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 Virginia "Ginny" Stikeman

Biography
Born in 1941 the Canadian filmmaker Ginny Stikeman was born in Ottawa, Ontario Canada. Ginny is now 77 years of age, living in Montreal Quebec where she continues her work in film making as a volunteer.

Career
At the age of 26, Stikeman started her career in the film industry. In 1967 she began working for the National Film Board of Canada, working and training as an editor, which eventually launched her career teaching her the ways of filmmaking. From the years of 1973 to 1989, Ginny was working as a film editor and eventually producer. In 1975 Stikeman began to work for Studio D, which is known for women filmmakers to make changes for women in the film industry. By working with Studio D, Ginny advocated for sexual diversity and LGBTQ+ rights. By using films, Ginny and other women filmmakers worked together to make a change in the male dominated film industry era. In doing so Ginny was an advocate by opening many doors for young female aspiring filmmakers today.

Stikeman is well known mostly for her documentary work throughout her career. In 1992 her documentary film Forbidden love: The unashamed stories of lesbian lives, in which she was producer and co-executive producer. This film showcased the lesbian history of Canada in the years of the 1950's and 60's. Ginny later received many awards for this film that overlooked societal norms within filmmaking. She was also known for her work as a director in the documentary Sisters in the Stuggle. In 1991 the documentary delivered its audience with interviews of black women in Canada showcasing the struggles that feminist, antiracist and womanist faced. An aspiring film which lead Ginny to receive awards on her contribution to a documentary that allowed a look on the struggles that many women faced. Lastly, Ginny Directed the documentary Dream of a Free Country: A message from Nicaraguan Women in 1984 which portrayed the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza Debayle in 1979 in Nicaragua. The film showed how women played an important role in the revolution. Ginny Stikeman was known for her countless other works as a film maker, producer and editor. The films mentioned are 3 of Ginnys most famous works within her career.

Ginny is now a retired filmmaker who volunteers her time to working with charities and foundations that influence women within the workforce and within filmmaking. Ginny helps aspiring women filmmakers to over come the struggles that Ginny once faced as a female filmmaker in such a male dominated industry.

Legacy
Being one of the very few women filmmakers of Ginny Stikeman's time, Ginny is a Canadian female filmmaker, producer, and editor who has created a legacy for herself through out her career. Ginny is well known for her documentaries: Sisters in Struggle (1991), Forbidden love: The unashamed stories of Lesbian Lives (1992) lastly, Dream of a free country: a message from Nicaraguan Women (1983).

Filmography

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Awards and Nominations
In Ginny Stikeman's filmmaking career she won many awards for her documentary Forbidden Love: The Unashamed Stories of Lesbian Lives (1992).The documentary was recognized as it was awarded the Genie for the best feature length documentary in Canada in 1993 as well as Best Documentary at the 15th International Film Festival in South Africa in 1994 and finally the Best Documentary at the Turin Gay and Lesbian Film Festival In Italy in 1995. In this documentary, was one of the main producers as well as the co-executive producer. The documentary was directed by Lynn Fernie and Aerlyn Weissman, with the help of the producers of Studio D and The National Film Board of Canada. The documentary documented the issues surrounding the lesbian history of Canada in the 1950s and 1960s.