From unveiling a refreshed “look” online at thetalentfund.ca, to announcing a new cohort of diverse storytellers from across the country, to witnessing our filmmakers premiere their Talent Fund-supported projects at festivals such as TIFF, FIN Atlantic International Film Festival, Festival du Nouveau Cinéma, or VIFF … What a year it has been!

2019 also saw our filmmakers be honoured with awards such as Best Direction and Editing at the Canadian Screen Awards for FIRECRACKERS (Jasmin Mozaffari, who also was an honoree at the Birks Diamond Tribute to the Year’s Women in Film), and the FIPRESCI Prize of TIFF’s Discovery Program for MURMUR (Heather Young).

In the coming year the Talent Fund, supporting Telefilm’s Talent to Watch program, aims to expand its reach from coast to coast to coast, discovering a new generation of storytellers, as well as the vital support of a growing community of stakeholders across the business, industry, arts and philanthropic sectors.

Since joining the Telefilm team in the Spring, I’m indebted to the kind support of the Talent Fund Advisory Committee, colleagues, consultant Sheila O’Gorman, partners and stakeholders across the country as we endeavour to ignite the careers of our homegrown talent.

To you, our donors and friends, thank you for your unwavering commitment to the Talent Fund. Our achievements in supporting the next generation of filmmakers is made possible because of your tremendous generosity. We couldn’t do it without you.

On behalf of everyone at Telefilm, very best wishes this holiday season and New Year. We look forward to seeing and hearing from you in 2020.