The 11th annual Future of Film Showcase, Canada’s premiere festival for emerging Canadian filmmakers returns to Toronto from June 20-23, 2024, with the most dynamic and expansive event yet. This leading platform will feature world premieres, invaluable industry connections, and a continued celebration of the nation’s rising talent.
New this year, FOFS proudly introduces the Rising Star Award, presented to those who serve as a defining mentor and inspiration for emerging filmmakers. Sara Waisglass, Canadian Screen Award Winner and star of “Ginny and Georgia” and “Suze”, alongside Avan Jogia, the versatile multi-disciplinary artist, known for his roles in “Victorious” and “Zombieland: Double Tap,” are named the inaugural recipients of this award. Waisglass and Jogia will accept this distinction during their on-stage keynote conversation on the festival’s closing day, Sunday, June 23 at Toronto’s Paradise Theatre and via livestream on FOFS’ Instagram page (@futurefilmshow).
Eric Bizzarri, Co-Founder and CEO, Future of Film Showcase, expressed his enthusiasm for this year’s event, noting: “Waisglass and Jogia exemplify the essence of this accolade, inspiring the next generation of filmmakers to redefine the landscape of the industry.”
Bizzarri continued, “We’re very excited to be presenting our biggest festival yet, with an expanded lineup of films and industry programming. This year’s Future of Film Showcase aims to ignite passion, spark creativity, and foster connections among filmmakers and audiences alike, promising an unforgettable experience.”
FOFS 2024 kicks off at Paradise Theatre on June 20 with an exciting lineup of short film premieres from promising Canadian talent including:
World Premieres:
THE SWEATER from Sundance and FOFS alumni filmmakers’ Maziyar Khatam and Anya Chirkova. Pressured into giving away his clothes, an emasculated young man obsessively attempts to reclaim his cherished sweater before it vanishes into the donation abyss.
LIGHT AND LAND from Canadian filmmaker Kyath Battie. Lingering somewhere between fantasy and realism, this futuristic documentary underscores atmospheric phenomenon within mysterious environmental incongruence.
Canadian Premiere
NORTEL from Toronto filmmaker Evan Gareth Hoffman. This hybrid fiction-documentary short follows ex-Nortel CEO Frank Dunn navigating the modern world after experiencing a classic case of “tech-boom-rise-and-fall.”
Ontario Premiere:
STATU QUO CHOUCHOU from Quebecois filmmaker Juliette Poitras, follows a young woman named Fanny, who keeps quiet within her environment so as not to be a bother for others.
Toronto Premiere
ELEMENT from directors Will Niava and Latigone N’Goma, follows the story of a group of young delinquents living in the markets of Abidjan, trying to find new ways to make a living, but at what cost?
Additional programming announcements will be made in the coming weeks.
FOFS also presents seven awards to featured filmmakers: Best Film, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Picture Editing, Best Director, Best Screenplay and People’s Choice. Award winners are selected by the FOFS 2024 Jury: Karrar Zahn (Director, In Flames), Geneviève Albert (Director, Noémie Dit Oui), Casey Wei (Short Forum Programmer, Vancouver International Film Festival), Yona Strauss (Associate Producer, Infinity Pool) and Paula Muraira (Cinematographer, Siento Vértigo). The People’s Choice Award is determined by audience vote. The award-winning films will be announced on June 24 and will stream for free across Canada on CBC Gem beginning June 24, 2024.
FOFS also presents an extensive lineup of industry programming that offers valuable development opportunities through workshops, panel discussions and one-on-one mentorship, directed towards fostering the future of emerging Canadian filmmakers. For industry programming and more information, visit fofs.ca.
Future of Film Showcase can be found on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook at @FutureFilmShow and #FOFS2024.
Future of Film Showcase is supported by the Government of Canada, Ontario Trillium Fund, Canada Media Fund, City of Toronto, DGC Ontario, Startwell and CBC Gem.
Future of Film Showcase (FOFS), Canada’s most sought-after festival for emerging Canadian filmmakers, turns 10! To celebrate this milestone anniversary, the festival welcomes 2023 Canadian Screen Award winner Lamar Johnson (Brother, The Last of Us) as this year’s keynote speaker and announces the official film selections and industry programming. Tickets to the four-day festival — taking place May 18 – 21, 2023 at Toronto’s Scotiabank Theatre (259 Richmond St. W), Startwell Studios (230 Niagara St.), and virtually across Canada — are on sale now at fofs.ca.
This year’s FOFS feature film selection is the Toronto premiere of Geneviève Albert’s critically acclaimed debut feature film NOÉMIE SAYS YES. Written and directed by Albert, the story follows 15-year-old Noémie who befriends a group of delinquents and falls in love with a pimp. After some convincing, she finds herself thrust into life as an escort. The film received 2023 Canadian Screen Award nominations for Best First Feature Film, as well as Performance in a Leading Role for Kelly Depeault. Preceding the feature is the Toronto premiere of short film RESTE directed by Quebecois filmmaker Ginger La Pecheur, following the story of a young girl left alone in an apartment, bringing to light what can be the daily life of a child with candor and bitterness. Both films will screen on Sunday, May 21st at the Scotiabank Theatre.
The official shorts programming features an exciting lineup from emerging Canadian talent including:
“Film’s immersive experience has the power to excite, inspire, transform and transport audiences, and the conversation that follows our screenings offers a window into the motivations and processes of leading professionals,” said Eric Bizzarri, Co-Founder and CEO, Future of Film Showcase. “We’re looking forward to celebrating 10 years of the Future of Film Showcase with audiences in person and virtually across Canada, and connecting aspiring talent with industry veterans and rising stars like Lamar Johnson. This year’s program is not to be missed!”
FOFS also presents seven awards to featured filmmakers: Best Film, Best Cinematography, Best Sound, Best Picture Editing, Best Director, Best Screenplay and People’s Choice. Award winners are selected by the FOFS 2023 Jury: Jason Anderson (TIFF), Brad Deane (Producer, So Much Tenderness), Samah Ali (Hot Docs, DOC NYC), Miryam Charles (Director, Cette Maison), Anthony Q Farrell (writer and producer; The Office), and Simone Holland (Content Creator, Wieden + Kennedy). The People’s Choice Award is determined by audience vote. The award-winning films will stream free across Canada on CBC Gem beginning May 23, 2023.
In addition, FOFS presents industry programming that offers valuable development opportunities through workshops, panel discussions and one-on-one mentorship, directed towards fostering the future of emerging Canadian filmmakers.
Industry Programming Highlights for the FOFS’ 10th Anniversary include:
Thursday, May 18
Friday, May 19
Saturday, May 20
Sunday, May 21
For more information, visit fofs.ca. Future of Film Showcase can be found on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook at @FutureFilmShow and #FOFS2023.
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