Minister Copps Announces Forum on Canadian Film in the 21st Century
OTTAWA, October 3, 2002 -- Minister of Canadian Heritage Sheila Copps today announced that she will hold a forum with young filmmakers, on October 6, to discuss the future of Canadian cinema. The Canadian Film in the 21st Century forum will bring together world-class Canadian filmmakers at the Vancouver Film Festival, including Nova Scotian writer/director Rohan Cecil Fernando, Montreal film producer Luc Déry, actress Rishma Malik from the film Hollywood/Bollywood, and writer/director of deadend.com S. Wyeth Clarkson."This is an exciting opportunity to meet with some of the most talented members of our film scene," said Minister Copps. "A forum like this is the best way to gain insight into the industry and get creative suggestions on the future of film."
The forum is designed to stimulate open and frank discussion on issues that are challenging the future of Canadian feature film. At the forum, the Minister will be joined by Tom Rowe, Co-Chair of the Feature Film Advisory Group and Charles Bélanger, Chairperson of the Board of Directors for Telefilm Canada.
"It is important for us to listen to the voices of those who shape our feature film industry," said Minister Copps. "These are the Canadian film artists who are going to present their talents on screens around the world. I want to hear about how they got where they are today and how we can help address the challenges of the future."
The forum, to be held at the Scotiabank Dance Centre, will be hosted by Tom McSorley. In addition to being Director of the Canadian Film Institute, Mr. McSorley is a regular contributor to CBC Radio One's national arts magazine The Arts Today, and is a contributing editor to Take One magazine. He also teaches film studies at Carleton University.
For more information on the feature film policy for Canada, "From Script to Screen," please visit the Department of Canadian Heritage Web site at www.canadianheritage.gc.ca
Information:
Sonya-Kim St-Julien
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage
(819) 997-7788
Participants in the Minister's Forum on Canadian Film in the 21ST Century
Rohan Cecil Fernando
Nova Scotia-based writer/director of Cecil's Journey
Luc Déry
Montreal-based producer of Un Crabe dans la tête
Isabelle Cyr
Star of Karmina
Edward Stanulis
Producer
Jesse Rosensweet
Writer/director of The Stone of Folley, winner of the Jury Prize for Best Short Film at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival
Michael Dowse
Producer of Fubar, the sleeper hit from Calgary
Sean Garrity
Writer/director of the award winning film, Inertia
Soo Lyu
Director of Rub & Tug, which premiered at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival
Rishma Malik
Actress in Hollywood/Bollywood
S. Wyeth Clarkson
Writer/director of deadend.com
Sylvain Gagné
Distributor
Kim Nguyen
Producer of Le marais
Ori Kowarsky
Vancouver-based filmmaker and writer, winner of the 2002 Prix de Montreal at this year's Festival des films du monde de Montreal, for his debut film Various Positions
Tracey Jack
Freelance broadcast journalist and producer of television news and documentaries, currently working on her first feature film screenplay, The Vampire Project, with the support of the First People Cultural Foundation
Mila Aung-Thwin
Writer/director
Justin Simms
Newfoundland filmmaker of Ashore.
Karen Powell
BC entertainment lawyer and executive producer of Various Positions.
Sylvia Cloutier
Tri-lingual video and television productions with Inuit Communications Services, Nunavut.
Nathalie Saint-Pierre
Wrote, directed and produced her first feature film Le silence nous guette, due out this winter.
Deborah Day
Director of various short films; Expecting (2002) is her first feature film.
Tygh Runyan
Up and coming actor based in Vancouver, BC. Has held lead roles in such well-known feature films as Bastard, Various Positions, Kitchen Party and All Along the Watchtower.
Oscar Fenoglio
Born in Argentina and currently resident of Winnipeg, Manitoba. He recently wrote and directed Rushes, an independent feature length film.
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