The Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) annual Spotlight: BC Directors Conference, which recognizes leaders in the entertainment industry, is set to take place at the Anvil Centre in New Westminster, BC on January 24th and 25th, 2026.
This year’s awards recipients include actor Eric McCormack (Will & Grace), who will receive the Spotlight Award; director Zach Lipovsky (Final Destination Bloodlines), winner of the Industry Builder Award; and producer and Pacific Screenwriting Program founder Brian Hamilton (Bletchley Circle: San Francisco), recipient of the Trailblazer Award.
Eric McCormack commented on the honor, saying, “I landed on the shores of Vancouver from Toronto exactly 34 years ago, and the people of the BC film and TV industry opened their doors and their hearts to me. And after three decades in LA, I’m delighted to be back here full-time. The work I’ve done in this town, most especially Travelers, means so much to me, and it is deeply personal to be honored by directors and artists in the place I call home.”
“DGC and my fellow directors have been a huge part of my growth as a filmmaker. I hope receiving this award encourages more of us to keep supporting and mentoring fellow directors because that’s how our community grows stronger,” said Zach Lipovsky.
On receiving the honor, Brian Hamilton shared, “BC’s film and television industry thrives when we create space for new voices and take responsibility for developing the next wave of creative talent. Receiving this award is deeply meaningful. It reinforces the importance of collaboration and mentorship as we work to empower our BC creators to achieve global impact.”
The two-day conference includes panel discussions, screenings, masterclasses, and more, kicking off on day one with a panel on the actor–director connection with Eric McCormack, Kandyse McClure and Tahmoh Penikett, moderated by Ali Liebert, and another in-depth conversation with some of the team behind the critically acclaimed Shōgun. Other highlights of the weekend include a masterclass with Emmy-nominated director Zach Lipovsky and a screening of his feature film Freaks, followed by the Spotlight Awards presentation and Gala. Other notable names participating in the conference include Amanda Tapping (Stargate), Shawn Piller (Wild Cards, Private Eyes), and Heather Hawthorn Doyle (The Assembly).
The conference ends with the 8th edition of the Greenlight Pitch Competition, which includes pitches from the top three finalists in emerging & established categories. This year’s finalists in the established category are Mark Ratzlaff with Boxtopia, Shannon Walsh with Intimacies, and Jennifer Abbott with Animal, and the emerging finalists are Ardy Carlson with Madrid, Chloe Morris with Luminous and Murdoch MacNeil with The Birthday Girl. There will also be exclusive screenings of the 2024 DGC BC Greenlight winning shorts from Tammy Tsang and Kashif Pasta.
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