We are excited to announce the following recipients as part of the 2023 cycle of the MFM Marketing Fund:
Ian Bawa was awarded $750 for My Son Went Quiet.
Ian Bawa is a filmmaker from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He’s best known for his films Offline, The Champ, Imitations, and Tapeworm. His latest short film Strong Son premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival, and later played at the 2020 Vancouver International Film Festival, and the 2020 Aspen Shortsfest. Ian is currently adapting Strong Son into a feature film, set to shoot in 2024.
Abby Falvo was awarded $500 for *666.
Abby Falvo is a local comedian, writer, and filmmaker whose interests are in practical effects and analog media. She began her career in live performance creating several Fringe shows including COMMANDO: The Radio Play in 2019. She’s produced and directed sketch comedy videos for several troupes and personal projects over the past 10 years.
*666 was an official selection by GRRL HAUS CINEMA for the Lakeside Film Festival in 2023 and received the Fantasia Film Festival’s Silver Audience Award for Best Canadian Short in 2023.
Michael Walker and Noam Gonick were awarded $500 for Purple City.
An art photographer with a worldwide following on social media (<200,000 on Instagram), Michael’s work is primarily self-portraiture with a focus on his own body within a domestic sphere. In university he enrolled in Gender Studies and one highlight of his career to date was meeting James Bidgood (Pink Narcissus) to discuss a collaboration. Purple City is his first film, both as an actor and director.
A filmmaker and artist, Noam has an enduring interest in social activism, sexuality and our connections across racial and class divides, often influenced by the palette of his hometown, Winnipeg. Uprisings, protests, marches and dancing are recurrent motifs across a variety of media. His interests include eco-restoration, with the establishment of Camp Kitigay on the shores of Lake Winnipeg in collaboration with the Brokenhead Ojibway nation.
Fawnda Neckoway was awarded $250 for Kita Kiskithihtahkwaw: So They Will Know.
Fawnda Neckoway is an Ithinew Filmmaker and Visual Artist from the
Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, currently based in Winnipeg. She is the Founder and President of
newly established Production Company, Nikâwiy Productions. Fawnda holds experience as a
Casting Director, Actor and who’s recently begun Writing, Directing & Producing her own
creatives. With a commitment to her art, Fawnda has quickly accelerated into creating her own
motion pictures with four short films within one year. Her film credits include, Kita
kiskihtihtakwaw: So They Will Know, ᒪᐢᑭᓯᐣ: A Moccasin Creation Story, and If You’re Looking for
a Sign, This Is It. She is currently in production with her latest film, Language Keepers, to which
she was the recipient of the Winnipeg Film Group’s MOSAIC Film Award.
Congratulations to the recipients!
Several submissions were received for this cycle of the award and were juried by a peer assessment committee.
THE WINNIPEG FILM GROUP ACKNOWLEDGES MANITOBA FILM & MUSIC FOR GRACIOUSLY SUPPORTING THIS AWARD
