industry news with perspective

Toronto Film School’s Michael Paszt will celebrate the world premiere of his latest wrestling documentary, Lunatic: The Luna Vachon Story, at the Canadian Film Fest this weekend. The film, which the longtime Film Production and Writing for Film & Television instructor produced alongside writer-director/pro-wrestler Kate Kroll, will mark its big screen debut as the festival’s …

Toronto Film School’s latest stage production, Flock, explores the ways we choose the stories that define us – both to ourselves and to the wider world. Directed by Jonathan Higgins, the 75-minute play is the latest from award-winning playwright John Kolvenbach, whose plays include the Olivier-nominated West End productions of Love Song starring Cillian Murphy …

Toronto Film School Acting students are set to tackle an adaptation of a Pulitzer Prize-winning play about a charmingly eccentric family when their production of For What It’s Worth hits the stage at the 918 Bathurst Centre later this month. Directed by Tanya Rintoul, the 75-minute play is an adaptation of Moss Hart and George …

Toronto Film School recently hosted its first-ever roundtable entitled Women in Film and TV, marking a significant milestone in the school’s ongoing commitment to supporting Canadian talent and empowering women in the screen industries. The exclusive roundtable featured notable Toronto Film School alumni alongside Canadian Screen Award-winning actor, producer and writer, Amanda Brugel, who is …

In celebration of International Women’s Day 2025, we’re proud to honor the incredible female creatives within the Toronto Film School community. At TFS, we believe in empowering women to unleash their full potential, and this year our female faculty, staff, students, and alumni have achieved remarkable milestones, breaking barriers and inspiring others with their talent, …

Every February, Canadians unite to celebrate Black History Month, a time to honor the rich legacies, remarkable successes, enduring sacrifices, and powerful triumphs of Black communities across the country. At Toronto Film School, we proudly celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of our Black students, alumni and faculty – stories that shine as individual features on our …

Toronto Film School’s graduating class of Video Game students recently unveiled their breathtaking new game DystO2pia during a virtual capstone showcase event. Described as a “thrilling” first-person horror survival game, DystO2pia is set on a ravaged planet Earth in 2045, where AI has taken over and humans are struggling to survive. Players need to navigate a …

TORONTO, ON, February 5, 2025 – Toronto Film School is thrilled to announce the launch of its Summer Academy 2025 – a series of immersive, week-long bootcamps designed for creative high school students eager to explore filmmaking, acting, and video game design. These dynamic academies, which will run throughout July and August at Toronto Film …

Toronto was recently named one of the Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker in 2025 by MovieMaker Magazine – and Toronto Film School was cited one of the reasons for the city’s #2 ranking. The annual list – which also includes Calgary (#5), Vancouver (#9) and Ottawa (#25) – takes into account …

Adam G. Levine’s “wildest dreams” came true last month, when he travelled to Clinton, Mississippi to witness his second-ever feature film script brought to life for the big screen – and with an all-star cast including Josh Duhamel and Dylan Sprouse, no less. The sixth-term Writing for Film & Television student wrote his first draft …

Toronto Film School alumnus Orville Cummings recently celebrated the world premiere of “Toronto’s next big movie”, Morningside, at the Reelworld Film Festival. The project, which reunited the Class of 2015 Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre grad with his Bite of a Mango director Ron Dias, explores the lives of seven diverse characters who …

Class of 2023 Toronto Film School grad William Gauthier ended 2024 on not one, but two high notes – launching his new production company, Studio Vallion, and wrapping the studio’s first short, Resilient Hope. Founded alongside his fellow Film Production alums Alyssa Duncan and Josh Boutros, Gauthier said he created Studio Vallion as both a vehicle for …

Toronto Film School has named Carolina Cortez Paz the latest recipient of the BIPOC Creative Achievement Award – a platform the Latina artist plans to use to elevate and inspire her fellow creatives from marginalized communities. Presented in partnership with BMO, the quarterly bursary – which recognizes full-time BIPOC students with $1,250 awards towards their tuition …

Larissa Stanley just returned home to the Liard First Nation in Yukon following a whirlwind, monthlong trip to Europe that included a prestigious two-week artist residency in France. The Online Graphic Design & Interactive Media student, who belongs to the Kaska Dena people and Crow Clan, was selected as one of just eight artists to …

From the alpine slopes to the animation studio – this term’s recipient of the Creative Success Award, Patrick Parenteau, is carving out a whole new path for himself – and at the age of 50, no less. “After spending over 25 years working in sports performance and Alpine skiing, I decided it was time to …

Toronto Based Shorts (TBS) was started by Paul Villenave and Dylan Posgate, a co-director duo who couldn’t find screenings in the city that were Toronto-focused, affordable, and showcased high-quality films. So, they created one – a festival for emerging filmmakers like us. I met Paul back in 2022 during the first edition of TBS, and …

Toronto Film School’s Steven Hoffner is celebrating the acquisition – and upcoming broadcast premiere – of his debut documentary feature, The Cannons (Brothers on Ice). The film, which the director of TFS’s Film Production program co-directed, produced, shot and edited, was recently acquired by TSN and the NHL Network, where it is slated to mark …

Less than a year after graduating from Toronto Film School, Franklin Briceño is already being touted as “Toronto’s Next BIG Director” – a title the Class of 2023 Film Production grad is determined to earn. “Being recognized by Creatives Canada was an incredible honour and a huge surprise. It’s amazing to see the work I’ve …

Kat Anielak has always been more interested in immersing herself in the behind-the-scenes action than getting caught up in the spotlight – which is why, when all her peers were busy applying to film festivals, she was dreaming of how great it would be to sit on a festival jury. Luckily for her, it didn’t …

Toronto Film School acting students will get into the holiday spirit when their upcoming production of John Cariani’s Almost, Maine hits the stage at the Papermill Theatre. Directed by Christel Bartelse, the 75-minute production comprises of eight short stories that play out on a frigid December night in a remote, mythical town called ‘Almost’ in rural …