Story & Leadership

presented in collaboration with

Program Dates: November 20, 2021 to March 31, 2022

Regular Director Deadline: July 30, 2021
Extended Director Deadline: August 6, 2021
Actor Deadline: September 30, 2021
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Due to COVID-19 this session of Story & Leadership will be delivered online and may be altered or enhanced to ensure the health and safety of all personnel.

Summary:
WIDC Story & Leadership is a one-of-a-kind professional development award program delivered in four parts over the course of four months. It focuses on the development of live-action screen fiction (feature film, web and TV series) and offers pathways to effective authentic leadership. Up to eight mid-career* Canadian women** screen directors who are planning to direct their projects will be selected by a peer jury to attend this intensive revised session of the WIDC program. Ideal candidates will be seeking to advance their career and their screen project, by upping their abilities to successfully navigate the ever-changing creative leader landscape.

Who Should Apply?

Directors:
Open to any mid-career* Canadian women** screen directors with a feature film, television or web series project they are planning to direct. Projects at any stage of development will be considered, however projects that have a full draft script are preferred. Regardless if a full script is available, a minimum of two written scenes and a story synopsis (maximum 1 page) are required. While directors do not have to be the writers of their project, it is expected that they will take an active role in developing the story through the program. Director Participants must be prepared to attend the entire program.

*Mid-career: This is not a program for beginners. WIDC is ideally designed for individuals who already have experience directing shorts, docs, web series, or other micro-budget screen projects made outside of school and that have been selected for screening by a recognized festival, broadcaster, exhibitor, or digital platform. For those crossing over to directing, you must have a track record of highly transferable directing skills, e.g. experienced actor, AD, editor, script supervisor, producer, and must have at minimum of one screen project produced outside of film school.

**Women: WIDC aims to create a femme-centric welcoming, safe, collegial, space for a visibly diverse cohort, inclusive of cis gender women, trans gender, non-binary participants.

Regular Director Application Deadline: July 30, 2021
Extended Director Application Deadline: August 6, 2021
Scroll below for How to Apply.

Actors:
Based on the casting needs of the eight selected directors’ projects, an ensemble of union actors will participate in workshops, round tables, casting sessions, scene study, feedback sessions and panels through Zoom or other virtual spaces.

Open to any ACTRA, UBCP/ACTRA, and Apprentice members.

No travel will be required this year. Acting Ensemble members will receive an artist per diem. WIDC acknowledges the ongoing support provided by ACTRA National, AFBS, UBCP/ACTRA, and ACTRA Alberta.

Actor Application Deadline: September 30, 2021
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More program details ->

How to Apply

DIRECTOR APPLICATION:

Regular Director Deadline: July 30, 2021
Extended Director Deadline: August 6, 2021

Application Form:

Application Checklist

Fees: Waived*

*Due to the financial stresses caused by COVID-19, regular fees ($60 for application and $2,000 tuition) are being waived again this year. Donations are gratefully accepted and will be allocated towards peer jury honoraria and program administration.

To submit or for more information:
Directors@widc.ca

ACTOR APPLICATION:

Actor application fees and specific expenses of attending are fully scholarshipped by the workshop through the generous sponsorship of ACTRA.

Actors Deadline: September 30, 2021

Application Form: