TIFF’s Share Her Journey campaign, which aims to provide practical support and new opportunities for women creatives, has unveiled new initiatives for its second year.

Launched in 2017, the five-year campaign, which initially aimed to raise $3 million in donations, has so far raised $1.3 million, and has set a goal of raising an additional $1 million in 2018.

On June 12, the RBC Foundation announced it had pledged $450,000 to establish the RBC Female Creator Initiative, which will provide skills development, mentorship and year-round networking opportunities for women creators.

TIFF also announced that Canadian writer Nikki Saltz has been selected as the inaugural Micki Moore Resident for her feature comedy screenplay Work It. The five-year program is supported by Moore, a broadcaster, journalist and actor. Saltz will receive a 10-week residency in Toronto, a $3,000 grant to develop her script, access to TIFF and its industry conference, as well as mentorship from TIFF’s programming teams. Screenwriter Meryam Joobeur received a special mention from the jury for her project Roman Ruins. 

In addition, TIFF announced that its inaugural Producer Accelerator program will be delivered in partnership with producer Cassian Elwes (Mudbound, The Dallas Buyers Club). Two women producers will join Elwes and his team for two days in September as they meet with decision makers, pitch projects and attend business meetings. Applications for the program are now open.

To help spread the word and drum up support for its programs, Share Her Journey 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 (Empire of Dirt) and writer/director Joyce Wong (Wexford Plaza).