Melanie Friesen

Melanie Friesen began her career in London, England as a literary agent for film and television writers and directors. She was then appointed Creative Director of MGM/UA in the UK, finding material and talent for the studio, headed by Alan Ladd Jr. at the time.

After two years in Los Angeles as Creative Director for Cineplex Odeon Films, she met Martin Scorsese who offered her the position of Head of Development with his company, Scorsese Productions, in New York.

Melanie returned to Vancouver in 1994 to produce the Trade Forum at the Vancouver International Film Festival. She is also on the board of the Harold Greenberg Fund and has conducted pitching workshops in Luxembourg, Hungary, Wales, Mexico, and The Republic of Georgia and in Vancouver at Praxis and the Vancouver Film School. She is producer and presenter of Cinema Salon at the Vancity Theatre.