President Phyllis Laing established Buffalo Gal Pictures in 1994, using her keen sense of business, creative vision and knowledge of the film industry to steadily drive the company toward its present success.

Phyllis co-produced and executive produced the feature film The Saddest Music in the World (2003), written and directed by Guy Maddin. The film starred Isabella Rossellini and was screened at Sundance Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival. Phyllis also produced the feature-length documentary Gabrielle Roy (1998), which received the Telefilm Canada award for Best Canadian Work at Montreal International Film Festival on Arts, Best Documentary and Best Overall Sound awards at Prix Gemeaux, and Best Documentary: History & Biography Program at Banff TV Festival. 

Phyllis’ business acumen has twice been honoured by the Women’s Business Owners of Manitoba. She received the Women Entrepreneur of the Year award in 1994 and the Impact on Local Economy award in 2002. Phyllis is currently the VP of Policy on the On Screen Manitoba (formerly the Manitoba Motion Picture Industry Association) Board of Directors and she served as Chair of the Board of Directors for a number of years.