FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 2026, Vancouver, BC. – Women In the Director’s Chair (WIDC) organizers are pleased to announce that award-winning Alberta-based showrunner, writer, director, Paige K. Boudreau is the 2026 recipient of the WIDC BANFF Fellowship Award. Made possible through a long-standing partnership, the fellowship is designed to provide one WIDC alum with the opportunity to network and advance her projects at the world-class BANFF World Media Festival (June 14 to 17, 2026).

The award, administered by WIDC, provides a full-access pass for Boudreau to attend the Banff World Media Festival where she will be meeting with potential funders, producers and broadcasters. In addition, the fellowship includes one to one prep for BANFF, debriefing during BANFF, as well as follow up coaching to create a strategic plan for after BANFF.

Boudreau’s slate of projects includes two feature films including the crime drama thriller Media Circus won Best Canadian Screenplay at the Female Eye Film Festival and Matriline, a found footage thriller. She also has the coming of age scripted series, Broken Dishes in development, as well as the true crime docu-series, No Body. No Parole. With this dynamic slate of projects in hand, she is poised to bring her bold creative voice to a wider scripted audience and is ready to make a significant impact at Banff World Media Festival this year.

“I’ve been cultivating a tight slate of projects that I’m excited to take out to market at the Banff World Media Festival this year. With the support of the WIDC Banff Fellowship, I know I’ll have the additional support and tools I need to make the impact and connections I’m looking for.” said Paige K. Boudreau.

“Congratulations to this year’s WIDC BANFF Fellow, Paige K. Boudreau and to WIDC on their 30th Anniversary.” said Jenn Kuzmyk, Executive Director, Banff World Media Festival “As part of BANFF’s ongoing commitment to advancing women content creators in our industry we’re looking forward to toasting WIDC and their alumni’s achievements at this year’s festival!”

“Paige K. Boudreau is ready for the catalysing experience that this year’s BANFF has in store!”, said Dr. Carol Whiteman, award-winning WIDC co-creator and producer. “We’re also extremely grateful to the Banff World Media Festival for hosting us as WIDC kicks off our 30th anniversary, where it all began!”

For thirty years WIDC has delivered specialized programs and worked with community collaborators like the Banff World Media Festival to help level the playing field for Canadian women and non-binary content creators. Past BANFF Fellowship recipients include Teresa Alfeld (2025) who was recently engaged as a production executive for Telus Originals, and Kate Green (2024) who just received IPF development funding for her latest series Reel Scared. This year’s award presentation will be made at the WIDC Virtual Launch Event, June 5th at 1:30 pm PST, where Boudreau will be a guest of honour.

Originally launched in 1996 at the Banff World Media Festival, WIDC is doing an in-person kick off of its 30th Anniversary at BANFF where it all started.

BACKGROUNDER

About This Year’s Recipient

Paige K. Boudreau is a Calgary-based filmmaker and showrunner whose work spans both unscripted and scripted storytelling, with a growing reputation for crafting emotionally resonant, character-driven narratives. She has established herself as a trusted creative force in the unscripted space, contributing to high-impact, internationally broadcast series including Friends Speak and Thirst Trap: The Fame. The Fantasy. The Fallout., where she has consistently delivered compelling, audience-driven content at scale.

Concurrently, Boudreau has been steadily developing her voice as a scripted filmmaker. Her acclaimed short films, including Mallory Memphis and NOSTOMANIA, have screened at festivals across Canada, showcasing her distinct tonal blend of emotional depth, offbeat humour, and striking visual style. Her award-winning debut feature, Orphanhood, a raw and intimate exploration of grief, is currently on the festival circuit.

About WIDC

Women In the Director’s Chair (WIDC) was launched in June 1996 at the BANFF World Media Festival as an initial collaboration among ACTRA, the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and GEMS Vancouver (formerly Women In Film and Television Vancouver). Since then, nearly 400 director alumni across Canada have garnered hundreds of awards and nominations for their work annually. Over 40% of WIDC alumni directors are Indigenous, Black or Women of Colour. To meet WIDC alumni, visit https://www.widc.ca/directory/. WIDC receives major support from Telefilm Canada, and the participation of Creative BC, Actra Fraternal Benefit Society, ACTRA National, UBCP/ACTRA, Independent Production Fund. Community collaborators include the St John’s International Women’s Film Festival, Reelworld Film Festival and Screen Institute, GEMFest, Female Eye Film Festival, DGC National, DGC BC, Crazy 8’s, TIFF, VIFF, Whistler Film Festival, and GAT PR. WIDC Feature Film Award is supported by MELS Studios, Distillery VFX, Keslow Camera, Panavision Canada, Rocket Science VFX, Sunbelt Rentals Film & TV, Elemental Post, Pseudodragon Productions Inc., CR Audio, Delerium, Company3 Vancouver, North Shore Studios, The Research House Clearance Services Inc., Front Row Insurance Brokers Inc., Descriptive Video Works, Line 21 Media Services, Power of Babel, EP Canada, Portable Electric