Women in Film & Television Vancouver (WIFTV), in association with the Whistler Film Festival (WFF) is pleased to announce that Joy Haskell is the recipient of the 2019 WIFTV Whistler Film Festival Film Market Preparation Mentorship Program.
Joy Haskell has been awarded the WIFTV Whistler Film Festival Film Market Preparation Mentorship for her project “Cookies or Crack.” Joy Haskell is an Indigenous screenwriter, director and producer. She began writing short stories and poetry as a child, and dovetailed into a background in theatre specializing in acting, singing and dancing. In 2018, she was a recipient of The Banff Diversity of Voices Initiative for the Banff Media Festival. Later that year, she received a Storyhive grant (in conjunction with Creative BC), which led to her directing and producing the comedy piece “HEY CUZZIN” starring Evan Adams and Shauna Baker. It launched on TELUS Storyhive in September 2019, and was selected to participate in this year’s imagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival. Joy also worked on the APTN series “TRIBAL” as an associate story editor, and participated in the first edition of WIFTV’s Tricksters and Writers program for female Indigenous screenwriters from 2017-2018.
“When I received the email and read that I was selected to attend Whistler Film Festival Mentorship through WIFTV, I was very happy and grateful,” Joy expressed. “ I’m excited for this opportunity and thankful to the WIFTV jury for selecting me.”
Joy will receive industry immersion at the Whistler Film Festival, as well as personalized coaching sessions with an experienced producer/mentor. This year’s mentor is Camille Beaudoin: co-founder and CEO of Mosaic Entertainment. Camille has guided the creative development, production, and post production of world-class, award-winning screen content. This has comprised of three feature films, three mobile games, countless hours of online video, and over 100 episodes of TV comedy, including the teen feature film #Roxy starring Booboo Stewart (Disney Descendants) and Danny Trejo (Spy Kids, Machete), and the acclaimed national sketch comedy tv series CAUTION: May Contain Nuts (APTN). As Founder and Executive Director of Girls in Film & Television (GIFT), a not-for-profit dedicated to addressing the issue of gender parity and representation on screen, Camille is focused on inspiring teen girls to get behind the camera through hands-on learning and support. Camille is an alumnus of the National Screen Institute, a member of the Edmonton Screen Industries Office Advisory Committee, Edmonton YWCA’s 2014 Woman of Distinction in Arts & Culture, and an Avenue Magazine Top 40 under 40 alum.
Camille expressed her enthusiasm for the mentorship program: “It’s so great to see smart, talented women getting a boost in an industry that really needs increased leadership and contribution from this half of the population. I’m thrilled and honoured to be helping out with this important endeavour!”
The WIFTV Whistler Film Festival Market Preparation Mentorship is going into its 8th consecutive year. Special thanks to the WIFTV Whistler Film Festival Mentorship jury which consisted of Shannon Kaplun (chair), President of the WIFTV Board of Directors and filmmaker; Shirley McLean, Story Producer, “Great Pacific”; Natasha Tony, CEO Elevate Inclusion Strategies; and Shana Myara, Writer and Producer. The jury could not have been more pleased with their selection of “Cookies or Crack.”
“Life’s complexities play out in this story; mixed family, mixed emotions and the messiness of it all. We look forward to following Joy’s career as a storyteller. It must be said that we were impressed with the caliber of stories submitted this year– it was a pleasure to get a glimpse into the creative minds of all who entered this competition.”