Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m rising today to salute the artistic and social advocacy achievements of my constituent France Benoit. Ms. Benoit has just returned from the screening of her short film, Hand to Toe, at North America’s largest and most prestigious documentary film festival, Hot Docs, in Toronto.
Ms. Benoit is the first filmmaker from the NWT to have a film selected by Hot Docs. Hand to Toe - An Exploration in the Art of Giving, played to sold-out crowds last week in Toronto. It will be screened in 10 other film festivals in both Canada and the United States.
The film is director France Benoit and videographer Gary Milligan’s intimate portrait of the Yellowknife Salvation Army’s weekly foot washing program. Every Wednesday men and women from the streets gather to share an evening meal and have their feet washed. Winter and summer they take a load off, swap stories and experience warmth, water and tenderness. In return, the volunteers who provide this service make meaningful connections with their community. Hand to Toe dives foot first into these lively nights with this artful black and white exploration into the art of giving.
Thanks to financial support supplied on very short notice from the North Slave office of ITI, Ms. Benoit was able to attend both the Hot Docs Film Festival and the forum, a major marketing endeavour where filmmakers are able to meet with producers and broadcasters from around the world. The National Film Board has been impressed by her visual exploration of the art of giving and has decided to fund France to direct another short film using the same techniques and artistry.
Over the last year -- and thanks in no small part to the advocacy of Ms. Benoit and others over recent years -- ITI has been gathering the facts and forging partnerships for a renewed approach to supporting and developing our home-grown new media industry. There has been broad and inclusive discussion with more than 20 of our new media artists and entrepreneurs. Practitioners have been involved in a major review of the industry and development of recommendations for government support programs. For the first time this year the NWT economic review and outlook has begun reporting information on the new media industry’s contribution to our economy.
I congratulate the Minister for this work and the approach being taken, and look forward to an informative product and ambitious recommendations. Colleagues, please join me in congratulating Ms. France Benoit for this major recognition.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
