ACTRA production honoured by unanimous vote at Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase

Toronto, ON (June 4, 2018) — A distinguished jury of diverse film industry enthusiasts unanimously voted to honour ACTRA production Reel Women Seen with the 2018 Jury Choice Award at the Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase in Cannes, France, on May 14, 2018. Heather Allin, the short film’s producer, was in attendance and accepted the award.

“What an honour for our film to be recognized by such an exceptional group of our industry peers,” said Allin. “We started our project to raise awareness of the inequalities that exist in our industry both at home in Canada and around the world. Everyone who worked so tirelessly on the film has been touched by the reception it has received and the changes it inspires.”

“I thank Yolonda Brinkley and everyone else involved with the Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase for providing us with the platform to share our film on the same screen as so many other talented filmmakers who have brought such a diversity of voices to the big screen,” said Reel Women Seen director Amanda Tapping. “To be recognized with this award only makes this experience even more meaningful.”

A nation-wide collaborative effort of the ACTRA National Women’s Committee, Reel Women Seen takes a comedic look at how women are underrepresented in all areas of screen-based media, most notably: as protagonists; behind the scenes in creative, writing and directorial roles; and in key technical roles. While telling the stories of realities faced by women in the film and television industry, the film also shows solutions for change.

To date, the short film has been screened at over 20 festivals and events in Canada and around the world. For a complete list of past and upcoming screenings as well as cast/crew information, please visit www.actra.ca/reelwomenseen.

About the ACTRA National Women’s Committee
The ACTRA National Women’s Committee has a mandate to explore the issues of all female ACTRA Members, raise awareness of these issues, and support women both within ACTRA and the industry.

About ACTRA
ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is the national union of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of over 25,000 members across the country – the foundation of Canada’s highly acclaimed professional performing community.

About Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase
The 2018 Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase, presented during the 71st Festival de Cannes, highlighted 18 films in competition from Australia, Canada, France, India, Italy, Martinique, New Zealand, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. The uniquely themed films were selected by an independent screening committee and judged onsite by a distinguished jury of diverse film industry enthusiasts.

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Media Contact: Jennifer McGibbon, ACTRA Public Relations Officer, tel: 604-689-1165, jmcgibbon@actra.ca