Focus on Canada 
Canada will be the next “Country in Focus” at the European Film Market of the Berlin International Film Festival in 2018. The program aims to shed a spotlight on a country’s film industry and provide a greater opportunity for filmmakers to introduce themselves to international players. Mexico was the first country in focus in 2017. Last year 10 producers from Mexico were featured at the EFM’s Producers Hub, a presentation on new funding programmes for Mexican and Central American doc films was given and a panel discussion on the drama series industry in the country was held, among other initiatives. The Canadian program at EFM, which is supported by Telefilm Canada, will be announced in September. The EFM will take place Feb. 15 to 23, 2018.

WIDC launches alumnae directory
As part of its 20th anniversary celebration, Women In the Director’s Chair (WIDC) has launched a new alumnae directory featuring the profiles of 220 Canadian women directors from across the country. The directory, features biographies, genre specializations, agent as well as nomination and award information for the filmmakers, including Alison Reid (Heartland), Stephanie Morgenstern (X Company) and Gloria Ui Young Kim (Debra and Mona). The directory aims to  answer the question “Where are the women directors?” and connect producers with female filmmakers in the industry. 

Cayle Chernin Award winners named 
The sixth Annual Cayle Chernin Awards were held May 17 at The Heliconian Hall in Toronto. The awards, named in honour of actor, documentary filmmaker, writer and mentor Cayle Chernin (Goin Down the Road), are handed out to emerging female artists for the creation, development or production of a new work. Annie Bradley won the award for media arts production for her short film Blowback, which follows a constable headed off the rails as she tries to be one of the boys. The award comes with a $2,500 cash prize, access to a paid industry mentor through the Canadian Senior Artists Resource Network (CSARN) and $2,000 in-kind equipment rental from William F. White. Meanwhile, the award for media arts development went to Jillian Rees-Brown for her feature film Living Memory, the story of a Beothuk women stolen from her people in 1818. The prize comes with $1,000 cash and access to a mentor through CSARN.

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