maxine bailey championing gender equity in film industry
January 22, 2020
Hearing Swedish Film Institute Chief Executive Officer Anna Serner championing gender parity in the film industry during her keynote address at the Cannes Film Festival a few years ago resonated with then Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Vice-President of Advancement maxine bailey.
“This woman was very smart and breathtaking in how she was trying to change the dial to make the film industry more equitable,” she recalled. “I thought if she’s doing that in Sweden, I am sure we can do something like that in Canada.”
bailey is the architect of ‘Share Her Journey’ launched in 2017 to push for gender equality behind and in front of the camera.
“I worked with a lot of the teams internally to find out if we are going to push the dial, how far can we do that,” she said. “I talked to many female filmmakers to find out what they were missing and what they needed to move up the ladder. When we got those answers combined with what we were currently doing, we launched various programs such as ‘Female Screenwriters’ and ‘Female Directors’. As we were coming up with all these programs, we realized there would be a cost and if we need to get them on a program or cohort for up to five years, we would need to raise $3 million.”
When bailey left TIFF at the end of 2018, almost $1.3 million was raised. Just over $1 million was raised last year.
The money has funded scholarships for female actors, filmmakers and writers and dozens have been exposed to networking and workshop opportunities where they have been linked with industry experts and specialized resources.
In the 2018 TIFF, a record number of films by women directors – 121 – were showcased at the festival.
“I believe this initiative was worthy, necessary and it was the right time to do it,” said bailey who was honoured with the Special Jury Award of Distinction at the 32nd annual Crystal Awards Gala last month.
The notable award is presented to a woman who has built a legacy as a groundbreaking force in the film industry in Canada and whose life’s work is dedicated to building a vibrant, diverse and active creative community.
Hosted by Women in Film & Television-Toronto (WIFT), the ceremony honours the stellar achievements of Canadian women in film, television and digital media.
The jury comprised Reelworld Film Festival founder Tonya Williams who won the award in 2017, Women in the Director’s Chair Producer & Co-Creator Carol Whiteman and Innovate By Day Chief Executive Officer & Chief Strategist Deb Day who said bailey, in her 18 years with TIFF, created important opportunities for women working in film and raised awareness around systemic barriers facing female filmmakers, script writers and producers.
Deb Day (r) presented the award to maxine bailey (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
bailey was the principal liaison and chief fundraiser for TIFF’s government partners, donors and members in their support of TIFF festivals and year-long programming, including the film circuit.
“For decades as a deeply committed member of the Toronto Arts community, maxine has built a reputation as a connoisseur of culture and expert at illuminating its potential to build bridges and to open doors for many,” Day added.
In her acceptance speech, bailey thanked the jury and paid tribute to her paternal grandmother for teaching her kindness and a strong work ethic.
She and her younger brother Cameron Bailey, who were both born in England, lived in Barbados for four years before coming to Canada in 1971 to join their parents.
“I have, over the years, replicated that sense of strong support with a wondrous group of friends who are my ride or die crew,” bailey said. “I gain strength from knowing they are always in my corner and I in theirs. I was taught to never let the words ‘no’, ‘not now’ and ‘not ever’ stop me from dreaming, growing or moving forward.”
maxine bailey & her brother Cameron Bailey (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
Relishing having a platform to offer real opportunities for women to share their stories and be heard is something that bailey is extremely proud of.
“If you aren’t actively addressing and working to eradicate racism and any form of prejudice, you are simply bringing people into unsafe places in the name of diversity and inclusion,” said the former Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery and City of Toronto Film, Television & Digital Media Board member. “I have seen and experienced this time and time again. However, I still see the gap in being truly equal. I see it when I think of Toronto. We live in one of the most diverse cities in the world. It is our bragging right. However, when I look at the landscape of our industry, I’m not sure it truly reflects our crowded subways or a local Tim Hortons. That is the Toronto we live in.
“While there are diversity and inclusion efforts, it shouldn’t be about just ticking a box. If you aren’t actively addressing and working to eradicate racism and any form of prejudice, you are simply bringing people into unsafe places in the name of diversity and inclusion.”
bailey challenged those in decision-making positions to commit to the movement full-time by questioning their privilege and opening doors for people that don’t look like them.
“This is about righting wrongs, challenging injustices and securing the future for the next generation,” she said. “I ask each and every one of you to commit to really listen to women, recognize and encourage the talents in your workplace to share their perspective and to challenge the status quo for those of you that have it. The beauty of innovation comes from thinking differently. And thinking differently often comes from being different. Thinking and doing differently create change. That is diversity.”
Before joining TIFF, bailey – who has a 41-year-old daughter -- worked in theatre as a producer/director/writer, a film critic for CBC Radio and a film programmer for Harbourfront Centre.
She and Sharon Lewis collaborated to write a full-length play, ‘Sistahs’ that was staged in 1994 by Sugar ‘n’ Spice Productions at the Poor Alex Theatre. The award-winning play was recently remounted to critical acclaim.
A prolific reader, the idea of styling her name in lower case was conceived as a young girl while reading a book by e e cummings, considered one of the most important 20th century American poets.
“As I continued my reading journey, I discovered bell hooks,” the Black Artists Network in Dialogue co-founder and 2018 Scotiabank Giller Prize juror noted. “It was just something I liked and appreciated. When I was in Grade Seven, I asked one of my teachers what is the purpose of capital letters and she said, ‘Well, they are for emphases’. My response was, ‘Maybe, I don’t want my name emphasized’ and the teacher told me that’s my battle that I will have to fight. I have always liked lower case and I used to write in just lower case.”
The Special Jury Award of Distinction was the second major honour bailey received last year.
In May, she was presented with the YWCA Toronto Woman of Distinction Award (Arts) for her passion and unwavering commitment to advancing gender equity.
