Independent producer Sari Friedland is celebrated as the recipient of the 2016 Douglas James Dales Industry Builder Award. Named for the late Doug Dales, founder of PS Production Services, the annual award is presented to a producer whose sustained, voluntary, selfless service, contribution and commitment has benefited the Canadian film and television production industry. The award was presented last night at the PS Dinner on the Hill, held in conjunction with the Canadian Media Production Association’s Prime Time Conference in Ottawa.
Sari has produced scores of motion pictures and television series over the course of a career spanning three decades. She most recently served as supervising producer on the Afghanistan War drama Hyena Road, currently nominated for eight Canadian Screen Awards. Sari is also a long-standing member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA) and a past recipient of the Kodak/CFTPA Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Sari is both a gifted producer and a tireless advocate for the Canadian production industry,” said SIM Group CEO Rob Sim. “Her many years of work on behalf of the CMPA have resulted in a stronger production industry and a better working environment for all. We are very pleased to recognize her achievements with this years’ Douglas James Dales Industry Builder Award.”
“It’s a great honour to receive an award named for Doug Dales, who meant so much to me and to this industry, and to be recognized for the labor relations volunteer work I do with the CMPA,” Friedland said. “I’ve been fortunate to work on a lot of great productions which have won acclaim and awards not only in Canada, but also worldwide. I am very proud of that and feel lucky not only to have been able to work in my hometown, but also internationally.”
Highlights among Friedland’s other credits include Degrassi, Liberty Street and Riverdale for Playing with Time Inc. and Epitome Pictures, and the series Slings & Arrows and Sensitive Skin for Rhombus Media. She co-produced Director Pedro Morelli’s film Zoom and Director Fernando Meirelles’ film Blindness, both of which were a Canada/Brazil co-production for Rhombus Media. In addition, she co-produced Director Denis Villeneuve’s film Enemy, which was a Canada/Spain co-production, also for Rhombus Media. Sari is currently scouting locations in Ottawa, for the return of the Rhombus Media/CBC TV series Michael: Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Producer Alex Raffé, last years’ recipient, presented the award to Sari. “Dinner on the Hill has become a wonderful tradition that brings together old friends and colleagues to celebrate all the things that make production in Canada great,” Raffé said.
“Each year, we take great pride in hosting the Douglas James Dales Industry Builder Award honouree along with other distinguished members of the Canadian production community,” said PS Production Services President Eleanor O’Connor. “It’s always a wonderful event that embodies the spirit of filmmaking in Canada.”
About the Award
The award was established in 2006 and was initially called the PS Industry Builder Award. Following Doug Dales’ passing in 2010, the award was renamed in his honour in 2011. It is presented annually by PS in recognition of a producer’s sustained contributions and commitment to strengthening the Canadian film and television industry. Each year’s honouree is selected by a jury composed of the previous recipients including, Alex Raffé, Sandra Cunningham, Linda Schuyler, Stephen Stohn, Wayne Grigsby, David MacLeod, Doug MacLeod, Ira Levy, Stephen Ellis, Phyllis Laing, Robin Cass and Paul Pope.
About SIM Group
Backed by Toronto-based investment firm Granite Partners, the SIM Group is a leading supplier of production equipment, workflow and post-production solutions, with offices across the US, Canada and China. Our diverse services can be utilized on any production at any stage. In Canada, our offices in Toronto and Vancouver service grip and lighting from PS Production Services and can be complemented with SIM Digital cinematography and playback equipment for any production’s needs. Bling, Chainsaw, Pixel Underground, Tattersall Sound and Picture and Post Factory NY provide an array of services from dailies, to online and offline editing, to final color/DI and visual effects, to sound editorial and mixing. Bling’s services, which include a comprehensive workflow solution, are offered at all offices across the US and Canada, as well as off-site service through POD (Post on Demand). Chainsaw’s full-service facility in Hollywood provides creative editorial and extensive finishing services with some of the top colorists in the industry. Rounding out the family of companies are Pixel Underground, a Toronto-based post-production company, and its associated service, StationEX, which provides physical and file-based media fulfillment and encoding/distribution services, Tattersall Sound and Picture, a provider of sound editorial and mixing for motion pictures and television and Post Factory NY, one of the East Coast’s top independent post-production facilities. For more information, visit simgroup.com
