in Film & Television – Toronto to provide ongoing support to WIFT-T’s core programs and research and promote access to training and mentorship. Read more.

Bursaries

Through bursaries, the Foundation provides professional development opportunities for underrepresented women, women with limited financial means, and women with limited access to training in Canada’s screen-based media industry. Read more.

Donate

Help us build a foundation for women. Your donation to the Foundation for Women in Film & Television – Toronto (885240812RR0001) supports mentorships, bursaries, research and programming. Charitable tax receipts are issued for all donations. Read more.

WIFT-T Member Discounts

2012 Female Eye Film Festival
Open Call for Films & Screenplays

Submit your films and screenplays to the 10th Anniversary Female Eye Film Festival, taking place March 21–24, 2012. WIFT-T members receive a 10% discount on submission fees. Email wift@wift.com for details.

Regular Deadline | August 31, 2011 (postmarked), $65
Extended Deadline | October 31, 2011 (postmarked), $75
In Competition | October 31, 2011, $100
Please note fees listed are before discount savings.

For more information, email info@FemaleEyeFilmFestival.com or call 905-264-7731.

Audio Network

Audio Network boasts a growing library of more than 35,000 tracks, covering all genres from orchestral to hip hop. Music is licensed on a per production basis. WIFT-T members receive a 20% discount on the single production license fee of $495, which provides unlimited access to the entire library. For more information contact Ms. Randi Gold at Randi.gold@audionetwork.com or 905-655-4897.

Bottle Blonde Productions

Bottle Blonde Productions is offering WIFT-T members a 20% discount on business affairs and production management services. Click here for more information.

Christine’s Fitness

WIFT-T members receive the corporate membership rate of $399 per year at Christine’s Fitness & Personal Training. Christine’s Fitness offers personal training at two locations and pilates, yoga, hydrotherapy, shiatsu, reflexology, chiropractic care, active release therapy and acupuncture at the 912 Yonge Street location. Visit christinesfitness.com or call Christine Steiger at 416-969-9912.

Deluxe

WIFT-T members receive discounts on Deluxe sound and laboratory services. Contact Diane for more information.

Drake Hotel

Members receive preferred corporate rates for accommodation at the Drake Hotel (1150 Queen St. W). Click here for room types and amenities and email wift@wift.com for pricing details. Please note rates do not apply for black out periods.

Dynamix Solutions

Members receive a 10% discount on all Dynamix Solutions IT services. Contact Danny Vasic at 416-657-2449 ext. 6659 or email dvasic@dynamixsolutions.com to learn more. Let Dynamix Solutions simplify your IT while you take care of running your business. Visit dynamixsolutions.com.

The Media Concierge

The Media Concierge is pleased to offer WIFT-T members a 10% discount on Closed Captioning, Descriptive Video, Broadcast Transfers, PAL Standards Conversion and DVD & Blu-Ray services. Please contact Trevor Tyre at trevor@themediaconcierge.com for more information.

Playback

Members receive the associate rate of $89.95 for a one-year subscription to Playback Online (regular $129.95). Please note that subscriptions purchased under last year’s promo will not be automatically renewed. Email wift@wift.com for this year’s promo code. The discounted rate will not be applied retroactively.

Propagation Media

WIFT-T members receive a 15% discount on design services from Propagation Media. Email info@propagationmedia.com for more information.

WIFT-T Partner News

CMPA
Terms of Trade Road Show

The Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA) will hit the road with a series of information sessions designed for producers who want to know more about the recently-implemented Terms of Trade Agreement.

Throughout July and August, the CMPA will travel across the country to brief Canadian producers on the agreement that came into effect June 1, 2011. The agreement is applicable to all productions for Astral, Bell Media (CTV), Corus, Rogers and Shaw Media.

If you wish to be notified about the dates and venues of the sessions, please send your name, company name, city and email address to Emma Grace at emma.grace@cmpa.ca.

Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television

ACCT Welcomes Suzan Ayscough
As announced on June 15, veteran communications and media facilitator Suzan Ayscough will join the ACCT as Interim Director Communications, Marketing & Development.

Ms. Ayscough will oversee strategy and activities in communications and marketing while working directly with Interim CEO Ms. Stephenson to develop an active and vibrant Academy. Ayscough brings a wealth of media knowledge and experience to the ACCT, which will celebrate the 26th Gemini Awards this autumn. Read more.

Vote for the Gemini Awards
Time is running out to confirm your voting eligibility for the 26th Annual Gemini Awards—celebrating Canada’s best English-language television! To cast a ballot, your ACCT membership must be active by the date of the Nominee Announcement, coming this summer. Click here to join today.

Women's Voices Now
Official Selections Now Online

Women’s Voices Now (WVN), a New York-based social enterprise, is pleased to present an online collection of Official Selections from Women’s Voices from the Muslim World: A Short-Film Festival, featuring 98 Official Selections from 40 countries.

Now with an online counterpart, the Festival aims to challenge international perceptions about women living in Muslim-majority countries and Muslim women living as minorities around the world.

The Festival took place March 2011 at the Los Angeles Film School in Hollywood, California. Eight themed screenings were coupled with panel discussions, receptions and performances by musicians, authors and poets. Click here to watch a short documentary on the Festival project!

Canadian Film Centre

World of Shorts: Festival Award Winners
Wed July 20 | 6PM & 8PM (2 screenings) | NFB Cinema
Don't miss the award-winning films from this year's CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival! A stunning array of talent, originality and craft is on display as the CFC celebrates the short film form.

Catch the winners of Best Experimental, Documentary, Live-Action, Cinematography, Animation and Best Canadian Short in all their big-screen glory! Tickets are $6 adults, or $4 students/seniors/NFB members. Click here for the lineup.

SHORTSNONSTOP
Submission Deadline | Friday July 15
An initiative of the CFC’s Worldwide Short Film Festival, SHORTSNONSTOP is a year-round online mobile film festival that you can experience anytime or anyplace. Click here to submit your entry today!

Telefilm Canada Features Comedy Lab
Application Deadline | Monday August 15
Are you a filmmaker with a passion for comedy? Telefilm Canada, CFC and Just For Laughs are looking for producers with writer/director teams to participate in a new development and packaging opportunity.

Work with the best comedic talent in the business to make your comedy feature a reality. Click here for more information or contact Kristine Kazias, Program Manager, at kkazias@cfccreates.com

BITE ME! Toronto International Body Image Film & Arts Festival

July 8–10 | NFB Mediatheque, 150 John St.
Wrapped in our experiences of the provocative and the everyday, BITE ME! explores, challenges and redefines the concept of the "body beautiful.” Enjoy documentary and fictional journeys of self-discovery and identity through the body.

All-Access 3-day Pass (Adult) | $40 or $20 per day
All-Access 3-day Pass (Student/Senior/NFB Member) | $25 or $15 per day

Please note students must be under 35 years of age with valid ID. Senior is defined as 65+. Passes are transferable. Tickets are available online or at the NFB Mediatheque.

OMDC
Interactive Digital Media Fund

Application Deadline | August 26, 2011, 5PM EDT
The Ontario Media Development Corporation (OMDC) is pleased to announce a new deadline for the OMDC Interactive Digital Media (IDM) Fund.

The OMDC IDM Fund is designed to provide Ontario interactive digital media content companies with access to the funding required to move their content projects into production. Successful applicants will receive a non-refundable contribution of up to $150,000, to a maximum of 50% of the project budget, to create a market-ready interactive digital media content product.

It is anticipated that the OMDC IDM Fund will support projects from a range of genres, delivery platforms and budgets. Consideration will be given to the cultural and industrial benefits of each project. In assessing the economic impact of a project, OMDC will take into account immediate results, including Ontario job creation and retention and the level of Ontario expenditures. Long term results—such as the potential for commercial exploitation—will also be a factor.

Application Process
Applications must be submitted electronically through the Online Application Portal (OAP). You must also register your company’s corporate information prior to commencing an application. Applicants are encouraged to begin the application process well in advance in case technical support is required. For technical assistance, send an email to applyhelp@omdc.on.ca. Click here for full guidelines.

Athena Film Festival
Call for Submissions

Submission Deadline | Thursday September 15
For a second year, Barnard College will celebrate women’s leadership on screen at the Athena Film Festival in New York City, February 9-12, 2012.

Athena aims to expand the definition of what it means to be a female leader by highlighting the many ways that women make a difference. Through a wide range of films—including features, documentaries and shorts—audiences are invited to engage with directors, writers and producers who challenge convention and examine leadership with a new lens.

The Athena Film Festival is now accepting submissions of documentaries, features and shorts that:

Reveal diverse narratives of women leaders from all walks of life
Showcase women leaders who help us interpret the reality of the modern world
Highlight the talents of emerging artists, capturing a new generation’s take on what makes an exemplary woman leader

Only films that have a female at the centre of the story in a leadership position will be considered. Films may be directed by men or women. Click here for full guidelines and the submission process. For questions, contact athenafilmfestival@gmail.com.

WorkInCulture
Leadership Mentoring Project

Application Deadline | Tuesday July 5
It's the last call for applications to WorkInCulture's new project, designed to better-equip entrepreneurial companies across the cultural media industries with leadership and business skills.

The Cultural Media Industries Leadership Mentoring Project will match 15 company leaders with mentors from their sector or other business sectors to help them focus on their business direction and future growth. Short-listed candidates will be interviewed and final selections made by Wednesday August 3. Participation in the program is free; however, travel assistance is not available.

Mentoring teams will attend orientation and training sessions at the end of September, and meet monthly from October 2011 through September 2012 on a specific development plan. There will also be opportunities for cross-sector networking and workshops throughout the year. For guidelines and the application form, visit WorkInCulture.ca.

Toronto Urban Film Festival
Call for Submissions

Submission Deadline | July 15, 2011
Filmmakers, animators and video artists are invited to submit one-minute silent films for an urban public to the fifth annual Toronto Urban Film Festival (TUFF). Internationally acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan will act as guest judge, awarding the top films of the festival.

TUFF thanks WIFT-T and Videoscope for their continued sponsorship of the award for the Most Ambitious Film by a Local Female Director. The winner receives a one-year membership and $1,200 programming pass to WIFT-T, plus a $1,500 equipment rental credit and 15% rental discount (good for one year) from Videoscope.

Submission fees are $15 from July 1 – July 15. To submit your film, visit the TUFF website.

Toronto Screenwriters Meetup Group

The Toronto Screenwriters Meetup Group (TSMG) is seeking directors and producers to add to their growing roster of working industry professionals. Director and producer affiliates act as moderators and guest judges for TSMG’s Live Actors Script Reading Workshop series and the ICANPitch: Practice Pitching Competition.

With over 590 members, TSMG offers multiple opportunities for targeted advertising and promotion of affiliates, their companies and their work. For more information on joining TSMG’s roster, contact Daniel Fruman at DanielFrumanTSMG@gmail.com or 416-550-5969.

Manhattan Short Film Festival
Call for Submissions

Submission Deadline | July 31, 2011
This is the first year that the Manhattan Short Film Festival will show its film finalists in Toronto! Taking place in one week, the first global film festival showcases only the top ten short films from around the world. The winner is decided by voters and announced in New York City on Sunday October 2, 2011.

Board of Directors

Prentiss Fraser, Chair
Madeline Ziniak, Vice-Chair
Akhaji Zakiya, Treasurer
Kara Russell, Secretary
Mary Bredin
Victoria Ha
Maureen Judge
Gaye McDonald
Samantha McWilliams
Edith Myers
Jade Raymond
Muriel Solomon
Joanna Webb
Diane Williamson

Corporate Social Benefits Donors

Astral Media
Corus Entertainment
CTVglobemedia
Quebecor Fund
Shaw Media

Platinum Partners

CBC Television
Deluxe
Kodak Canada
Shaw Media

Gold Partners

Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television
Humber School of Media Studies & Information Technology
M.A.C. Cosmetics
Technicolor

Government Partners

Ontario Media Development Corporation
Telefilm Canada

Corporate Foundation Donors

Corus Entertainment
Entertainment One
Maple Pictures Corp.
Pinewood Toronto Studios
Scotiabank

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