Call for Applications: Telefilm Canada Executive Management Program
Presented by WIFT-T and Telefilm Canada, in partnership with
Global Television and Heenan Blaikie LLP, and in association with
Ontario Media Development Corporation, British Columbia Film, SaskFilm and Video Development Corporation, Newfoundland & Labrador Film Development Corporation, Manitoba Motion Picture Industry Association, Nova Scotia Film Development Corporation and Yukon Economic Development Film & Sound Commission

This national initiative will provide up to 10 MICRO and SME television production companies, with a maximum of two senior management representatives per company, the opportunity to develop their management team through an intensive workshop, based on the successful Incubator model. The program continues with a six-month mentorship matching industry leaders with Incubator participants.

Application forms are available at www.wift.com. Fully completed application packages must be submitted to WIFT-T by April 21, 2006, 12 noon. For further information, please contact 416-322-3430 ext. 21.

Goodmans Presents: Meet the Distributors
This is a FREE networking event exclusively for WIFT-T members

Join fellow WIFT-T members and some of Canada's most reputable distributors at an exclusive panel session on Wednesday April 19, 2006. This addition to our Goodmans networking series allows WIFT-T members the opportunity to gain insight and guidance from some of the industries most experienced professionals. The panelists will come from a variety of national and international distributors, which makes this session a not-to-miss for anyone interested in knowing more about this field.

This session will explore:
• The role of a distributor
• When and how to involve a distributor
• How distributors market and position a film
• What is the distribution cycle

Space is limited and pre-registration is mandatory. WIFT-T reserves the right to cancel or reschedule as necessary.

Date: Wednesday April 19, 2006
Location: National Film Board, 150 John St. (at Richmond), Toronto
Registration: 6pm-6:30pm
Time: 6:30pm–9pm

Please contact us early to reserve your spot. Call to register at 416-322-3430 ext. 21 or email a completed registration form to wift@wift.com or fax to 416-322-3703.

There will be limited space for student members. Pre-register today!

Call for Applications: Kodak New Vision Fellowship
Presented in partnership with Kodak Canada Entertainment Imaging

WIFT-T is currently accepting applications for the Kodak New Vision Fellowship. This national initiative provides one exceptional Canadian female director with the invaluable opportunity to prepare for the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival (September 2006), through intensive industry coaching and a TIFF bursary, followed by a two-month creative mentorship with an established director.

Eligible candidates are invited to apply to the program. Deadline for applications is Tuesday, August 1, 2006. Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee composed of industry representatives. The award winner will be notified prior to TIFF and the official announcement will be made in September 2006 at the WIFT-T Festival Reception.

Application forms are available at www.wift.com. For further information, please contact 416-322-3430 ext. 21 or email wift@wift.com

Getting Ready for Banff World Television Festival 2006
Tuesday, May 23, May 30 and June 6
Sponsored by Toronto Economic Development

WIFT-T presents the Banff World Television Festival 2006 Mentorship Program, an introduction to Canada's largest TV market. The 2006 Festival takes place June 11-14, 2006 at the Fairmont Banff Springs in the Canadian Rockies, and draws television professionals from around the world.

The mentorship program is tailored to emerging producers who will be attending Banff and who are interested in learning how to utilize this important market to its potential.

Instructor: Craig Thompson, Executive Producer of the World Congress of History Producers.
Date: 3 Tuesday evenings - Tuesday, May 23, 30 and June 6, 2006
Location: National Film Board, 150 John St. (at Richmond), 2nd floor Board Room
Time: 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Check-In: 6pm
Fee: $95 + GST Members, $145 + GST Non-members
Registration required by: Friday, May 12, 2006

To register, call 416-322-3430 ext. 21. For more information, visit www.wift.com or email wift@wift.com

Goodmans Presents: Meet the Casting Directors
A free networking event exclusively for WIFT-T members

Join fellow WIFT-T members and some of Toronto’s best casting directors at an exclusive panel session. A question-and-answer period will follow the formal panel discussion. The evening will conclude with an informal wine and cheese networking reception.

We invite participants to help make this event relative and informative. Please feel free to submit your questions along with your registration. We will forward your questions along to our moderator and panelists.

Watch our website for details on panelists and moderators.

Location: National Film Board, 150 John St. (at Richmond)
Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Registration: 6pm-6:30pm
Time: 6:30pm–9pm

Please contact us early to reserve your spot. Call to register at 416.322.3430 ext. .21 or email a completed registration form to wift@wift.com or fax 416.322.3703.

The WIFT-T Annual General Meeting
The WIFT-T Annual General Meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 at 6:30pm at the National Film Board, 150 John Street (at Richmond Street West). All WIFT-T members may attend the AGM. All Full members are entitled and encouraged to vote for the 2006 Board of Directors. There are five positions to fill and six nominees. Nominations will be accepted from the floor on the evening of the AGM.

The keynote speaker for the event will be Sarah Crawford, Vice President, Public Affairs, CHUM Ltd.

We hope you will be able to join us. However, if you are unable to attend the AGM on April 11, Full members may vote by Proxy. The Instrument of Proxy must be forwarded to the WIFT-T office by Monday, April 10 at 5pm.

For further information or to RSVP, please contact 416-322-3430 ext. 21 or email wift@wift.com

New and Prospective Members Meeting: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 at 6pm
On a monthly basis, WIFT-T opens its doors for a New and Prospective Members Meeting. At the free members’ meeting, we give an overview of the organization; its history, mandate, structure, a breakdown of the courses offered and other benefits of membership. It's the perfect place to network with other members, meet the staff and gain the knowledge you need to begin designing your own career strategy.

Join us at the WIFT-T office, Suite 405, 2300 Yonge Street (at Eglinton). Each meeting lasts about an hour. Please RSVP by calling the WIFT-T office at 416-322-3430 ext. 21 or email wift@wift.com. Please arrive by 6pm to get a seat.

2006 Crystal Awards and Call for Nominations
For almost 20 years, WIFT-T has honoured the extraordinary achievements of women in screen-based media with its annual Crystal Awards celebration. WIFT-T will be accepting nominations this spring for the 2006 Crystal Awards. We invite you to consider an exceptional contributor to Canada’s film, television or new media in the following categories:

• Outstanding Achievement Award
• Creative Excellence Award
• Phyllis Switzer Mentorship Award, presented in association with CHUM Ltd.

Watch for future announcements on the 2006 Crystal Awards and Call for Nominations. The award winners will be honoured at this year’s Crystal Awards Gala Luncheon on December 4, 2006.

WIFT International News:

Women in Film-Seattle Nell Shipman Awards Call for Entries
The Nell Shipman Excellence in Filmmaking Awards, which honor female filmmakers in the Northwestern United States and British Columbia, returns October 2006.

Entry Qualifications and Application Guidelines:
Film, video, television, and/or new media work that has been completed within the period beginning January 2001 through December 2005. Submissions will be accepted in multiple categories:

Feature Film: Dramatic or Comedic - Short Film: Dramatic or Comedic - Documentary Feature - Documentary Short – Corporate - Corporate Non/Profit - Animated Program - Broadcast Commercial - PSA - Educational - Instructional - Experimental - Student Project - Television Special - TV Series

Entries are welcome from the Pacific Northwest - Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, Montana, and British Columbia. Viewing copies must be submitted on NTSC VHS format or professional DVD.

Application/Submission fee: $30 (US) for members, $40 (US) non-members
Application Deadline: July 15, 2006

The Power Within for Women
Live June 6, 2006 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre
An exceptional opportunity for WIFT-T members and guests is available. If you are willing to act quickly, you can secure tickets to the annual Power Within for Women event in Toronto featuring five dynamic speakers:

Suzanne Sommers - Self Empowerment: Maximize Professional & Personal Goals
Gloria Estefan - Motivation
Cherie Booth Blair - Leadership
Irshad Manji - Raising the Bar: Challenging Conventional Thinking
Dr. Marla Shapiro - Life Balance

The regular price for the public to attend this full-day event is $329. We have arranged a special rate for WIFT-T members and their guests of only $189 if you call now and reserve one of the advance general tickets. THAT'S A $140 SAVINGS OFF THE REGULAR PRICE.

Purchase 5 tickets and receive the 6th complimentary (Very Limited Time Offer)! Advance tickets are being made available to WIFT-T members and guests on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please refer to the following link for details and the WIFT-T member and guest rate:
www.powerwithin.com/pdf/Womens_Toronto_Corp-mc.pdf

To secure your tickets today, call toll free 1-866-994-2555 and ask for Matthew, ext. 235. Be sure to let Matthew know that you are a member or guest of WIFT-T.

Think Big! Creating Sustainable Growth
Women Entrepreneurs of Canada (WEC) presents a one-day conference dedicated to inspiring big ideas and taking big risks in order to make growth happen.

Join Canada’s top entrepreneurs and business thinkers as they share their experiences and ideas that will help you define your own creative vision, lead your team towards your goals, and create long-term sustainability by anchoring clients to your brand.

When: Thursday, May 11, 2006
Where: Joseph L. Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, 105 St. George Street
Discount for WIFT-T members: $299 per person. Includes continental breakfast, luncheon, cocktail reception and conference materials.

ReelWorld Film Festival Special Offer to WIFT-T Members
ReelWorld Film Festival & Foundation kindly extends a special offer to members of WIFT-T to attend our festival celebrating diversity in cinema, running April 19-23:

The Industry Series Pass of $60 (regular $75)
25% off all festival passes, tickets & merchandise

This special offer is valid through Thursday, April 13. Tickets are available online at www.reelworld.ca. For Industry Series passes, please request a pass with industry@reelworld.ca

The Industry Series includes admission to all workshops and panels: auditioning actors, documentary making, the business of filmmaking, a script reading and the new $2,500 Pitch (for a feature film in development). Ruba Nadda, Sudz Sutherland and Siu Ta are among our invited speakers. This year, we honour Graham Greene who will discuss his illustrious career at a ReelSpeak (separately ticketed).

To encourage networking, ReelWorld has invited executives from Odeon Films, THINKFilm, Astral, Telefilm, Maple Pictures and Telefilm to speak. We’re also launching our new Face To Face networking lounge, where filmmakers can meet representatives from Capri Releasing, Equinoxe Productions, the NFB, CBC Television, the Canadian Film Centre, and many others.

The Industry Series takes place at the St. Lawrence Hall’s Great Hall at 157 King Street East (at Jarvis) on April 20-21.

Hot Docs, North America's largest documentary festival and market, will present its 13th annual edition from April 28 to May 7, 2006.

An outstanding selection of 99 documentaries from Canada and around the world will be presented to Toronto audiences and more than 1,700 international delegates from over 25 countries. This year’s festival includes an intimate onstage discussion with 2006 Outstanding Achievement Award recipient Werner Herzog, as well as national spotlights on Japan and France, and our new activism programme Join Me! How to Start a Revolution.

Hot Docs will once again mount an intensified full roster of professional development and market events for documentary practitioners, including the renowned Toronto Documentary Forum running May 3 and 4, 2006 (separate accreditation required). Participants in last year’s Forum reported having secured a total of $3M in additional funding.

Hot Docs has partnered with WIFT-T for an exclusive promotion offering members $50 (CDN) off of the price of a Hot Docs Industry Pass.

Please contact membership staff to obtain your three-digit discount code. Visit www.hotdocs.ca for further information on industry events and screenings, and to register online.

Life and Times of a Serial Entrepreneur with Sam Mizrahi, CEO and Founder, Dove Cleaners

When: Tuesday, April 18 at 7pm
Where: Metro Hall, 55 John Street, Room 314. John Street runs north and south between King and Wellington, west of University.

Telefilm: Call for Entries
Cannes Film Market 2006, Cannes, France, May 17 to 28, 2006

Telefilm Canada is currently soliciting applications from Canadian companies for Marché du Film 2006, which will take place in Cannes from May 17 to May 28, 2006.

The Canada Pavilion at Marché du Film offers you exclusive services to expand your business activities and to help you meet new partners during the festival.

In keeping with tradition, Telefilm Canada will receive registration requests for industry professionals wishing to take advantage of the Canada Pavilion umbrella registration fee reserved for its participating producers.

Application deadline: April 10, 2006

Should you require additional information, please contact Lise Corriveau at corrivl@telefilm.gc.ca or (514) 283-0838 ext. 2086.
www.telefilm.gc.ca/05/519.asp?lang=en

Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF) Call for Submissions
The 5th Annual Female Eye Film Festival, June 1- 4, 2006
The Female Eye showcases feature and short dramatic, comedy, documentary, experimental and animated films all directed by women. The Script Development Program welcomes screenplays by male writers with the provision that their story features a female protagonist.

Extended Deadline: $35, April 30, 2006

FeFF Script Reading Awards for Best Short Screenplay, Best Feature Screenplay and Crowd Pleaser.” FeFF Good To Go” Awards for Best Screenplay, Best Fresh Voice, and Best Low Budget Feature. Additional awards sponsored by Inktip.com and Final Draft.

www.femaleeyefilmfestival.com/screenplay-guidelines.html

With $130,000 up for grabs, the Banff World Television Festival is a pitcher’s dream!

There are only a few weeks left to enter BANFF’s lucrative pitching competitions. Offering valuable exposure to a wide audience of producers, commissioning editors, broadcast executives and industry representatives, these sessions are a rare opportunity for candidates to make their ideas become reality.

• CTV Canadian Documart is the world’s richest pitching prize with $100,000 in development funding up for grabs
• The Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund has put up $10,000 for iPitch. Submit your innovative and interactive project idea that supports an established TV series.
• Pitch It! is soliciting entries in Children’s, Drama & Comedy, and Lifestyle & Reality categories. Showcase has generously provided $10,000 in development funding for the Drama & Comedy prize, while Life Network has offered up $10,000 for the Lifestyle & Reality prize.

Complete Festival, registration and pitching information (including deadlines) can be found at www.banff2006.com.

41e Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Call for Entries
Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, June 30, 2006 - July 8, 2006

Selection Screenings in Montreal

The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, one of the most important competitive festivals in the world, is currently accepting entries for its 41st edition.

During the screenings in Montréal, the Festival's selector will primarily be considering feature-length films only for the Festival's Competition (feature and documentary; European, International or World premieres). Films for Horizons (recent world cinema and award-winners from other festivals) and Another View (films revealing artistic innovation) will also be considered.

imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
Call for Submissions – Film and Video
October 18-22, 2006, Toronto

The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is an international festival that celebrates the latest works by Indigenous peoples on the forefront of innovation in film, video, radio, and new media. Each fall, the festival presents a selection of the most compelling, distinctive Indigenous works from around the globe. The festival's screenings, parties, panel discussions, and cultural events attract and connect filmmakers, media artists, programmers, buyers, and industry professionals. The works accepted reflect the diversity of the world's Indigenous nations and illustrate the vitality and excellence of our art and culture in contemporary media.

We are currently seeking features, shorts, documentaries, dramas, comedies, and animation by international and Canadian Indigenous filmmakers and producers. We invite all genres and lengths and encourage submissions from first-time and emerging directors. Student films are welcome.

The film and video submissions form will be available at www.imagineNATIVE.org after April 10.

Mail submissions to:
Amye Annett
imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival
401 Richmond Street West, Suite 417
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 3A8 CANADA

There is no entry fee. The festival pays screening fees for programmed works. Please note that there is a separate call for radio programming and new media submissions by Indigenous radio producers and new media artists/website designers that is coming soon.

For more information, please contact the festival office at 416.585.2333 or email Amye Annett at aannett@imagineNATIVE.org, or visit www.imagineNATIVE.org.

Ontario Media Development Corporation Sunny Side of the Doc Call for Applications
DEADLINE: April 13, 2006 (by 5pm)

Sunny Side of the Doc is an international market that attracts a large number of international broadcasters, distributors and producers. This event provides a dynamic export opportunity for Ontario's television producers as well as creating a forum for future co-production and co-financing ventures.

Up to eight Canadian documentary producers will be supported to attend Sunny Side of the Doc.

Applicants must be Canadian Citizens, intermediate to established level producers with at least one broadcast or theatrical producer credit, have at least one project at an advanced stage of development that is suitable for European co-production or international pre-sale, with a solid financing strategy and marketing plan for each project. For more information about Sunny Side of the Doc visit the website at (www.sunnysideofthedoc.com).

To access guidelines and application forms visit the OMDC website at www.omdc.on.ca - Programs / Market Access Program.
Deadline for submission is Thursday, April 13, 2006.

For further information on these opportunities and other industry programs, please send an inquiry to programs@omdc.on.ca or contact 416-642-6695

Wendy MacKeigan, Chair

Kirstine Layfield, Vice-Chair

Anne Schneerer, Treasurer

Lisa Clarkson, Secretary

Kate Hanley, President
(ex-officio)

Jennifer Harkness

Karen King

Marcia Martin

Laura Milliken

Margaret O'Brien

Phyllis Platt

Kit Redmond

Cynthia Reyes

Dianne Schwalm

Jane Tattersall

Sadia Zaman

Kate Hanley

SILVER PATRONS

Astral Media

Banff Television Festival

Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund

Price Waterhouse Coopers