CFF kicked off our 2026 Industry Series with Small Crews, Big Worlds: Evolving Tools for Indie Filmmakers - a conversation about how creators are building ambitious work with lean teams in a rapidly shifting industry. From new production pipelines to the creator economy, this panel dives into real strategies for working smarter, scaling creatively, and sustaining a career in today’s landscape.

Cheers 🥂 Jordan Walker, Tanya Stemberger, Jordan Crute, Navin Ramaswaran, and Rhys Yorke – welcome to the fest!

🎙️ Episode 21 on CFF’s Cheers & Chats Podcast is now streaming!

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Special thanks to Screen Arts Institute, xoTO and the City of Toronto, and IATSE Local 58, for making this conversation possible.

Every great unscripted project begins with a leap of faith — you might not know where the story will go, but you know it’s worth following. Turning that uncertainty into a sellable pitch is both an art and a strategy.

In PITCHING THE UNKNOWN, our guests break down how to build trust, shape story arcs in real time, and pitch a project when the ending hasn’t been written yet.

Cheers 🥂 to Billie Mintz, Mike Lobel, Yasmine Abbasakoor, Steve Gamester, and moderator Paul Gratton for sharing their sharp insights and behind-the-scenes expertise.

🎙️ Episode 20: Pitching the Unknown on CFF’s Cheers & Chats Podcast just dropped!

Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Adapting a novel for the screen is a delicate dance of reverence and reinvention – honouring the words while discovering their visual heartbeat. Today, we’re stepping inside that creative alchemy with a team who’s done exactly that.

Join us for THE ART OF ADAPTATION: Making Darkest Miriam – a conversation about translation, transformation, and the storytelling choices that shape a page-to-screen journey.

Cheers 🥂 to celebrated writer Karen Walton in conversation with director Naomi Jaye (Darkest Miriam) and author Martha Baillie (Incident Report) for sharing their craft, challenges, and insights.

🎙️ Episode 19 on CFF’s Cheers & Chats Podcast just dropped!

Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Big thanks to our community partners at inkCanada for co-creating and presenting this panel at CFF.

Today, filmmakers are rethinking how to stand out, stay seen, and truly reach their audience, and this episode pulls back the velvet rope to go BEYOND THE CARPET, diving into shifting publicity strategies, evolving platforms, and what it really takes to cut through the noise.

Cheers 🥂 to Barry Hertz, Alma Parvizian, Danish Vahidy, and moderator Rakhee Sapra for breaking down the new realities of film promotion in 2025 and beyond.

🎙️ Episode 18 on CFF’s Cheers & Chats Podcast just dropped!

Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Big thanks to our community partners at the Canadian Film Centre for co-creating and presenting this panel at CFF.

Every great story starts with a look, and costume design is where imagination meets identity… and every stitch has something to say. Suit up for some serious behind-the-seams storytelling in Dressed to Tell: The Role of Costume Design in Storytelling.

Cheers 🥂 to Kristin Somborac, Darynel Beckford, Charlene Akuamoah, and moderator Joanna Syrokomla for breaking down how costumes shape character, mood, and the worlds we see on screen.

🎙️ Episode 17 of CFF's Cheers & Chats Podcast just dropped!

Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Big thanks to our sponsor xoTO and community partners CAFTCAD & NABET 700 for co-presenting this panel at CFF.

Lights, camera… teamwork! Behind every stunning shot is a crew whose artistry brings the story to life. And this episode takes our camera pros out from BEHIND THE LIGHTS to talk about the art and craft of cinematography, and putting them somewhere they never expected to be: in front of it.

Cheers 🥂 to Rico Moran, Gayle Ye, Samy Inayeh, Brendan Steacy, Dave Muscat, and moderator Warren Sonoda for breaking down the visual language, collaboration, and craft that shape every frame.

🎙️ Episode 16 of CFF’s Cheers & Chats Podcast just dropped!

Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Big thanks to our sponsor xoTO and Company 3 for co-presenting this panel at CFF.

In a landscape that changes overnight, Canadian filmmakers are mastering the art of showing up, standing out, and staying in the game.

Cheers 🥂 to Amira de Vera, Aisha Evelyna, Christina Ienna, Shant Joshi, Yuvi Randhawa, and moderator Eric Bizzarri for joining us to Brand, Hustle & Thrive – sharing what it really takes behind the scenes to build a brand, stay bankable, and carve out a lasting future in Canadian film.

🎙️ Episode 15 on CFF’s Cheers & Chats Podcast just dropped!

Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Big thanks to our community partner Future of Film Showcase for co-presenting this panel at CFF.

Behind every great director is a story about how they got there – and it’s rarely a straight path. From crew calls to creative calls, this panel dives into what it really looks like to step into the director’s chair with Breaking In: The Transition to Directing.

Cheers 🥂 to Nick Butler, Joanna Tsanis, Meelad Moaphi, Dan Abramovici, Rebecca Applebaum, and moderator Shawn Gerrard breaking down the journey, the challenges, and the leap it takes to move into directing.

🎙️ Episode 14 on CFF’s Cheers & Chats Podcast just dropped!

Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Big thanks to our sponsor DGC Ontario for making conversations like these possible — and accessible to creators through CFF.

Funding and broadcast aren’t just about where your project lands – they’re how you unlock the opportunities your story deserves.

Cheers 🥂 to Donna Cagnoli & Paul Gardner (Bell Fibe TV1), Mich Geddes (Neshama Entertainment), Suzanne Marshall (Hollywood Suite), Mark Shapland (IPF), and moderator Katie Uhlmann (WebSeries Canada) for joining us to get creators FUNDED AND SEEN – breaking down partnerships, relationship-building, and how to position your project for success.

🎙️ Episode 13 on CFF’s Cheers & Chats Podcast just dropped!

Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Big thanks to our community partner Webseries Canada for co-presenting this panel at CFF.

Location scouting isn’t just where you film — it’s how you unlock the cinematic canvas your story deserves.

Cheers 🥂 Dason Johnson, Richard Hughes, Bobby Donches, and moderator Magali Simard for joining us to SCOUT T.O. and break down the craft, creativity, and strategy behind choosing the perfect location.

🎙️ Episode 12 on CFF's Cheers & Chats Podcast just dropped!

Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Big thanks to our sponsors xoTO and DGC Ontario for making this panel possible – and accessible to creators through CFF.