East Coast director, Jenna Macmillan's directing achievements include her short film, Not My Brother (Atlantic Film Festival, Halifax; Au Contraire, Montreal; ScreenIT Film Festival in Queensland, Australia, Award for Best Film) and multiple music videos for esteemed musical artists (Rose Cousins, The East Pointers, Kinley, Sorrey). With Kinley, she won a 2018 East Coast Music Association (ECMA) for Fan’s Choice Video of the Year for Microphone, which is now included in the sexual education curriculum for junior high school students on Prince Edward Island.

• PEI musician Kinley is ‘building consent culture’ with her song Microphone (The Globe & Mail)

Jenna’s short documentaries have aired on CBC and have been integrated into the PEI health care system to promote abortion access and mental health awareness.

Jenna also holds multiple producing credits, including A Small Fortune (2016 NSI Features First recipient, Telefilm New Voices Award), A Blessing from the Sea (2016 Harold Greenberg Shorts to Features); and she is the first Canadian producer to be awarded funding from Telefilm’s Talent to Watch Program, the Independent Production Fund, and the Bell Fund for a single digital series, Wharf Rats (2018).

• Wharf Rats series hopes to bring P.E.I.-based story to the world (CBC News)

An alumna of Ryerson University’s Film Production program, Jenna has also participated in Women in the Director’s Chair (2015), Directed by Women (2016), and WIFT-T's inaugural Scripted Digital Series Incubator (2018). She is currently in development on a feature film adaptation of Not My Brother— funded by Telefilm Canada—with screenwriter, Blain Watters (Sleeping Giant, Between). She also works as a creative executive with Northwood Entertainment (Anne with an E, The Grizzlies).

The DGC Ontario Director Mentorship is a unique opportunity for high-potential emerging Canadian women directors. Mentees boost their marketing and business acumen in preparation for the Toronto International Film Festival and are mentored by experienced DGC directors. Past recipients include: Kirsten Carthew, Nadine Valcin, and Nimisha Mukerji.

The WIFT-T DGC Ontario Director Mentorship provides me with an opportunity to work with world-class directors and business mentors; along with a firm endorsement of my directing skills from these two highly esteemed professional organizations. Being selected at this point in my career represents a turning point – where I can use all that I’ve learned and take it to the next level. I can guarantee that I’ll make the absolute most of the opportunity!

—Jenna MacMillan

WIFT-T is proud to be a leader in nurturing and amplifying female voices. Jenna is a rising force in our industry; we are proud to support her as she advances her career. We are also extremely grateful to our partner, DGC Ontario, for helping us achieve our key mandate—empowering women to build and sustain dynamic careers in the screen-based media industry—through this mentorship.

—Heather Webb, Executive Director, WIFT-T

DGC Ontario is, once again, proud to play an integral role in the WIFT-T director mentorship program. Opening doors for female creators and encouraging Canadian women to pursue a career in content creation is a responsibility we embrace. As in previous years, the caliber of applicants was outstanding. Based on the quality of what we review, the future of Canada’s production industry is assured and Jenna will be one of its leading voices.

—Bill Skolnik, CEO & Executive Director, DGC Ontario

The first phase of the DGC Ontario Director Mentorship focuses on business training and guidance through one-on-one mentoring sessions with an experienced industry advisor, leading up to the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The second phase will pair Jenna with a DGC Ontario director member. Past mentors include: Tom Alexander (Mongrel Media), Lara Azzopardi (The Listener, Mary Kills People), Gail Harvey (director, Heartland, Murdoch Mysteries), director-producer Bronwen Hughes, Larysa Kondracki (The Whistleblower), Christina Kubacki (Entertainment One Films), and Eleanor Lindo (director, Heartland, Murdoch Mysteries, Degrassi: Next Class). As the recipient of this mentorship, Jenna also receives a complimentary 2018 TIFF Industry pass.