CFC and The Slaight Family Foundation Receive Inaugural Award for Distinguished Services to the Industry at Canadian Screen Music Awards

Toronto, September 29, 2022 – At the inaugural Canadian Screen Music Awards (CASMA) on September 21, 2022, the Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and The Slaight Family Foundation were presented with the first-ever award for Distinguished Services to the Industry from the Screen Composers Guild of Canada (SCGC) in recognition of their outstanding support for the screen composer sector.

The award recognizes CFC and The Slaight Family Foundation’s work to support screen composers through their partnership on the Slaight Music Residency, a hands-on, immersive program that integrates music creators into the onscreen storytelling process, translating their musical talent to onscreen applications, increasing their professional networks, and expanding their career and marketplace opportunities.

“The Slaight Family Foundation is pleased to support this innovative program that brings the skills of talented musicians to life on screen,” said Gary Slaight, President & CEO, The Slaight Family Foundation. “It also provides musicians with new talents and skills to work in both the music and film industries – a win all around.”

Award nominees were referred by the SCGC membership, and the winners were decided by vote by the SCGC Board of Directors, based on the merits and contributions of the organization to furthering the craft of composing for screen. The award was presented to the CFC and The Slaight Family Foundation by Erica Procunier, an alumna of the Slaight Music Residency (2013) and an Executive Board Member of the SCGC.

“This award is not only about the individual careers that the CFC and The Slaight Family Foundation have fostered, but also about our industry as a whole,” shared Erica Procunier. “The existence of this program validates and exalts screen music as an art form worthy of attention in the media industry in Canada. By welcoming screen music into their suite of programs, the CFC, with the invaluable support of The Slaight Family Foundation, has created a generation of writers, directors, and other craftspeople who value the special contributions music brings to storytelling.”

The award comes on the heels of The Slaight Family Foundation’s renewal of the Slaight Music Residency with a $200,000 grant to support another year of the program. Now in its eleventh year, the Residency has become known industry-wide for spotting and empowering many of Canada’s talented and celebrated emerging screen composers and songwriters. To date, it has bolstered the onscreen careers of fifty music creators, including Casey MQ (Soft, The White Fortress), TiKA (Faith Heist, Learn to Swim), Erica Procunier (Homeschooled, Ghostwriter), Ben Fox (Stateless, One of Ours), Suad Bushnaq (Queen Tut, Montreal Girls), and Todor Kobakov, who won two 2022 CASMA awards for best original score, one in the documentary feature film category for A.rtificial I.mmortality and one for non-fiction series or limited series for The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith.

“Over the last 10 years, the Slaight Music Residency has woven music into the CFC’s storytelling DNA, and there is no question that our programs, our alumni and their stories are stronger for it,” added Kathryn Emslie, Executive Lead, Programs, CFC. “We are so proud of the work and impact our Slaight Music alumni have made in the screen industry so far, and there’s more still to come!”

CFC is currently accepting applications from Canadian composers and songwriters for the 2023 cohort of the Slaight Music Residency. To learn more and apply, please visit: https://cfccreates.com/programs/music-lab/. The application deadline is October 31, 2022.

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About the CFC
The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) is a charitable cultural organization that drives the future of Canadian storytelling. Our intensive, hands-on programs in film, television, and entertainment technologies empower, shape and advance opportunities for Canadian creators and entrepreneurs working in screen-based industries. Learn more at cfccreates.com.

@cfccreates

About The Slaight Family Foundation
The Slaight Family Foundation was established in 2008 by Canada’s broadcast pioneer, John Allan Slaight (1931-2021), a leader in the music industry and a prominent Canadian philanthropist. Through his generosity, the Foundation proactively supports charitable initiatives in the areas of healthcare, at-risk youth, international development, social services and culture. The foundation is overseen by Allan’s son, Gary Slaight, President & CEO of The Slaight Family Foundation.

Media Relations

Cory Angeletti-Szasz
Director, Marketing & Communications, CFC
647.273.2795
cangeletti@cfccreates.com

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