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CFTPA Honours Brightlight Pictures, John Robinson, Sari Friedland and Mary Kahn

The Canadian Film and Television Production Association is pleased to announce Brightlight Pictures is the winner of the CFTPA Entrepreneur of the Year Award. John Robinson, Sari Friedland and Mary Kahn will each receive the CFTPA-Kodak Lifetime Achievement Award for their exceptional devotion to industrial relations. The awards will be presented in Ottawa on Friday, February 17, 2006 during the CFTPA’s annual conference Prime Time in Ottawa.

“The choices made by our board and membership couldn’t be more deserving. Mary, John, and Sari have been tremendous contributors and partners in their dedication to the CFTPA Industrial Relations Committee.” Said Guy Mayson, President and CEO, CFTPA “It is fitting that Brightlight Pictures, with its long standing commitment to producing quality film and television projects, is recognized with the CFTPA/Kodak Entrepreneur of the Year Award”

Ira Levy, Chair, CFTPA said “I’m extremely happy with this years recipients and look forward to honouring them for their hard work and commitment in building a strong and vibrant Canadian Film and Television Production Industry.”

2006 CFTPA Entrepreneur of the Year
Brightlight Pictures develops, finances and produces independent feature films and Television projects for the domestic and international marketplace. Company principals and producers, Stephen Hegyes and Shawn Williamson, have produced over 60 productions in the last 12 years and over 20 productions since the launch of the company in 2001 including “Last Wedding” and “Going the Distance”. “White Noise”, co-produced with Gold Circle Films UK starring Michael Keaton which has grossed more than $100 Million since opening in January of 2005. Brightlight recently completed shooting "Dungeon Siege", starring Jason Statham, Ray Liotta, Burt Reynolds, John Rhys-Davies, Kristanna Loken, and Claire Forlani. Brightlight Line Produced "Edison" for Nu Image / Millennium Films and Emmett Furla Films, as well as "88 Minutes" and "Wicker Man" including stars such as Al Pacino, Nicolas Cage, Kevin Spacey, Morgan Freeman, and Justin Timberlake.

2006 CFTPA- Kodak Lifetime Achievement Award
Mary, Sari and John have devoted countless hours of volunteer time to the CFTPA in a variety of areas but most importantly in the area of Industrial Relations. In fact they are the longest serving members of the CFTPA’s National Industrial Relations Committee.

"John, Sari, and Mary, a self-described labour groupie, provide us with a unique strength which comes from their wisdom and breadth of experience." Said John Barrack, National Executive, Vice-President and Council, CFTPA "Without them we could not have achieved our many successes at the bargaining table"

Our approach to labour relations negotiations has always benefited from the hands-on experience of these individuals who can quickly cut to the heart of an issue and have an innate sense of where the deal lies. While each of their individual contributions are noteworthy, Mary’s breadth of experience, Sari’s rigorous attention to detail and John’s creative sense with respect to payment structures, this is a case where the whole truly is greater than the sum of the parts. Their behind-the-scenes antics and light-hearted approach at the table has been a huge asset not only to the Association, but to those with whom we are negotiating through the often intense and adversarial process that is bargaining.

Mary’s career has seen her from her beginnings as a commercial producer and copywriter to over 15 years producing top notch Canadian drama including Alfred Hitchcock Presents and the critically acclaimed Traders. She continues to devote time as a mentor to many up and coming producers.

Sari has overseen some of Canada’s best known television series as a producer starting in her early days with the long-running DeGrassi series, through the successful Red Green movie, Duct Tape Forever, and continuing with the award-winning Slings and Arrows.

John, a prominent entertainment lawyer in his own right, has been involved throughout the years with the CFTPA, not only with many of its committees, but has also sat on the Association’s Board of Directors.

Past Winners of the CFTPA Entrepreneur of the Year Award include Collideascope Digital Productions, CREDO Group, Nelvana, Alliance Atlantis Communications, Rhombus Media, Minds Eye Pictures, Barna-Alper Productions, Breakthrough Films and Television and Dufferin Gate. The CFTPA-Kodak Lifetime Achievement Award is chosen by the CFTPA’s board of directors; past winners include Stephen Ellis, Ralph C. Ellis, Harold Greenberg, Pat Ferns, John Ross, Phil Lind, Michael Spenser, Doug Dales, Tom Berry, Sandra Macdonald and Mary Kahn.

The CFTPA is a non-profit, trade association representing almost 400 companies involved in the Canadian production industry. The association promotes the general interests of Canadian producers by lobbying government on policy matters, negotiating labour agreements, and offering mentorship programs and copyright initiatives.

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For more information on this, please contact:

Jeff Brinton
Director of Communications and Media
Canadian Film and Television Production Association