The 2nd Annual Birks Diamond Tribute to the Year’s Women in Film, in partnership with Telefilm Canada

The Second Annual Birks Diamond Tribute to the Year’s Women in Film, in partnership with Telefilm Canada, was held at Maison Birks Bloor St. West store. It was an elegant event, honouring ten talented Canadian women for their 2014 contributions to film and television.

Jean-Christophe Bédos, President and CEO of Birks Group Inc. (which is celebrating its 135th anniversary), spoke at the awards.

The 2014 honourees were actresses Anne Dorval (Mommy), Cobie Smulders (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.S.), Molly Parker (House of Cards), Sophie Nélisse (The Book Thief), and Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black); and directors Jennifer Baichwal (Watermark), Marie-Hélène Cousineau and Madeline Piujuq Ivalu (Uvanga), Nancy Florence Savard (The Rooster of St Victor), and Ric Esther Bienstock (Tales from the Organ Trade). These talented women will no doubt continue to make their mark.

Guests attending the tribute included actresses Amanda Brugel (Maps to the Stars), Leah Pinsent (Wet Bum), Natalie Brown (The Strain); actors Rick Howland (Lost Girl), Anthony Lemke (The Listener), Johnny Issaluk (Kajutaijuq), Art Hindle (Paradise Falls), Peter Keleghan (18 to Life); directors Alanis Obomsawin (Trick or Treaty), Jordan Canning (We Were Wolves), Pat Mills (Guidance), Ingrid Veninger (Animal Project); producers Don Carmody (Resident Evil), Robert Lantos (Eastern Promises), and Nyla Innuksuk (Kajutaijuq).

The appetizers by Daniel et Daniel were delicious. They included maple foie gras, candied tomato with balsamic syrup with black and white sesame seeds, shiitake edamame rice cakes topped with gari, buffalo chicken crackling, fish tacos, and short ribs with mango and papaya.

Madeline Piujuq Ivalu

Madeline Piujuq Ivalu

Madeline Piujuq Ivalu

Kyle Thomas (The Valley Below) & Mikaela Cochrane

Jean-Christophe Bedos, Tatiana Maslany

Jean-Christophe Bedos, Tatiana Maslany

Pat Mills

Tatiana Maslany, Jean-Christophe Bedos

Pat Mills

Tatiana Maslany, Jean-Christophe Bedos

Tatiana Maslany, Jean-Christophe Bedos

Tatiana Maslany, Jean-Christophe Bedos

Tatiana Maslany, Jean-Christophe Bedos

Tatiana Maslany, Jean-Christophe Bedos

Zahra Bentham

Sophie Nelisse

Zahra Bentham

Sophie Nelisse, Jean-Christophe Bedos

Katharine Isabelle

Jean-Christophe Bedos

Katharine Isabelle

Don Carmody

Sheila de La Varende, Jean-Christophe Bedos, Eva Hartling

Steve Cochrane, Jordan Canning

Steve Cochrane, Jordan Canning

Albert Shin

Robert Lantos

Rick Howland

Sophie Nelisse

Sophie Nelisse

Randal Edwards

Kate Corbett

Kate Corbett

Kate Corbett

Kristin Booth

Kristin Booth

Alanis Obomsawin

Ross Smith, Arabella Bushnell, Brad Dryborough

Amanda Brugel

Amanda Brugel

Amanda Brugel

Shannon Beckner

Shannon Beckner

Marie-Helene Cousineau

Marie-Helene Cousineau

Marie-Helene Cousineau

Marie-Helene Cousineau

Madeline Piujuq Ivalu

Madeline Piujuq Ivalu, Marie-Helene Cousineau

Anthony Lemke

Nancy Florence Savard

Ric Esther Bienstock

Ric Esther Bienstock

Zahra Bentham, Eleanor Zichy

Zahra Bentham, Eleanor Zichy

Kristin Booth, Shannon Beckner, Amanda Brugel

Kate Corbett

Kate Corbett

Mikaela Cochrane

Pat Mills

Eva Hartling

Nyla Innuksuk

Nyla Innuksuk

Rick Howland, Anthony Lemke

Rick Howland, Anthony Lemke

Rick Howland, Anthony Lemke

Rick Howland, Anthony Lemke

Eva Hartling

Jean-Christophe Bedos

Sheila de La Varende

Alanis Obomsawin

Jennifer Baichwal

Jean-Christophe Bedos, Jennifer Baichwal

Jean-Christophe Bedos, Ric Esther Bienstock

Jean-Christophe Bedos, Ric Esther Bienstock

Ric Esther Bienstock, Jean-Christophe Bedos

Ric Esther Bienstock, Jean-Christophe Bedos

Kristin Booth

Jennifer Baichwal

Kristin Booth, Shannon Beckner, Amanda Brugel

(photos by Tanya)

The Second Annual Birks Diamond Tribute to the Year’s Women in Film, in partnership with Telefilm Canada