Women in Film and Television Vancouver’s From Our Dark Side genre concept contest is proud to announce the five winners of its fourth season.
Welcome to the Dark Side!
While hiking the West Coast trail a woman turns into a wolf. On a true crime film set two reality stars can’t stop killing in real life. Someone has committed murder in Dawson City, was it the new editor? She can’t remember. A housewife just can’t stop herself from becoming a serial killer. And what if online trolls were dispatched in the exact manner they insulted the women they were trolling ie, why don’t you go hang yourself? Oops.
We can’t tell you about this year’s winners, because their projects won’t be revelaed until July when they pitch their screenplays in Montreal at the Frontieres Film Market. But those were last year’s!
Welcome to the world of genre film, an area where women are challenging social norms and generating world wide box office.
Congratulations to this year’s winners!
- Reem Morsi, Ontario; Fish
- Jessica Tremblay, BC; Storage
- Sandi Gisbert, BC; Opal
- Nicole Steeves, Nova Scotia; The Method
- Alison Hepburn, Ontario; The Truth About Lightning
The judges were very excited by the bold and innovative quality of this year’s entries” said Peggy Thompson and Sharon McGowan, Contest producers and WIFTV Board Members.
The five finalists receive a cash prize as well as a six-month incubator program designed to take their projects to the next stage of development. A highlight of the program is full accreditation to the Frontières International Co-Production Market in Montreal where the winners will pitch their projects to national and international industry professionals as part of Frontières’ new initiative, “Directed By Women.”
Prior to pitching at Frontieres, the winners attend the 2018 Vancouver International Women in Film Festival in March where they will have workshops and consultations with genre creators, producers, story editors and a digital marketing strategist.
The five winners will be presented with their awards Sunday, March 11, 2018, during the Vancouver International Women in Film Festival Closing Night Event (#VIWIFF).
This year’s jury consisted of screenwriter Glynis Whiting, Producer Maureen Levitt, Producer Rupert Harvey, Raven Banner Entertainment Executives Michael Paszt and Andrew Step, Vanessa Meyer from the Frontieres Film Market, and Producer Steph Ouaknine.
We would like to recognize the ten runners-up for their outstanding concepts:
- Katie Mac, PEI; Last Ride Home
- Amanda Playdon, BC; Dead Ends
- Sarah Gignac, Nova Scotia; The Apartment
- Jackie Batemen, BC; Blistered
- Gillian Muller, Ontario; The Devil’s Scratch
- Gia Milani, New Brunswick; Force Quit
- Aretha Greatrix, Alberta; Inspector Bex
- Carolyn Gray, Manitoba; Deady Bea
- Mia Fiona Kut, BC; Heliophilia
- Phoebe Gibb, Ontario; The Finals
The contest was developed by Women in Film and Television Vancouver’s Advocacy Committee and is generously supported by Super Channel, Telefilm Canada, Telus and Creative BC.