Meeting some movers and shakers at Manitoba's rooftop party

Last night, Manitoba Film and Music and On Screen Manitoba held a very successful party at the Drake Hotel rooftop in honour of the TIFF screenings of Keep a Modest Head, a short film by filmmaker Deco Dawson, and My Awkward Sexual Adventure, a feature film written by Jonas Chernick, directed by Sean Garrity and produced by Juliette Hagopian of Julijette Inc.

 The rooftop was packed with Manitoba producers, talent and professionals mingling with national and international industry players.

 Photo credit: David Leyes

Lowell Schrieder, marketing and communications director of Comweb / William F. White International, was my guide for the evening and graciously introduced me to some movers and shakers in attendance.

Among the party’s over 350 guests was Paul Bronfman, CEO and chairman of Comweb and William F. White, who was honoured at the Gemini Awards last year for his Enduring Contributions to Canadian Television.

 L-R: Louise O’Brien-Moran (Manager of Film Programs & Location Services, Manitoba Film & Music), Carole Vivier (CEO, Manitoba Film & Music), Paul Bronfman with wife Judy and son Jonathan, and Lowell Schrieder. Photo credit: David Leyes

“William F. White International has a long and rich history of nurturing and supporting Manitoba filmmakers. In fact, Winnipeg is the home to many of the country’s top production companies whose projects are being exhibited and aired both internationally and domestically so they’re really competing on a world-class level,” said Bronfman when asked about the relationship between his company and Manitoba filmmakers. 

Also in attendance was National Screen Institute CEO John Gill, Entertainment Partners Canada president David Carter.  

R - L: Producer Avi Federgreen, Lowell Schrieder, David Carter (Entertainment Partners Canada president), and friend.

L-R: John Gill (National Screen Institute CEO), Rick Perotto (William F. White Toronto and business development vice-president), and Lowell Schrieder.