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Survival The Right Honorable Adrienne ClarksonView the film >

The challenge.The annual event run by Skills for Change, the New Pioneers Awards, had become tired and predictable. Sponsors were backing away and audiences had dwindled to the point that most of the tickets were complementary.

Obviously, not a feasible scenario for a fundraiser with a loaded cost of about $200 per plate.

The 20th anniversary of the awards needed to be special. It also needed to be flexible

enough in design to be the final hurrah ... or a new beginning.

The design team approached the problem with a healthy combination of cautious optimism and unbridled creativity.

A feasibility study was conducted, drawing on the experience of sponsors, sector colleagues and event guests.

The consensus was “go big or go home”.

Our headliner: the Right Honorable Adrienne Clarkson, former Governor General and arguably one of Canada’s most prominent people.

Her theme: Survival.

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We went big.

The Awards had build a small cadre of influential recipients who called themselves Pioneers for Change. This informal group was led by Dr. Alex Jadad, who became our champion.

Alex suggested we take our big audacious film idea to Navin Chandaria, a very private, but super-connected business leader.

Navin said “Yes.” We had lift-off.PI

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Five short films by five contemporary filmmakers.

The films represent a collaboration between five of Canada’s most influential immigrants and each filmmaker.

Adrienne Clarkson recent book, Room for All of Us: Surprising Stories of Loss and Transformation, served as an inspiration. Adrienne suggested we work with themes that reflect the immigrant experience. She sat back and recited the words: survival connectedness acceptance adaptation belonging.

Each film is an exploration of one of these words

The project grew out of a set of challenges, opportunities

… and incredible connections.

ConnectednessNavin ChandariaView the film >

AcceptanceDr. Alejandro JadadView the film >

“We will create a virtuous circle.”

We asked ourselves what will Alex Jadad, the dynamo known as “the human internet”, do with Acceptance?

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The Gala.The launch gala was held on June 5, 2012 at TIFF Bell Lightbox, Toronto’s premiere screening facility. 500 paid guests, no chicken dinner. A full media scrum. The event was a successful fundraiser for the organization, Skills for Change.

The honorees were not all used to the limelight but the film projects proved to be powerful and intimate engagements. Each honoree brought legions of supporters and spoke from the heart about their experience as immigrants.

Of course, it takes a village … the project represents the involvement of hundreds of people. One of the biggest challenges was sustained collaboration over an intense 10 month period.

Relationships were managed through a combination of one-to-one interactions with project director, Judy Csillag, and a robust social media plan. Back-end data management and digital media liaison were mission critical.

On June 6, 2012, the biggest question was “What’s next?”

Adaptation Toni SilbermanView the film >

“We were born not to fit in but to stand out.”

The Silberman Family credo

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BelongingVan KololianView the film >

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What’s next?The films have taken on lives of their own. Survival was screened at the Vancouver International Film Festival. Project Director, Judy Csillag is initiating discussions with Toronto’s Luminato Festival.

Filmmakers Anneli Ekborne, Mars Horodyski and Emmanuel Shirinian have formed a collective working to continue the groundwork of short documentaries, with the goal of a full-length feature film in 3 to 5 years. Arts Council funding is in the works, and discussions with the National Film Board are down the line.

Dr. Jadad is onboard to continue to champion the emergence of a “virtuous circle” of immigrants. We want to tell the story of “others” as nation-builders in a contemporary global context.

Although Skills for Change “marquee” sponsors were enthusiastic the Board of Directors remains undecided about further involvement with the Pioneers for Change project.

Executive Producer, Cheryl May, remains committed to the importance of a digital archive of immigration stories that reflect the human spirit, and as a relevant perspective on global events, Canada and the future.

“The theme of family came out in every doc. Every director developed their story independently, but the importance of family took centre stage.”Anneli Ekborne, Film Producer

The film projecthas its own legs

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The filmmakers

Producer: Anneli Ekborne

Directors (clockwise from left)Survival: Nadia LitzAcceptance: Sean FewerBelonging: Renuka JeyapalanConnectedness: Mars HorodyskiAdaptation: Emmanuel Shirinian

View Behind the Scenes interviews with the directors >

production credits

FULL SHOW CREW Producer ANNELI EKBORN

Production Manager MICHELLE WHITING

Supervising Editor MIKE REISACHER

Music Supervisor DAVID HAYMAN

Sound Designer & Composer CRAIG MCCONNELL

Behind the scenes DOP and B Cam CHRIS GODIN

Behind the Scenes Editor FIRUZ DAUD

Stills Photographer ALYSSA KATHERINE FAORO

Thanks to: William F. White International, Sim Video, Technicolour

PRODUCER: ANNELI EKBORN Anneli Ekborn, originally born in England and of Swedish descent, is a multiple award-winning and Genie-nominated producer with three features and 15 short films under her belt. Awards include the Toronto International Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival and Hot Docs.

All  of  Anneli’s  films  have  been  screened worldwide, most recently in Berlin, Cannes, New York, Japan, and at TIFF and The American Film Institute. She

carries a BFA in Film from Simon Fraser University and is an alumnus of The Canadian Film Centre and the National Screen Institute.

In her spare time she works as a freelancer for the Toronto International Film Festival group as a workshop leader and speaker in their special delivery program that offers opportunities for youth in film. Anneli has worked on projects for the Canadian Film Centre, Temple Street Productions, Anagram Pictures and Slanted Wheel Productions. She is currently co-creating a TV series and spearheading the short film series, Pioneers for Change.

Follow Anneli on Twitter: @anneliekborn

MUSIC SUPERVISOR: DAVID HAYMAN

Since 2005, David Hayman has led a strong team  of  music  supers  at  Toronto’s  Vapor  Music  but has now left to start up his own shop SUPERSONIC CREATIVE + CONSULTING whose clients include Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Hershey’s,  Buick  and  other  top  brands,  and  networks like ABC, NBC, CTV and Global television.

David has had great success working with some of the world’s most impressive brands, including Coca-Cola, Nike, Ford, Budweiser,

Right To Play, P&G, and every mobile company to name a few. David was an integral part of the team that created the phenomenon that was  “Dove  Evolution,”  and  the  Campaign  for  Real Beauty. David also divides his time working on feature films, new media ventures and

film credits | survival

DIRECTOR: NADIA LITZ Born in Winnipeg of Polish/Ukrainian descent, Nadia Litz moved to Toronto at the age of 16. She is an award-winning actress who has starred in over 20 films, including the Genie award-winning film, The Five Senses, and After The Harvest, where she played opposite Sam Shepard. While pursuing her acting career, she also obtained a Film Studies degree at York University, where she wrote, directed, shot and edited a three-minute film called Remembering

the Only Time I Tried to Stop my Heart from Failing (and Failed). She was welcomed as a student to the Berlinale Talent Campus in 2009 and later accepted as a Director-In-Residence at Norman  Jewison’s  

prestigious and competitive post-graduate school, the Canadian Film Centre. Through the program, her 2010 short film, How To Rid Your Lover Of A Negative Emotion Caused By You! premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and has since screened at over a dozen international film festivals including the Cannes Court Metrage Short Film Corner 2011 and Austin’s  Fantastic  Fest  2011  where  the  film  won Best Short.

Nadia recently completed an RBC/TIFF Talent Lab-commissioned French-language short called Erstaz  D’anniversaire and is currently in development with Telefilm/Scythia Films on her first feature, The People Garden. Follow Nadia on Twitter @NadiaLitz

CREW Director NADIA LITZ

Director of Photography DANIEL GRANT

Art Director ZOSIA MACKENZIE

Editor MIKE REISACHER

1st Assistant Director MATT GORMAN

Camera Assistant CHRIS HOWELL

Camera Trainee JOSUE MAYA

Gaffer IGOR ALVES

Grip TJ RICHARDSON

Sound KEVIN BROWN

Hair and Make-up SHARON YOO

Production Assistant MARIANNA PEREZ

Driver MIKE SCRIVENER

Graphics

BEN STANFORD & KATERINA CEPERO

Thanks to: Pie in the Sky Studios, CMC Wholesale Warehouse

film credits | acceptance

DIRECTOR: SEAN FREWER Sean Frewer has been working creatively in the Canadian Film industry for over 10 years. A graduate  of  the  Canadian  Film  Centre’s  2004  Director’s  Lab,  he  has  directed  and  edited  award-winning music videos, animation and live action short films over the course of his career. His short films Trust and Escape have screened at festivals around the world. Sean is presently in development on two feature films titled Exodus and Overcast.

CREW Director SEAN FREWER

Director of Photography BARRY CHEONG

Editor TIFFANY BEAUDIN

Composer TERRY FREWER

1st Assistant Director MATT GORMAN

Cam Assistant PAUL STEEVES

Camera Trainee JOSUE MAYA

Gaffer CHRIS LUCIOW

Key Grip MILES BARNES

Sound SEAN VAN DELFT

Hair and Make-up SHARON YOO

Production Assistant MARIANNA PEREZ

Driver MIKE SCRIVENER

Thanks to: People, Health Equity and Innovation (Phi) Research Group, Centre for Global eHealth Innovation, Toronto General

Hospital

film credits | adaptation

DIRECTOR: EMMANUEL SHIRINIAN Emmanuel Shirinian is an accomplished screenwriter and director, who graduated with a BFA; Major in Film Studies from Concordia University and is an alumnus of the Canadian Film Centre (Directors Lab 2006/07). He was one of six directors across Canada invited to participate  at  the  National  Screen  Institute’s  Features First Program in 2007, and was

invited to be a part of a select group to participate in the esteemed Tribeca All Access development program in New York City.

Emmanuel is currently in development

with Telefilm Canada as both writer and director on his first feature film titled My Foolish Heart.

Emmanuel broke out onto the film scene in 2002 with a compelling short film titled Memory Waters, that  filmmaker  Atom  Egoyan  called  “a  film that handles a nightmarish situation with deep pools of humanity, compassion and tenderness.”  

In 2006, Emanuel wrote and directed the award-winning short, The Last Bang. While a resident  at  the  Canadian  Film  Centre’s  prestigious  Director’s  Lab,  Emmanuel  directed  the short film Song of Solomon and in 2009, he produced, co-wrote, co-directed and performed one of the lead roles in a short film titled, Les

Softies. Emmanuel’s  short  films  have  screened  at respected international festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival, Montreal World Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, AFI Dallas International Film Festival, Los Angeles Short Film Festival, Palm Springs, Clermont-Ferrand, Barcelona, Venice and more. Emmanuel’s  short  films  have  also  been  broadcast on the CBC, IFC, TMN, Super Channel, and Movieola.

CREW Director EMMANUEL SHIRINIAN

Director of Photography LUC MONTPELLIER

Art Director ZOSIA MACKENZIE

Editor MIKE REISACHER

Composer CRAIG MCCONNELL

1st Assistant Director MATT GORMAN

Cam Assistant JAMIE SHAW

Cam Assistant ANDREW HUNTER

Camera Trainee JOSUE MAYA

Gaffer CHRIS LUCIOW

Grip DANIEL VELDMAN

Swing BRADY PARKER

Stedicam SEAN JENSEN

Sound KEVIN BROWN

Production Assistant MARIANNA PEREZ

Driver MIKE SCRIVENER

Thanks to: The Historic Distillery District

film credits | belonging

DIRECTOR: RENUKA JEYAPALAN Renuka Jeyapalan is a Toronto-based filmmaker and a graduate of the Canadian Film Centre’s  Director’s  Lab.  

Her short film Big Girl premiered at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival and was awarded the Short Cuts Canada Best Short Film Award. Big Girl has screened at over 35 film festivals around the world, including the Berlin International Film Festival, the Tribeca Film Festival and the San Francisco

International Film Festival, and was nominated for a 2007 Genie Award for Best Live-Action Short Film.

In 2010, Renuka was awarded the Kodak New Vision Mentorship Award by Women in Film and Television-Toronto and was mentored by director Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Thirteen).

Renuka is currently developing her first feature film, How to go to a Wedding Alone with Gearshift Films.

Of Sri Lankan descent, Renuka was born and raised in Toronto. She has an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from the University of Toronto.

CREW Director RENUKA JEYAPALAN

Director of Photography ARTHUR COOPER

Editor MIKE REISACHER & TIFFANY BEAUDIN

1st Assistant Director MATT GORMAN

Cam Assistant PAUL STEEVES

Camera Trainee JOSUE MAYA

Gaffer CHRIS LUCIOW

Sound SEAN VAN DELFT

Hair and Make-up SHARON YOO

Production Assistant MARIANNA PEREZ

Driver MIKE SCRIVENER

Thanks to: The Mosaic Institute, The Armenian Evangelical Church of Toronto

film credits | connectedness

DIRECTOR: MARS HORODYSKI Mars Horodyski is an award-winning filmmaker who specializes in comedy, family drama and documentary. She is an alumnus of the Canadian Film Centre's Director's Lab and the Berlinale Talent Campus. Her films have screened at various festivals including the Montreal World Film Festival, the Atlantic Film Festival, the Whistler Film Festival, the Commonwealth Film Festival and the highly

acclaimed Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films. In her third year at Ryerson she received the Norman Jewison Filmmaker

Award for her film Lemonade.

Following her residency at the CFC, she went on to the Universal Short Dramatic Film Program, where she directed the short film, Spoonfed, which won the Golden Remi at WorldFest in Houston and was nominated for Best Drama at the Yorkton Short Film and Video Festival. Along with a few new shorts, she is currently developing her first dramatic feature.

Follow Mars on Twitter @cine_mars

CREW Director MARS HORODYSKI

Director of Photography ROBERT WALSH

Editor MIKE REISACHER

1st Assistant Director MATT GORMAN

Camera Assistant ANDREW HUNTER

Camera Trainee JOSUE MAYA

Swing CHRIS LUCIOW

Sound SEAN VAN DELFT

Hair and Make-up SHARON YOO

Production Assistant MARIANNA PEREZ

Driver MIKE SCRIVENER

Thanks to: The Chandaria Family