Smoluk named managing director of Film Training Manitoba

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This article was published 14/08/2019 (2611 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When Adam Smoluk was a child, film seemed like magic. The 39-year-old has spent the last 15 years with Film Training Manitoba watching the industry evolve with lights, cameras and action, and has now taken over the role of managing director.

“I actually started off in the most junior position at the company working, making minimum wage, as an administrative assistant and then I was able to move up every year and now I am in this position,” says Smoluk.

After seeing classic musical Singin’ in the Rain as a kid, Smoluk says he was in awe with the production element of the film.

“I was just blown away with the magic of making film — it was quite captivating,” says Smoluk.

That sparked his interest to enter into the world of media production which led him to the British American Drama Academy at Oxford University. Smoluk’s debut film Horse Thieves received the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film at the Winnipeg International Film Festival.

His second feature film, Foodland, was acquired by Shaw and premiered on the Independent Film Channel.

Smoluk was also the youngest person ever selected to the National Screen Institute of Canada’s Feature First Program for professional filmmakers.

Smoluk also holds a business administration diploma from McMaster University and is a graduate of Red River College’s human resources management and management development programs.

Putting his skills to use, Smoluk says Manitoba Film Training aims to fill the gaps that remain in the industry.

“We are seeing major studios like Sony and Amazon and Universal Studios regularly shooting productions in Manitoba and FTM participants, people that are taking our program, are in massive numbers working on those films,” said Smoluk.

“Just to see the growth of production levels over the period of time that I’ve worked at FTM has been really inspiring.”

This year marks Film Training Manitoba’s 20th anniversary.

nadya.pankiw@freepress.mb.ca