We are thrilled to celebrate the 37th anniversary of the WIFT+ Toronto Crystal Awards. This year's luncheon gala is set to take place on Thursday, November 21 2024 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
The Crystal Awards, established in 1988, is WIFT+ Toronto’s annual tribute gala to individuals making significant contributions to Canadian screen-based media industry. Since its inception nearly 4 decades ago, more than 180 esteemed individuals have been recognized for their excellence in creativity, innovation, leadership, and their commitment to mentoring the next generation of industry creators and leaders.
Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis (tickets sold out two weeks prior to the awards gala in 2023).
If you require accommodations for accessibility, please reach out to Venessa Harris, Executive Assistant, at vharris@wift.com.
WIFT+ TORONTO CRYSTAL AWARD DESCRIPTIONS
CREATIVE EXCELLENCE
Presented to a woman in recognition of dynamic quality of her work in screen-based media. Her recent work has gained national and/or international attention in the previous year, and has established a standard for those working in the industry.
Past winners include Marilyn Denis, Sarah Polley, Jennifer Holness, Mary Young Leckie, Edwina Follows, Mary Harron, Christina Piovesan, Sally Catto, and Semi Chellas.
INNOVATION AWARD
New in 2023, this award honours individuals who demonstrate forward-thinking leadership, creativity, and originality in pushing the boundaries of their respective field(s). For example, this could be a leader that: embraces or develops new technologies; is a pioneer around their approach to storytelling; champions equity, diversity and/or inclusion; creating or inventing new ways to build a more sustainable industry —essentially someone that has or is doing groundbreaking work that pushes the innovation in our industry forward
For example, this could be a leader that: embraces or develops new technologies; is a pioneer around their approach to storytelling; champions equity, diversity and/or inclusion; or creating/inventing new ways to build a more sustainable industry—essentially someone that has or is doing groundbreaking work that pushes the innovation in our industry forward.
The first recipient of this award was Neishaw Ali in 2023.
INTERNATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
This award is presented to an individual in recognition of their significant and well-renowned body of work not only in Canada but across the globe.
Past winners include Missy Peregrym, Esta Spalding, Anne Dorval, Mia Krishner, Sarah Gadon, Samantha Bee, Shirley Douglas, Catherine O'Hara, and Sandra Oh.
MENTORSHIP
Presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to building women's careers in the screen-based media industry. They vocally support women's advancement, offer guidance and support to emerging professionals, and assist women entrepreneurs in growing their own companies.
Past winners include Margot Daley, Frances-Anne Solomon, Anita Lee, Alison Duke, Zoe Dirse, Karen Walton, Ken Dhaliwal, Deborah Osborne, Corrie Coe, and Lalita Krishna.
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN BUSINESS
Presented to a woman who—through the consistent quality of their work—has made a major contribution to the screen-based media industry as a leader in enterprise development. They have built a culture of excellence by inspiring their colleagues to push the boundaries of innovation.
Past winners include Victoria Harding, Jocelyn Hamilton, Beth Janson, Tammy Frick, Grace-Carnale Davis, Mary Bredin, Tracey Pearce, Lisa Olfman, Joy Rosen, and Barbara Bowlby.
SPECIAL JURY AWARD OF DISTINCTION
This additional award may be distributed at the discretion of the jury. The award is presented to a woman who has built a legacy as a ground-breaking force in our industry and whose life's work is dedicated to building a vibrant, diverse, and active creative community.
Past winners include Catherine Tait, Christa Dickenson, Dr. Shirley Cheechoo, maxine bailey, Karen Thorne-Stone, Tonya Williams , Pat Ellingson , Susan Cavan , and Trina McQueen
2023
Victoria Harding (Outstanding Achievement in Business)
Marilyn Denis (Creative Excellence)
Missy Peregrym (International Achievement)
Neishaw Ali (Innovation Trailblazer)
Margot Daley (Mentorship Award)
Catherine Tait (Special Jury Award of Distinction)
2022
Jocelyn Hamilton (Outstanding Achievement in Business)
Sarah Polley (Creative Excellence)
Frances-Anne Solomon (Mentorship Award sponsored by Company 3)
Ramona Pringle (Digital Trailblazer)
Christa Dickenson (Special Jury Award of Distinction)
2021
Jane Tattersall (Outstanding Achievement in Business)
Anita Lee (Mentorship)
Ana Serrano (Digital Trailblazer)
Jennifer Holness (Creative Excellence)
Dr. Shirley Cheechoo C. (Special Jury Award of Distinction)
2020
Beth Janson (Outstanding Achievement in Business)
Jennifer Kawaja (Mentorship)
Sue Haas (Digital Trailblazer)
Marsha Greene (Creative Excellence)
Marci Ien (Special Jury Award of Distinction)
2019
Tammy Frick (Outstanding Achievement in Business)
Esta Spalding (International Achievement)
Alison Duke (Mentorship)
Kim Gibson (Digital Trailblazer)
Mary Young Leckie (Creative Excellence)
maxine bailey (Special Jury Award of Distinction)
2018
Edwina Follows (Creative Excellence)
Grace Carnale-Davis (Outstanding Achievement in Business)
Zoe Dirse (Mentorship)
Deb Day (Digital Trailblazer)
Karen Thorne-Stone (Special Jury Award of Distinction)
2017
Mary Harron (Creative Excellence)
Mary Bredin (Outstanding Achievement in Business)
Karen Walton (Mentorship)
Diane Williamson (Digital Trailblazer)
Tonya Williams (Special Jury Award of Distinction)
2016
Michelle Crespi (Creative Excellence)
Tracey Pearce (Outstanding Achievement in Business)
Deborah Osborne (Mentorship)
Barbara Bailie (Digital Trailblazer)
Pat Ellingson (Special Jury Award of Distinction)
2015
Christina Piovesan (Creative Excellence)
Lisa Olfman & Joy Rosen (Outstanding Achievement in Business)
Ken Dhaliwal (Mentorship)
Lucie Lalumiere (Digital Trailblazer)
Susan Cavan (Special Jury Award of Distinction)
2014
Sally Catto (Creative Excellence)
Barbara Bowlby (Outstanding Achievement in Business)
Corrie Coe (Mentorship)
Trina McQueen (Special Jury Award of Distinction)
Anne Dorval (International Achievement)
2013
Semi Chellas (Creative Excellence)
Margaret O’Brien (Outstanding Achievement in Business)
Lalita Krishna (Mentorship)
Sheila Hockin (Special Jury Award of Distinction)
Mia Kirshner (International Achievement)
2012
Tara Ellis (Creative Excellence)
Susan Ross (Mentorship)
Anne Marie La Traverse (Outstanding Achievement)
Mary Ellen Carlyle (Special Jury Award of Distinction)
Sarah Gadon (International Achievement)
2011
Julie Bristow (Creative Excellence)
Noreen Halpern (Outstanding Achievement)
Carol Whiteman (Mentorship)
Samantha Bee (International Achievement)
2010
Lesley Harrison (Mentorship)
Jill Hennessy (International Achievement)
Laurie May (Outstanding Achievement)
Shelley Saywell (Creative Excellence)
2009
Tassie Cameron (Creative Excellence)
Shirley Douglas (International Achievement)
Lisa Meeches (Mentorship)
Christine Shipton (Outstanding Achievement)
Christa Singer (Special Jury Award of Distinction)
2008
Catherine O’Hara (International Achievement)
Kit Redmond (Mentorship)
Sandi Ross (Special Jury Award of Distinction)
Virginia Thompson (Creative Excellence)
Barb Williams (Outstanding Achievement)
2007
Tecca Crosby (Mentorship)
Ilana Frank (Creative Excellence)
Judy Gladstone (Outstanding Achievement)
Toni Myers (Outstanding Achievement)
Sandra Oh (International Achievement)
Claire Prieto (Special Jury Award of Distinction)
2006
Jennifer Baichwal (Creative Excellence)
Jeanne Beker (Special Jury Award of Distinction)
Karen Gelbart (Mentorship)
Christina Jennings (Outstanding Achievement)
Linda Schuyler (International Achievement)
2005
Gail Asper (Outstanding Achievement)
Arsinee Khanjian (Creative Excellence)
Bonnie Sherr Klein (Special Jury Award of Distinction)
Bill Mustos (Mentorship)
Kelly Rowan (International Achievement)
2004
Kim Cattrall (International Achievement)
Dianne Schwalm (Phyllis Switzer Mentorship Award)
Maria Topalovich (Outstanding Achievement Award)
Debbie Travis (Creative Excellence Award)
2003
Isme Bennie (Outstanding Achievement)
Kathryn Emslie (Mentorship)
Deepa Mehta (Award for Creative Excellence)
Cynthia Reyes (Outstanding Achievement)
2002
Norm Bolen (Friend of WIFT Toronto Award)
Phyllis Platt (Outstanding Achievement Award)
2001
Silva Basmajian (Outstanding Achievement)
Rebecca Jenkins (Creative Excellence)
Janis Lundman & Adrienne Mitchell (Excellence in Production)
Don MacLean (Friend of WIFT Toronto Award)
Laura Michalchyshyn (Excellence in Mentorship/Professional Development)
2000
Susanne Boyce (Professional Development)
Wendy Crewson (Creative Excellence)
Christina Ford (Excellence in Production)
Paul Gratton (Friend of WIFT Toronto Award)
Jane Tattersall (Excellence in Production)
Phyllis Yaffe (Lifetime Achievement)
1999
Wayne Clarkson (Friend of WIFT Toronto Award)
Camelia Frieberg (Excellence in Production)
Jan Miller (Excellence in Training or Professional Development)
Annabel Slaight (Lifetime Achievement)
Stacey Stewart Curtis (Excellence in Training or Professional Development)
The updated 2024 Programme Book will be available in November of 2024
WIFT+ Toronto members are invited to nominate exceptional leaders in their sphere with a minimum of 10 years of experience in the screen-based industry for a 2024 Crystal Award.
Deadline: Friday, September 6 2024
An independent jury of past Crystal Award recipients will select the 2024 honourees. Please review this list before submitting your nomination. Previous recipients can be nominated, though recipients within the past five years are not eligible.
1.Email the following documents in PDF format to Venessa Harris at vharris@wift.com (reference "2024 Crystal Award Nomination” in the subject line):
Maximum one-page summary of the nominee’s three (3) most significant contributions to the screen-based industry.
2. Maximum 500-word Bio of nominee.
Minimum of two (2), maximum of five (5) personal testimonial letters outlining the impact of the nominee within the industry (these letters should not be from the individual submitting application; letters from colleagues, peers, mentors, mentees, etc. will be accepted).
3. Please submit your files in PDF format and name them in the following template order:
CRYSTAL2024 - Full Name of nominee - Name of Document.pdf
Example:
CRYSTAL2024 - Jane Talent - Contributions.pdf
CRYSTAL2024 - Jane Talent - Bio.pdf
CRYSTAL2024 - Jane Talent - Testimonial1.pdf
At the top of your email, clearly state what category you are submitting your candidate for (a description of each can be found under the Award Categories tab).
Creative Excellence
Innovation Trailblazer
International Achievement
Mentorship
Outstanding Achievement in Business
Jury Award of Distinction
Questions? Please contact Venessa Harris, Executive Assistant, at vharris@wift.com
For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Karen Bruce, Executive Director, at kbruce@wift.com
NOMINEE ELIGIBILITY CHECKLIST Please review carefully before submitting your nomination.
Canadian Citizen, Landed Immigrant, or Permanent Resident.
Minimum 10 years in the screen-based industry (film, television and/or digital media).
Current WIFT+ Toronto Board Members are not eligible for nomination.
Recipients within the past five years are not eligible for nomination.
NOTE It is free to nominate. You must be a WIFT+ Toronto member in good standing to nominate an individual for a Crystal Award; however the person being nominated does not have to be a current WIFT+ Toronto member. You may nominate more than one person. Candidates may only be nominated in one category.
“We are not each other's competition. We are each other's cheerleaders, we are each other's kitchen cabinet and support system"
maxine bailey, Executive Director, Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and 2019 Crystal Awards Special Jury Award of Distinction honouree
Mary Harron (Creative Excellence) on stage- Photo Credit: Eddy Perez
2007 Crystal Awards- Photo Credit Unknown
Image Credit: Darren Goldstein
2007 Crystal Awards- Photo Credit Unknown
2009 Crystal Awards- Photo Credit Unknown
Photo Credit Unknown
Image Credit: Darren Goldstein
Photo Credit Unknown
Image Credit: Joei Lyn-Piluso
2012 Crystal Awards- Photo Credit Unknown
2013 Crystal Awards- Photo Credit Unknown
2018 Crystal Awards- Photo Credit Eddy Perez
2018 Crystal Awards- Photo Credit Eddy Perez
2018 Crystal Awards- Photo Credit Eddy Perez
2018 Crystal Awards- Photo Credit Eddy Perez
2011 Crystal Awards- Photo Credit Eddy Perez
2009 Crystal Awards- Photo Credit Unknown
2014 Crystals- Photo Credit Eddy Perez
Image Credit: Darren Goldstein
2019 Crystal Awards- Photo Credit Kowthar Omar
2019 Crystal Awards- Photo Credit Kowthar Omar
2019 Crystal Awards- Photo Credit Kowthar Omar
2019 Crystal Awards- Photo Credit Kowthar Omar
2019 Crystal Awards- Photo Credit Kowthar Omar
2019 Crystal Awards- Photo Credit Kowthar Omar
2011 Crystal Awards Photo by Eduardo Perreira
2022 Crystal Awards- Photo by Philippe Guerreiro
Image Credit: Darren Goldstein
Image Credit: Darren Goldstein
Image Credit: Darren Goldstein
Image Credit: Joei Lyn-Piluso
Image Credit: Joei Lyn-Piluso
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