#FIRSTLOOK: CANADIAN FILM CENTRE APPOINTS NEW BOARD CHAIR NEISHAW ALI AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBER GUILLERMO DEL TORO

The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) announced the appointment of new Board Chair Neishaw Ali, President of SPIN VFX who replaces longtime Chair, Christina Jennings, President and Chairman of Shaftesbury. Joining the CFC’s Board of Directors is Academy Award®-winning director Guillermo del Toro who will be officially appointed in October at the annual AGM. Jennings has served the CFC for over 17 years, ten of which she held the role of Chair. She will remain on the Board until October 2024.

These appointments come as the CFC prepares for its annual fundraising Gala that welcomes emerging and established creators, current and past alumni of the CFC, funders and supporters, and will celebrate founder Norman Jewison’s immense contribution to the Canadian and international film community. The CFC continues to fulfill Norman Jewison’s founding intent: to train Canadian talent with the skills necessary to showcase their stories on the world stage.

“Many decades ago, the brilliant Norman Jewison sparked a movement in our industry by creating the CFC, and I am incredibly privileged and humbled to take on this new role as Chair. I am so grateful to Christina for creating such a solid foundation for the CFC. Her passion and commitment to the institution she attended in 1990 is something to applaud, and I am honoured to take on the baton.” said Neishaw Ali. “I feel incredibly fortunate to start my tenure as Chair by announcing the appointment of our industry’s beloved Guillermo del Toro whose vision and mastery had impacted the screen industry in such a remarkable way. Guillermo’s voice is essential and so many of our CFC’s cohorts will benefit from having his input at the Board level.”

“As a filmmaker, I have been deeply moved by the work of Norman Jewison, someone who I had the privilege to know. A big part of his immense legacy is the Canadian Film Centre, the manifestation of his never-ending commitment to helping new filmmakers find their voice,” said Guillermo del Toro. “I am incredibly happy to be joining the Board of Directors and I look forward to working alongside the other members and the CFC staff to help support the next generation of storytellers.”

“Embracing a new chapter of leadership, we are proud to have Neishaw Ali as our esteemed Board Chair. With her visionary expertise and dedication, Neishaw will help steer us towards innovative heights in the ever-evolving landscape of Canadian film. As we bid farewell to the remarkable tenure of Christina Jennings, whose invaluable contributions have shaped the CFC’s journey over the past decade, we express heartfelt gratitude for her unwavering commitment. We are grateful to our new and continuing Board members for their hard work and commitment to the organization,” said maxine bailey, Executive Director, Canadian Film Centre.

“When the Diversity & Governance Committee set about looking for a new Board Chair, Neishaw was the perfect fit,” said Christina Jennings. “She’s the embodiment of creative innovation and excellence. It has been an honour to carry out Norman Jewison’s vision to nurture Canadian talent and I’m proud of what the CFC has accomplished and will continue to be involved for many years to come.”

Having also recently joined the board are writer, producer, entrepreneur and investor Mark Sakamoto, EVP for Think Research, and financial services leader Duane Green, former President and CEO of Franklin Templeton Canada. The CFC gratefully thanks other members of the board whose terms have ended: Eric Belcher, Don Carmody, Suzette Couture, David Cronenberg, Blake Goldring, Eugene Levy, George Lewis, Bob Munroe, Gary Slaight, Ron Suter, and Barbara Williams.

Current Board of Directors are:
Neishaw Ali (Chair), Cheryl Hudson (Co-Vice Chair), Steven DeNure (Co-Vice Chair), David Middleton (Treasurer), David Zitzerman (Secretary), Councillor Shelley Carroll (Ex Officio), Kate Alexander Daniels, Paul Bronfman, Tassie Cameron, Stéphane Cardin, Shirley Cheechoo C.M., Duane Green, Harold Gronenthal, Christina Jennings, Raja Khanna, Anne Loi, John Morayniss, Mark Sakamoto, Hilary Smith, and Clement Virgo.

#FIRSTLOOK: 2023 COHORT OF CBC ACTORS CONSERVATORY ANNOUNCED

The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and CBC are pleased to announce the newest crop of diverse talent who will participate in the 2023 cohort of the CBC Actors Conservatory, an immersive acting program designed to enhance the participants skills, network and experience to develop successful careers in the industry.

Eight gifted actors with an array of experience in writing, film, TV, theatre and more have been selected to participate in the 2023 program, which begins today at CFC’s campus in Toronto and runs until February 28, 2024. Throughout the course of the six-month program, the actors will receive tailored mentorship and participate in a series of intensive workshops, industry sessions and on-camera opportunities to strengthen their skills and expand their business knowledge of the screen industry.

“The CBC Actors Conservatory has become an influential and esteemed program for emerging Canadian on-screen talent, and we’re proud to partner with the CFC for another year of mentorship and learning,” said Trish Williams, Executive Director, Scripted Content, CBC. “This year’s dynamic group of performers have already reached amazing milestones in their careers, and with support from the program, we can’t wait to see what they accomplish next.”

Thanks to the generous support of program partners CBC, the RBC Emerging Artists Project and the Government of Ontario, the CBC Actors Conservatory has helped catapult the careers of close to 100 actors, who have since landed exciting break-out roles including Annie Murphy (Schitt’s Creek), Eli Goree (One Night in Miami), Varun Saranga (Wynonna Earp), Humberly González (Ginny & Georgia), and more.

“We’re proud to continue partnering with CBC on this impactful program that helps to nurture and guide the next generation of exceptional Canadian actors,” said Kathryn Emslie, Executive Lead, Programs, CFC. “We’re pleased to welcome these talented artists to be part of the CFC community and look forward to witnessing the amazing journey their careers take them on.”

Meet the 2023 Actors Conservatory residents:

Ali A. Kazmi (He/Him) was born in Scarborough, Ont. and moved to Karachi, Pakistan with his family shortly after. He grew up in Karachi until the age of ten, before returning to Scarborough where he was raised. He attended the University of Toronto, studying English Literature, Creative Writing, Film, and Psychology. He has appeared as the lead in several short films, including My Father’s Name, Sweet Tooth, and Junior. He will be seen in the 17th season of Murdoch Mysteries this fall and stars in the feature film The Queen of My Dreams, which will have its world premiere at TIFF 2023.

Christine L Nguyen (She/Her) is a Pan-Identifying Vietnamese/Chinese storyteller based in Tkaronto. She is a graduate of TMU’s Theatre School Acting program and a Factory Mechanicals Alumni. Christine is a second generation Canadian artist who is continually working to deepen her craft. Her select film/TV credits include Simulant (Wango Films/Mongrel Media), Pawsitively Perfect (Reel One Entertainment), A Christmas Melody (Lifetime), The Bold Type (NBC), Nurses (Global) and Star Trek Discovery (CBS). She is unceasingly holding space and gratitude to her mentors and community that have fueled her fire on this journey thus far.

Dorrett White (She/Her) is an actor and writer from Toronto of Canadian-Jamaican descent, Her select credits include What We Do in the Shadows (FX), The Boys (Amazon Prime), Stolen By Their Father (Lifetime) and her first leading role in the short film SIT is currently in post-production. She is a graduate of the Acting for Film & Television program at Humber College.

Gwenlyn Cumyn (She/Her) is an award-winning actor and creator based in Toronto. After appearing in the series All for One (Corus/ABCSpark) and the film Chasing Valentine (Best Actress, MIFF), Gwenlyn developed two seasons of the digital series, Barbelle (KindaTV, Revry), produced by her company, Boss & Co. She also co-created, showruns, and acts in the softball mockumentary, Slo Pitch (IFC/OUTtv). Most recently, Gwenlyn co-created, wrote, and co-directed the CBC Gem series, Homeschooled, based on her own experiences with home education.

Milcania Diaz-Rojas (She/Her) is a Toronto based actor, of Dominican descent. She played a supporting role in the coming-of-age drama Share (HBO/A24), which premiered at Sundance in 2019. She can be seen as a guest star in the Universal Television series The Bold Type and in the Roku series Slip. Milcania has starred in leading roles in several Canadian indies and Homekilling Queen (Lifetime NOW). She can next be seen as the lead in the independent film Fat Lady Sriracha. Her commitment to her craft and truthful storytelling has shaped her into the artist she is today. 

Rebekah Miskin (She/Her) is an award-winning actor and creator. Recipient of The Rockie for Emerging Talent (Banff World Media Festival 2022), Rebekah created the web series, Night Owl, which had its World Premiere at SXSW to stellar reviews and sold out screenings. She received her Masters in Media Production from Toronto Metropolitan University. Some recent acting credits include 9 Films About Technology (Hulu/FX), Kim’s Convenience, (CBC/Netflix), Art & Life (CBC Gem). Her most recent writing credit is for the upcoming season of Doomlands, premiering later this year on Roku.

Ryan Rosery (He/Him) was born in Scarborough, Ont. and has had a passion for the arts since the age of eight. Ryan has had the opportunity to appear in various projects such as Mayor of Kingstown, Riverdale and Batwoman. He also starred as Tray in the feature film Bite of a Mango, which had its world premiere at the American Black Film Festival in Miami and was licensed by AMC (available via Amazon Prime Video). Ryan is also a co-founder of BDB Productions inc. along with six dedicated members and can currently be seen in Lenz Films’ upcoming feature It Comes in Waves.

Ryan Rosery (He/Him) was born in Scarborough, Ont. and has had a passion for the arts since the age of eight. Ryan has had the opportunity to appear in various projects such as Mayor of Kingstown, Riverdale and Batwoman. He also starred as Tray in the feature film Bite of a Mango, which had its world premiere at the American Black Film Festival in Miami and was licensed by AMC (available via Amazon Prime Video). Ryan is also a co-founder of BDB Productions inc. along with six dedicated members and can currently be seen in Lenz Films’ upcoming feature It Comes in Waves.

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW OBAC, CFC & DARK SLOPE ACCELERATOR FOR BLACK-OWNED CONTENT CREATION COMPANIES

OYA Black Arts Coalition (OBAC) and the Canadian Film Centre (CFC), in partnership with Dark Slope, are calling on founders of Black-owned content creation companies to apply for Cohort 3 of OBAC Scale Up Immersive, an immersive accelerator for aspiring Black creatives and production companies interested in developing spatial content, including virtual and augmented reality story experiences. Applications for Cohort 3 open on Tuesday, August 1st and the deadline to apply is Thursday, August 31st.

Participants will benefit from intensive programming led by global industry experts, hands-on mentorship, networking opportunities, and a group rapid prototyping component that will allow cohort teams to build a working prototype with resources valued at up to $50,000. Dark Slope’s state-of-the-art production facilities and virtual production team will also support team prototype development.

“The third year of OBAC Scale Up Immersive Program is poised to have a profound impact on the Canadian VR/AR/XR landscape,” shared Ngardy Conteh George, Co-Founder of OYA Black Arts Coalition. “By nurturing the capacity for more Black Canadian creatives to join the larger Immersive Media production pipeline, we are actively amplifying diverse voices and reshaping the industry. Building upon the talent and experiences of the alumni from our first and second cohorts, we eagerly embrace the opportunity to empower a third cohort, fostering innovation and driving the future of immersive media forward.”

“With each new cohort, OYA Scale Up Immersive continues to empower Black creators and producers and fuel our industry with much-needed diverse voices, stories and new immersive narrative forms,” shared maxine bailey, Executive Director, Canadian Film Centre. “We’re grateful to be part of a partnership that is building up community and capacity for Black content creators and producers in immersive media – and we can’t wait to see the successful outcomes of cohort 3.”

OBAC Scale Up Immersive is funded by the Government of Canada through the Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) Ecosystem Fund delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)

“OYA Black Arts Coalition (OBAC) and Canadian Film Centre (CFC) are pushing boundaries to advance the participation of Black creators and artists in the digital media industry. Our government is committed and is pleased to support OBAC, CFC and other organizations as they work to support Black entrepreneurs to reach their full potential. We look forward to seeing the next cohort of participants for this program,” said the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

For more information and to apply, visit https://www.oyablackarts.org/scale-up/immersive.

#FIRSTLOOK: CANADIAN FILM CENTRE’S SUMMER OF LOVE FESTIVAL

The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) today announced its first-ever free outdoor film festival taking place August 10 and 17 , 2023 at the CFC campus on Windfields Estate in North York. Aptly called “Summer of Love,” the festival will showcase both nostalgic favourites and new voices from Canadian filmmakers. For more information on the CFC and its work in the Canadian film landscape visit cfccreates.com.

“As Torontonians, we await these lovely summer nights with bated breath, and how better to celebrate than by gathering to watch great films under the stars,” said maxine bailey, CFC Executive Director. “We are delighted to offer local cinephiles access to these free films at our inaugural CFC Outdoor Film Festival, and to shine the spotlight on the wealth of talent we have in our country.”

The inaugural CFC Outdoor Film Festival invites film-lovers to experience a Summer of Love, with two features and a selection of short films showcasing Canadian storytellers for two nights in August. The beloved romantic comedy Moonstruck, from director and CFC founder Norman Jewison will screen on August 10 at 7:30 p.m. and CFC alum and director V.T. Nayani’s film This Place, which premiered at TIFF 2022, will screen on August 17 at 7:30 p.m. Each feature will be preceded by a selection of short films from recent CFC alumni, which will be announced at a later date.

The event is free to the public and surrounding neighbourhood.

Moonstruck (1987)
Date: Thursday, August 10, 2023
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Address: CFC Campus (Centre Lawn at Windfields Estate)
2489 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON M2L 1A8

Directed by CFC founder Norman Jewison, Moonstruck stars the iconic Cher and Nicholas Cage about a bookkeeper from Brooklyn, New York, who finds herself in a difficult situation when she falls for the brother of the man she has agreed to marry.

This Place (2022)
Date: Thursday, August 17, 2023
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Address: CFC Campus (Centre Lawn at Windfields Estate)
2489 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON M2L 1A8

Directed by CFC alum V.T. Nayani and starring Devery Jacobs and Priya Guns, The Place is a coming-of-adulthood story about two women falling in love for the first time. As they grow closer, each is forced to confront their family histories in unexpected ways, while navigating multiple legacies of grief and love.

CFC’s outdoor film screenings are generously supported by the City of Toronto through the Cultural Festivals Program.

#TORONTOBOUND: JUDD APATOW & LESLIE MANN TO VISIT FOR “THIS IS 40”

In supporting of their upcoming Oscar-contending Comedy This is 40, brilliant Comedy Powerhouse Judd Apatow and amazingly-talented Actress/Wife Leslie Mann will be making a Visit to Toronto on Monday, November 26, 2012.  The Power-Couple will be appearing at an Evening of Conversation organized by the Canadian Film Centre, along with Partners Variety, Telefilm Canada, Just for Laughs and Universal Pictures.

This is 40 follows the lives of Pete (Paul Rudd) and Debbie (Mann), whom we got to know and love in Knocked Up.  Also starring in the eagerly-awaited Comedy is a superb Supporting Cast which includes: Lena Dunham, Melissa McCarthy, Chris O’Dowd, Albert Brooks, Megan Fox, Jason Segel and John Lithgow.

Watch the Trailer in full below:

 

Universal Pictures releases This is 40 on December 21, 2012.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures)