To celebrate International Women’s Day, we’re spotlighting some of the incredible women of DGC Ontario whose creativity and talent are making waves across film and television, whether they’re orchestrating seamless productions, crafting immersive worlds, or championing the next generation of creatives.
Women Directors Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges?
Director, Writer, and DGC Ontario Chair Annie Bradley sits down with three women who also happen to be some of the most exciting Directors working today: Helen Shaver, Danishka Esterhazy, and Sam MacAdam. Helen, Danishka and Sam share their experiences in the film industry and how they’ve navigated their careers as women Directors.
MEET THE MEMBERS: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’S MOST POWERFUL WOMEN IN CANADIAN ENTERTAINMENT
On May 27, 2024, THR released their inaugural Most Powerful Women in Canadian Entertainment List, which includes eight DGC Ontario Members! From accomplished trailblazers to new and emerging voices, this list showcases an extraordinary group of women who are making remarkable contributions to the entertainment industry in Canada: Annie Bradley, Kari Skogland, Sarah Polley, Danis Goulet, Deepa Mehta, Jessica Cheung, Sasha Leigh-Henry, and Zosia Mackenzie.
Get to know these extraordinary women by checking out some of our past features on The Wider Lens.
Director Tiffany Hsiung
Director (and DGC Ontario board 2nd Vice-Chair) Tiffany Hsiung won the Peabody Award and many others for her documentary film The Apology. Tiffany also sits on the board of DOC Institute and the Hot Docs executive board. Committed to using filmmaking for storytelling and social change, Tiffany interviewed over twenty different experts to create the documentary segments of the Apple TV children’s series Jane, inspired by Dr. Jane Goodall.
Production Designer Tamara Deverell
Tamara Deverell was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Production Design for the film Nightmare Alley and continuously collaborates with iconic Director Guillermo del Toro, including on the Netflix series Cabinet of Curiosities and his upcoming new feature Frankenstein.
Production Managers Anna Beben and Mary Anne Waterhouse
Both Mary Anne and Anna are seasoned Production Managers who’ve worked on award-winning series and films and are passionate advocates for a greener world. With a focus on practical solutions and real-world experiences, Mary Anne and Anna offer valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of creating a more sustainable production industry.
Director Fawzia Mirza
Fawzia Mirza is a Director and Writer whose work includes the award-winning feature film The Queen of My Dreams, which was named to TIFF’s Annual Top Ten List. After two and a half years of working as a litigator, she became an Actor and eventually a Director to focus on projects that increase visibility for women and Brown creatives and find space for queer stories.
Sound Editor Jill Purdy
Sound Editor Jill Purdy has spent her career working with such iconic filmmakers as Guillermo del Toro, M. Night Shyamalan, David Cronenberg, and Darren Aronofsky. She has won and been nominated for the Canadian Screen Awards, the Primetime Emmys, the Motion Picture Sound Editor Awards, and more.
Read the interview: Wider Lens sat down with Co-Sound Supervisors Jill Purdy and Dashen Naidoo to learn how they crafted an immersive soundscape M. Night Shyamalan’s latest thriller Trap.
Director Zoe Hopkins
Zoe Hopkins is an Indigenous Director passionate about creating stories about people who don’t often see themselves on scree. Zoe is working to bring authentic Indigenous stories to television across both comedy and drama, including the recent CBC Gem hit North of North and the award-winning Crave drama Little Bird, which won 5 Canadian Screen Awards in 2024.
LOCATION MANAGER MARTY Dejczak
Location Manager Marty Dejczak has been a DGC Ontario Member for over 25 works, working on critically acclaimed and award-winning productions like The Long Kiss Goodnight, Goodwill Hunting Chicago, Maps to the Stars, and more. Marty is also DGC Ontario’s Locations Caucus Rep, working on behalf of her entire department to represent them at the Guild.
Director Kaniehtiio Horn
DGC Ontario Director Kaniehtiio Horn made her fearless directorial feature debut in Seeds, not only directing but also writing and starring in the film. Kaniehtiio joined Wider Lens to talk about transitioning from acting to directing, her passion for storytelling, and how Seeds is a fun thrill ride with an important message.
PICTURE EDITOR MAUREEN GRANT
Maureen Grant is an award-winning Picture Editor for film and television whose work has screened internationally to acclaim. She takes pride in being part of projects that are changing and challenging onscreen representation, and is the co-founder of Queer in Post, a network bringing together queer talent in all aspects of post production.
Director Kelly Fyffe-Marshall
Kelly Fyffe-Marshall is a Director and social activist striving to solidify her mark in the world. A self titled afro diasporic impact filmmaker, she uses film to change perspectives, create healing and share powerful stories. The CBC series she co-Directed with Sasha Leigh Henry, Bria Mack Gets a Life, won the Canadian Screen Award in 2024 for Best Comedy Series.
Director Danishka Esterhazy
Danishka Esterhazy is well known for her haunting horror stories and female-driven films, including Level 16 and The Slumber Party Massacre, and won the Canadian Screen Award for Best Direction in a TV Movie at the Canadian Screen Awards in 2022, for I Was Lorena Bobbitt. She is also the first woman to ever direct a film in the long-running Sniper action series.
1st Assistant Directors Penny Charter & Sorcha Vassey
These two veteran 1st Assistant Directors have worked on everything from The Shape of Water to Star Trek, lending their expertise to some of the biggest productions in Ontario. In this Member x Member interview, Penny and Sorcha talk about the Director/1st AD relationship, navigating on-set chaos, and how Sorcha helped wrangle the AR volume wall to bring fantastical worlds to life.
