Nine women directors will take part in the spring edition of the WIDC Career Advancement Module (CAM) to develop scripted film and television projects through workshops.

The program from Women In the Director’s Chair (WIDC) is presented in collaboration with the Vancouver International Women in Film Festival, running March 8 to 13, and the Female Eye Film Festival, set for June 7 to 12.

The latest cohort, selected by a peer jury, includes Gia Milani (All the Wrong Reasons) of New Brunswick, who was recently celebrated by WIFT-Atlantic’s Wave Award and is developing the drama series The Advocate; and Ontario’s Lisa Robertson, creator the CTV/BNN series Stock & Awe who is developing the feature Age of Anxiety.

Other participants include Frieda Luk of British Columbia, an alumna of TIFF’s Writers’ Studio and Talent Lab who is developing her dark comedy feature Sacred Creature; B.C.’s Mily Mumford, who holds multiple science degrees and is developing their sci-fi feature film Always Been Loved; and Gianna Isabella of Alberta, who is developing her action comedy Gloria Gaffney is a Gangster.

The list is rounded out by: Marielle Quesney of Quebec, who has directed in the video game industry and is developing the magical realism concept film After Hours; Ontario’s Rolla Tahir, a recent alumna of Reelworld’s Emerging 20 Program who is developing the magical realism feature film Jude and the Jinn; Katelyn McCulloch of Ontario, who is developing the feel-good feature film Life’s a Circus; and Anna Wheeler of Newfoundland and Labrador, a 2021 St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival RBC Michelle Jackson Award-winner who is developing her MJ Award concept short Vegas.

CAM is running virtually and includes round tables on navigating career paths and connecting screen projects with the marketplace, and career coaching extending through June. Workshop leaders include digital media and marketing mentor Annelise Larson and industry executives from CBC Films, Bell Media, Vortex Media, the Independent Production Fund and Telefilm Canada.

Photo, top L-R: Lisa Robertson, Marielle Quesney, Katelyn McCulloch, Gianna Isabella, Rolla Tahir; bottom L-R: Mily Mumford, Frieda Luk, Anna Wheeler, Gia Milani