CFC ANNUAL GALA & AUCTION 2019

Downtown Toronto’s Ritz-Carlton Ballroom sparkled all night on Thursday, February 21, as the Canadian Film Centre’s (CFC) largest fundraiser of the year, 2019 Annual Gala and Auction, took place. This year’s Gala celebrated 10 years of the CFC’s actors. The program, known since 2016 as CBC Actors Conservatory, has produced 81 exceptional alumni and is the only comprehensive, professional on-camera acting program in North America. Through the generous support of our guests – industry luminaries, philanthropists, and CFC donors and sponsors – we raised funds for our renowned programs and initiatives in film, TV, screen acting, screen composing and songwriting, and digital media.

L-R: CBC Actors Conservatory residents Daniel Jun, Araya Mengesha and Brandon McKnight; Michelle McLeod, Vivien Endicott-Douglas, Annie Briggs and Nicki Whitley. George Pimentel Photography.

Before attendees entered the Ballroom to enjoy delicious food, incredible live music and exciting bidding wars, the evening kicked off with an AMC-sponsored cocktail reception. While catching up with friends old and new, guest were treated to Toronto Life augmented reality photo booth and tantalized by luxury items and bespoke, priceless experiences offered in the Silent Auction.

Top: AMC’s dessert bar (Tom Sandler Photography). Bottom: A sample of Silent Auction Experience Packages (George Pimentel Photography).

Performer Wali Shah hushed the crowd for a welcome message that paid tribute to the CFC – and flowed into a heartwarming toast from our Founder and Chair Emeritus, Norman Jewison and a touching video montage demonstrating the immense talent of our actors.

Top: The Grand Ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton (Tom Sandler Photography). Bottom: Performer Wali Shah (George Pimentel Photography).

Evening co-hosts Christina Jennings, Chair of CFC’s Board of Directors and CEO, Shaftesbury, and Slawko Klymkiw, CEO, CFC, then took to the stage to welcome attendees and emcee the night’s festivities.
The co-hosts also added special thanks on behalf of the wider CFC: to presenting sponsors Netflix and The Slaight Family Foundation; to title sponsor CBC, as well as the Government of Ontario, The Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation and RBC Emerging Artists Project for their continued support of the Actors Conservatory; and to special guests Vincent Ke, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, Mayor John Tory, Councillor Jaye Robinson, and Mayor Frank Scarpitti.

Top: Ava Kay. Bottom: Sam Drysdale. George Pimentel Photography).

Jennings then introduced our first stellar performer, Ava Kay, an alumna of the Slaight Music Residency, whose pure crystalline voice enchanted the audience, and later, our second performer, Slaight Music Artist Sam Drysdale, wowed the crowd.

Clockwise from top left: Mayor John Tory and Slawko Klymkiw (Tom Sandler Photography); Magali Simard and Jen Knox (George Pimentel Photography); Edward Burtynsky and Julia Johnston (George Pimentel Photography).

After the delectable dinner evening’s highlights commenced – the announcement of the winning Golden Ticket raffle! One lucky person drew the winning raffle ticket to select one of four Live Auction packages before bidding began – in this case, the winner selected being flown out to Los Angeles for a two-night stay and prime seat at the sure-to-be-unforgettable Season 16 finale of The Voice.

Top: Live Auction "Golden Ticket" raffle tickets (George Pimentel Photography). Special Guest Auctioneer Stephen Ranger (Tom Sandler Photography).

Fast and furious bidding ensued on the other Live Auction packages under the watchful eye of Auctioneer Stephen Ranger. These sought after packages included: tickets to AMC’s The Walking Dead Season 10 Premiere Event (including airfare and accommodations); an unforgettable day watching tennis pros battle at the Rogers Cup in the comfort of the Pizzaville Party Suite; a private screening of a VVS Film film at the luxurious Hazleton Hotel Toronto; courtside seats to a Toronto Raptors game against the New York Knick; and last, but certainly not least, a “suite” view of Maple Leafs game at the 200 Level for 12 guests.

Clockwise from top left: Amanda Parris; Sharron Matthews, Christina Jennings, Lauren Lee Smith and Rebecca Liddiard; Alice Snaden and Charles Officer; Don McKellar. George Pimentel Photography.

Thank you to our sponsors, donors, gala guests and volunteers below who contributed to making the 2019 CFC Annual Gala & Auction possible. Your support enables us to inspire the next generation of world-class filmmakers, TV writers, actors, composers, songwriters and digital media entrepreneurs to go beyond barriers, beyond borders and beyond expectations.

PRESENTING

PLATINUM

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

MEDIA PARTNERS

ENTERTAINMENT

PERFORMANCES BY

SLAIGHT MUSIC

Sam Drysdale

Toronto-based singer-guitarist Sam Drysdale’s debut EP, The Fight, was produced by award-winning producers Davor Jordanovski and Paul Brown. His newest EP, Vicelove, is a contemporary pop EP anchored by Drysdale’s soulful voice and EDM programming. Produced by Thomas “Tawgs” Salter (Lights, Walk Off The Earth, Scott Helman) with songwriting collaborators Nate Ferraro, Mike Sonier, Alexandra Soumalias and Ron Lopata, Viceland comes out later this year on Slaight Music/Warner Music Canada.

ALUMNA OF THE SLAIGHT FAMILY MUSIC LAB

Ava Kay is a Toronto-born singer/songwriter with numerous chart successes in Canada and internationally. She has written for television (Austin & Ally, Mr. D, The Music Room) and film (Dr. Cabbie, American Mary, The Door). Kay’s song “Raging Bull” caught legendary DJ-producer ATB’s ear, who remixed it as a European chart hit – the first in a long line of international collaborations, including the single “Take Me Away,” with Grammy Award-winning producer Afrojack and performed by multi-platinum recording artist Raghav. She just released her debut single, “Stand By Me,” a soulful, radio-friendly, mid-tempo song of yearning already earning her global kudos.

Our attendees enjoyed the opportunity to bid on unique experiences that money simply cannot buy.


Live Auction Packages Include:
• Enjoy a Toronto Maple Leafs game from an incredible 200-level executive suite with 11 friends
• Become a part of television history at AMC's The Walking Dead season 10 Premiere Event.
• View a VIP screening of a film from VVS Pictures at The Hazelton Hotel for 15 people
• Take a trip for two to L.A. to see the Season 16 finale of The Voice
• Get courtside with two tickets for the Toronto Raptors versus the New York Knicks
• Watch the best tennis pros battle it out at the Rogers Cup from the Pizzaville Party Suite

2019 Silent Auction items included:

• Kenneth Jay Lane Jewellery
• Brooks Brothers shopping spree
• One-year membership to John Allan’s Toronto
• One-weekend stay at The Ritz-Carlton Toronto with breakfast at TOCA
• Exclusive tour of Steam Whistle Brewery for 10 people
...and more!

Silent Auction Experience Items Include:

• VIP Tickets to Cirque du Soleil’s Alegria
• Murdoch Mysteries behind the scenes
• The Marilyn Dennis Show tickets
• The Social meet and greet with hosts
• The JUNO Awards passes
• YTV The Zone meet and greet with hosts
...and more!

Thank you to our wonderful partners and donors for their generous support!

CFC GOLDEN TICKET RAFFLE

For the first time at the CFC Gala and Auction, all guests had the opportunity to purchase a Golden Ticket for a chance to choose from one of four coveted Live Auction Packages.

Package One:

ATTEND THE LIVE FINALE OF THE VOICE SEASON 16 IN L.A.

Value: Priceless

Package Two:

STAY AT THE HAZELTON HOTEL TORONTO WITH VVS FILMS PRIVATE SCREENING

Value: $6,500

Package Three:

RAPTORS VS. NEW YORK KNICKS COURTSIDE TICKETS IN TORONTO

(Game Date: March 18, 2019)

Value: $2,630

Package Four:

ROGERS CUP TORONTO, PIZZAVILLE SUITE AND VIP TOUR

Value: $3,400

Package Five:

AMC'S THE WALKING DEAD SEASON 10 PREMIERE EVENT

Value: $5,000

Tickets: $100 each, 250 tickets printed