THE NEW REALITIES OF SCREEN-BASED MEDIA IN CANADA:
National Leaders from the CMF, CRTC, NFB and MFM come together to discuss what this means for creators here in Manitoba

Date: Thursday, May 20th
Time: 4:00pm – 6:00pm (Doors open a 3:30 PM)
Place: Mid Canada Production Services - 509 Century Street

A series of decisions made nationally have resulted in some big game changes…

In February, it was announced that the National Film Board’s Winnipeg office would be restructured appointing a new Executive Producer and a smaller staff that would include digital media producers.

In March the CRTC released their decision on the framework for the Broadcaster Group-based Licensing Renewal hearings that will occur in 2011. The commissioners had a big challenge – Look at the entire framework of the Canadian broadcast system and try to figure out how to balance it for the various players. Everything from Ownership Groups, Fee for Carriage, Cancon spending, Regional Production and more were directly addressed, changed and or, in some cases, handed off.

And in April the Canadian Media Fund was finally launched, essentially marrying the world of traditional linear content production with interactive digital media –A.K.A. ‘transmedia’. And if you happen to be producing interactive media already… well, it had better be some groundbreaking stuff.

A bit confusing? This townhall is your chance to hear from these leaders about how they think the landscape has shifted, what media creators need to be thinking about and what the future might look like.

SPEAKERS:

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Valerie Creighton, President and CEO, CMF

Valerie Creighton has over thirty years of experience in leading cultural organizations. Since joining the corporation in 2006 as President and CEO, Ms. Creighton’s focus has been to position the CMF as a responsive and effective organization with funders, clients, and other stakeholders, to enhance relationships with national and international interests, and to support and promote Canadian media content.

Ms. Creighton successfully managed two major organizational events in the history of the corporation, including the transition of the Canadian Television Fund’s program administration to Telefilm Canada and the creation of the Canada Media Fund. She developed a national stakeholder outreach program and restructured the organization to focus on policy development, research, and communications.

Previously, Ms. Creighton was the CEO and Film Commissioner for the Saskatchewan Film and Video Development Corporation and Manager of the Arts Section for the Province of Saskatchewan. She has produced radio dramas for CBC Saskatchewan, sat on numerous CBC juries, and won several awards, including the Deputy Minister’s Recognition Award for her role in the creation of SaskFilm, the Distinguished Alumni Award –Theatre Department, University of Regina, Her Majesty the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Award for Community Leadership, and the Canadian Women in Communications Change Leader Award. She has participated in trade missions led by the Prime Minister of Canada and Premier of Saskatchewan to Germany, Los Angeles, and China. She has sat on 12 boards from 1979 to the present and currently serves as a volunteer Chair of the Saskatchewan Foundation for the Arts.

Ms. Creighton holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Regina and a Management Development Diploma for Arts Administrators from the Banff School of Management. She owns and operates The Red Horse Ranch in Stoughton, Saskatchewan.

Tom Perlmutter, Government Film Commissioner & Chairperson, NFB
A fervent advocate of groundbreaking and socially relevant cinema, Tom Perlmutter became the 15th Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the National Film Board of Canada on June 11, 2007.

Since joining the NFB in 2001 as Director General, English Program, Mr. Perlmutter has been one of the organization's leading ambassadors at the national and international level. He revitalized documentary and animation programming, forged critical ties with important partners abroad and provided greater access for up-and-coming culturally diverse filmmakers. He has also led the NFB through major technological advances in multiplatform production. Under his aegis, the NFB has received numerous honours, including two Academy Awards®.

Mr. Perlmutter enjoyed a prestigious career in the Canadian film industry before joining the NFB. As founding head of documentaries at Barna-Alper Productions, he created and produced many award-winning features and series.

Candice Molnar, Commissioner, CRTC
Appointed Regional Commissioner for Manitoba and Saskatchewan, effective January 7, 2008.

Having spent over two decades at SaskTel, she brings to the CRTC a wealth of knowledge and experience in telecommunications and broadcast distribution regulatory affairs. In her most recent role as General Manager of Customer Service Operations, she led a team of more than 800 service and technical employees. She also served as General Manager of Regulatory Affairs from 1999 to 2005. During this time, she notably guided SaskTel’s transition from provincial to federal regulation.

Committed to fostering professional development opportunities for women, she has served as a director of Canadian Women in Communications since 2003. Ms. Molnar holds an MBA degree from Heriot-Watt University in Scotland and a Bachelor of Administration from the University of Regina. She is also a Certified Management Accountant. Her term ends on January 6, 2012.

Louise O'Brien-Moran, Manager of Film Production & Location Services, MFM
As the Manager of Film Production and Location Services for MANITOBA FILM & MUSIC (MFM), Louise O’Brien-Moran oversees development loans and production equity programs, Production Tax Credit Program, Location Services and marketing initiatives to offshore producers. Prior to joining MFM in 2002, Louise   worked in the industry as a Unit Publicist, Locations Manager, Assistant Director, Extras Casting Director and Production Coordinator. In addition to her work with the film agency, Louise is a member of the Directors Guild of Canada and Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.