JUNE 19, 2025 | 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM EST

IN PERSON | PARADISE THEATRE TORONTO

Co-presented by Fae Pictures + the City of Toronto

What if your story is not EXACTLY what the market is looking for? What if telling your story puts you in danger? How do you protect yourself? How do you protect your work? How do you produce an unproduceable film? Renegades in Cinema follows four bold Canadian cinema change makers who dared to face adversity to tell their stories. In the face of rising uncertainty, our panelists have found exciting alternative ways to tell their stories through creative financing, public support, and rule bending.

Learn the real-world strategies, cautionary tales, and breakthrough moments that can help turn that passion project into a finished film.

Moderated by Shant Joshi (Fae Pictures)

This workshop does not include an ASL Interpreter. If you have any accessibility requests for this workshop, please email: equity@fofs.ca.

Featured Panelists:
Daniel Bekerman (Producer, The Apprentice)
Zarrar Kahn (Director, In Flames)
Alireza Khatami (Director, The Things You Kill)
Cornelia Principe (Producer, To Kill a Tiger)

JUNE 19, 2025 | 7:30 PM - 10:00PM EST

IN PERSON | PARADISE THEATRE TORONTO

Join the Future of Film Showcase as we kick off the 2025 Festival, fostering the future of emerging Canadian filmmakers. We're proud to present our 2025 Official Selection of narrative, nonfiction and experimental short films. Come celebrate short films created by Canadian emerging filmmakers across Canada.

A full list of the 2025 Shorts Programme can be found here.

A Q&A discussion will follow the screenings at the Paradise Theatre in Toronto.

JUNE 19, 2025 | 10:00 PM - 1:00AM EST

IN PERSON | ARCHIPELAGO PRODUCTIONS (213 STERLING RD)

Relax and unwind at the Official FOFS 2025 After Party. Listen to sounds from a local Toronto DJ and enjoy light snacks by Sestito Foods with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages provided by Burdock Brewery and The Boozy Bee, desserts by AG Sweets and a special photobooth by Magnetic.

Please note this is a 19+ event.

JUNE 20, 2025 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST

ONLINE

Co-presented by ACTRA Toronto

This panel is dedicated to providing valuable insight on the casting process in film & television, from advice for actors entering an audition room to what to look for in a performer as a casting director. Leading industry casting directors will share their personal experiences and insider's knowledge on relevant topics, such as virtual casting, diversity and inclusivity in our industry, and the current climate of storytelling.

Featured Panelists:
Moderator: Mariah Inger
Tonjha Richardson (ACTRA Toronto Councilor, Director, Actor)
Millie Tom (Casting Director - Independent)
Colleen Rush (Casting Director - Larissa Mair Casting & Associates Inc.)
Glenda Clarke (Casting Director - GC Casting)
Rachel Osbourne (Casting Director - Nuance Casting)
Janet-Rose Nguyen (Filmmaker, Writer, Actor)

JUNE 20, 2025 | 12:15 PM - 1:00 PM EST

ONLINE

Co-presented by ACTRA Toronto

This is an opportunity for BIPOC actors to sign up for a time slot with leading casting directors, and audition for them. Actors will prepare and perform 2-3min monologues in front of one casting director, then receive feedback and critique, with the ability to foster a relationship with their assigned casting directors. Registration info will be posted on fofs.ca and FOFS social channels.

This workshop does not include an ASL Interpreter. If you have any accessibility requests for this workshop, please email: equity@fofs.ca.

Featured Panelists:
Millie Tom (Casting Director - Independent)
Colleen Rush (Casting Director - Larissa Mair Casting & Associates Inc.)
Glenda Clarke (Casting Director - GC Casting)
Rachel Osbourne (Casting Director - Nuance Casting)

JUNE 20, 2025 | 1:30PM - 3:00 PM EST

ONLINE

Join us in having meaningful and intimate conversations regarding specific areas of the film & television industry. Participants will have the opportunity to register for breakout rooms with representatives from various organizations, ask questions, and receive integral knowledge from industry mentors about how they can best make an impact in the career they aim to pursue. There will be two 40-minute breakout rooms with each organization, with 5 spots in each breakout room.

This event does not include an ASL Interpreter. If you have any accessibility requests for this event, please email: equity@fofs.ca

Learn about our mentors, here.

Featured Mentors:
Jake Burling (Elevation Pictures)
Julie Venerus (Canada Media Fund)
Zach Marcovici (CBC)
Erika Misasi (Misasi Law)

JUNE 20, 2025 | 3:30 PM - 4:30PM EST

ONLINE

Co-presented by the Indigenous Screen Office

Representation starts with access. This virtual panel invites Indigenous creators, industry leaders, and cultural advocates to discuss how we can build more equitable and culturally informed spaces within the screen industry. Hear from Indigenous filmmakers about their journeys, the importance of community-driven storytelling, and what meaningful support and partnership actually looks like.

Open to all, this session is an opportunity to listen, learn, and be part of the movement toward lasting change.

Featured Panelists:
Moderator: Kaya Wheeler (ISO)

JUNE 20, 2025 | 8:00 PM - 10:45PM EST

IN PERSON l PARADISE THEATRE TORONTO

This programme is generously supported by POV.

Join the Future of Film Showcase for the Toronto Premiere of our Special Presentation Feature Film, Rien De Mal (Nothing Wrong), from director Samuel Plante, a Telefilm Talent to Watch feature film and winner of the 2025 Fipresci Award from the International Federation of Film Critics.

Based on true events: After a shocking revelation turns Andrea’s life upside down and tests the bond with her younger sister Claire, they embark together on a strange scavenger hunt - searching for hidden truths, and a way back to each other.

Preceding the feature film will be the short film HAIR!, directed by Sara Jade Alfaro, and the world premiere of the short film How To Bury Your Father, directed by Ammar Keshodia.

A Q&A with filmmakers from the film will follow.

JUNE 21, 2025 | 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM EST

IN PERSON | ARCHIPELAGO PRODUCTIONS (213 STERLING RD)

Powered by Shotdeck
Co-Presented by POV

Six emerging Canadian filmmakers in the 2025 Director Development Incubator are allocated five minutes to pitch their short film to a panel of judges with five minutes of feedback.

The FOFS Director Development Incubator is supported by Grande Camera, Sunbelt Rentals, Alter Ego Inc., POST CITY Picture and Sound, Archipelago Productions and ShotDeck, with each contributing in-kind services to the grand prize including a gear rental package, sound consultation, studio space and subscription to one of the world’s leading tools for treatment development.

More information on our Director Development Incubator can be found here.

Our featured pitch finalists, are:
Michael Petruzzelli (Project: It Comes in Waves)
Marlee Sansom (Project: Tell Me About My Mother)
JoAnne Fishburn (Project: Fish Boy)
Gulzar (Project: Skin 2 Skin)
AC Birch (Project: Bear Night)
Noor Gaith (Project: One Way to Kurdistan)

JUNE 21, 2025 | 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM EST

IN PERSON | ARCHIPELAGO PRODUCTIONS (213 STERLING RD)

Co-Presented by Alter Ego + DGC Ontario

Post-production is where a film truly comes to life: when raw footage is shaped into a powerful story through intentional editing. This panel brings together picture editors and directors to talk about how they cut, mix, and polish a film. We'll dive into the pacing of scenes, the emotional impact of editing choices, and how creative decisions in the edit room can transform an entire scene. Hear behind-the-scenes stories, practical advice, and how teamwork in post can take a film from good to great.

Practical advice, career tips, and technical insights await.

Featured Panelists:
Moderator: Maureen Grant (Picture Editor)
Sandy Pereira (Picture Editor)
José Lourenço (Director)

JUNE 21, 2025 | 3:00 PM - 4:00PM EST

IN PERSON | ARCHIPELAGO PRODUCTIONS (213 STERLING RD)

Co-Presented by DGC Ontario

The look and feel of a film starts with collaboration. This panel dives into the dynamic, creative relationship between directors and production designers, the visionaries behind the visual storytelling. Through real-world case studies and candid conversations, we'll explore how these two roles communicate, align, and sometimes clash to build immersive worlds on screen.

From mood boards to set builds, find out how creative synergy can elevate storytelling and shape the emotional core of a film.

Featured Panelists:
Anastasia Masaro ( Production Designer)
Chris Crane (Production Designer)
Fab Filippo (Director)

JUNE 21, 2025 | 4:30 PM - 5:30PM EST

IN PERSON | ARCHIPELAGO PRODUCTIONS (213 STERLING RD)

Co-Presented by Elevation Pictures

What happens when filmmakers throw out the rulebook? Renegades in Cinema brings together visionary directors and creatives who are redefining how movies get made, without traditional budgets, institutions, or gatekeepers. From guerrilla-style shooting to radically independent financing and experimental storytelling, this panel dives into the bold, often risky, always exciting ways artists are reshaping the future of filmmaking.

Expect unfiltered insights, DIY hacks, and a celebration of creative rebellion.

Featured Panelists:
Moderator: Zachary Goldkind
Jake Burling (Elevation Pictures)
John Greyson (Filmmaker)
Devin Shears (Director, Cherub)

JUNE 22, 2025 | 10:30AM - 12:00PM EST

IN PERSON | PARADISE THEATRE TORONTO

A collection of student-made short films directed by emerging Canadian talent. These filmmakers prove they're some of Canada's leading talent to watch, with a variety of stories spanning drama, comedy and experimental genres.

Featured Films:

Wet Noodle (director: Julia LaLonde)
African Amercian Express (director: Sydnie Baynes)
Whispering in the Leaves (director: Luvleen Hunjan)
In Your Wake (director: Kennedy Headon)
Light Sleeper (director: Luke Donovan)
Sous le soleil exactement (director: Noa Blanche Beschorner)

JUNE 22, 2025 | 1:00PM - 2:15PM EST

IN PERSON | PARADISE THEATRE TORONTO

Co-presented by Shotdeck

Join us for an exclusive masterclass with Lawrence Sher ASC, Oscar-nominated cinematographer of Joker, Garden State, The Hangover, and co-founder of ShotDeck, the industry’s premier visual research platform. In this 45-minute talk, Sher will walk audiences through his approach to visual storytelling, from developing a film’s lookbook to shaping tone, texture, and mood through lighting, framing, and collaboration. He’ll also share the creative process behind some of his most iconic work, offering insights into working with directors, navigating large-scale productions, and translating emotion into image. Sher will also speak about the inspiration behind ShotDeck and how the platform is changing the way filmmakers conceptualize and communicate visual ideas. Learn how cinematographers, directors, designers, and editors use ShotDeck as a creative and practical tool throughout the filmmaking process.

The masterclass will be followed by a group discussion with local Toronto-based cinematographers, offering a unique opportunity to explore how global and local voices intersect in the evolving craft of cinematography.

JUNE 22, 2025 l 3:00PM - 4:45PM EST

IN PERSON l PARADISE THEATRE TORONTO

Co-Presented by Inside Out

Join the Future of Film Showcase for the Toronto Premiere of our Centrepiece Feature Film, Cherub, from director Devin Shears.

A gentle character study of Harvey - a straight, fat man who decides to submit a photograph of himself to a gay magazine for 'big men and their admirers'. 

The feature film will be preceded by the short film Hello Stranger (Director: Amélie Hardy).

JUNE 22, 2025 | 5:30PM - 6:30PM EST

IN PERSON | PARADISE THEATRE TORONTO

A casual In Conversation Series discussion featuring the recipients of our rising star and trailblazer awards, featuring actors Humberly Gonzalez (Star Trek: Section 31, Tarot) and Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs), their careers as actors and body of work. The talk will touch on how to pursue a career in the industry and work on inspiring young creatives to follow their passions within the film industry.

June 22, 2025 | 7:30PM - 10:00 PM EST

IN PERSON | PARADISE THEATRE TORONTO

Join us for the Toronto Premiere of our Closing Feature Film, Fortescue, from director Rebeccah Love.

A quiet reflection on womanhood, psychosis and friendship, Fortescue begins capturing the whimsical and platonic love that exists between two old friends, as they eat, tan and play on the sunny shores of an old worldly summer cottage. When a boyfriend arrives on the scene, for them all to perform an age old fairytale for the neighbouring cottagers, one of the friends descends into a frightening trance, sharing the pains of living shackled to a dated ideal of womanhood.

The feature film will be preceded by the short film Roots That Reach Toward The Sky (Director: Jess X. Snow).

JUNE 22, 2025 | 10:00 PM - 1:00AM EST

IN PERSON | ARCHIPELAGO PRODUCTIONS (213 STERLING RD)

Relax and unwind at the Official FOFS 2025 After Party. Listen to sounds from a local Toronto DJ and enjoy light snacks by Sestito Foods with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages provided by Burdock Brewery and The Boozy Bee.

*Free entry with tickets to Closing Night Feature Programme

Please note this is a 19+ event.