Telefilm Canada executive director Carolle Brabant was presented Monday evening with an excellence in leadership award from Canadian Women in Communications at the CWC’s 2012 awards gala in Ottawa.

She used the occasion to give a shout-out to Canadian women directors.

“I would like to pay tribute to the talented Canadian women filmmakers who are passionate about their art, who help other women artists to succeed and who are leading the way for the next generation,” Brabant said as she accepted the award.

The CWC awards recognize industry leaders  committed to advancing women in the communications and technology industries.

“As the first female head of Telefilm in more than 20 years, [Brabant] has made her mark on Canada’s audiovisual industry, helping build audiences in our film and television productions at home and around the world,” James Moore, minister of Canadian heritage and official languages, said in a letter congratulating Brabant for her CWC tribute.

Karen Sheriff, president and CEO of Bell Aliant, was also honoured as CWC woman of the year.