Ginny Stikeman

Virginia (Ginny) Stikeman (born 1941) is a Canadian filmmaker. She has directed, produced and edited many films, with her focus on documentaries. Her most well-known films are Sisters in Struggle (1991), Dream of a free country: a message from Nicaraguan women (1983), and Forbidden Love: The unashamed stories of Lesbian Lives (1992)[1]

Biography

Born in 1941 the Canadian filmmaker Ginny Stikeman was born in Ottawa, Ontario Canada. Ginny is now 77 years of age, living in Montreal Quebec where she continues her work in film making as a volunteer.[2]

Career

Stikeman began her career by training in editing at the National Film Board of Canada in 1967. She did extensive work from 1973 to 1989 as a film editor then producer[1] She participated originally in the Challenge for Change program for a few years, which granted communities the opportunity to create social change through control of the use of film and video.[3] In 1975, she became an editor for Studio D.[1] Studio D was a group of women filmmakers who wanted to make changes in the film industry involving underrepresented groups in film,[4] which they accomplished by promoting cultural and sexual diversity in film from 1974 to 1996.[1] This difference was made by not only fighting and advocating for LGBTQ rights but also by creating films that involved cultural and sexual diversity.[1]

Stikeman's films included many controversial topics and were typically documentaries. Films such as Sisters in Struggle (1991)[5] and Dream of a free country: a message from Nicaraguan women (1983) focus on women and diversity.[6] she also worked on some films that concerned sexuality and same sex relationships such as Forbidden Love: The unashamed stories of Lesbian Lives (1992) and Listening for Something (1996).[1]

One of Stikeman's greatest contributions was to the film Forbidden Love: The unashamed stories of Lesbian Lives (1992), which was a full-length documentary directed by Lynn Fernie and Aerlyn Weissman. Stikeman was the first producer then a co-executive producer for this film with Rina Fracticelli as well as Margaret Pettigrew. The producers of the film were Studio D and The National Film Board of Canada.[7] This film concerned lesbian history of Canada in the 1950s and 1960s.[7] It was broadcast around the world and received many awards, such as the Genie for Best Feature Length Documentary in Canada (1993), Best Documentary at the 15th International Film Festival in South Africa (1994) and Best Documentary at the Turin Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in Italy (1995).[7]

After retirement, Stikeman has worked with the Blue Metropolis literary festival in Montreal, Quebec, which is a non-profit organization that promotes and encourages reading, writing and creativity for people of all cultures.[8] The organization was founded in 1997 by Linda Leith. The Blue Metropolis Festival produces the annual International Literary Festival with a variety of awards and prizes. Stikeman started sponsoring the Metropolis Azul Prize in 2013, which is awarded each year to an author from any country who creates a work of fiction that treats aspects of Hispanic culture and is published in Spanish, English or French.[8]

Legacy

Being one of the very few women filmmakers of Ginny Stikeman's time, Ginny is a Canadian female filmmaker, producer, and editor who has created a legacy for herself throughout her career. Ginny is well known for her documentaries: Sisters in Struggle (1991), Forbidden love: The unashamed stories of Lesbian Lives (1992) lastly, Dream of a free country: a message from Nicaraguan Women (1983)[9]

Filmography

1973 Where Do We Go from Here Editor
1974 Cree Hunters of Mistassini Editor
1974 Our Land Is Our Life Editor
1975 My Friends Call Me Tony Editor
1976 Temiscaming Quebec Editor
1976 Listen Listen Listen Editor
1977 Harmonie Editor
1977 I'll Find a Way Editor
1978 'round and 'round Editor
1980 North China Factory Editor
1980 Wuxing People's Commune Editor
1980 North China Commune Editor
1983 Dream of a free country: a message from Nicaraguan women Director
1983 I Want to Be an Engineer Editor
1984 On Our Own Editor
1985 Discussions in Bioethics: A Chronic Problem Editor
1985 Discussions in Bioethics: Who Should Decide? Editor
1985 The World Turned Upside Down Editor
1985 The Cap Editor
1986 Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief Editor
1987 The Legacy of Mary McEwan Editor
1989 Older, Stronger, Wiser Editor
1991 Sisters in Struggle Director, Producer
1992 Forbidden Love: The unashamed stories of Lesbian Lives Executive Producer
1992 Wisecracks Producer
1992 A Balancing Act Producer
1992 Le plafond de verre Producer
1992 Making Perfect Babies Producer
1992 Women in the Shadows Producer
1992 Return Home Producer
1993 Long Time Comin' Producer
1994 Twenty Years of Feminist Filmmaking Producer
1994 Motherland: Tales of Wonder Producer
1996 Asking Different Questions: Women and Science Producer
1996 Listening for Something... Adrienne Rich and Dionne Brand in Conversation Producer
1996 Taking Charge Producer
1997 An Untidy Package Producer
1997 Jeunes, beaux et entreprenants Producer

Filmography from IMDb[10]

Awards and nominations

In Ginny Stikeman's filmmaking career she won many awards for her documentary Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives (1992).The documentary was recognized as it was awarded the Genie for the best feature-length documentary in Canada in 1993 as well as Best Documentary at the 15th International Film Festival in South Africa in 1994 and finally the Best Documentary at the Turin Gay and Lesbian Film Festival In Italy in 1995. In this documentary, was one of the main producers as well as the co-executive producer. The documentary was directed by Lynn Fernie and Aerlyn Weissman, with the help of the producers of Studio D and The National Film Board of Canada. The documentary documented the issues surrounding the lesbian history of Canada in the 1950s and 1960s.

Year Award Movie Result
1993 Genie for best feature-length documentary in Canada Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives Won
1994 Best Documentary at the 15th International Film Festival In South Africa Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives Won
1995 Best Documentary at the Turin Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in Italy Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives Won

[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Ginny Stikeman". MediaQueer.ca. Retrieved September 30, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Ginny Stikeman". Media Queer. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  3. ↑ "The NFB and Fogo Island, Newfoundland: a Continuing Story". National Film Board of Canada. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  4. ↑ Rich, Ruby. B (2013). New Queer Cinema: The Director’s Cut. Duke University Press. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-8223-5411-6.
  5. ↑ Fulford, Margaret (2015). "Sisters in Struggle". Canadian Women Film Directors Database.
  6. ↑ Fulford, Margaret (2015). "Dream of a Free Country: A Message from Nicaraguan Women". Canadian Women Film Directors Database.
  7. 1 2 3 Goldie, Terry (2001). In a Queer Country: Gay and Lesbian Studies in the Canadian Context. Arsenal Pulp Press. pp. 50–52.
  8. 1 2 "Blue Metropolis". 2016.
  9. ↑ University, Athabasca. "Ginny Stikeman | Canadian Film Online". film.athabascau.ca. Retrieved 2018-03-01.
  10. ↑ "Ginny Stikeman". IMDb. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  11. ↑ Canada, National Film Board of, Sisters in the Struggle, retrieved 2018-03-01
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