TORONTO—How well are people with disabilities represented in film, television and radio? Where are the opportunities for commissions or employment on air and behind the scenes? What does the future hold? These are questions Kate Hanley has explored as President of WIFT-T (Women in Film and Television-Toronto). WIFT-T is a leading internationally affiliated industry organization that provides training and advances opportunities for women in screen-based media.
WIFT is also the publisher of Framework, an extensive study on the participation of members of the four target minorities in screen-based media, including one of the first detailed analyses of participation by people with disabilities.
On Sunday, October 30, from 10:30 to 11:30 AM, Hanley will join other panellists in Open Sesame! Forging a Career in the Industry. The panel will be held at the Columbus Room in the Columbus Centre, 901 Lawrence Avenue West (Lawrence & Dufferin).
Joining Hanley on the panel will be Silva Basmajian from the National Film Board. Connectus president Richard Cavanagh will talk about findings and recommenfdations from the recently released Canadian Association of Broadcaster’s Report on the Presence, Portrayal and Participation of Persons with Disabilities in Television Programming, ACTRA diversity advocate Leesa Levinson, and Judy McAlpine, director at CBC Radio overseeing diversity strategy. CBC journalist and television/radio producer Ing Wong-Ward will moderate the discussion.
Abilities Festival: A Celebration of Disability Arts and Culture is an international artistic and cultural event showcasing excellence and the talent, vision and passion of artists with disabilities.
Workshops and panels are free. For more information, or to order tickets to Gala performances, please contact the Canadian Abilities Foundation at 416-966-0393 or Fireweed Media Productions at 416-410-2491 x3.
