Originally published in The Hollywood Reporter
Will & Grace star Eric McCormack and Final Destination Bloodlines director Zach Lipovsky are set to receive tribute awards at the upcoming Spotlight: British Columbia Directors Conference in Vancouver.
The Directors Guild of Canada – B.C. District Council, organizer of the awards gala, will honor McCormack with its Spotlight Award, while Emmy-winning Lipovsky, who co-directed New Line’s sixth installment from the Final Destination horror franchise will longtime collaborator Adam Stein, will receive the Industry Builder Award.
And indie producer and Pacific Screenwriting Program founder Brian Hamilton (Bletchley Circle: San Francisco) is set to pick up the Trailblazer Award at a gala prize-giving to recognize achievements in screenwriting, directing, producing and acting in the British Columbia film and TV industry.
The awards will be handed out as part of the DGC – B.C. conference set for Jan. 24 to 25 in New Westminster, a suburb of Vancouver. As part of the event, McCormack will take part in a panel on the actor–director collaboration alongside Kandyse McClure and Tahmoh Penikett, and Lipovsky will do a masterclass and a screening of his low budget, cult superhero pic Freaks.
That breakout flick allowed Lipovsky and Stein to leave their day jobs as Disney TV directors and make movies via a Hollywood studio deal. Lipovsky in a statement on news of his DGC – B.C. tribute said: “DGC and my fellow directors have been a huge part of my growth as a filmmaker. I hope receiving this award encourages more of us to keep supporting and mentoring fellow directors because that’s how our community grows stronger.”
Local B.C. directors and other creative talent are looking to make inroads in a Vancouver-based production sector long dominated by major studios and streamers shooting original movies and TV series across the province.
Pacific Screenwriting Program’s Hamilton in another statement said: “B.C.’s film and television industry thrives when we create space for new voices and take responsibility for developing the next wave of creative talent. Receiving this award is deeply meaningful. It reinforces the importance of collaboration and mentorship as we work to empower our B.C. creators to achieve global impact.”
Other local talent to participate in the DGC – B.C. conference includes Amanda Tapping (Stargate), Shawn Piller (Wild Cards, Private Eyes) and Heather Hawthorn Doyle (The Assembly).
Originally published in The Hollywood Reporter
