The Whistler Film Festival and Women in the Director’s Chair are teaming up to launch WIDC: Story & Leadership, a four-month intensive for women screen directors focusing on fiction feature film and web series development. Part of the program will take place during this year’s Whistler Film Festival, which takes place December 2–6.
A jury comprised of professionals in the industry will choose eight Canadian women directors. Selected participants will be mid-career directors. Applicants should have previous experience “directing shorts, docs, web series or other micro-budget screen projects.” WIDC: Story & Leadership is the right fit for those “seeking to sharpen or refresh certain skill areas, polishing stories and/or broaden professional connections.”
Special mention is made for women looking to crossover into directing from different branches of the business, such as actors, ADs, editors and producers. Transferable directing skills will be considered a valued asset in applications.
The program will take place in four parts over four months and will include story development support, mentorship from Canadian industry vets and the chance to work with ACTRA actors.
“WIDC has a proven track record of successfully advancing women directors’ careers and screen projects across Canada,” said co-creator and award-winning WIDC producer, Carol Whiteman. “This newest offering builds on the best of the WIDC brand, combines it with the essential industry gateway experience that is the Whistler Film Festival, and sustains it over an extended period of time.”
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with WIDC again to help champion the voice of women screen directors,” shared Shauna Hardy Mishaw, WFF Executive Director. “This program offers a unique opportunity for this select group to take their projects to the next level.”
Women in the Director’s Chair is an internationally recognized mentorship program with over 200 director alumnae.
For more information on applying to the four month intensive, visit here.The deadline to apply is July 31, 2015.
