FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 15, 2024: Women In the Director’s Chair (WIDC) organizers are pleased to announce the eight women and non-binary directors selected to take part in this session of the WIDC Career Advancement Module (CAM), presented in collaboration with the St John’s International Women’s Film Festival celebrating its 35thAnniversary (October 22 to 26, 2024) and the Reelworld Film Festival+Summit celebrating its 24th Anniversary (October 21 to November 3, 2024).

The WIDC CAM Fall 2024 / Winter 2025 edition runs six months from October 7, 2024 through March 2 2025, offering online masterclasses, roundtables and one-to-one coaching designed to help participants build and launch their tailored strategic career plans. Participants also receive passes to the host festivals, and become part of the WIDC alumni network of over 350 women and non-binary directors working across Canada and internationally.

Meet the WIDC CAM Fall 2024 / Winter 2025 cohort:

Jackie Torrens, NS (she/they) is a non-binary writer, actor and director from Halifax, Nova Scotia who has made seven documentary films, including two features, and whose WIDC project Baby is a 1980’s coming of age story about death, dysfunction and resilience on roller skates, greenlit by Telefilm for production in 2025.

“I’m excited and grateful to be included in the WIDC’s CAM program, “ says Jackie. “What a gift to continue expanding my skills and build new relationships with other women and gender diverse directors across the country.”

Jessica Landry, MB (Testament) a filmmaker based in Manitoba, is a member of the Canadian Academy, Femme Fatales, Women in Media, and OnScreen Manitoba. She is bringing to WIDC her feature sci-fi/drama, Anomaly, developed through the Whistler Film Festival Producers Lab.

“There are no words to describe being selected for this program,” says Jessica. “All you have to do is look at the names of the women who’ve participated before to know that you’re in good company. I’m looking forward to participating in all the program has to offer over the next several months, but I know what I learn and the relationships I forge will last a lifetime.”

Leah Doz, ON is an actor and  filmmaker from Edmonton, based in Toronto, Ontario, with her latest short film Strangers premiering in festivals this fall. She is bringing her first feature, a black comedy called God, Mother to the WIDC CAM. She is a founding member of NYC’s Gracemoon Arts Company and alumna of the National Theatre School, Reelworld Institute, and Black Screen Office.

Marzia Kamyabi, SK (About Ammanda, CBC Creator Network, 2023) is an Irani-Canadian filmmaker based in Regina, Saskatchewan, who has directed documentaries, music videos and commercials. At WIDC, she is developing a magic realism feature called The Hungry Artist.

Nedda Sarshar, ON is an Irani-Canadian filmmaker based in Toronto, Ontario, who loves to tell stories that focus on diaspora communities. Her latest film Unibrow is currently an Oscar-qualified short film. She is really excited to bring to WIDC a comedy web series about an Irani family heading to cottage country.

“This is one of the few programs that offers mentorship and support services for women looking to seek careers as directors in this country,” says Nedda. “I feel so blessed to be able to learn from such inspiring people and be part of such a talented group. Excited for everything to come!”

Shetu Modi, ON is the writer, director and editor of Fan Girl, a tense drama about celebrity worship currently streaming on CBC Gem. She is based in Toronto, Ontario. She is excited to develop her ’90s-set teen dramedy, Fiction Contest with WIDC.

Vanessa Sandre, ON is a Brazilian-Canadian filmmaker based in Toronto, Ontario, director of the award-winning short film The Pleasure is All Mine. At the WIDC program she is developing her first fictional feature, the drama Migrant Worker.

“I’m excited to begin this journey within a community of talented female filmmakers, “ says Vanessa. “Being selected for WIDC is a meaningful affirmation that I’m on the right path, and I look forward to growing as a storyteller alongside such inspiring creatives.”

Zeynep Güler-Tuck, BC is a Turkish-Canadian filmmaker, based in British Columbia, who is developing Solve for Her, a feel-good and funny feature film to be shot in Canada and Türkiye (and inspired by her transatlantic upbringing). She is a Netflix-Banff Diversity of Voices alumna, the host and director of the No Credit series, and an active member of the women+ in film community.

BACKGROUNDER

ABOUT THE WIDC CAM

WIDC CAM Fall 2024 / Winter 2025 includes specially designed Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI Work) module led by scholar/ filmmaker Dr. Dorothy Cucw-la7 Christianand Vision TV co-founder, Dr. Rita Shelton Deverell C.M. A member of the Order of Canada, Deverell is also a WIDC alumna. Offering insights into navigating career paths and connecting screen projects with the marketplace, WIDC Zoom round tables and in-person Festival-sponsored panels also feature WIDC alumni: Melanie Oates (Sweet Angela Baby opens the 2024 SJIWFF); Ruth Lawrence (Party Pirate); Sherry White(Pretty Hard Cases); Kathleen Hepburn (The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open); Gerry Rogers (My Left Breast); Digital Media and Marketing Mentor, Annelise Larson, along with industry executives including Telefilm Canada, CBC, Bell Media, Independent Production Fund and Reelworld Film Festival and Screen Institute Board members. WIDC co-creator and producer, Dr. Carol Whiteman is the lead mentor and facilitates the CAM.

ABOUT WIDC 

Founded in 1996/97, Women In the Director’s Chair (WIDC) is an internationally respected Canadian professional development offering, specially designed to advance the skills, careers and fiction screen projects of mid-career women and non-binary directors. Over 375 director alumni across Canada earn hundreds of awards and nominations for their work annually and their work reaches millions of audiences world-wide. Co-created by representatives of ACTRA, GEMS Vancouver (formerly Women In Film and Television Vancouver), and The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity which was its home venue for eighteen years, WIDC is presented with major support from Telefilm Canada, and Warner Bros. Discovery Access Canada, and with the participation of Creative BC, Actra Fraternal Benefit Society, ACTRA National, UBCP/ACTRA, Independent Production Fund.

WIDC community collaborators include the National Film Board, St John’s International Women’s Film Festival, Reelworld Film Festival and Screen Institute, GEMFest, Female Eye Film Festival, DGC, DGC, BC, Crazy 8’s, TIFF, VIFF, the Whistler Film Festival, and GAT PR.

WIDC Feature Film Award is supported by MELS Studios, Keslow Camera, Panavision Canada, JAM POST Inc., Rocket Science VFX, Distillery VFX, Sunbelt TV & Film Rentals, Elemental Post, Company3 Vancouver, AA VFX, North Shore Studios, The Bridge Studios, Vancouver Film Studios, The Research House Clearance Services Inc., Front Row Insurance Brokers Inc., Descriptive Video Works, Line 21 Media Services, Power of Babel, EP Canada, Portable Electric, Champ & Pepper.