Women in Film and Television Vancouver Opens Nominations for Spotlight Awards

Women in Film and Television Vancouver has opened nominations for its annual Spotlight Awards. Since 1999, these awards have brought the BC film community together to celebrate the outstanding achievements of BC women and their allies in screen-based media. Anyone can make a nomination using the online form. Award categories are listed and described here, and include:

• The Iris Award is given to a person who has demonstrated a commitment to the promotion of women creators and their screen-based works either through curating or programming, or through print and online media sources. Men are eligible to be nominated for this award.
• The Newcomer Award recognizes a new artist or technician, including one who is shifting from one career to another (i.e. from an actor to a director) whose first few works have laid the foundation for an inspiring new career.
• The Woman of the Year Award is presented to an industry leader who has achieved significant success and who has created opportunities for other women in the industry. 
• The Please Adjust Your Set Award honours a person or organization that has made a major contribution to promote gender equality in film, television or screen based media.
• The Artistic Achievement Award honours a screen-based media artist (i.e. writer, director, producer, editor, director of photography or performer) who has created an outstanding recent work or a significant body of work.
• The Innovation Award honours a key creator of a recent production or body of work that exemplifies vision, experimentation and innovation.
• The Wayne Black Service Award honours a major contributor to the screen-based media community, while working ‘behind the scenes’.
• The Honoured Friend Award recognizes a person who has played a significant role in supporting women in the industry and promoting the goals of WIFTV. Men are eligible to be nominated for this award.
• The Sharon Gibbon Award honours a WIFTV member who has made a major volunteer contribution in advancing the organization’s goals.
• The Image Award is awarded to a director, writer, editor or director of photography of an outstanding short work that shows production excellence or a unique, visionary approach. 
• The Leadership in Education Award is presented to a screen industry teacher who has demonstrated a commitment to creating opportunities for and sharing expertise with women students within an academic or professional development context.

Nominations are due March 20, 2017. Those interested in sponsoring an award can contact office@womeninfilm.ca.