The 2018 Festival Kickoff, which includes our catch release and screenwriter’s short film pitch, will be taking place on October 6th from 12-5pm (doors at 11am). This year we will be including 2 workshops sponsored by ACTRA Ottawa and the Ottawa Film Office.

Check out the info below and RSVP on our Facebook page.

This event is FREE and is open to anyone who is interested in making film in Ottawa. The short workshops/panels will be followed by the Catch Release, Screenwriter’s Pitch and then Networking.

We will also be announcing the 2018 jury members, sponsors and partners, as well as some special programming.

We look forward to seeing you there!

RSVP - It's Free!

12PM - Workshop/Panel 1 - Working with ACTRA (FREE)

Sponsored by ACTRA Ottawa and presented by Chris Cornish

This intimate information session will open your eyes to the myths and truths about working with ACTRA on your independent short film project. Learn about the difference of MIP, AIP, and IPA; the requirements on set when you go union; what restrictions might exist; & what myths need to be busted for you to work with union actors. This session allows time for in depth Q&A. Chris Cornish is the Ottawa Branch Representative and Federal Outreach Coordinator for ACTRA and has over a decade and a half of experience working with performers, filmmakers and industry professionals locally and nationally. Chris also plays a lead role in government relations and advocacy on behalf of ACTRA National liaising with Ministers, MPs, boards, agencies and industry stakeholders.

ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is the national union of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of 22,000 members across the country – the foundation of Canada’s highly-acclaimed professional performing community.

1PM - Workshop/Panel 2 - Working with the Ottawa Film Office (FREE)

Sponsored by the Ottawa Film Office and presented by Jennifer Quintanilla and Bruce Harvey

Learn about the services available with the Ottawa Film Office and how you can work with them on your next project. Jennifer and Bruce will be there to go over commonly asked questions about filming in the city, how to access locations, and what’s happening as Ottawa’s film industry continues to grow. There will be time to discuss specifics and answer questions in a Q&A. Jennifer Quintanilla - Locations Coordinator

Jennifer’s main role as Locations Coordinator is to act as the liaison between filmmakers and the City of Ottawa, facilitating all filming and filming-related parking on city-owned lands. Jennifer also reviews scripts and provides location breakdowns/look books to help attract foreign producers to the Ottawa region, and works to enhance the film office’s Flickr locations page.

A Long Island, New York native, Jennifer joined the Ottawa Film Office in early 2017. While living in the States, she received a B.A. in Cinema Studies and Philosophy from the State University of New York at Purchase College. Eager to further her scope of film, she relocated to Montreal, QC, where she earned an M.A. in Film Studies, with a focus on coordination and programming at Concordia University. As a student, she worked with notable non-profits like the Jacob Burns Film Center, Classic Movie Hub, Le Cinéclub Film Society, and Cinema Politica. On her down time, Jennifer enjoys cooking, going to the cinema, and exploring the city. Bruce Harvey - Ottawa Film Commissioner

Bruce joined the Ottawa Film Office as Film Commissioner in 2014 when he decided to relocate to his hometown of Ottawa from Calgary, Alberta. A former entertainment lawyer, he started his own production company in 1990 and spent the following two decades producing film and TV projects, working with partners in Italy, Spain, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and France. His film “Almost America”, a co-production with Italy, won a Genie Award (now the Canadian Screen Awards) in 2001 for Best Production Design. Prior to becoming a producer, Bruce was a successful entertainment lawyer working with corporate and commercials clients on a variety of cases, from intellectual property and copyright to contracts and taxation. When he’s not working, Bruce enjoys spending time with his children, watching films and TV shows, riding his motorcycle, and playing board games.

As the Film Commissioner, Bruce’s main role is to attract screen-based productions to Ottawa to grow the industry’s economic impact. From tax incentives and co-production structures, to funding and distribution, Bruce’s background as a lawyer and producer gives him unparalleled insight into what productions need, from pre-production to post-production.
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