Industry Day 2
Wednesday, March 25
Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
CFF Industry | Cheers & Chats 1
Small Crews, Big Worlds: Evolving Tools for Indie Filmmakers
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Independent filmmaking has always evolved alongside the tools available to creators. Today, emerging production technologies, agile workflows, and creator-driven platforms are expanding what small teams can accomplish – allowing filmmakers to achieve ambitious results without studio-scale resources.
This conversation explores how independent artists are adapting to a rapidly changing landscape, from evolving production pipelines to new opportunities within the creator economy. Panelists will share real-world examples from their own projects and discuss practical strategies for building efficient teams, leveraging new tools, and building sustainable pathways for creative work in today’s evolving media landscape.
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Coming soon.
Admission: Included with CFF Festival Pass, individual tickets sold separately
CFF Industry | Cheers & Chats 2
Producers Therapy: 20 years of Holding it All Together
1:15 pm - 2:15 pm
Moderator:
Lauren Grant, Clique Pictures
Featuring:
Coral Aiken, Aiken Heart Films
Karen Harnisch, Film Forge
Stephanie Sonny Hooker, Hometeam Films
Sonya Di Rienzo, Hawkeye Pictures
Paula Devonshire, Devonshire Productions
Admission: Included with CFF Festival Pass, individual tickets sold separately
Bringing together leading producers from across CFF’s 20-year history, this candid conversation explores what it really takes to build films – and careers – year after year.
From scrappy early financing and grassroots distribution to today’s complex landscape of international co-productions, streamers, shifting tax credits, distribution models, and constant disruption – how has the producer’s role changed? What hasn't?
Beyond budgets and deal structures, this group of seasoned producers will speak honestly about resilience, reinvention, burnout, risk, and the invisible labour of keeping projects – and teams – moving forward. As CFF marks two decades of Canadian filmmaking, this panel asks: what does sustainable producing look like now – and what will it take to shape the next 20 years?
Consider this a group session for anyone who’s carried a project – and wants to keep building.
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Coming soon.
CFF Industry 2 | Cheers & Chats 3
Indie Pathways - From (Slo) Pitch to Series
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
One of the most anticipated Canadian comedy television premieres of 2026, the Crave Original Series Slo Pitch (produced by Shaftesbury in association with Boss & Co and PAGEBOY Productions) is already generating buzz.
Featuring CFF alumni and Slo Pitch creators Karen Knox and Gwendolyn Cumyn, alongside Bell Media Executives and prod co Shaftesbury, this conversation explores how an indie comedy idea evolves into a television series.
Using Slo Pitch as a real-world case study, the panel traces the leap from concept to series – developing the idea, building relationships with broadcasters, navigating financing, and stepping into the responsibilities of show-running. Through both creator and broadcaster perspectives, this conversation offers a candid, insider look on how projects move through development, what networks are looking for, and how filmmakers can position their work for long-form television.
A conversation about playing the long game – and what it really takes to go from (Slo) Pitch to series.
Moderated by:
Aisha Evelyna, Actor|Filmmaker
Featuring:
Karen Knox, Actor|Writer|Director, Boss & Co.
Gwenlyn Cumyn, Actor|Writer|Producer, Boss & Co.
Paige Haight, Director of Television, Shaftesbury
Lauren MacKinlay, Development Executive, Scripted, Original Programming, Bell Media
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Coming soon.
Admission: Included with CFF Festival Pass, individual tickets sold separately
CFF Industry | Cheers & Chats 3
CFF Legacy Spotlight: 20 Years in Motion
3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
In this candid and forward-looking discussion, our alumni reflect on the realities behind the milestones – the regrets, the reinventions, the pivots, and the breakthroughs. As CFF marks two decades of following Canadian careers in film, this conversation honours the craft, momentum, and community that carry careers forward – and looks ahead to the next 20 with clarity, resilience, and eyes up.
What did they wish they knew 20 years ago? What has the journey actually taught them?
Bringing together leading producers from across CFF’s 20-year history, this candid conversation
explores what it really takes to build films – and careers – year after year.
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Coming soon.
Moderator:
Warren P. Sonoda, Director, The Trades, Resident Alien, Odd Squad, Things I Do For Money
Panelists:
Gloria Ui Young Kim, Writer/Director, Queen of the Morning Calm,
Murdoch Mysteries, Heartland
Jeremy Lalonde, Writer/Director/Editor, James vs His Future Self,
Ashgrove, Daniel’s Gotta Die, How to Plan an Orgy in a Small Town
Christopher Yip, Writer/Director, Streams Flow From a River
More to be announced.
Admission: Included with CFF Festival Pass, individual tickets sold separately
