M ontreal filmmaker Elza Kephart has been named as the first recipient of the Jean-Marc Vallée bursary by the Banff World Media Festival (BANFF), awarded in partnership with the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) and Warner Bros. Discovery Access Canada.

The annual bursary, established in honour of late Canadian director Jean-Marc Vallée, provides a Quebec-based director an opportunity to attend BANFF to showcase their work. It also offers a $5,000 professional development award and a curated suite of professional development opportunities provided by BANFF, the DGC and HBO.

The establishment of the bursary was first announced at the 2022 Rockie Awards Gala and also provides travel funding for the recipient to BANFF, which runs June 11 to 14. Kephart was selected for the bursary by the DGC.

Kephart, who works in the horror and fantasy genres under her banner Midnight Kingdom Films, released her Montreal-shot debut feature, Graveyard Alive: A Zombie Nurse in Love, in 2004. It won the Kodak Best Cinematography award at the Slamdance Film Festival.

Her 2020 horror-comedy Slaxx (EMAfilms) premiered at the Fantasia International Film Festival and was acquired by U.S.-based streaming platform Shudder. She is currently developing several TV projects, including: Sweet Blood, and Night of the Pendulum, according to a news release.

DGC president Warren P. Sonoda said in a statement that it was “fitting that the first of many recipients is fellow DGC Quebec director Elza Kephart.”

Jenn Kuzmyk, executive director of BANFF and VP and publisher of Playback, said the bursary will support Vallée’s legacy of helping emerging filmmakers.

“Jean-Marc Vallée was a rare talent. His unique brand of storytelling invited audiences to look beyond the surface of things. He never forgot his film community in Montréal, and generously gave of his time and financial assistance to emerging talent,” said Kuzmyk.

Vallée, whose work included the Dallas Buyer’s Club and Emmy-winning HBO series Big Little Lies, died in 2021 at age 58.