Six of Ten Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Apprenticeships Go to York U Film & Video Students

TORONTO, May 26, 1999 -- Students from York University's Department of Film & Video won the majority of honours in the City of Toronto Screen Apprentice Award and the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television's National Apprenticeship Training Program (NATP) announced on May 20.

Comprised of leading industry professionals, the Academy's NATP jury selected ten outstanding students out of ninety applications across Canada to receive paid training on professional productions. Six were York University graduates. These apprenticeships are designed to provide hands-on training to Canadian students who have completed post-secondary school film, television, communications or related studies.

The York University student NATP winners are:

Melanie Jeffrey City of Toronto Screen Apprentice Award
Direction: for Missed - a short experimental documentary

Jeff Szpirglas
NATP
Screenwriting: for Maxtible Escapes!

Samara Truster
NATP
Direction: for Michael - a short drama

Kenneth Yeung
Kodak Canada Cinematography Apprenticeship
Cinematography: for Fishtales - a short drama

Michael Greenspan
NATP
Direction: for Fishtales - a short drama

Trisha Robins
NATP
Editing: for Face to Face - a short drama

York's Department of Film & Video, housed in the largest film and theatre teaching complex in Canada, is recognized internationally as one of the premier training centres in the field. York student productions regularly make a strong showing at national and international competitions such as TVO Telefest, Can Pro, the New York University International Student Film Festival and the Edinburgh Film Festival.

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For further information, please contact:

Carol Bishop
Communications, Faculty of Fine Arts
York University
(416) 736-2100 ext. 20421
email: cbishop@yorku.ca