Toronto, August 12, 2024 – The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and Canadian Society of Cinematographers (CSC) are pleased to launch a Cinematography Intensive, welcoming five female-identifying Directors of Photography (DOPs) for a comprehensive two-week workshop in collaboration with the 2024 Norman Jewison Film Program residents. This intensive is geared towards helping DOPs elevate their narrative storytelling, teamwork and technical skills while also building their professional network. With support from the Paul Bronfman Family Foundation, talented Cinematographers from Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia will begin the Cinematography Intensive on August 12.
The DOPs will take part in a series of workshops and meetings led by CSC Cinematographer mentors Zoe Dirse csc & Arthur Cooper csc. They will also be working collaboratively with CFC directors, producers, writers and editors to prepare and shoot several productions as they continue to refine their visual approach. Following the two-week intensive and over the next month, the DOPs will take part in a series of post sessions that will see them leave the intensive with high-quality, original material for their reels.
“We’re proud to help launch this important training program with the CFC and CSC to foster emerging talent with tools and opportunities needed to excel in their craft,” said Paul Bronfman, CFC Board Member. “We hope these cinematographers will feel empowered to push boundaries and elevate their storytelling skills, ultimately enriching the Canadian film/tv industry.”
“I find this a timely and inspiring initiative that will elevate the participants’ already impressive filmmaking skills and hopefully encourage greater female participation in the industry,” said Zoe Dirse csc, president of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers. “I am looking forward to seeing what these unique collaborations produce.”
“We are thrilled to be working with the CSC and to be welcoming these talented artists into the CFC community,“ said Kathryn Emslie, Executive Lead, Programs, CFC. “This is the beginning of what we hope will be a long-term partnership celebrating the important role cinematographers play in the storytelling process. We’re so grateful for the generous support of the Paul Bronfman Family Foundation to help elevate these artists who are shaping the future of cinema.”
The Cinematography Intensive also receives vital support through in-kind services and equipment from Keslow Camera Toronto, Urban Post and Sunbelt Rentals.
(From left to right): Zoe Dirse csc (President, CSC), Iris Ng, Paola Contreras, Claire Sanford, Emma Djwa, Kaayla Whachell, and Maxine Bailey (Executive Director, CFC)
2024 CFC / CSC Cinematography Intensive DPs
Emma Djwa is a Vancouver-based DP whose work has been showcased at the Toronto and New York International Women Film Festivals, the Miami Film Awards and various Canadian festivals. Encouraged by growing up mixed race in Vancouver, her work spans the arctic circle and deserts alike. Emma believes visual storytelling has a crucial role in inspiring people and expanding the edges of our worldview. She is an Associate member of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers and an Operator with ICG 669. With a passion for authentic storytelling, she crafts grounded narratives and imaginative documentaries. Holding a Bachelor’s in Motion Picture Arts from Capilano University, Emma was raised on and lives on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples–Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Stó:lō, Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh, and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Nations.
Iris Ng has been a cinematographer for 17 years, and is known for work that focuses on human rights, marginalised communities, and auteur perspectives. She has extensive experience in documentaries and has lensed films for contemporary artists, including shot scripted shorts, prime time TV, and digital series. Her most notable works include the acclaimed film Stories We Tell (Dir. Sarah Polley), Netflix’s Shirkers (Dir. Sandi Tan), and Emmy award-winner Making A Murderer. She has also collaborated on celebrated socially-critical feature documentaries such as Twice Colonized, One Of Ours, Subjects Of Desire, A Better Man, Migrant Dreams, and Category: Woman. Her scripted work includes the CBC series Strays (Seasons 1 and 2), Hey Lady! which premiered at Sundance, Distant Cousins, and various other shorts. She currently serves on the Committee On Racial Equity with IATSE 667, is Co-Chair of the Field of View Mentorship Committee with the CSC, and is a founding member of the Documentary Cinematographers Alliance.
Claire Sanford is a Canadian cinematographer based in Montreal. Originally from Texada Island on the west coast of Canada, Claire grew up immersed in nature and became versed in the quiet art of observation. Her work centres visual expressions of human identity, the natural world, and how they overlap. Her recent cinematography has garnered nominations for a Canadian Screen Award in 2024 and a Prix Iris in 2022. Titles include the feature documentaries: Curl Power (2024), Larry: they/them (2024), The Bones (2023), Stolen Time (2023) Fanny: The Right to Rock (2021), and numerous cinematic shorts. She also explores immersive cinematography through VR and installation work, including the NFB Interactive film Texada (2024), which has screened at festivals internationally. Claire is an associate member of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers. She holds a BFA in Film Production from the School for the Contemporary Arts at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver (2009).
Kaayla Whachell is an associate member of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers and co-chair of the CSC’s Diversity Committee. Her first feature film, Portraits from a Fire, won her Best Cinematography at the 2022 Leo Awards. Kaayla is known for her work on I’m Just Here for the Riot, an ESPN 30 for 30 She recently collaborated with director Sterling Larose on Snotty Nose Rez Kid’s music video Damn Right which was nominated for a JUNO Award. As a woman of mixed descent (Okinawan, Red River Metis, Czech), Kaayla continues to ally BIPOC filmmakers by showcasing their stories. She strives to produce a diverse film set for all people to thrive and create within.
Paola Contreras is a Mexican multidisciplinary artist who has worked in the audiovisual field as a director, cinematographer, editor, and photographer. She began her studies in Digital Cinematography in Guadalajara, Jalisco. She specialized in cinematography at the International School of Film and Television in EICTV, Cuba. She is currently an associate member of the Canadian Society of Cinematographers (CSC) and has been able to advance her career as a director with support from the Canada Council for the Arts, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, and Calgary Arts Development in various film projects. Paola has a strong passion for art history and storytelling. She has always sought to explore new ways of storytelling, drawing inspiration from works of art, films, photographs, or sculptures that have moved her.