FTM Staff
FTM STAFF
Executive Director | Adam Smoluk, CPHR, SHRM-SCP (He/Him)
Adam Smoluk has been with Film Training Manitoba (FTM) since 2006, advancing through six promotions before becoming Executive Director. During his tenure, FTM underwent a full organizational rebranding and launched several major initiatives, including Canada’s Supporting Women in Film Trades (SWIFT) Conference—the largest conference for women working in trades positions in the film industry—the Manitoba Film Masters Series, which brings distinguished film industry professionals to Manitoba to lead specialized instructional programs, and the internationally profiled Northern and Diverse Creators Program, which provided film industry training sessions in Manitoba’s Subarctic. FTM received the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce’s Spirit of Winnipeg Award in recognition of the creation and delivery of the SWIFT Conference.
In 2026, FTM and the Canadian Society of Cinematographers announced the creation of the CSC Manitoba Hub, a new centre focused on supporting cinematographers and other screen-industry workers through skills development, mentorship, and professional engagement.
Smoluk holds a Business Administration diploma from McMaster University and honours diplomas in Human Resource Management and Management Development from Red River College Polytechnic. He is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) and a Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He has also completed micro-credential programs in Career and Employment Coaching at the University of Winnipeg and Leading Through Conflict, Emotional Intelligence, and French Essentials through Western University.
His professional and community contributions have been recognized through numerous awards and scholarships. Smoluk received the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his dedication and commitment to the well-being of Canadian society. He is also a recipient of the Future Leaders of Manitoba Award, an Investors Group scholarship for leadership studies at the Peter Lougheed Leadership Institute at the Banff Centre, the Manitoba Federation of Labour’s Al Cerilli Scholarship, a Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce Leadership Winnipeg scholarship, and an RBC Foundation scholarship to complete governance training through the Institute of Corporate Directors.
Smoluk was selected for RRC Polytech’s distinguished alumni billboard campaign and has delivered commencement addresses at both McMaster University and RRC Polytech. He studied on scholarship at the British American Drama Academy at Oxford University and was the youngest person selected for the National Screen Institute of Canada’s Features First Program for professional filmmakers. In 2016, he was the sole writer from the Americas selected for the eQuinoxe Europe International Screenwriting Program in Lindau, Germany.
His community and governance experience spans employment, education, workforce development, and the arts. He currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Westland Foundation, which provides post-secondary scholarships to students in inner Winnipeg, and serves on the Board of Directors of Workplace Education Manitoba. He is also a member of the Manitoba Construction Sector Council’s Educators Working Group and the Advisory Committee for REEL Canada, an organization dedicated to promoting Canadian cinema.
Smoluk has extensive experience working with post-secondary institutions on programming and curriculum development. He chairs the Advisory Committee for RRC Polytech’s Digital Film and Media Production post-graduate program and the advisory committee for Assiniboine College’s Interactive Media Arts program. His previous education-sector service includes RRC Polytech’s Information and Cultural Industries Strategic Council, the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology’s micro-credential industry advisory committee, McMaster University’s micro-credential review committee, and a programming review committee at McMaster. For more than a decade, he has also served as a mentor with the University of Manitoba’s Career Mentorship Program.
His broader community service has included serving on the executive of Youth Employment Services Manitoba, the Advisory Board for Essential Skills Manitoba, and ACTRA Manitoba’s Council. He is the former Chair of the United Way of Winnipeg’s GenNext Council for young community leaders and was a key organizer of the first GenNext Summit held in North America. He also previously served on the board executive of Essential Skills Manitoba.
Smoluk began his career in the film industry as a filmmaker. His debut feature film, HORSETHIEVES, received the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film at the Winnipeg International Film Festival. His second feature, FOODLAND, was acquired by Shaw and premiered on the Independent Film Channel (IFC), later airing on Super Channel and being selected as a Gem presentation of critically acclaimed films. He also served as a director on Frantic Films and Discovery Channel’s true-crime series IN PLAIN SIGHT.
As a writer, Smoluk contributed profiles of the Right Honourable Edward Schreyer and former Manitoba Film & Music CEO Carole Vivier to The Heart of Winnipeg, a book profiling Manitoba community leaders.
Through his leadership at FTM, extensive governance experience, post-secondary engagement, and background as a filmmaker, Smoluk has built a career focused on strengthening Manitoba’s workforce, supporting emerging talent, and creating opportunities across the province’s film, media, education, and community sectors.
Phone: 204.989.9669 ext.4
Email: adam@filmtraining.mb.ca
Director of Workforce Development, SWIFT and Operations | Allison Bile (She/Her)
Allison Bile graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor of Art’s degree in Theatre and French.
Allison gained an interest in filmmaking through her involvement with the Winnipeg Film Group by attending workshops on experimental filmmaking and volunteering on short films in the costume department.
Allison served as a board member and Secretary on the Winnipeg Film Group. She has also served as volunteer for Cancer Care Manitoba. In 2003, she completed an internship with FTM in the costume department and was a Permittee with IATSE 856 in costumes.
Allison joined FTM in 2006 and has been promoted to various positions within the organization. She has completed courses in Arts and Culture Management at the University of Winnipeg and completed courses in Human Resources Management from Red River College Polytechnic.
Phone: 204.989.9669 ext.2
Email: allison@filmtraining.mb.ca
Training and Partnerships Manager | Emily Labby (She/Her)
Emily Labby is a filmmaker from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Having earned a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies from the University of Winnipeg in 2020, she has completed her own dramatic and experimental shorts but has also worked on several local, independent projects in a variety of roles.
She has also worked as a Production Coordinator at FRANK Digital and ZOOT Pictures.
Phone: 204.989.9669 ext.5
Email: emily@filmtraining.mb.ca
Communications, Outreach, and SWIFT Coordinator | Jenna Paterson-Coutts (She/Her)
Jenna Paterson-Coutts is a graduate of the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic’s Joint Communications Degree/Diploma with a major in journalism.
Her experience as a Communications Assistant with the Social Innovation Office and as a Social Media Assistant with Ai-Kon (Manitoba’s largest anime convention) will help her be successful in the Communications and Outreach Coordinator position with FTM.
Phone: 204.989.9669 ext.3
E-mail: jenna@filmtraining.mb.ca
Finance Coordinator | Kathe Mesman (She/Her)
With over 25 years of bookkeeping experience, Kathe Meseman supports small to medium-sized organizations and the non-profit sector. Kathe has experience with initial financial setup, corporate re-structure, full cycle accounting and training, project costing/reporting, government remittances, payroll, month-end and year-end preparation. She is proficient in Quickbooks, Simply Accounting and Profile for personal and corporate income tax preparation.
Kathe has extensive experience with the Province of Manitoba’s Sector Council program and serves as the Financial Officer at a few of the organizations.
Kathe is also involved in charitable volunteerism and serves on the Board of Directors for Winnipeg’s Westland Foundation, which provides post-secondary scholarships for inner-city Winnipeg students.