Artist Profile: Sonja Jarrett

DATE : March 17, 2026

Sonja Jarrett, middle, is flanked by two crew members as she directs her movie on location.

Since Junior High, it had been Sonja Jarrett’s dream to make film. She wanted to tell stories that resonated with people from small towns and rural areas, and that reflected the communities that she grew up in.  

When starting out, her script was passed over by the jury of a screenwriting competition because the story depicted a small town they did not recognize. Ever since, she has been determined to put small town Alberta on the map. 

Diagnosed with cancer twice, Sonja was able to beat the odds and persevere. It was that perseverance that gave her the motivation to make her dream a reality. 

In her AFA Artist Spotlight, Sonja talks about the motivations and inspiration behind her film, Tough Love, which was shot in Grande Prairie. With the support of an Individual Project Grant from the AFA, and the passionate community of Grande Prairie, she was able to realize her dreams.  

Learn more about Sonja Jarrett and her journey by watching the AFA Artist Spotlight video. 

AFA project grants available for artists in all communities  

Thanks to record high funding provided by Alberta’s government to the AFA in Budget 2026, Albertans across the province have more opportunities than ever to discover, experience, and celebrate the arts. 

In 2025, the AFA invested almost $5 million to support more than 350 artists and organizations outside of Edmonton and Calgary, ensuring art is accessible to all Albertans, as creators, as a career, and as audience members. 

Nearly 85 per cent of the funding the AFA receives goes directly to artists and arts organizations. To see more about how arts funding benefits communities and local economies, check out Arts Impact Alberta 2025: Ripple Effects from the Arts Sector. 

Artists are encouraged to apply for AFA funding for all artistic disciplines. Visit the Find Funding section on our website to learn more.