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Nov 16, 2017

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#AFTERMETOO: An In-Depth Symposium on Sexual Harassment and Assault in the Entertainment Industry

#AFTERMETOO: An In-Depth Symposium on Sexual Harassment and Assault in the Entertainment Industry
TWO-DAY EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE ON DECEMBER 5 & 6


In the wake of the widespread sexual assault and harassment allegations surfacing against powerful men and following the impactful #MeToo campaign, a group of screen industry leaders from across Canada have come together to organize a landmark event. The #AfterMeToo Symposium, partnered with The Globe and Mail,will take place on December 5th and 6th at The Globe and Mail building in Toronto. A full list of speakers participating in the symposium will be announced next week. The initiative is spearheaded and produced by actor Mia Kirshner, producer/director Aisling Chin-Yee, actor/producer Freya Ravensbergen, Fluent Films and additional industry veterans from a variety of occupations. For more information on the group and for details about the #AfterMeToo Symposium please visit www.aftermetoo.com.

 
"The enormous amount of women and men who have come forward with their experiences of abuse speaks volumes about sexual misconduct that has categorically been ignored in our industry.  Our symposium was born from this response, with the goal to change ineffective policy, mechanisms and legislation,” said Kirshner, Chin-Yee and Ravensbergen in a joint statement.  "When we decided to take action, and create this multifaceted collaboration and discussion, we received an incredible amount of support from industry professionals, many of them volunteering their time and passion to put the #AfterMeToo Symposium together. Though our focus is on the entertainment industry, sexual assault and harassment is an issue that affects us all regardless of industry or occupation. Our goal is to create lasting changes in our industry and beyond."
 
On December 5th#AfterMeToo Symposium will explore institutional culture, policy and legislation in a number of roundtable working groups, and will strive to find solutions that speak to current inadequate supports and protections against sexual assault and harassment within the workplace. Participants come from a variety of occupations including actors, directors, producers, casting directors, writers, agents, unions, civil and criminal lawyers, trauma experts, economists and legislators. The Globe and Mail writers, including Denise Balkissoon and Janet McFarland, will moderate roundtables. Produced by Fluent Films and Mia Kirshner, discussions will be filmed and made available to the public through online platforms.
 
On December 6thThe Globe and Mail will host a Town Hall at 10AM and will be open to the public on a first come, first serve basis and livestreamed. Findings from the roundtable discussions will be presented followed by a Q&A with the audience. Organizers chose December 6th as the date for the Town Hall in honour of the 14 women who lost their lives 28 years ago in the Montreal massacre at Polytechnique. The date is a commemorative anniversary and represents the wider societal violence against women.
 
About the #AfterMeToo Symposium committee  
#AfterMeToo Symposium is organized by a group of determined volunteers, film/ television industry professionals, trauma and legal experts. The purpose of #AfterMeToo is to ensure that appropriate legislation, culture and policy shift to protect the survivor rather than the predator. The group is committed to being part of the solution to guarantee a safe environment for everyone involved in the creative industries and beyond. For more information on the group and for details about the #AfterMeToo symposium please visit www.aftermetoo.com.
 
#AfterMeToo Symposium is supported by The Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television and TIFF.

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