Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development
October 14, 2014

Province’s Film Industry Strengthened with Strategic Investments

St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival Marks 25 Years of Innovative Film Making

With the support of the Provincial Government, the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival is once again welcoming the international film community to St. John’s. Funding of $46,772 has been provided to the 2014 festival for its new Interactive Industry Film Forum. The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, will participate in the festival’s opening gala event tonight (Tuesday, October 14) at the St. John’s Arts and Culture Centre.

“The Provincial Government is proud to support this highly-anticipated festival and its ability to grow the film industry from a sound and viable business perceptive. This investment of over $46,000 will help the festival continue to play a key role in bringing vital profile to important gender and social issues through film. As the Minister of the new Department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development, I clearly see the versatility that the new department offers organizers of events like the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival, and I believe this level of flexibility speaks to the new department’s ability to grow the economy though our expanded expertise and suite of dynamic services.”
- The Honourable Darin King, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development

Coinciding with the film festival from October 14 to 18, the Interactive Industry Film Forum will build on previous forums by offering new interactive professional development workshops. Forum sessions will bring together some of the country’s leading film, television and digital media creators for a series of panels, workshops, networking opportunities, pitch sessions and project consultations. With experts from NFB/Interactive, iThentic, the Canada Media Fund, and Bell Media, the forum will seek to inspire further collaboration between the film and television industry. It will also strengthen the digital media industry, and will also strengthen the region’s connections to the international creative technology sector.

"Our annual film forum has become the province's flagship industry event, offering unparalleled access to both professional development workshops and networking opportunities with industry leaders from across the country. The New Interactive Industry Forum would not be possible each year without the continued support of the Department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development. In supporting our forum, the department is supporting the province's film and television industry and the women within that industry."
- Noreen Golfman, Festival Chair and Founder

Established in 1989 to support and promote women filmmakers, the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival produces several screenings, workshops and other events throughout the year, culminating in a five-day film festival held in October in St. John’s. Now attracting over 4,000 participants, each year the festival receives approximately 500 film submissions, and from those, presents a powerful program of international documentaries, short films and feature works. Additional information on the festival and this year’s full schedule can be found at: www.womensfilmfestival.com .

QUICK FACTS

• The Provincial Government has provided $46,772 to support the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival and its new interactive industry film forum.
• The St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival is one of the longest running women’s film festivals in the world.
• Festival week features an interactive international film forum of keynote addresses, seminars, workshops and meetings for filmmakers and producers. The forum focuses on the business of filmmaking while the festival celebrates international works by women.
• The 25th annual St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival runs October 14-18. Additional information on the festival and this year’s full schedule can be found at: www.womensfilmfestival.com .

- 30 -

Media contacts:

Tansy Mundon Director of Communications Department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development 709-729-4570, 693-1865 tansymundon@gov.nl.ca

Sarah Smellie Executive Director St. John's International Women's Film Festival 709-754-3141, 689-0296 sarah@womensfilmfestival.com

2014 10 14                                    1:45 p.m.