IMPORTANT: Participants please check your emails about updated dates. If you have not received an email please reach out to info@filmtraining.mb.ca
Select (click) the day for more details:
Film Training Manitoba Launches Registration for Canada’s first Summit for Women in Film Trades
The goal is to have more women and women-identifying individuals entering and advancing in the Film Industry
WINNIPEG, November 16, 2021 – Today Film Training Manitoba (FTM) announced a ground-breaking initiative to increase the number of women and individuals identifying as women working in Manitoba’s film industry. The initiative will launch with Canada’s first Summit for Women in Film Trades (SWIFT) on January 14-16, 2022. This first of its kind event in Canada will be the inaugural conference held at RRC Polytechnic’s new Innovation Centre.
Film Training Manitoba’s SWIFT is part of a multifaceted training and recruitment strategy to have significantly more women entering and advancing in Manitoba’s film trades over the next five years.
“Women play an important role in building Manitoba’s film industry and SWIFT has been created to supercharge our workforce by offering new programming to upscale our Province’s talented women film workers,” said Allison Bile, Film Training Manitoba’s SWIFT Program Manager.
According to Film Training Manitoba’s labour market information, as of October 2021, less than 30 per cent of Manitobans working in trades positions in the film industry are women and women-identifying individuals.
“I want to commend Film Training Manitoba for developing this unique and important initiative that will have a positive impact on the industry and our society as a whole”, said Cathy Cox, Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage, and the minister responsible for the Status of Women. “Our government is committed to advancing economic equality for women and is proud to invest in programs that encourage women and non-binary people to explore and succeed in non-traditional industries.”
All instructors, speakers, and panellists of SWIFT will be women. SWIFT will promote and support gender parity and workforce development within Manitoba’s dynamic film industry.
“The Summit for Women in Film Trades 2022 can kickstart other initiatives to ensure that Manitoba’s film industry leaders take the next steps to ensure our province’s diversity is reflected in the labour force and on screen,” said Minister of Economic Development and Jobs Jon Reyes. “There is strength in diversity and it will help continue to grow Manitoba’s successful film industry, which has grown to over $250 million in film production per year.”
Day one of SWIFT will be exclusively for women and individuals identifying as women who want to enter the film trades in Manitoba. Film Training Manitoba will be providing a full-day course on Set Orientation, Safety Awareness and Respect in the workplace. 40 complimentary first-come-first-served registrations are now available through Film Training Manitoba’s website at www.filmtraining.mb.ca.
Day two and three of SWIFT is for current Manitoba women and individuals identifying as women film professionals. These days are for members and permit holders of the Directors Guild of Canada’s Manitoba District Council, IATSE 856 and the ICG 669. Featured will be workforce development training and panel sessions on career advancement, leading in conflict and health and wellness. Registration will be open to the public if space is available.
Film Training Manitoba also announced up to ten fully-funded four-week internships that will be delivered over a one-year period beginning in January 2022. The women from day one of SWIFT, with other, underrepresent workers; will have the chance to apply for the paid internships.
FTM is a non-for-profit charity of the Province of Manitoba’s sector council program through the Department of Economic Development and Jobs. FTM builds a highly skilled and adaptable film industry workforce to support the activities of Manitoba production companies. FTM collaborates with members of the film and television industry to identify the training needs within the community.