St. John’s, NL (March 7, 2017) — ACTRA Newfoundland will be shining the local spotlight on Dr. Noreen Golfman this International Women’s Day, March 8.
Dr. Golfman is the founding director and Chair of the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival (SJIWFF), one of the longest running women’s film festivals in the world. Now in it’ 28th year, the SJIWFF was created to support and promote women filmmakers and produces several screenings, workshops and other events throughout the year, culminating in a five-day annual film festival held in October in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Noreen is active in Canadian cultural issues; she is vice-chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Film Development Corporation and chair of the board of the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting. Since 2011 she has co-chaired the board of directors of Business and the Arts NL, an organization that brokers relationships and funding between the arts and the corporate/private sectors. She also writes on arts and culture in popular venues, and she has worked as a commentator, reviewer and performer for CBC radio and television. Dr. Golfman has received several awards including the Women in Film and Television WAVE Award, and she has been inducted into the NL Hall of Honour. Tongue in cheek, she is most proud of her Broadcasting Corporation Newfoundland Award for playing Ariel Flint on The Great Eastern!
Upon hearing ACTRA NL was celebrating her this International Women’s Day, Noreen said, “Wow. This makes my day! I’ve been a member of ACTRA Newfoundland for many years and to be recognized for my work in film is a special and unexpected honour. There are many brilliant hard working women who contribute to our robust film community and I am always proud and eager to do my part.”
ACTRA NL Branch President Amy House says, “Noreen not only continually gives her time and invaluable expertise to our community but she also creates local, national and international opportunities for women specifically. The SJIWFF alone has presented twenty-eight years’ worth of visibility, profile and growth to women writers, producers, directors and actors worldwide. Noreen is highly influential in the overall development of our strong arts community through her work on several boards and committees.”
ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is the national organization of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of 25,000 members across Canada – the foundation of Canada’s highly acclaimed professional performing community.
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Media Contact: Amy House, Branch President, ACTRA Newfoundland amyhouse@nf.sympatico.ca, 709-722-6014 or 709-690-4792