FTM Staff
FTM STAFF
Executive Director | Adam Smoluk, CPHR, SHRM-SCP (He/Him)
Adam Smoluk has been with Film Training Manitoba since 2006 and was promoted six times to the senior executive position. Adam graduated with a Business Administration diploma from McMaster University and with honours from Red River College Polytechnic’s Human Resource Management and Management Development programs. He earned a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation and a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP) Senior Certified Professional designation. He completed micro-credential certificates in career and employment coaching from the University of Winnipeg and Leading Through Conflict, Emotional Intelligence, and French Essentials from Western University.
He was selected to RRC Polytechnic’s billboard campaign for distinguished alumni and he delivered commencement addresses at two of his alma maters, McMaster University and RRC Polytechnic. He studied on scholarship at the British American Drama Academy at Oxford University and was the youngest person ever selected to the National Screen Institute of Canada’s Features First Program for professional filmmakers. He was the sole writer from the Americas awarded selection to the 2016 eQuinoxe Europe International Screenwriting Program in Lindau, Germany. He served on the executive of Youth Employment Services Manitoba, the ACTRA Manitoba’s council, and is the former Chair for the United Way of Winnipeg’s GenNext Council for young community leaders. He was a key organizer of the first GenNext Summit held in North America.
He currently serves as the Vice-Chair for the Advisory Board for Essential Skills Manitoba, The Manitoba Construction Sector Council’s Educators Working Group, and the board of directors for the Westland Foundation, which provides post-secondary scholarships for inner Winnipeg students. He also currently serves on the Advisory Committee for REEL Canada, which promotes Canadian Cinema.
Adam has extensive experience providing programming support to post-secondary schools, he has been named as the Chair of the Advisory Committee overseeing of Red River College Polytechnic’s Digital Film and Media Production Post-graduate program, Chair of Assiniboine Community College’s Interactive Media Arts program’s advisory committee. He also currently serves on RRC Polytechnic’s Information and Cultural Industries Strategic Council, and the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology’s micro-credential industry advisory committee. He served on McMaster University’s micro-credential review committee, and he has served on a programming review committee for McMaster. For over a decade, Adam has served a mentor for the University of Manitoba’s Career Mentorship program.
Adam was a recipient of the Future Leaders of Manitoba award; he was awarded an Investors Group scholarship for leadership studies at The Peter Lougheed Leadership Institute at the Banff Centre, the Manitoba Federation of Labour’s Al Cerilli scholarship, a scholarship to attend the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Winnipeg Program and an RBC Foundation scholarship to attend governance training with the Institute of Corporate Directors.
His debut film, HORSETHIEVES was awarded the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film at the Winnipeg International Film Festival. His second feature film, FOODLAND was acquired by Shaw and premiered on the Independent Film Channel (IFC). The film was broadcast on Super Channel and designated to the Gem selections for critically acclaimed films. He served as a director for the Frantic Films and Discovery Channel’s true-crime series IN PLAIN SIGHT. Adam contributed profiles of the Right Honourable Edward Schreyer and Manitoba Film & Music’s former CEO Carole Vivier for THE HEART OF WINNIPEG, a book that profiles community leaders.
Phone: 204.989.9669 ext.4
Email: adam@filmtraining.mb.ca
Director of Workforce Development, SWIFT and Operations | Allison Bile (She/Her)
Allison Bile graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor of Art’s degree in Theatre and French.
Allison gained an interest in filmmaking through her involvement with the Winnipeg Film Group by attending workshops on experimental filmmaking and volunteering on short films in the costume department.
In 2009, Allison served as a board member and Secretary on the Winnipeg Film Group. She has also served as volunteer for Cancer Care Manitoba. In 2003, she completed an internship with FTM in the costume department and was a Permittee with IATSE 856 in costumes.
Allison joined FTM in 2006 and has been promoted to various positions within the organization. She has completed courses on Arts and Culture Management through the University of Winnipeg and is the process of obtaining a certificate on Human Resource Management through Red River College.
Phone: 204.989.9669 ext.2
Email: allison@filmtraining.mb.ca
Training and Partnerships Manager | Sydney Sabiston (She/Her)
Sydney Sabiston is a Manitoba based actress and filmmaker. After graduating from The University of Winnipeg’s Theatre & Film program, she began her journey on set as an Assistant Director.
With a special interest in acting in and producing horror films, she then made her way on screen and has notable acting credits, including: Time Cut, All Fun and Games, Psycho Killer, Acting Good, Levels, Etc.
As Sydney was developing her acting career, she joined the team at Farpoint Films (an award-winning production company), as their casting director for non-union television series, such as: Sunshine Slayings, Heartland Homicide, Almost Unsolved, Death of The Party, Etc.
While Sydney continues to pursue her passion and growing career as an actress, she now joins Film Training Manitoba as their Training and Partnerships Manager. She is excited to take on this new adventure with FTM and continues to explore her enthusiasm for the film industry. She looks forward to nurturing strong relationships with our performers and crew members here in Manitoba.
Phone: 204.989.9669 ext.1
Email: sydney@filmtraining.mb.ca
Senior Projects Manager | Fawnda Neckoway
Fawnda Neckoway is an Ithinew Filmmaker from the Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, residing in Winnipeg. Committed to her pursuit of a lifelong goal, she is the Founder and President of newly established Production Company, Nikâwiy Productions.
Fawnda holds experience in film as a Casting Director, and Actor and who’s recently begun Writing, Directing & Producing.
As a multidisciplinary artist, Fawnda has accelerated into creating her own motion pictures with four short films while pursuing her education and establishing her company. These films include, Kita kiskihtihtakwaw: So They Will Know, ᒪᐢᑭᓯᐣ: A Moccasin Creation Story, and If You’re Looking for a Sign, This Is It. She is currently in post-production with her latest film, Language Keepers, to which she was the recipient of the WFG MOSAIC Film Award.
Fawnda recently completed a residency as part of Alanis Obomsawin’s Storytelling Workshop, is a recent graduate of Red River College Polytechnic’s Digital Film and Media Production Program, and successfully completed the Producers Accelerator Program as part of the Shine Network.
In the realm of performance Fawnda held the role of Lyna’s Mother in We Were Children, has an admiration for Shakespeare after playing Juilet, in Romeo and Juliet and was awarded a full scholarship for Vancouver Film School’s Acting for Film and Television Program after a successful audition landed her first of top six in a national competition.
Her latest creatives have her engaged closely within her community, where she’s passionate about developing productions that nurture generational connection and Indigenous Storytelling. Fawnda is currently in development of her first scripted screenplay and is looking forward to sharing her latest productions, releasing in summer of 2024.
Phone: 204.989.9669 ext. 5 Email: fawnda@filmtraining.mb.ca
Communications and Outreach Coordinator | Jenna Paterson-Coutts (She/Her)
Jenna Paterson-Coutts is a graduate of the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic’s Joint Communications Degree/Diploma with a major in journalism.
Her experience as a Communications Assistant with the Social Innovation Office and as a Social Media Assistant with Ai-Kon (Manitoba’s largest anime convention) will help her be successful in the Communications and Outreach Coordinator position with FTM.
Phone: 204.989.9669 ext.3
E-mail: jenna@filmtraining.mb.ca
Finance Coordinator | Kathe Mesman (She/Her)
With over 25 years of bookkeeping experience, Kathe Meseman supports small to medium-sized organizations and the non-profit sector. Kathe has experience with initial financial setup, corporate re-structure, full cycle accounting and training, project costing/reporting, government remittances, payroll, month-end and year-end preparation. She is proficient in Quickbooks, Simply Accounting and Profile for personal and corporate income tax preparation.
Kathe has extensive experience with the Province of Manitoba’s Sector Council program and serves as the Financial Officer at a few of the organizations.
Kathe is also involved in charitable volunteerism and serves on the Board of Directors for Winnipeg’s Westland Foundation, which provides post-secondary scholarships for inner-city Winnipeg students.