Andrew Williamson - Bio

As Director of Development for Keatley Entertainment, Andrew Williamson oversees the company's slate of television and feature projects. Godiva's, their most recent production, is airing in its second season on CHUM Television, and their critically acclaimed signature dramatic series Cold Squad, is currently in reruns on Showcase.

In addition, Williamson is developing his second feature film about a man who risks his life to stop the killing of whales in international waters for commerce. A Canada/New Zealand co-production, it is the compelling exploration of one man's conviction that the time has come for him to "do something he believes in."

Williamson is also the Executive Producer and Founder of Crazy8s (www.crazy8s.cc), Canada's #1 short film event that celebrates its 8th Anniversary this year. In recognition of this milestone, Crazy8s 2006 is producing 8 films in only 8 days, a dramatic increase from the standard 5 shorts. Plus, for the first time, film lovers around the globe can step behind the scenes via the Crazy8s podcast (available on the website or via iTunes).

Williamson, a long time champion of indigenous film, has overseen the creation to date of 43 Crazy8s short films that have played around the world on festival screens and televisions and won numerous awards, including Best Short Film at the Toronto International Film Festival for Man Feel Pain (Crazy8s 2004).

Crazy8s offers British Columbia's Indie filmmakers a unique opportunity to create professional films for an industry audience and boasts an alumni list that includes Carl Bessai, Paul Scherzer, James Dunnison, Scott Weber, Veda Hille, Samantha Morris, Matt Sinclair, Peter Stebbings, Clare Hodge, Dylan Akio Smith, Wendy Russell, Zach Zipovsky and Kaare Andrews.

A passionate filmmaker himself, Williamson directed his first feature, Sea, in association with Shavick Entertainment and produced the Telefilm feature Sk8 Life: Van City for Travesty Productions. He currently sits on the First Weekend Club Board as well as advising the projections Program Committee. A fan of Heathers, The Mission and Lost Highway, Williamson still believes that the sacrifices required for making art are worth the cost and explains, "We are changed by art and that transformation is everything."

Previous to joining Keatley Entertainment, Williamson was Director of Industrial and External Relations for the Canadian Film and Television Production Association. During his tenure there he was seconded by the provincial government to assist Supreme Court Justice David F. Tysoe in completing an Industrial Inquiry Commission into the BC Film Industry.

Also a committed husband and father of a toddler, Williamson credits a rejection from film school with changing his life when he moved to Paris and met his wife while writing his first screenplay. Interested in fostering international relations through co-production, he is also exploring the option of expanding his Crazy8s model into New Zealand and Europe. An active environmentalist, Williamson is a member of Vancouver's car sharing initiative, the Cooperative Auto Network.