LAURIE MAY

Co-Founder & Co-President | Elevation Pictures

Laurie is Co-President and Co-Founder of Elevation Pictures, which launched at TIFF 2013 and is now the largest independent film company in Canada, including a vibrant production division. Prior to Elevation, Laurie was Executive Vice President at Entertainment One (when they acquired Alliance Films), Executive Vice President at Alliance Films (when they acquired Maple Pictures), prior to which she was Co-President and Co-Founder of Maple Pictures, the Canadian division of Lionsgate. Prior to Maple, Laurie was Senior Vice President Business Affairs for Lionsgate and sat on the Lionsgate board. Laurie received her law degree from the University of Toronto Faculty of Law and was an Adjunct Professor of Entertainment and Sports Law at Western Law.

In 2010 she received the WIFT Outstanding Achievement Award, in 2017 she became a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and from 2021-2024 was industry representative on The Toronto Film Festival board.

Laurie has received many accolades, including May 2023 Hollywood Reporter Most Influential Women in International Film, May 2024 Hollywood Reporter Most Powerful Women in Canadian Entertainment, in November 2024 was included, with her Co-President Noah Segal, on the list of Toronto Life 50 Most Influential People, and May 2025 was again included in Hollywood Reporter Most Powerful Women in Canadian Entertainment, as well as being Hollywood Reporter Women in Film mentor, and in September 2025 was included with her Co-President in Hollywood Reporter 25 Top Deal Makers in Canada. Elevation recently received 27 Oscar nominations, including nine for commercial success,Marty Supreme.