Share Her Journey
Share Her Journey is a Canadian film program, created by the Toronto International Film Festival to foster the career development and advancement of women in the film industry.
First launched in 2017 as a five-year campaign to offer residency and talent accelerator programs for emerging women filmmakers,[1] it became more widely known in 2018 when it organized a public rally on John Street near the TIFF Bell Lightbox to publicize and advocate for action on the issues that women in film still face, including sexual harassment and lack of opportunity.[2]
Other initiatives sponsored by the organization include industry panels; developing and promoting mentorship, networking and career development opportunities for women in the film industry, efforts to include more films directed by women in the TIFF festival lineup, and a dedicated screening series of films directed by women at both the physical and online TIFF Bell Lightbox platforms,[3] as well as a program to subsidize the media accreditation fees for women and people of colour to attend the festival as film reviewers.[4]
In 2021, which would have been the final year of Share Her Journey in its original form as a five-year initiative, the festival announced that it will be continued as a permanent program.[5]
Beginning in 2022, Share Her Journey also launched the "Groundbreaker Award", presented as part of the TIFF Tribute Awards to honour a woman who has made a positive impact in improving conditions for women in the film industry.
The inaugural award in 2022 was presented to Michelle Yeoh,[6] with Patricia Arquette selected as the recipient in 2023.[7]
The Share Her Journey Award, a prize to honour the best short film by an emerging female filmmaker in the festival's Short Cuts lineup, was introduced at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival.[8]
| Year | Film | Director | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Sing Me a Lullaby | Tiffany Hsiung | [9] |
| 2021 | Astel | Ramata-Toulaye Sy | [10] |
| Love, Dad (Milý tati) | Diana Cam Van Nguyen | ||
| 2022 | Nanitic | Carol Nguyen | [11] |
| 2023 | Shé (Snake) | Renee Zhan | [12] |
| Gaby's Hills (Gaby les collines) | Zoé Pelchat |
References
- ^ Robin Baranyai, "Gender equality far off in movie business". Kingston Whig-Standard, August 26, 2017.
- ^ "'Share Her Journey' rally at TIFF draws attention to inequality of women in film". CBC News, September 8, 2018.
- ^ Sabrina Maddeaux, "TIFF pledged to do better when it comes to women in film. Did they make good on that commitment?" National Post, September 17, 2018.
- ^ Barry Hertz, "TIFF to spotlight underrepresented film critics, journalists". The Globe and Mail, June 14, 2018.
- ^ Jen McNeely, "TIFF extends Share Her Journey indefinitely, making a forever commitment to gender parity in film". She Does the City, July 8, 2021.
- ^ "Action star Michelle Yeoh to receive TIFF’s new groundbreaker prize at Tribute Awards". Toronto Star, August 29, 2022.
- ^ Jeremy Kay, "Patricia Arquette to receive TIFF Share Her Journey Groundbreaker Award". Screen Daily, September 6, 2023.
- ^ Victoria Ahearn, "Toronto film festival adds more titles, events, including Planet Africa program". CBC News, August 25, 2020.
- ^ Etan Vlessing, "Toronto: Chloe Zhao's 'Nomadland' Wins Audience Award". The Hollywood Reporter, September 20, 2020.
- ^ Steve Pond, "‘Belfast’ Wins Toronto Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award". TheWrap, September 18, 2021.
- ^ Christian Zilko, "‘The Fabelmans’ Wins TIFF 2022 People’s Choice Award". IndieWire, September 18, 2022.
- ^ Jeremy Kay, "‘American Fiction’ gets Oscar boost, wins TIFF 2023 People’s Choice Award". Screen Daily, September 17, 2023.