Toronto, ON—June 5, 2026—Women in Film & Television (WIFT+ Toronto) is thrilled to announce filmmakers Amanda Burt Currie and Esther Caszo as the recipients of the 2026 WIFT+ Toronto Banff World Media Scholarship.
The WIFT+ Toronto Banff World Media Scholarship, now in its sixth year, seeks emerging producers passionate about production and development, with a focus on scripted broadcast content to attend the Banff World Media Festival.
Burt Currie and Caszo will each receive a full delegate pass, plus a $2,500 stipend for travel and accommodation, courtesy of the Foundation for WIFT+ Toronto.
Amanda Burt Currie is a Peabody Award–winning filmmaker, journalist, and showrunner known for crafting bold, music-driven storytelling across film and television. As a director, producer, and showrunner at Banger Films, she helmed The ’90s Boy Band Boom (2025), an oral history capturing the rise of iconic pop groups, and led production on Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story (2024), a critically acclaimed documentary. She previously served as showrunner for This Is Pop (Netflix/Bell Media), an innovative series reexamining the evolution of popular music. Burt Currie has overseen projects from concept to delivery, led inclusive production initiatives, and secured high-profile interviews and rare archival access. Earlier, as a senior producer at CBC/Radio-Canada, she managed large editorial teams, and produced major cultural and political programming. She holds degrees in journalism and arts from the University of King’s College and a certificate in entertainment law from Osgoode Hall.
Esther Caszo is a Toronto-based Producer and Director with 12+ years of experience across Canada, the UK, and India. Her career spans unscripted television, scripted fiction, and branded content, from producing 250+ episodes at Rogers’ Cityline and Breakfast Television, to CBC’s Dragons’ Den 20, where she helped 17 entrepreneurs secure about $3M in investment. In 2025, Esther founded 4:14 Films Inc., and pivoted into fiction writing, directing, and producing Cry Baby Cry – a short film on consent with an all-female crew and South Asian cast, screening at IFFSA, MISAFF, Canada Shorts, and the Toronto Short Film Festival. She is currently developing Whoopsie Daisy, a psychological drama rooted in the Portuguese Indo-Catholic heritage of Daman India; Leftie, a feature about mental health and cricket; and Mine, a mini-series exploring feminine power and choice. Esther is committed to urgent, culturally specific stories that centre women and underrepresented communities.
“Amanda and Esther’s experience and passion in storytelling make them ideal candidates to support through this scholarship” said Laurie Januska, Director of Programming, WIFT+ Toronto. “We’re honoured to provide opportunities for them to expand their networks and advance their careers at BANFF, and we can’t wait to see the impact Amanda and Esther will continue to make in our industry.”
Past recipients of the WIFT+ Toronto Banff World Media Scholarship include Heidi Lasi, Lanette Ware-Bushfield, Carla Robinson, Kate Fenton, Kai Little-White, and Beth Evans.
Women in Film and Television – Toronto (WIFT+ Toronto) is a member-based, not-for-profit organization made up of passionate individuals who are dedicated to the education, engagement, and empowerment of all individuals at every stage of their careers in the screen-based media industry. It is WIFT+ Toronto’s mission to build and advance the careers of its members by providing professional development, peer support, and mentorship in collaboration with industry partners.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION FOR WIFT+ TORONTO
The Foundation for WIFT+ Toronto raises funds to enable the organization to carry out its mission of building and advancing the careers of WIFT+ Toronto members by providing professional development scholarships, membership bursaries, festival scholarships & financial aid, mentorship and networking opportunities, peer support, and cash awards presented at our annual Showcase. We are proud to be a leader in building an equitable, inclusive, and accessible space where individuals can safely learn and grow their careers. Please consider making a donation.
ABOUT BANFF WORLD MEDIA FESTIVAL
The Banff World Media Festival (BANFF) is a premier, internationally renowned conference and marketplace for the global entertainment and content creation industry. Held annually at the Fairmont Banff Springs in Alberta, Canada, it connects creators, producers, showrunners, and executives to develop, pitch, and fund scripted, unscripted, and kids’ content.
