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The 20th Anniversary Film & Television Trade Forum
Stages Masterful Four-Day Event

The Film & Television Trade Forum opened the new Vancouver International Film Centre (VIFC) with an informative four day event that connected local filmmakers with top industry professionals on writing, producing, directing, acting and a range of the most topical business fronts. With a streamlined format featuring more focused master classes, participants were treated to intimate audiences with some of the finest talent working in the industry today.

“I want to thank all our guests who so generously shared their expertise with our audience to make this event such a success,” says Trade Forum Producer Melanie Friesen. “We’re also very pleased with the positive feedback from delegates who were particularly appreciative of this year’s program and roster of guest speakers.”

In a master class with actor/producer Ray Liotta, a rapt audience heard personal experiences and advice from one of Hollywood’s most versatile actors in an engaging two-hour session. Similarly, aspiring writers for film and television learned from the likes of Oscar winner James L. White (Ray) and Michael Oates Palmer (West Wing).

A sold-out New Filmmakers’ Day on Oct. 1 featured special guest, screenwriter/director/playwright, Neil LaBute (The Shape of Things, Nurse Betty, Your Friends and Neighbors) in a master class on screenwriting, as well as the Success Stories of Director Catherine Hardwicke (Lords of Dogtown, Thirteen) and Producer Elizabeth Yake (It’s All Gone Pete Tong).

The business of filmmaking was well represented in the program, with sessions focusing on international markets drawing particularly high interest. Sessions such as Producing for the Asian Market, International Co-productions: An Update, and International Sales and Distribution covered timely trends on the global front.

The Trade Forum One Minute Motion Picture Contest sponsored by Kodak drew a creative range of visual interpretations depicting the new Vancouver International Film Centre from a field of 25 local filmmakers. Maryam Najafi submitted the winning entry, La Casa.

The 20th Annual Film and Television Trade Forum took place in the Rogers Industry Centre at the Vancouver International Film Centre and Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street, September 28 – 30, with New Filmmakers’ Day on October 1.