Women in Film and Television-Toronto will honor Isme Bennie and Cynthia Reyes with outstanding achievement awards at its 16th annual Crystal Awards, Nov. 18 in Toronto.

WIFT-T is recognizing Bennie, director of programming for CHUM’s Space: The Imagination Station, Bravo! and Drive-In Classics, for her role as a trailblazer for women in the television industry. ‘She is known as a pioneer and leader in the community,’ says WIFT-T president Kate Hanley. ‘She opened doors and broke down boundaries for women after her.’ Bennie also took the Degrassi series to the international market with her Toronto distribution company Paragon International. In her current role, Bennie is responsible for bringing the HBO hit series Sex and the City to Bravo!

Reyes, VP of ProMedia International, boasts a long list of achievements, including co-founding the Innoversity Creative Summit, which provides an environment in which multicultural people can network within the film and television industries. ‘Cynthia is passionately committed to the idea of diversity in media and she backs up that commitment with vision, hard work and absolute dedication,’ says Norm Bolen, executive VP of programming for Alliance Atlantis Broadcasting and one of this year’s judges.

Director and screenwriter Deepa Mehta will receive a creative excellence award for her film Bollywood/Hollywood and Kathryn Emslie, director of the Canadian Film Centre’s film and television programs, will receive the mentorship award.

Gemini and Crystal Award winner Wendy Crewson will host the celebration, with CRTC chairperson Charles Dalfen and dance icon Veronica Tennant presenting.

For the first time at the Crystal Awards, WIFT-T will honor past winners, including more than 70 of Canada’s most accomplished women and men working in television, film and new media. The list of alumni reads like a who’s who of Canadian film and TV and is ‘proof of the substantial contribution that these women have made to our industry,’ says Hanley. CHUM president and CEO Jay Switzer will give the alumni tribute at the awards ceremony.

-www.wift.com/crystalawards.html