Toronto, January 16, 2023 – The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and The Slaight Family Foundation are pleased to introduce the latest cohort of Canadian music creators selected to participate in the 2023 Slaight Music Residency, a hands-on program that integrates composers and songwriters into the onscreen storytelling process and advances opportunities for them to work in the screen industry across film, TV and digital. The five participants for the 2023 cohort, which is now underway and runs until  the end of June 2023, are Amine Bouzaher, Conan Karpinski, Lydia Ainsworth, Stella Conway and Tori Morrison. 

Throughout the six-month residency, these music creators will work to expand their skills, onscreen confidence and career and marketplace opportunities through a combination of tailored mentorship, workshops and industry sessions.

“I’m thrilled that this program continues to have such a positive impact on the careers of Canadian music creators and that it expands opportunities for them to contribute their talents to storytelling in the screen industry,” shared Gary Slaight, President & CEO, The Slaight Family Foundation. “Alumni of the Slaight Music Residency are working and forging strong partnerships with their industry peers and are creating critically acclaimed music. It’s a win-win.”

The 2023 Slaight Music Residency participants are as follows:

AMINE BOUZAHER (he/him), a classically trained multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer from Algeria. Between 2016 and 2020 he toured and performed with I M U R, an award-winning, Vancouver-based Alt-RnB. Since 2017, he has composed and produced music for a variety of film, TV and stage content.

CONAN “CON THE ARTIST” KARPINSKI (he/him), a South African multi-instrumentalist, composer, songwriter and director based in Vancouver, BC. He is the lead songwriter and frontman of Canadian Rock band Soul Push, an acoustic folk artist known as Conan Jurek, and a record producer. Most recently, he composed original music for the award-winning feature Portraits from a Fire (dir. Trevor Mack).

LYDIA AINSWORTH (she/her), an internationally acclaimed singer, composer and producer. In 2015, her debut album Right from Real was nominated for a JUNO Award for best electronic album and shortlisted for the Polaris Prize. She released her second LP, Darling of the Afterglow in 2017, and in 2019 she released her third album, Phantom Forest, and her song “Earth Song” appeared in the last episode of Stranger Things season 3. 

STELLA CONWAY (she/they), is a Toronto-based interdisciplinary performer and musician. They have toured nationally as the musical director and accompanist for award-winning drag artist Pearle Harbour. Their shapeshifting performance art/installation project “Twin Mask” has created works for Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Unwrap Theatre, Studio634 and Pride Toronto. Stella holds an MA in Theatre and Performance Studies from University of Toronto.

TORI MORRISON (she/her), a sound designer, composer, technician, producer and creator from Amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton, AB) on Treaty 6. She is the Executive Director and Artistic Producer of Tiny Bear Jaws and co-produces live and digital work with writer David Gagnon Walker as Strange Victory Performance.

“The range of musical talent we’re seeing from across Canada is truly inspiring. These five dynamic music creators bring with them an exciting range of experience, training, styles and musical voices,” shared Kathryn Emslie, Executive Lead, Programs, CFC. “We can’t wait to get started with them and see how their talent and music will influence our onscreen stories. We’re so grateful to the Slaight Family Foundation for making this program possible, and for continuing to support musical artists in the onscreen space.”

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. Last year, the program was recognized by the Screen Composers Guild of Canada, when they presented the CFC and The Slaight Family Foundation with the inaugural award for Distinguished Services to the Industry in recognition of their outstanding support for the screen composer sector.

To date, the Residency has bolstered the onscreen careers of fifty music creators, including, Simon Poole (Black Ice, Overlord and the Underwoods), Kaia Kater (The Porter), Casey MQ (Soft, The White Fortress), TiKA (Faith Heist, Learn to Swim), Ben Fox (Stateless, One of Ours), Todor Kobakov (Brother, The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith) and Lora Bidner, who received a 2022 Emmy nomination (Children’s & Family Awards) for her work on Ruby and the Well.

For more information on The Slaight Music Residency, please visit: https://cfccreates.com/programs/music-lab/. 

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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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