The Toronto International Film Festival’s Share Her Journey campaign has announced some news in advance of the fest.
Dedicated to championing women behind the scenes and in front of the camera, the $3-million, five-year campaign has added new Ambassadors, including writer-director Amma Asante (“A United Kingdom”); writer-director Molly McGlynn (“Mary Goes Round”); actor-producer Shohreh Aghdashloo (“Star Trek Beyond”); actor Ellen Wong (“GLOW”); actor-producer Jennifer Podemski (“Moccasin Flats”; and writer-director Joyce Wong (“Wexford Plaza”)
The newly established RBC Female Creator Initiative has received a $450,000 pledge. Dedicated to supporting professional development opportunities for women, the initiative will “help female creators grow their careers by fostering artistic skills development, mentorship, and year-round networking opportunities,” a press release detailed.
The inaugural TIFF Producer Accelerator program will be delivered in partnership with “Mudbound” producer Cassian Elwes and offer two female producers the opportunity to join Elwes and his team as they “meet with decision-makers, pitch projects, attend business events, and discuss strategies for success in the marketplace.” Information on how to apply to the program can be found on TIFF’s website.
Canadian writer Nikki Saltz has been named the inaugural Micki Moore Resident for her feature screenplay, “Work It.” Created as part of the Share Her Journey campaign, the Residency supports the development of Canadian screen stories by female writers. The jury awarded A Special Mention to screenwriter Meryam Joobeur for “Roman Ruins.”
“2017 was a landmark year for women in film,” said maxine bailey, Vice President of Advancement at TIFF. “Discussions around gender parity were front and center of the news cycle, and the important issues raised still ripple around the world. Thanks to the generosity of more than a thousand individuals, Share Her Journey, which launched in July last year, continues to make a difference on a very practical level for female creators.”
bailey added, “TIFF is proud to support a future film industry that represents the most diverse perspectives and range of voices on screen. The Toronto International Film Festival is planning a variety of key events that will examine ways to advance more women and under-represented creators in the industry. We invite everyone to join us for a very special Share Her Journey Moment, planned for September 8. Stay tuned — the movement has only just begun!”
Over $1.3 million has been pledged to Share Her Journey. The campaign’s fundraising target for 2018 is $1 million, with funds going toward helping to “provide support, mentorship, and skill development to empower female creators and ensure equitable opportunities for women.”
TIFF runs from September 6-16. The fest’s program hasn’t been unveiled just yet.
