Vancouver writer/director Jacqueline Samuda will receive a big boost for her upcoming movie Bread when she takes the first MPPIA WIDC Feature Film Award on Saturday.

The award, valued at nearly $100,000, includes in-kind rentals for one week at North Shore Studios, The Bridge or Vancouver Film Studios, in addition to equipment rentals from William F. White and post-production support from Deluxe Vancouver and Sharpe Sound Studios. B.C. Film will also inject $15,000 into the project.

‘Bread is a feel-good movie that pokes a bit of fun at the film industry and our struggles to stay connected in the hectic lives we lead. It will be a pleasure working with Jacqueline on the project,’ said Creative Women Workshops Association president Carol Whiteman in a release.

‘As a female filmmaker with some statistics to climb over, this is a real boost,’ added Samuda, whose credits include the short films 50 Questions and Look.

The prize is designed to encourage more feature films helmed by women in B.C. It is sponsored by the Motion Picture Production Industry Association of B.C. and CWWA through the Women in the Director’s Chair initiative.

Samuda will pick up the award at the 2008 Spotlight Awards gala, put on by Women in Film and Television – Vancouver.