EDMONTON/TORONTO (March 8, 2022) – Today, Ashleigh Rains, Festival Director of the Canadian Film Fest (CFF) revealed the Masterclass and Industry Series for the 2022 Festival. This years’ lineup focuses on CFF’s mission to bring homegrown, Canadian talent together and provide enriching industry knowledge, through knowledge sharing and insightful industry conversations. The complete list of Masterclass and Industry Series schedules are available at canfilmfest.ca/2022-industry.

On March 23, CFF will also introduce an exclusive all-day summit Action on Women in Film, sponsored by Scotiabank and DGC Ontario, and co-presented with Women in View, Women in Film & Television - Toronto, Women on Screen and Actra. This new virtual event will address the persistent gender gap women face within the Canadian film industry. Participants can expect a day of information exchange, discussions, panels exploring the disturbingly low statistics of women in film, as reported this past year by Women in View in the 2021 On Screen Report. Through workshop sessions spotlighting top Canadian female talent, decision makers, and gatekeepers, the goal is to gain a deeper understanding of the need to advance gender equity in Canadian film and television, while creating career building experiences and networking opportunities for women filmmakers.

“As a national film festival, we collectively continue the conversation surrounding the inequalities women filmmakers of all identities face within the industry,” said Ashleigh Rains, Festival Director, Canadian Film Fest. “Through this special all-day summit women can share their experiences to further break down barriers by fostering community, inspiring the leaders of tomorrow, and putting our heads together to find permanent solutions.”

Beginning Tuesday, March 22, the Canadian Film Fest presented by Super Channel will run Tuesday to Saturday for two consecutive weeks, presenting ten feature films and 28 short films as part of the virtual festival experience. This year’s slate of compelling Canadian features and shorts includes 50% female and 40% BIPOC filmmakers. The Festival awards will be announced on Saturday, April 2 and will be broadcast on canfilmfest.ca and facebook.com/CanFilmFest following the closing night film.

CFF MASTERCLASS AND INDUSTRY SERIES

MASTERCLASS: Making a Canadian Classic - An In-Depth Conversation & Case Study
Sponsored by DGC Ontario

Led by Sudz Sutherland (Love, Sex and Eating the Bones, Murdoch Mysteries, Designated Survivor, Private Eyes, Ginny & Georgia).
Moderated by National President of the DGC, Warren P. Sonoda (Murdoch Mysteries, Trailer Park Boys, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Things I Do For Money, Cooper’s Camera).

DATE: March 22nd, 2022
COST: Free

SPECIAL EXCLUSIVE EVENT: Canadian Film Fest Action on Women in Film
Sponsored by Scotiabank and DGC Ontario
Participation is by invitation only, extended to CFF female and non-binary filmmakers, and participants of other Females-in-Film focused organizations who have partnered with CFF to present this special event.

NOTE: Where the word female or woman is used throughout our communications of the Canadian Film Fest Action on Women in Film event, we include cisgender women, transgender women, women-identified, gender non-conforming women and others who identify themselves within the spectrum of the gender identity of a woman that may be fixed or fluid.

DATE: March 23rd, 2022, 9:00am - 6:00pm ET
COST: Free to all invited participants thanks to the sponsorship of Scotiabank and DGC Ontario.

PANEL: LEVELING UP - Working with Canadian Organizations in Indie Film
Set your next feature filmup for success with these integral organizations that serve many Canadian film productions of various levels. Learn how to navigate funding applications and distribution, demystify tax credits, access your dream gear and star-studded talent.

Led by Daniel Bekerman (Scythia Films), featuring panelists Hiba Hreiche (Senior Tax Credit Officer, CAVCO), Melissa Amer (Interim Regional Feature Film Executive, Ontario and Nunavut Region, TELEFILM), Erin Creasey (Manager, Industry Initiatives, ONTARIO CREATES), Greg Jeffs (Client Services Coordinator, WILLIAM F. WHITE INL.) and Taisa Dekker (Industry Relations, ACTRA TORONTO).

DATE: March 24th, 2022, 12pm ET
COST: Free

CFF CHEERS & CHATS:

1) ACTORS ON THE BUSINESS OF CREATING
Actors from some of CFF’s top films speak to their experiences on Canadian indie sets and the artistic and business practices that led them to where they are today.

Featuring Katie Boland (We’re All in this Together, Lolz-ita, Reign, Private Eyes), Aisha Evelyna (Shoegazer, Naval Gazing, Murdoch Mysteries, Slo-Pitch) and Sugith Varughese (Red Rover, Ashgrove, Kim’s Convenience, Transplant, Fraggle Rock).

DATE: March 29th, 2022, 10:00am ET
COST: Free

2) CREATING GENRE
A spotlight on some of Canada’s premiere indie talent who came up in thriller & horrors. These three cover it all, from script development, production and post; as they share their tales from the trenches and beyond.

Featuring Cheryl Meyer (The Last Mark, Downsize Games, My Perfect Landing), Gavin Micheal Booth (Rent ‘Do, The Scarehouse, Dead Rush, You Knew It Was Me) and Navin Ramaswaran (Poor Agnes, The Remenent, The Last Mark, Chasing Valentine).

DATE: March 30th, 2022, 10:00am ET
COST: Free

3) DIRECTING INDIE
Canadian directors of various levels discuss their career trajectories and indie filmmaking tricks that worked (or didn’t) for them.

Featuring Sean Cisterna (The Long Rider, Kiss and Cry, From the Vine), Samantha MacAdam (Prom Night, True Dating Stories, virgins!) and Shane Belcourt (Red Rover, Urban Native Girl, Amplify).

DATE: March 31st, 2022, 10:00am ET
COST: Free

The Industry series (excluding Action on Women in Film) will be broadcast on CFF’s Facebook Page and canfilmfest.ca.

Please note that some participant names might change due to availability. Check canfilmfest.ca/2022-industry for updates.