Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; studied visual arts and literature at the University of Victoria before attending the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design where she majored in film and animation. With the success of her student film, TABLES OF CONTENT (1985), Tilby was invited to join the National Film Board of Canada in 1987. Her first film, STRINGS (1991), won many international awards including an Academy Award nomination, a Genie Award (Academy of Canadian Cinema) and first prize at the Hiroshima International Animation Festival. Her latest release, WHEN THE DAY BREAKS (1999) (co-directed with Amanda Forbis), has received numerous honours including the Palme d' Or for short film at the Cannes International Film Festival, the Grand Prix at Annecy, Zagreb and Hiroshima International Animation Festivals, the Genie Award and an Academy Award nomination. Tilby has taught animation at Concordia University in Montreal and has participated in numerous animation panels and festival juries. She is currently a visiting lecturer at Harvard University.  Nominated for Achievement in Animated Short Films 1991: STRINGS - Producer  Nominated for Achievement in Animated Short Films 1999: WHEN THE DAY BREAKS - Producer (w. Amanda Forbis) 2 nominations