Today is International Women’s Day and we would like to celebrate it by giving a little shout-out to some of the women in our community who we think are doing remarkable work and who impress us on a regular basis. May their passion and hard work be a source of inspiration and pride to us all. Here are just a few:

- Sasha Endoh
Sasha is a freelance web designer and graphic artist extraordinaire. We first met her while looking for someone to help us develop websites. As we got to know her professionally and personally, we were blown away by her sheer energy and seemingly endless source of creativity. The passion she has for her craft has lead her to a host of side projects that impress us each more than the next. Follow the wealth of info she shares on Twitter and don’t forget to download her free monthly Desktop Wallpaper Calendar on her blog.

- Amanda Piedimonte
What doesn’t this girl do? A web strategist who has grown in leaps and bounds over the last couple of years, she is presently working for Adviso, allowing for her web-oriented mind to blossom. Notably, she was a leading figure on such award winning initiatives as Le Devoir’s “Comparateur Politique” conceived for the 2012 provincial elections. We are confident her multitalented character will lead her towards ever greater endeavors. You can catch her on Twitter or in person, this Sunday, as she will be moderating a panel at Casa d’Italia Montreal on the contribution of women of divers origins to the development of society.

- Aude Leroux-Lévesque
One of the Bideshi Films duo, we met Aude during our university years at Concordia U. She eloquently combines her passion for storytelling and her sensitivity to social issues into the documentary film work she produces. We were really inspired when she came back from Bangladesh with a touching documentary about a transgendered outcast, Salma. Her work at L’Institut du nouveau monde allowed her to stay ahead of Quebec society’s ever complex social issues. She and her partner Sebastien Rist created a timely documentary analyzing the student movement in the spring of 2012 from a citizen’s perspective. We are always excited to get together for a coffee or beer as she fuels our creativity and inspires us to be better filmmakers.

- Meaghan Johnstone
It’s hard to talk about Aude without talking about Megan. Another beautiful person we met while in university, Megan has much in common with Aude in terms of interests. She embarked, however, on a different path, doing her master’s a UQAM. She is working on completing a full length documentary about Palestinian women living in refugee camps on the outskirts of Beirut, Lebanon. Her passion for this project and the drive needed to complete it are things we appreciate and celebrate in this unique individual. We will definite keep you posted about her work.

- Katherine Macnaughton
When Meg and Aude are around, Katherine is not far away. The female element of the Bis Films team, Kat steadfastly guides our company and the projects we accomplish with a graceful balance of artistic flair and entrepreneurial spirit. I cannot express how honored and grateful I am to work with this strong personality. She is behind the beautiful cookbook recently published by The Foodie Collective raising funds for Santropol Roulant.

- Amy Blackmore
Acting as producer for the Montreal Fringe Festival, Amy is a symbol of strength, perseverance, and resourcefulness in the local artistic community. She has been dancing, choreographing, teaching, and producing for a solid decade and is nowhere near the end of her rope. You can follow her on Twitter.