In a modest yet modern office located in Old Toronto, with an exposed brick interior and a mural that reads “Canadian Is Not a Genre,” the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television’s national office houses approximately 20 staff members, with a combined wealth of experience of several decades in the arts and entertainment industry, and beyond. I sat down with some of these dedicated staff members to discover what it is that they all share: a genuine passion for Canadian content and the artists behind it.
Though the Academy is perhaps best known for the annual Canadian Screen Awards Broadcast, they have taken on more year-round work to support screen-industry professionals in the earlier phases of their careers. Miranda Disney, Manager of Partnerships, tells me that during her time with the Academy, the organization’s focus has shifted increasingly toward emerging artists who will “one day be Canadian Screen Award winners.” While the logistical details that come with event planning on the scale of Canadian Screen Week can be stressful, Miranda says that having the opportunity to “witness evenings where nominees are celebrating the highlight of their careers, and experiencing a tremendously significant moment in their lives, is what makes it all worth it.”
Katie Elder, the Academy’s Senior Coordinator of Member Relations added to the conversation her opinion of the organization’s strengths amidst changes in the industry. “I think that one thing we do really well is celebrate Canadian voices, and we champion them above all else… in a country where that gets lost sometimes, it’s really exciting to celebrate people for being Canadian and help them to put their work out there.” Katie speaks to another important endeavour: the way that the Canadian Academy strives to engage with its audience, and the larger Canadian public. She tells me that she remembers the distinct moment in her life that changed her perspective on Canadian entertainment. “I had a French teacher who used to show us French-Canadian film. I had never seen Canadian film at all, let alone French-Canadian film. He showed us C.R.A.Z.Y. by Jean-Marc Vallée, and that was the first time that I realized that film was really cool, and that it can represent a national identity – something that is more specific to Canada, and a time, place, and experience that might be different than my own.”
The one recurring answer as to what led Academy employees to where they are today was each person’s love of creative content. Sonja Verpoort, Assistant in the Programming department, had only worked at the organization for six months when we sat down to chat, but spoke to the rewarding experiences she had already had as a member of the team. When asked what about her job is most meaningful, she said she feels grateful to the Academy for helping her discover and celebrate great content, feeling hopeful that she can help to give it a platform where more people can discover it, and experience pride in being Canadian. “There’s a lot of really great content coming out of this country… I’m really excited to be a part of pushing [it] forward. It’s really inspiring.” Kathleen Walsh, Communications Manager, added that she is appreciative of having had the opportunity “to mentor people who are newer to the industry, or new to the Academy… providing opportunities to people to make sure they are finding their footing.” She continued, “[It] really means a lot to me because I think I had a lot of help from people on the way.”
Gratitude for the opportunity to discover Canadian talent is a sentiment echoed by Melanie Windle, a producer in her own right and the Academy’s Manager of Special Projects. She tells me that “there continues to be exceptional talent and new voices that need to be heard. I really like discovering filmmakers in not only underrepresented communities, but overlooked places. And I’m not only talking about a ‘diamond in the rough’, but anywhere where there’s talent that can be grown to foster careers in the cultural sector.” She continues, “I find it most meaningful to help people find their voice and their authenticity, to encourage them to make their best work, to never give up, and those things feed me and my own work… I love being part of that.”
Jennifer Stewart, Vice President of Partnerships and Communications, told me what she thinks the Academy has done to really “change the game,” including the launch of the Cogeco Fund Audience Choice Award, which has brought together fans of Canadian screen-based media in a meaningful way. Last year, this publicly voted award garnered over 19 million votes, breaking new ground for the Academy and their ever-growing global audience. Jennifer tells me that the Academy continues to elevate its events and its digital presence year after year, and its ever-growing levels of engagement are truly reflective of a team-wide effort.
A 20+ year veteran of the industry, Jennifer discussed how the screen industry has evolved since the beginning of her career. “The only thing that is constant in this industry is change,” she says, pointing to the advent of digital platforms and how their influence continues to affect the work of the Academy and its partners. As platforms have expanded, so has the variety and amount of content made available to consumers. “It’s overwhelming,” adds Jennifer, “In terms of platforms, I think the people who figure how to really elegantly and easily curate content are the ones who are going to win the race.”
Every year, the Academy hopes to grow their global audience and bring more attention to the wealth of high-calibre content produced in this country, introducing the world to the unique Canadian storytellers that need to be heard. What was once a week made up of three main events has evolved into the largest celebration of its kind, filled with an impressive line-up of five award-giving galas, a series of dynamic panel events featuring over 75 speakers, and year-round programming that focuses on mentorship and community-building in the screen industry. With a passionate team of employees who are driven by a love of advocating for Canadian artists and their work, the Academy can only go up from here. Jennifer said it best, speaking to the content available to today’s consumer: “I wouldn’t say that the quality of programming has improved, because there’s always been high quality television and films, but it feels like there’s more choice for the thinking viewer.”
Written for the Academy by Hannah Bourke.
Photos by Kathleen Walsh.
