Industry Day 3

Thursday March 26
Written By Emily Gillis

Thursday, March 26
Scotiabank Theatre Toronto

*Open exclusively to 2026 Comedy Igniters and Festival Passholders on a first-come-first-served sign-up basis. Space is limited.

LOOK UP & LAUGH WORKSHOP:
Writing Bold Comedy that Demands Attention with MICHELLE DALY
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Sponsored by Toronto Film School

Jump into our comedy writing workshop – a creative playground where we’ll crack the code on what truly makes modern audiences tick. Through discussion, exercises (not the sweaty kind!) and ending in a Q&A, we’ll dive into the mechanics of humor and reveal the secrets to writing standout comedy.

  • Michelle Daly is the Program Director, Screenwriting at Toronto Film School. Based in Toronto, Daly works with independent production companies across North America to build and create effective strategies for their development and production slates.

    Previously at CBC as Senior Director of Comedy, Daly led the team responsible for managing the creative development and production of CBC’s slate of original programming and contributed to the success of iconic CBC comedies Schitt’s Creek, Baroness von Sketch Show, Kim’s Convenience, Workin’ Moms and TallBoyz. 

     Prior to joining the CBC in 2011, Michelle was the Director of Content at The Comedy Network where she managed the creative elements on such hit shows as Corner Gas, Dan for Mayor, Picnicface and The Jon Dore Television Show.

Buy Industry series tickets & passes
Buy Industry series tickets & passes

Admission: Included with CFF Festival Pass, individual tickets sold separately

CFF & Firecracker Department Present:

THE 2026 COMEDY IGNITER SHOWCASE
4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Sponsored by Toronto Film School

A special presentation featuring the top-selected comedic shorts from The Comedy Igniter – a four-week film challenge created by Canadian Film Fest and Firecracker Department. 

Female and gender-divers filmmakers sign up, receive a creative prompt, and have just four weeks to write, shoot, and deliver an original short comedy. Each selected Igniter will screen their film live, followed by feedback and insight from a panel of comedy and filmmaking professionals. It’s bold, fast, funny – and a celebration of what can happen when creators bet on themselves.

Host: 
Naomi Snieckus, Firecracker Department

Showcase Judges:

Robin Duke, Actress|Comedian, Saturday Night Live, SCTV

Nelu Handa, Writer|Actor|Producer, Baroness Von Sketch, Run the Burbs

Susan Alexander, Senior Director, Creative, Shaftesbury

Jessica Liadsky, Development Manager, Scripted Development, Lionsgate Canada

Michelle Daly, TFS Screenwriting Program Director | Former CBC Senior Director of Comedy

Winnifred Jong, Filmmaker | Director, Tokens, Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, St. Pierre, Pretty Hard Cases

  • Announcing the official selected showcase films and their Igniter teams to be presented at Canadian Film Fest & Firecracker Department’s 2026 Comedy Igniter Showcase:

    DATE NIGHT
    Vanessa Smythe

    HOCKEY MOM
    Monica Rodriguez Knox, Mikaela Lily Davies, Clara Altimas


    LOBSTER OF LOVE
    Jennifer Zabawa, Set Shuter, Emily Kellogg

    GALAXY PANTS
    Srutika Sabu, Emily Jeffers

    HAPPY HOUR
    Andrea Ramolo, Sayla De Goede

    YESTERDAY AGAIN
    Keira Millin, Kate Shaw

    PRU & PEPPER
    Jessica MacDonald, Kieran Parmelee

    KNIGHT OF SWORDS
    Thea Gagliardi, Jessica Hinkson

    THE CURSE OF DANNY RIZZO
    Laura J. Commisso, Ievy Stamatov, Sarah Claire Campbell


    Thank you to Showcase official sponsor: Toronto Film School (TFS)

    Thank you to the in-kind sponsors for their generous prize support:

    Diving Horses | Sunbelt Rentals Film and TV | 2D House, Ontario Camera | APM | WIFT + Toronto | Comedy Bar | Bad Dog Theatre | SoundLab | POV Film | Scriptation | LIFT

THANK YOU TO OUR IN-KIND SPONSORS FOR THEIR GENEROSITY

Emily Gillis

Hi! I'm Emily, I run Sweetfolk Studio, a brand and web studio dedicated to lifting up creative businesses through great design.

Sweetfolk Studio celebrates business owners and solopreneurs who care deeply about their craft - from artists to florists, caterers to stylists. You put your time and energy into serving others beautifully. Your brand should do the same for you.

Through thoughtful, strategic design, and a deep respect for building your vision, Sweetfolk Studio shapes visual identities that feel lived-in, a little off-beat, and built to last.

I've been building websites on Squarespace since 2016, and a Circle member since launch (I think!). Happy to help with any questions or roadblocks, whether you're building a website for yourself or a client.

https://www.sweetfolkstudio.com
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Industry Day 2
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Industry Day 4