Film Training Manitoba (FTM)’s Supporting Women in Film Trades (SWIFT) committee was invited to meet with Minister Jamie Moses at the Manitoba Legislative Building. The committee was congratulated on the recent win of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce’s Spirit of Winnipeg for Workplace Culture and CODE Award.
The Workplace Culture and CODE Award celebrates businesses that foster exceptional workplace cultures through diversity, inclusion, and employee well-being. This award highlights organizations committed to building positive spaces for employees and creating equitable workplaces that align with The Chamber’s CODE (Commitment to Opportunity, Diversity, and Equity) initiative. The other nominees included Coal & Canary and Shindico.
FTM is a member of the Province of Manitoba Sector Council Program that supports organizations in key Manitoba sectors to develop and deliver workforce training for new and existing employees to support business growth and prosperity.
“FTM’s SWIFT team was deeply honoured to meet with Minister Jamie Moses to share our continued commitment to building Manitoba’s film industry through FTM’s cutting-edge SWIFT programming.” Said FTM’s SWIFT’s chairperson, Tanya Mazur. She added, “It’s a major honour for Film Training Manitoba to be recognized with the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce’s Spirit of Winnipeg Award and the Province of Manitoba.”
FTM’s Canada’s SWIFT Conference was founded and created by a group of 15 women film professionals. It’s the only annual conference globally that focuses on learning for women working in trade positions within the film industry. The overall aim of SWIFT is to deliver a greater level of skills development for women crew members, filmmakers, performers, and anyone interested in film and media. All speakers, panels, and training sessions are centred around improving the workplace culture to retain and attract more women-identifying workers within the film and media industry.
Since 2021, the SWIFT Conferences have sold out every year and nearly 100 per cent of participants have strongly agreed or agreed that the conference helped them in their job and/or career. The fourth SWIFT Conference is scheduled for December 6, 2025.
“FTM’s SWIFT initiative has been an incredible success at supporting skills development and exceptional training in Manitoba’s dynamic film industry.” Said FTM’s Executive Director, Adam Smoluk. “SWIFT would not have been possible without the phenomenal support of the Province of Manitoba’s Sector Council Program, our donors, committee members and FTM’s staff.” He added.
Past SWIFT speakers have included the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, two-time Oscar-nominated director Rory Kennedy, Winnipeg’s first woman mayor Susan Thompson, Crown Prosecutor Chantel Boutin, former MP and Film Producer Tina Keeper, and Doctor Hygiea Casiano, who is the current President of the Canadian Psychiatric Association.
FTM is a non-for-profit charity and member of the Province of Manitoba’s Sector Council program funded through the Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources. FTM builds a highly skilled and adaptable film industry workforce to support the activities of Manitoba production companies. FTM collaborates and partners with members of the film industry to identify training needs to support workforce development.