Eighteen directors with television or feature projects in development have been selected by the National Directors Division (NDD) of the Directors Guild of Canada to attend the inaugural Access Canada Summit.

The selections are part of the Director Market Accelerator, the latest program in the NDD’s Career Pipeline Initiative, and provides the delegation with access to the panels, workshops and networking opportunities at the summit. The event runs from Sept. 8 to 10, during the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), at Toronto’s King Edward Hotel.

The delegates, seeking financing, producers and/or partnerships for their projects, will also meet with industry executives, network with decision-makers, attend a market preparation session and have multiple sessions with pitch-doctor Carole Kirschner. Each director will have a private reception and targeted promotion for themselves and their project and coverage in The Hollywood Reporter, the event’s media partner.

Nine delegates are based in Ontario: Alyson Richards (Children Ruin Everything), Pat Mills (Guidance), Lonzo Nzekwe (Orah), Lisa Rose Snow (Under the Christmas Tree), Alison Reid (The Woman Who Loves Giraffes), Alison Duke (Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story), Nikki Cole (Ray of Hope), V.T. Nayani (This Place) and Aeyliya Husain (An Unfinished Journey).

Mark Ratzlaff (Sesame Street), Sepideh Yadegar (One Must Wash Eyes), Mostafa Keshvari (Colorblind) and Trish Neufeld (In Cold Water: The Shelter Bay Mystery) hail from B.C.

Two are from Quebec: Daniel Roby (La peau blanche) and Elza Kephart (Slaxx).

The delegation also features Saskatchewan’s Lowell Dean (Dark Match), Alberta’s Wendy Hill-Tout (Marlene) and New Brunswick’s Renée Blanchar (Le monde de Gabrielle Roy).

Access Canada managed C21’s Content Canada, but following the completion of their contract developed a separate event in partnership with The Hollywood Reporter. C21 is now managing Content Canada, has converted it into a one-day event and moved it to Sept. 3. It runs on the eve of TIFF’s 50th edition, running Sept. 4 to 14.

Previous Director Market Accelerator delegations have attended the Banff World Media Festival and Hot Docs. The NDD’s Career Pipeline Initiative also includes the National Director Observer Initiative and the National Director Mentor Program.

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