BC Film + Media and the Vancouver International Film Festival are pleased to recognize the British Columbians nominated for the 2000 Leo Awards, celebrating achievement in the province's growing film and television industry.

BC Film + Media and the Vancouver International Film Festival salute the nomination of Michael Francis for an Outstanding Achievement Leo Award this year. Michael has served as Chair of BC Film + Media since 1992 and the Vancouver International Film Festival since 1988 and has contributed greatly to the growth and development of the cultural and arts community in BC for more than two decades.

"Michael Francis has been instrumental in building B.C.'s domestic film industry," said Small Business, Tourism and Culture Minister Ian Waddell. "I'm pleased to see his peers recognize him for his contributions."

"Over the years, Michael's commitment to British Columbia filmmakers has been unwavering and his leadership has enabled BC Film + Media to play its part in this exciting industry," said Rob Egan, President and CEO of BC Film + Media.

Jane MacDonald, Director, Communications and Corporate Affairs of the Vancouver International Film Festival states, "Michael has provided the vital leadership needed to guide the Vancouver International Film Festival to artistic and financial heights unprecedented in our history. Our staff and Board feel lucky and grateful that Michael Francis believes in public service for its own sake. We have been the fortunate recipients of his dedication to seeing the Film Festival strive always higher, always better."

BC Film + Media is equally proud that nine projects that received funding assistance from the Society are up for consideration for a Leo Award this year, garnering a total of fifty-three individual award nominations. These projects include the television series "Cold Squad", "Da Vinci's Inquest", and "Nothing to Good for a Cowboy", feature films "A Girl is a Girl", "My Father's Angel" and "Rollercoaster", and the documentaries "Ice Time for Old Guys", "In the Company of Fear" and "Stolen Lives: Children in the Sex Trade."

BC Film + Media is a privately-administered, non-profit society established in 1987 by the provincial government with a mandate to expand and diversify the cultural industries of film and video in British Columbia. The Society gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture.