Spotlight Awards 2009

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Women in Film and Television International

Spotlight Awards 2009

Join us, along with host, acclaimed Canadian Actress Molly Parker, as we celebrate our 20th year!

View Molly Parker's full profile here...

Established in 1989, the Spotlight Awards have brought together filmmakers, the film industry, government and media to celebrated the outstanding achievements of BC women and men in screen-based media. Conceived as an event to recognize and promote exceptional professionals in film and television, the Spotlight Awards are acknowledged today as one of the industry's most prestigious accolades.

Since 1989, more than 100 remarkable people have received Spotlight Awards. Many of today's outstanding filmmakers and industry leaders are past recipients of a Spotlight Award -- a testament of women's contributions to Canada's entertainment community.

This year's awards will be presented at a Gala Ceremony on March 7th, 2009, at the Vancity Theatre @ 6:30pm.

"It's an honour and a priviledge to celebrate such well-respected and talented women and men in our industry. This year's winners are an incredibly inspiring group. Congratulations!" Peggy Thompson, WIFTV President.

Women In Film & Television Vancouver is pleased to announce the winners of the 2009 Spotlight Awards! The 20th Anniversary winners, selected by a Jury of WIFTV Board Members, are:

Woman of the Year

Babz Chula, renowned actor, activist and teacher, for her support of the indie film community for over twenty years, including the recent collaboration on the Carl Bessai film, Mothers and Daughters. Also, for her mentoring work such as her supportive role on Larry Lynn's film/website and Digital Filmmaking and Media Literacy Program at the Burnaby Youth Custody Centre, a maximum security prison for youth aged 12 to 18. Babz continues to build community awareness about cancer with her project Artists for Life and was an early Board Member of WIFTV.
View Babz Chula's full profile here...

Woman of Vision (Special Jury Prize)

Amanda Tapping, actor, director and producer, for her ground-breaking work on Sanctuary and having the vision to grow the series from webcast to broadcast. Amanda is also a well-know mentor in the Vancouver film community and a great teller of women's stories.
View Amanda Tapping's full profile here...

Artistic Achievement Award

Maureen Medved, screenwriter, for the great rendering of a female story in The Tracy Fragments, a fearless exploration into the heart and mind of a young woman, starring Ellen Page. "Fierce, enigmatic and affecting" A.O. Scott, The New York times.
View Maureen Medved's full profile here...

The Wayne Black Service Award

Shauna Hardy Mishaw, Co-founder and Director of the Whistler Film Festival, for her behind the scenes and yet crucial role in creating a destination festival celebrating Canadian indie filmmakers and bolstering the BC film industry.
View Shauna Hardy Mishaw's full profile here...

Honorary Friend

John Dippong, Telefilm Canada, for his decades-long advocacy for, and guidance of, the Vancouver independent film community. John has worked hard and long to support emerging and western talent and established veterans.
View John Dippong's full profile here...

Sharon Gibbon Lifetime Member Award

Jacqui Ellis, Accountant, for her unstinting volunteer efforts at countless WIFTV events over an extended period of time.
View Jacqui Ellis's full profile here...

The Kodak Image Award

Moira Simpson, one of Canada's most respected documentary DOP/directors. As Filmmaker in Residence with Fearless City Mobile, Moira is facilitating the use of mobile phone technology with residents of the Downtown Eastside. Through interactive live streaming and creating short video documentaries they are crossing the digital divide and telling their own stories.
View Moira Simpson's full profile here...

Special Jury Award for Lifetime Contribution

Al Parsons, recently retired from the National Film Board of Canada, for his support of Vancouver filmmakers and producers and is an enormous ally of Women In Film & Television Vancouver.
View Al Parsons's full profile here...

Women In Film & Television Vancouver would like to congratulate the Spotlight Award Winners, both past and present, and look forward celebrating your success at the Spotlight Awards Gala!

Tickets for The Spotlight Awards Gala now available online!
Click the Ticket Information button on the menu bar.

The Legacy Awards

The Legacy Awards are given to the top three BC filmmakers at the festival, chosen by the Women in Film Festival’s special guest jury. The prizes total $1500, $1000, and $500 and are generously sponsored by Deboragh Gabler, CEO of Legacy Filmworks.

1st Prize: NO BIKINI, Claudia Morgado Escanilla

Born in Santiago, Chile. Claudia Morgado Escanilla graduated from Montreal’s Concordia University in 1991 with an award for outstanding achievement in the film program. Since then she has produced, written and directed a number of award winning short films. Her awards include The Berlin Teddy for her film Unbound in 1996. In 2000 she completed the Director’s in Residency program at The Canadian Film Centre where she directed Maritirio. Claudia resides in Vancouver where she works professionally in the local film industry. She is currently in development of her first feature film.

2nd Prize: YOUR MOTHER SHOULD KNOW, Peg Campbell

Peg Campbell has been directing and producing award winning documentaries and narrative films since 1975. Her films have received international acclaim, winning awards at the Genie's, Banff International Television Festival, Melbourne Film Festival, Yorkton Short Film Festival, Northwest Film and Video Festival and the Information Film Producers of America. They have been broadcast on CBC, PBS, WTN, A&E, The Movie Channel and educational networks.

She is Head of Film, Video + Integrated Media, Academic Administration and an Associate Professor for Film, Video + Integrated Media and First Year Foundation as well as Coordinator of Ungergrad Advising and Academic Administration at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. She has been teaching film and video production and script writing at ECU since 1986, and has taught numerous film workshops across Canada.

Her latest film, Your Mother Should Know, is a personal documentary on mother daughter relationships. It premiered at the Vancouver International Film Festival in 2008. As well as making films, Peg directs theatre on Bowen Island.

3rd Prize: AMMA, Aparna Kapur

Aparna Kapur originally from New Delhi, India, has completed her undergraduate studies in 3 different countries over the last four years.

After completing her foundation year in Bangalore, India, she studied Sculpture in Atlanta, Georgia. Her love for story telling led her to pursue film and animation in Vancouver, Canada.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LEGACY AWARD WINNERS!

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