In honour of Marlon’s energy, creativity, generosity and completely contagious enthusiasm, the Gulf islands Film and Television School is proud to be establishing a memorial scholarship in his name.

The Marlon Hickey Memorial Scholarship will enable one student every year to attend a week-long program at GIFTS.

Marlon Hickey first attended GIFTS as a student in 1998, when he was 18 years old. He returned to take an advanced program and a couple of years later, began apprenticing as a scriptwriting mentor, going on to mentor the early-teens in the drama video production program. Marlon embodied the GIFTS experience in many ways: he was wildly creative, impulsive and passionate about filmmaking and screenwriting. And he made films using whatever resources he had at hand.

Marlon had a rare genetic disorder called Marfan Syndrome, which affects the connective tissue throughout the body. This syndrome also causes the aorta to stretch out of shape. He was scheduled for surgery to replace his aorta in early 2005, but on December 23, 2004, he suffered a heart attack and died.

Seize the moment! Marlon had a warm, irrepressible, impulsive spirit that was highly contagious, inspiring those of us at GIFTS, his friends, his family, his students and virtually anyone he came in contact with. Irreverent, loving and generous, Marlon wrote comedy and screenplays, drew hilarious comics and made fantastic short films. He loved kids and kids loved him.

Who is eligible?
Young people between 14 and 19 years old, who demonstrate financial need and a passion for writing.

How to apply:
In 200 words or less, or in the form of a drawing or comics, what kinds of movies are you interested in making? And why?
Download an application form here and faxe it to: 250-539-3290

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