Film Training Manitoba’s 2024-25 was an eventful year filled with cutting-edge training and workforce development. Our team has compiled a Top 10 list to showcase some of our highly innovative events as we look back. We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our team and the Manitoba film community for all your hard work!
Reel Careers: Business of Film Panel (in partnership with The University of Winnipeg) – March 20, 2025
Film Training Manitoba was excited to conduct this cutting-edge partnership with the UW’s Faculty of Economics and Business. With nearly 100 attendees, the participants learned many of the advantages and benefits of working in jobs and careers in Manitoba’s film industry.
The panelists included: Rebecca Gibson (Co-Owner of Eagle Vision, Producer, Writer, Director, Series Creator, and Showrunner), Trevor Hnatowich (Co-Owner of Enjoy Creative), Tom Soares (Instructor and Actor), and Myron Tataryn (Director, Co-Owner of Thundersnow Pictures Inc.), and was moderated by FTM’s Training and Partnerships Manager, Emily Labby.
One of the highlights during this panel session was the panelists sharing the importance of having a strong accounting team when running any company within the film industry. Additional skills that were promoted were learning more about agreements, wages, and residuals, and how to get film productions financed or funded.
With the success of this session, the partners are reviewing additional partnerships for 2026.
Demystifying AI for Manitoba’s Film Industry (in partnership with TechMB) – April 29, 2025
FTM and TechMB conducted this first-of-its-kind training session about AI and its effects on the film industry. This in-depth session provided learning on how AI may be used as an effective tool to support professionals within the industry.
TechMB selected Dr. Gerhard, the department head of Computer Science at the University of Manitoba, as a speaker. Dr. Gerhard has an interdisciplinary background with experience in engineering, computer technology, mathematics, communication, music, linguistics, and philosophy. FTM selected Andrew Yankiwski, Owner of Precursor Productions, which is a post-production audio studio. Yankiwski has an undergraduate Arts degree and a Law degree from the University of Manitoba.
Together, they led an in-depth session, which also included questions from the participants. With the success of this session, Tech MB and FTM are developing future partnerships for 2026. Special thanks to TechMB’s Shaelynn Stimpson and Marie Hacault.
FTM’s Supporting Women in Film Trades (SWIFT) Awarded the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Winnipeg Award – June 4, 2025
At the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce’s 16th annual Spirit of Winnipeg Awards Gala, Film Training Manitoba was awarded the Workplace Culture and CODE Award for our Supporting Women in Film Trades (SWIFT) Conference.
The award was accepted by the SWIFT Chairperson, Tanya Mazur, and SWIFT Vice-Chairperson, Ellen Rutter, and FTM’s Director of Workforce Development and SWIFT, Allison Bile. During Mazur’s speech, she advocated for greater cooperation and professionalism in the workplace, which was met with a standing ovation from Winnipeg’s business community.
The Spirit of Winnipeg’s Workplace Culture and Code Award celebrates businesses that foster exceptional workplace cultures through diversity, inclusion and employee well-being and highlights organizations committed to building positive spaces for employees and creating equitable workplaces that align with the chamber’s CODE initiative.
Luc Montpellier Master Series on Cinematography (in partnership with FRANK Digital) – June 28-29, 2025
Film Training Manitoba (FTM) led its very own Master Series with established Canadian cinematographer, Luc Montpellier, ASC, CSC. During this two-day series held at FRANK Digital Studio, Montpellier held a lecture for attendees, breaking down the pre-production and production of Women Talking.
Following the lecture, one-on-one sessions with Montpellier took place, providing local cinematographers and filmmakers the opportunity to discuss their current projects and receive direct advice from him.
The series concluded with a spectacular masterclass on cinematography, where Montpellier shared his techniques for shooting a scene. He even encouraged participants to attempt replicating the visual style of a scene from Women Talking.
Special thanks to FRANK Digital’s Stephan Recksiedler, Kelly Dodds, Jack Mykhailov, Bev Allen, and Chris McIvor.
Post-Production Workflow (in partnership with Farpoint Films) – August 9 & September 20, 2025
This cutting-edge training course was instructed by the talented Nathalie Massaroni, the post-production supervisor at Farpoint Films. Due to a quick sell-out, the partners organized an additional course in September.
During this one-day course, participants were provided training on the stages of post-production, workflow, and different types of post-production roles. Participants were able to edit a scene from the Manitoba-produced feature film Aberdeen.
Special thanks to Farpoint Film’s Kyle Bornais.
ARRI Camera Training – August 23, 2025
With over 70 per cent of films playing at the Cannes Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival being shot on ARRI cameras, FTM has made it imperative to develop a strong working relationship with ARRI, and as a result, our two organizations have been conducting annual training sessions here in Winnipeg.
This session has been taught annually by film industry veteran François Gauthier, who led a full-day training session on ARRI cameras, lights, accessories, and more!
Intro to Makeup for Film with Margarita Vailas – August 30, 2025
This hands-on training course covered the essential steps to building a career in film and TV makeup and was led by the talented Margarita Vailas, who has been working in the field of makeup and esthetics for over 20 years. Margarita provided a large bin of makeup for the participants to do a hands-on demo session.
Attendees of this session received hands-on instruction on a wide range of makeup styles and techniques used in production. The course also covered how to create a portfolio, required industry expectations and production etiquette.
Demystifying Film Industry Cultural Consultants with Julie O’Keefe & Alaina Maker – September 13, 2025
With the TV series Little House on the Prairie being filmed in Manitoba, FTM partnered with this production and Big Sky Studios to hold a conversation about an important position within the film industry that has come to our attention. Julie O’Keefe, who worked as the Osage Wardrobe Consultant on the movie set of Killers of the Flower Moon, talked in detail about all the research that goes into costume choices and sets for specific productions. FTM and our instructor were aided greatly by the strong support of the production manager, Danielle Dumesnil, who tirelessly worked to coordinate and program this training session.
Participants received the bonus of learning from Alaina Maker, a skilled ribbon work maker and traditional Osage skirt maker for men and women in the Osage Tribe. Maker provided learning on working in the costume department. Maker shared her behind-the-scenes experiences in the TV series Reservation Dogs, as well as the movie Killers of the Flower Moon. This lecture and Q&A were an integral learning step for those wanting to create authentic stories.
Canada Media Fund, DOC Manitoba, and FTM Team Up for Manitoba’s Northern & Diverse Creators Program – September 27 – October 30, 2025
With a grant from the Canada Media Fund, FTM and DOC Manitoba hosted a series of courses and masterclasses for the innovative Northern & Diverse Creators Program that brought top industry professionals to remote and underrepresented areas.
Highlights include Charles Konowal’s Documentary Cinematography course for participants of the African Movie Festival, Libby Lea’s speaker session in Brandon, and Emmy winner and two-time Oscar nominee Rory Kennedy and Mark Bailey conducting training in Churchill. In addition, Kennedy conducted two masterclasses in Winnipeg for the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Kevin Nikkel wrapped up the program with documentary courses in Flin Flon, The Pas, and Cranberry Portage.
Special thanks to the University of Winnipeg’s Lise Raven, Delton Kreller, Josh Todd, Adam Parboosingh, Ian Steggles, Tracy Whalen, Colin Wiens, and Melinda Tallin, and DOC Manitoba’s Merit Jensen-Carr.
Canada’s Supporting Women in Film Trades (SWIFT) Conference 2025 with Keynote Speaker Elisabeth Williams – December 6, 2025
FTM conducted the fourth annual SWIFT Conference. This year, three-time Emmy-winning Production Designer Elisabeth Williams served as the conference’s keynote speaker and provided learning on how women technicians and administrative workers can build their careers. During her address, she provided a behind-the-scenes view of working on TV series like The Handmaid’s Tale and Fargo.
The conference concluded with a networking reception, providing participants with the opportunity to connect with peers, panellists, and industry professionals. For more details of the SWIFT 2025 Report, please go here.
FTM is a member of the Province of Manitoba’s Sector Council Program funded through the Manitoba Business, Mining, Trade & Job Creation. 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 and television industry to identify training needs to support workforce development output.