Supplied photo courtesy of The Uniter, Amanda Colbourne | Arts and Culture Reporter
October 21, 2026 – Film Training Manitoba is hosting a conference and workshop series to help grow the local film industry.
The sold-out Supporting Women in Film Trades (SWIFT) Conference 2026 takes place on Oct. 24 at the University of Winnipeg. The event is exclusively for women and non-binary crew members, performers, filmmakers and people interested in the industry.
The Manitoba Film Master Series with cinematographer Mark Irwin on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 will include a lecture, coaching sessions and a roundtable discussion that explores his creative and technical process.
Adam Smoluk, the executive director of Film Training Manitoba, describes Irwin as an accomplished Canadian filmmaker who has photographed major films across genres, including The Fly, Scream, Dumb and Dumber, There’s Something About Mary and Kingpin.
Smoluk highlights Irwin’s ability to use lighting and composition to strengthen a film’s emotional impact without distracting audiences from the story.
“When you look at a story, and it’s told in a very effective and well-done way, it doesn’t pull you out,” he says. “[Irwin] really honours that filmmaker … he specifically works to not distract the audience and to pull you in, as all masters do.”
According to Smoluk, Irwin’s techniques focus on serving the filmmaker’s story, rather than drawing attention to his own work.
Smoluk hopes Irwin’s masterclass will give emerging filmmakers the opportunity to learn directly from an industry veteran.
“We want people to feel like they can be a part of our industry and that they can come out to something and learn by really one of the great masters of cinematography working in the industry,” he says.
He describes Irwin’s experience on major productions as a rare resource and an important opportunity for industry development. He says Irwin is a gifted communicator and teacher who can make complex cinematography concepts accessible.
He also says Irwin’s ability to explain everything from lighting to camera technology makes his decades of experience particularly valuable to those beginning or advancing their careers.
Allison Bile, the director of workforce development, SWIFT and operations atFilm Training Manitoba, says the conference creates opportunities for women and gender-diverse workers to enter departments where men have traditionally been more represented.
“By coming to SWIFT, they have a chance to meet … in a really safe, welcoming environment,” she says.
Bile notes that women are increasingly working in leadership positions across areas like production design and management. Through creating opportunities for growth, Bile says, the industry can become more welcoming to underrepresented groups.
She says that at traditional conferences, individuals will usually stick closely to people they know. Through SWIFT’s structured speed-networking events, Bile says there are plenty of professional development opportunities, which connect industry workers who may not otherwise meet.
“We want people to just break out and get out of their comfort zone and … talk to people they haven’t talked to before,” she says.
Looking ahead, Bile hopes SWIFT will attract more participants, speakers and attention from outside Manitoba while continuing to adapt its programming based on participant feedback.
SWIFT 2026 is on Oct. 24 at the University of Winnipeg (Riddell Hall, 411 Spence St.).
The Manitoba Film Master Series with Mark Irwin is on Oct. 31 at Film Training Manitoba (204-245 Mcdermot Ave.) and Nov. 1 at FRANK Digital (509 Century St.)
FTM is a non-for-profit charity and member of the Province of Manitoba’s Sector Council program funded through the Department of Business, Mining, Trade and 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 industry to identify training needs to support workforce development.