Alex Kavanagh, President of The Canadian Alliance of Film & Television Costume Arts & Design (CAFTCAD) announced the inaugural Costume Design and Arts Awards ceremony.  Joanna Syrokomla, past president of CAFTCAD, will be the Chairman of the event. The CAFTCAD Awards will take place in Toronto in late winter, 2019.

The mandate of the CAFTCAD Awards will be to promote and celebrate Canadian Costume Arts and Design and to recognize the breadth of talent, the scope of contemporary, period or fantasy elements, differing media platforms, running lengths and budgets that exist within Canadian film and media costume design and arts.

“A ceremony which honours the excellence in design achievements of Canadian costumers and artisans is long overdue. Their contribution to the evolution of the Canadian film and television industry cannot be underestimated and recognizing these immense talents with a proper event that allows for nation-wide eligibility is something I am very proud to be spearheading,” said Event Chair, Joanna Syrokomla.

Costume designers and artisans who are either Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada and have worked on projects (feature film, short film, television, music videos, web series, commercials) which have been produced within Canada (costumes must have been primarily built/created in Canada) will be eligible. The eligibility period for the 2019 CAFTCAD Awards is January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 for projects that have been released theatrically, online, on streaming services, on television/cable, or participated in accredited film festivals. 

The final list of prize categories is still in development, but will include: Film: Contemporary, Film: Period, Film: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, TV: Contemporary, TV: Period, TV: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Original Web Series, Commercials, Music Videos and Short Films. 

Media contact: Cynthia Amsden Roundstone Communications, Cynthia@roundstonepr.com, 416.910.7740

I've always been a bit of a maximalist. No, 'less is more' for me. So as I'm between projects I get to sit with all my costume jewelry, shoes, vintage coats, books, research files and I realize I do not need anymore stuff. 

I'm also helping prepare CAFTCAD's Canadian premiere of A Conversation with Edith Head, January 17th-19th 2014 at the Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. This behind the scenes feast of great movie lore and delicious story-telling provides insight into Hollywood’s legendary costume designer, Edith Head. In her six decades of costume design, Miss Head worked on 1,131 motion pictures, dressed the greatest stars of Hollywood, received thirty-five Academy Award nominations and won an unprecedented eight Oscars. Wow, that's a lot of Oscars.

The only thing I really, really want for Christmas is for the Indiegogo campaign for this event to be successful. If I ever got you a job, or lent you a suit, or volunteered on your short film, or donated to your marathon or mustache, please consider donating the minimum contribution of $10 this holiday season. You don't even have to wrap it up. But also consider there are some terrific perks- shopping with a Costume Designer or Stylist, a walk on role on the new Global series The Remedy, a custom logo by the artist who did this poster, Dan Sadaba, or simply tickets to the show.

And hey, if you're in Toronto on January 17th-19th, perhaps you'll want to see it too. It's received marvelous reviews across the U.S. and we thought it was so great that we're bringing it to Canadian audiences.
 Tickets at http://buddiesinbadtimes.com/event/a-conversation-with-edith-head/2014-01-17/. 

The Indiegogo link is http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/a-conversation-with-edith-head/x/405535

For a great read about Edith, Susan Claassen who plays the title role, and the show check out 
Drew Rowsome's terrific article. http://drewrowsome.blogspot.ca/2013/12/above-all-glamour-conversation-with.html

Btw, does anyone have Santa's direct email address? 

CAFTCAD has created the CAFTCADEMY 101 series in which professionals within the industry speak about the various positions within the costume department. How does one know the difference between an Assistant Designer and a Costume Supervisor? What does a Buyer really do? How do you dress hundred of background extras 'on the day', and what does 'on the day' even mean?

Often I have aspiring costumers ask me how do they break into the business. Is there a website dedicated to posting jobs within the industry? Who should they send their resumes to? I've always said that one needs to volunteer to gain experience and connections. Now with the advent of this seminar series, costumers have the amazing opportunity to meet and learn from experienced costumers and build future 
relationships with them and others they meet at the event. During the last CAFTCADEMY, I saw attendees meet and bond and then work together on their own projects. 

If you want to be a film costumer, can get to Toronto for Saturday June 22 and Sunday June 23rd, then I highly recommend attending these seminars. I wish there was something like CAFTCAD when I was starting out in this biz.

Application here. Deadline Monday June 17th.
For further questions please email learning@caftcad.com