For the fifth consecutive year, Telefilm Canada and Maison Birks partnered to honour women making exceptional contributions to the Canadian film industry at the annual Birks Diamond Tribute.

Without a doubt, this glittery event is our favourite event during the Toronto International Film Festival. Not only is #BirksTribute an occasion where we get to come together to celebrate our top talent – directors, writers and actors – but it’s also an evening to recognize our collective efforts to pivot the industry in a different direction, one that shares a broader range of stories from a female perspective and closes the gender gap when it comes to pay equity. And yes, it’s also always fun to dress up and feel good, together. So that is what we did.

BA-rup-ba-bup: Raise a glass, clap your hands, or let out a loud cheer at your desk (we dare you), because these women deserve to be recognized and thanked for their work…

The 2017 honourees are actors Alethea Arnaquq-Baril (Angry Inuk), Ashley McKenzie (Werewolf), Catherine Bainbridge (Rumble), Chloé Leriche (Before the Streets), Mina Shum (Meditation Park), Amanda Brugel (The Handmaid’s Tale), Ellen Wong (GLOW), Kawennáhere Devery Jacobs (Rhymes for Young Ghouls), Mylène Mackay (Nelly) and Shailyn Pierre-Dixon (The Book of Negroes); and screenwriters Joanne Arseneau (19-2) and Sherry White (Maudie).