Women in Film & Television Toronto (WIFT+ Toronto) and the Foundation for WIFT+ Toronto have announced the election of new members for their respective board of directors.

Bell Media’s Barbara Escoto (pictured left) will chair the WIFT+ Toronto board in 2024-25, while Fennella Bruce (pictured right) of FKB Media Solutions will serve as chair of the Foundation. Escoto succeeds outgoing chair Argie Eliopoulos (Toronto International Film Festival) and Bruce succeeds Jenn Kuzmyk, executive director, Banff World Media Festival and VP, publisher of Playback, who are both departing as directors.

Among the new names added to the WIFT+ TO board are Judy Adam (Boat Rocker Media), Julie Bristow (Catalyst), Nicole Chrysostom-Murray (BrooklynBrown/Do.Dope.Shit Productions), Skye R. Regan (Play All Day Productions) and Victoria Valius (Sony Pictures Television and Home Entertainment).

Re-elected to the board are Tracy Alves (William F. White International), Sara Chan (Corus Entertainment), Jennifer Chen (Channel Zero) and Umber Hamid (Boombox Sound).

Also re-elected were Laura Heath Potter (Paramount), Julie Kumaria (Hollywood Suite), Karthiga Ratnasabapathy (Apple), Anne Schneerer (National Bank of Canada) and Sundra Sefa (Telus).

During its Annual General Meeting (WGM), the Foundation for WIFT+ Toronto welcomed Laura Mingail (Archetypes & Effects) and Tamara Shannon (NBC Universal) to the board.

Re-elections to the Foundation board include Emily Andras (Vilcabamba Pictures), Kimberley Ball (Super Channel), Rhonda Britton (Cineplex), Sue Haas (Nlogic), Nellie Lindner (BFL Canada), Michelle Plaskon (Brunico Communications) and Jennifer Shin (CBC).

Channel Zero’s Chen and Corus’ Chan are taking over as WIFT+ Toronto’s vice chair and secretary. Super Channel’s Ball and BFL Canada’s Lindner were named as their counterparts for the Foundation.

Other outgoing directors include Tanya Green (Mainframe Studios), Sharon Hinds (Rogers Sports and Media), Terry E. Markus (lawyer, independent business and legal affairs consultant), Lindsey Scully (Netflix Canada) and Karen Walton (Inkling Entertainment).

“It’s my pleasure to give a hearty welcome to our new board members, Judy, Julie, Laura, Nicole, Skye, Tamara and Victoria,” said WIFT+ Toronto executive director Karen Bruce, executive director in a statement. “These impressive leaders join the sister boards for WIFT+ Toronto’s 40th year and I couldn’t be more enthusiastic to explore the ways their wealth of experience will come together as we continue to be a leader in building an equitable, inclusive and accessible screen-based media industry.”

Image courtesy of WIFT+ Toronto