The Slaight Family Foundation and Canadian Film Centre (CFC) have been presented with the first-ever award for Distinguished Service to the Industry from the Screen Composers Guild of Canada (SCGC) in recognition of outstanding support for the screen composer sector.
The award was presented at the inaugural Canadian Screen Music Awards (CASMA) on Sept. 21, celebrating excellence in scoring original music for the screen.
The award recognizes CFC and The Slaight Family’s work to support screen composers through their partnership in delivering the Slaight Music Residency, an immersive program that helps integrate music creators into the on-screen storytelling process, boosting their professional networks and expanding career opportunities.
The Slaight Family recently renewed the program for an 11th year with a $200,000 grant. Over the last decade, the residency has helped bolster the careers of 50 composers including Casey MQ (Soft, The White Fortress), TiKA (Faith Heist, Learn to Swim), Erica Procunier (Homeschooled, Ghostwriter), Ben Fox (Stateless, One of Ours), Suad Bushnaq (Queen Tut, Montreal Girls), and Todor Kobakov, who won two 2022 CASMA Awards for his work on documentary, A.rtificial I.mmortality, and series, The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith.
The award was presented to the CFC and The Slaight Family by 2013 program alumnus Erica Procunier, an Executive Board Member of the SCGC.
“This award is not only about the individual careers that the CFC and The Slaight Family Foundation have fostered, but also about our industry as a whole,” said Procunier. “The existence of this program validates and exalts screen music as an art form worthy of attention in the media industry in Canada. By welcoming screen music into their suite of programs, the CFC, with the invaluable support of The Slaight Family Foundation, has created a generation of writers, directors, and other craftspeople who value the special contributions music brings to storytelling.”
“The Slaight Family Foundation is pleased to support this innovative program that brings the skills of talented musicians to life on screen,” added Gary Slaight, President & CEO, The Slaight Family Foundation. “It also provides musicians with new talents and skills to work in both the music and film industries – a win all around.”
CFC is currently accepting applications from Canadian composers and songwriters for the 2023 cohort of the Slaight Music Residency. The application deadline is Oct. 31.
Find the full list of 2022 CASMA Award winners here.
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