Lisa Jackson, Jessica Cheung and Nova Arlene Ami were announced today as the winners of the 2010 Daryl Duke & William Vince Scholarships.

The BC Film + Media Foundation’s Daryl Duke & William Vince Scholarships were created in order to honour the significant contributions of Mr. Duke and Mr. Vince to the film and television industry by assisting in the advanced education of exceptional BC filmmakers.

Eligible disciplines included writing, directing, producing, cinematography, art direction, picture editing, sound design, visual effects and interactive media. Applications were adjudicated by a jury of active BC film, television and digital media industry professionals. Each recipient will receive $10,000 towards their educational expenses for the 2010/2011 year.

Writer/Director Lisa Jackson will utilize the scholarship to continue her studies at the Canadian Film Centre’s Director’s Lab. “The CFC’s Directors' Lab is an intensive immersion in the craft and business of fiction filmmaking. I'm honing my skills, making great connections, and developing a feature film based on true events at a residential school in the late 1940s,” says Jackson. “I'm very grateful for this scholarship – particularly in this time of shrinking funding options – and the support it will provide me in continuing my studies. Thank you!”

Producer Jessica Cheung will use the scholarship to take part in the Canadian Film Centre’s Producer’s Lab.  “I'm so grateful to receive the Daryl Duke & William Vince Scholarship, which is allowing me to attend the CFC Producer's Lab,” says Cheung. “This wonderful opportunity will help me advance my skills as a producer in the Canadian film and television industry.”

Writer/Director/Producer Nova Arlene Ami will use the scholarship to pursue a Master of Arts in Media Studies at The New School in New York.  “It is a tremendous honour to be a recipient of the Daryl Duke & William Vince Scholarships. The funding will provide me with much-needed financial support to pursue a very exciting opportunity – graduate work at The New School in New York City – and for that I am extremely grateful,” says Ami. “I look forward to meeting the challenges that lie before me as I develop my skills and raise the bar for my work in new surroundings. I also look forward to exploring ways in which I can give back to my community.”

As a director and producer, Daryl Duke’s Emmy Award winning career included successes in feature film, television drama, documentary and television specials. In a professional life that spanned more than half a century, Daryl worked with all of the major North American television networks and for most of the studios in Hollywood.

Daryl began his career as an editor, writer and director at the NFB and a director and producer at the CBC. He is best known for having directed “The Thorn Birds”, the 10 hour mini-series from the best selling book, “Tai-Pan” and “I Heard the Owl Call My Name”. In the mid-1970’s, Daryl founded the independent television station CKVU in Vancouver. He was the station’s first President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, leading it to be the highest rated station in its market.

In a short but prolific career, William Vince produced over 30 feature films including “The Snow Walker”, “Saved!”, “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” and the 2006 Academy Award best picture nominee “Capote”. During this time, William established a reputation as a producer with wide-ranging technical knowledge and experience in all aspects of international feature film production, from complicated financing scenarios through post-production and distribution.

William was a champion of emerging filmmakers, giving many people their start in the Vancouver industry. His legacy can be found in the careers of hundreds of film industry veterans who either got their first job with him, or were given the chance to move up the ladder on one of his productions.

 “Lisa, Jessica and Nova have all demonstrated tremendous talent, vision, energy and dedication,” says Michael Francis, BC Film + Media Foundation President. “I am so pleased that we can celebrate the remarkable lives and careers of Daryl and William through the support of these three very promising individuals.”

The BC Film + Media Foundation is a charitable foundation established by BC Film + Media in 2008 to advance the study and teaching of Canadian film, television and digital media studies through the provision of scholarships to students.

For more information, contact:

Kristen Lukovich
Manager, Communications & Industry Initiatives, BC Film + Media
klukovich@bcfm.ca or 604.736.7997