(May 5, 2021–Toronto, Ontario) Following last night’s virtual celebration, WIFT Toronto is thrilled to announce the winners of the 12th annual WIFT Toronto Showcase awards.  This year’s Showcase featured eight incredible projects from emerging and seasoned Canadian women creators.

“The quality of submissions to the annual WIFT Showcase never ceases to amaze us. On behalf of WIFT Toronto, I want to thank our generous sponsors and esteemed jury, and I especially want to congratulate this year’s talented creators and selected winners,” said Karen Bruce, WIFT Toronto Executive Director.

The 2021 AwardWinners are:

Best Direction

Winner: Tesfay – Witch Prophet, written and directed by Leah Vlemmiks

Prize: $2000 from the Foundation of WIFT Toronto, a virtual meeting with director Annie Bradley, Chair DGC Ontario, and a $200 LIFT workshop voucher for their Summer 2021 workshops.

Best Writing

Winner: After All These Years (How Could I Possibly Go Back Out There?), written by Sara Jade Alfaro

Prize: $2000 from the Foundation of WIFT Toronto, writing software worth $250from Final Draft, a consultation with script reader and story editor Jamie Gaetz, and an opportunity from CBC to sit-in on both a drama and a comedy writing room.

Best of Showcase

Winner: Sing Me A Lullaby, directed by Tiffany Hsiung

Prize: $2000 from the Foundation of WIFT Toronto, certificate worth $2,500 for post-production work at Company 3 and a virtual meeting with a Mongrel Media executive.

Audience Choice

Winner: Sing Me A Lullaby, directed by Tiffany Hsiung

Prize: $1000 from the Foundation of WIFT Toronto, and a $2,500 in kind certificate for equipment rental from Grande Camera.

Best Director, Best Writing and Best of Showcase award winners were decided upon by a volunteer Showcase selection jury, comprised of WIFT Toronto members: Amy McQuaid-England, Asis Sethi, Carla Robinson, Heidi Lasi, Karen Chapman, Lanette Ware-Bushfield, Meaghan Brander, Naiyelli Romero Agüero, Paula Sanderson, Rabiya Mansoor, and Tonjha Richardson.

 

WIFT Showcase is made possible with the support of Presenting Sponsor Bell Media; Event Partner Company 3; and Event Supporters CBC, Directors Guild of Canada, Final Draft, Foundation for WIFT Toronto, Grande Camera, Jamie Gaetz, Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT), and Mongrel Media.

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For More information about Showcase and all of the Showcase films

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About WIFT Showcase

Since its inception in 2010, WIFT Showcase has screened over 92 projects by Canadian women and women-identifying creators including: Lisa Baylin, Jordan Canning, Karen Chapman, Nikila Cole, Danishka Esterhazy, Lauren Grant, Kathleen Hepburn, Renuka Jeyapalan, Amy Jo Johnson, Gloria Kim, Jennifer Liao, Lea Marin, Molly McGlynn, Jasmin Mozaffari, Nimisha Mukerji, Sarah Quan, Lisa Rideout, Shaleen Sangha, Nadine Valcin, and Dawn Wilkinson.

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