2024 Making Waves Recap
We’re ecstatic about the success of this year’s 14th annual Making Waves conference! It was a wonderful weekend of learning, connecting and celebrating with remarkable folks in the screen industry.
Friday Workshops
We kicked off Friday with a variety of workshops led by outstanding individuals with invaluable takeaways and advice.
Lisa Broadfoot instructing Business Affairs: Building Blocks for Producers. Photo Credit: Claire Fraser – Photography & Videography.
Orla Garriques leading Film Festival Strategy 101. Photo Credit: Claire Fraser – Photography & Videography.
Heyishi Zhang instructing Creating Chaos: The Creative Course for Developing a Digital Series. Photo Credit: Claire Fraser – Photography & Videography.
Jenny Reeves, Jake Ivany, Shelley Bibby, Stephen Reynolds, Francine Deschepper and Nicole Close leading the workshop: Demystifying Entry into the Union World with IATSE 849 and DGC Maritimes. Photo Credit: Claire Fraser – Photography & Videography.
To Kill A Tiger Screening at the Light House Arts Centre
We ended the night with Nisha Pahuja’s screening and Q&A of her award winning documentary, To Kill A Tiger.
Ife Alaba and Nisha Pahuja discussing To Kill A Tiger. Photo Credit: Claire Fraser – Photography & Videography.
“The Making Waves Conference greatly strengthens the filmmaking community and industry in Atlantic Canada. It is an essential annual event,” said an attendee.
Saturday Conference
We held a variety of amazing conversations and sessions on Saturday.
Keynote Conversation with Nisha Pahuja
Nisha continued the conversation on To Kill A Tiger with Jackie Torrens.
Nisha Pahuja in conversation with Jackie Torrens. Photo Credit: Claire Fraser – Photography & Videography.
Little Bird Case Study
Jennifer Podemski and Christina Fon followed with a fascinating candid, from the heart case study on their critically acclaimed series Little Bird.
Jennifer Podemski and Christina Fon discuss the creation of Little Bird. Photo Credit: Claire Fraser – Photography & Videography.
Lunch Panel – Switching Career Gears
During lunch, Katie McCulloch moderated the entertaining panel Switching Career Gears.
Jennifer Stewart, Erica Meus-Saunders, Katie McKay and Katelyn McCulloch discuss Switching Career Gears. Photo Credit: Claire Fraser – Photography & Videography.
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
We ended the afternoon with two thought provoking breakout sessions that offered inspiration and insight.
Inspiring Inclusion – Building Skills to Become a Better Leader
(Top to bottom) Kadon Douglas and Nikki Martin leading this powerful session. Photo Credit: Claire Fraser – Photography & Videography.
Beyond the Guidelines – Creatively Crafting Talent to Watch Applications
Jennifer Hawley, Jenna MacMillan, Olesya Shyvikova and Tara Thorne leading this insightful session. Photo Credit: Claire Fraser – Photography & Videography.
We cannot thank our guest speakers and workshop leaders enough for joining us at Making Waves 2024!
WAVE Award Recipients
We concluded an awesome day of sessions with our WAVE Awards dinner, where Jan Miller presented the WAVE Awards to recipients Millefiore Clarkes, Martha Cooley and Amy Mielke.
Millefiore Clarkes, Amy Mielke and Martha Cooley pose with their WAVE Awards. Photo Credit: Claire Fraser – Photography & Videography.
CBC Pitch Competition
We also held our exciting CBC Pitch This! Competition, where Pitch Finalists Tori Fleming, Trilby Jeeves, Jenna Marks, Nikki Martin and Alison Taylor pitched their short story ideas to Jurors Lisa Haller, Jennifer Podemski and Heyishi Zhang.
Jenna Marks won the competition with her short: SALTED. She received $10,000 cash from CBC with $14,400 in kind services from Hideout Studios, 902 Post, William F White/Sunbelt and Star Power for a total of $24,400.
Jenna Marks receives her CBC Pitch This! cheque from Natalie Dobbin. Photo Credit: Claire Fraser – Photography & Videography.
Wrapping it up at 902 Post
We wrapped up the night at 902 Post where drinks and laughter were shared to celebrate a phenomenal weekend, thanks to the best hosts ever, Doug Woods and Kathy Hilchey.
“Making Waves was a great event full of relevant voices from a cross-section of cultural backgrounds. It was informative, emotional, supportive and fun. And the connections that I made were amazing. It even helped me deepen my connections with those filmmakers from my home province,” said an attendee.
Thank you wonderful sponsors for your generous contributions. Our conference would not be possible without you!
Finally, we thank the Making Waves team, Board of Directors, staff and volunteers for their hard work leading up to and during the conference!
“The Making Wave conferences create an empowering and supportive environment, where the creative industry can truly connect in a meaningful way,” said an attendee. “By championing women and gender as a leading model, rather than a gap, it drives crucial conversations forward. With a balanced mix of panels, workshops, networking, and screenings, it’s like a perfect Sunday brunch offering something for everyone, culminating in a substantial meal shared with great company.”