The Women in Film and Television Vancouver’s Board of Directors has announced that after eight years of leading the organization into a period of tremendous growth and stability, Executive Director Carolyn Combs is stepping down. Carolyn will remain with the organization until August and is moving to Toronto to be closer to family.
“Carolyn has been a driving force behind WIFTV. Her passion for supporting filmmakers has been demonstrated through her hard work creating and delivering valuable programming; growing our Vancouver International Women in Film Festival, and keeping advocacy as the central focus of all that our organization offers. The entire WIFTV board of directors wishes Carolyn continued success in all future endeavors,” says WIFTV President Shannon Kaplun.
During her time at WIFTV, Carolyn expanded the Spotlight Awards and created (with Doreen Manuel) the Coyote, Raven, Spider, Wendigo Tricksters, and Writers; Screenwriting for Indigenous Women Program. The WIFTV Mentorships, Matrix, and William F. White events, the From Our Dark Side Genre Competition and Producer’s Workshops are all thriving. And now that WIFTV is producing webinars, she has managed that transition as well.
“Working for WIFTV over these past eight years has meant a great deal to me. The challenges have been real, but so have the accomplishments. I cherish the many colleagues with whom I have worked, the friendships I have made, and the support I have received within this community. I will continue to be a member of this important organization as we work together to meet ongoing challenges,” says Carolyn Combs.
In addition to being the public face of Women in Film and Television, Vancouver Carolyn is also a talented director. Her feature film Bella Ciao! starring Carmen Aguirre celebrates Vancouver’s Commercial Drive and its artistic and politically active community.
Women In Film and Television Vancouver (WIFTV) incorporated in 1989 as a not-for-profit society registered in British Columbia. It is a member-driven organization committed to addressing the systemic barriers to women’s equal participation in the production and dissemination of screen-based media, and to the creation of a more inclusive media for both creators and audiences. They approach goals by working with a range of partners to increase funding, employment, and promotional opportunities for women. It presents and publicly celebrates the achievement of women in screen-based media, and offer professional and project development opportunities. WIFTV define women as those individuals who identify themselves within the spectrum of the gender identity of woman including trans women and cisgender women. It is located on the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
For more information, please visit the WIFTV website.
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