The Spirit of Helen Award is a biennial cash award presented in honour of Helen Folkmann, an artist and arts advocate who passed away in 2004. Her creativity, activism, strength and determination inspired and continues to inspire people across Canada, and this award acknowledges an artist, cultural worker or advocate whose contributions to Alberta’s media arts community reflects Helen’s remarkable spirit.

This award is open to all artists and cultural workers in Alberta. Current members of AMAAS may nominate one candidate per cycle. Recipients are awarded $2000 and celebrated at the biennial AMAAS conference.

2025 Spirit of Helen Award Winner

Geraldine Carr

Geraldine is an extraordinary artist, a tireless advocate, and a deeply committed member of Alberta’s arts and film community. Her contributions over decades—as a filmmaker, mentor, leader, and visionary—embody the very spirit this award was created to honour.

I first met Geraldine in 1990 when she was a casting director in Alberta’s film and television industry. Even then, it was clear that she was a person of rare vision and integrity. Since that time, Geraldine’s career has evolved with remarkable depth and breadth: she is now an internationally recognized filmmaker, former Executive Director of FAVA (the Film and Video Arts Society of Alberta), and the founder and President of the Broad View International Film Festival.

Geraldine founded Broad View to celebrate and uplift the work of women directors from around the world. Now entering its fourth year, the festival continues to thrive under her leadership. It has become a vital platform for women’s voices in cinema, and I am honored to serve on its Board to support her enduring vision. Geraldine exemplifies dedication—not just to her craft, but to the growth and success of those around her. She is generous with her knowledge, especially when it comes to fund development, industry connections, and mentorship. Whether offering encouragement to emerging artists or advocating for systemic support for women in media arts, Geraldine approaches every interaction with sincerity and compassion. She is tireless in her advocacy and inclusive in her outlook, lifting others up at every opportunity.

Her body of creative work reflects the same passion and excellence that she brings to her leadership. Geraldine is an award-winning filmmaker whose films have screened across Canada and internationally, including in the US, UK, and Turkey. An alumna of the
Women in the Director’s Chair and a graduate of the Film Production Program at Confederation College, she remains deeply engaged with the creative process and committed to telling powerful, resonant stories.

Geraldine Carr truly embodies the Spirit of Helen—through her artistry, her advocacy, and her unwavering belief in the power of community. I can think of no one more deserving of this recognition, and I am confident that she will continue to honor and elevate the legacy of this award.

– Clare Mullen

About Geraldine Carr:

Geraldine is the founder, president and festival producer of the Broad View International Film Festival. She is an award-winning filmmaker (The Wise Fool / Voila! / Maud Mary & the Titanic / Aurora / Dance of the Kaleidoscope) with a passion for story, cinema and the creative process. Her films have screened across Canada, in the US, the UK and Turkey. Prior to Broad View and her work as a filmmaker, Geraldine was a casting director in Alberta’s film and television industry spanning 16 years. Geraldine is an alumna of the Women in the Director’s Chair and is a graduate of the Film Production Program at Confederation College. Geraldine remains committed to her craft and is in possession of a keenly creative mind and spirit.