TIFF Programming

SXSW Programming

Discover Canada’s programming at SXSW

MARCH 7 TO 12

Thursday, September 10

See You at the Pavilion: Canada's TIFF Kickoff

Canada Pavillion - Metro Toronto Convention Centre

A new market, a new pavilion, and the start of a new TIFF chapter. Hosted in partnership with Ontario Creates and the Indigenous Screen Office, join the Canadian delegation as we celebrate the opening of the Canada Pavilion and the launch of TIFF: The Market. From this year’s Canadian selections and the filmmakers and producers behind them to the teams and organizations that support their work, let’s come together and kick off the week ahead.

Meet the Canada Media Fund and their Program Administration team

Canada Pavillion - Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Are you producing television, documentary, digital media, interactive projects, or emerging formats? Join representatives from the Canada Media Fund and its Program Administration team at Telefilm Canada in an informal session for producers, creators, and industry professionals.
Learn more about CMF programs and application processes in both the English and French markets, ask questions, and meet your colleagues through networking and roundtable discussions. Whether you’re preparing your first application or planning your next project, this is an opportunity to make connections and gain practical insights into navigating the CMF’s funding programs.

Beyond Borders: Coproductions and Eurimages

Canada Pavillion - Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Marielle_Poupelin

Marielle Poupelin, Telefilm Canada - Specialist, International Business Development

Since becoming the first non-European country to join Eurimages in 2017, Canada has opened new pathways for collaboration with European partners. Join Telefilm Canada for a presentation exploring what Eurimages means for Canadian producers, how the fund works, and how Canadian projects can leverage international partnerships to develop, finance, and bring successful projects to audiences across markets.

Speakers

Marielle_Poupelin

Marielle Poupelin - Specialist, International Business Development

Marielle Poupelin

Specialist, International Business Development

Telefilm Canada

Marielle_Poupelin

Inside Telefilm: Funding, Partnerships and Audiences

TIFF Stage - Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Lisa BroadfootJulie BlondinErin Burke

Lisa Broadfoot (Moderator), Canadian Media Producers Association - Vice President, Industry and Business Affairs - Julie Blondin, Telefilm Canada - National Director, Business Affairs and Coproduction - Erin Burke, Telefilm Canada - Interim National Director, English Market at Telefilm Canada

Telefilm Canada plays a unique role in Canada’s screen-based industry, from supporting feature films and administering international co-production treaties to advancing the reach of Canadian content at home and abroad.
Designed for producers at all stages of their careers, this intimate conversation will provide an inside look at how Telefilm works with filmmakers throughout the life of a project. Two of our National Directors will discuss how projects are assessed, how decisions are made, what happens after funding decisions are rendered, and how analysts and producers work together throughout the process.
The session will also explore what makes a project truly ready to apply, the importance of sound financing structures and audience strategies, and how success can be defined beyond a funding decision. Through the lens of Telefilm’s Strategic Framework, the discussion will examine the many ways Telefilm contributes to a vibrant Canadian industry and supports Canadian stories in reaching audiences at home and around the world.
Whether you are developing your next feature, navigating a changing marketplace, or looking to better understand Telefilm’s role within the industry, this session will offer valuable insight into the opportunities, priorities, and partnerships that shape Canada’s audiovisual sector.

Speakers

Lisa Broadfoot

Lisa Broadfoot (Moderator) - Vice President, Industry and Business Affairs

Julie Blondin

Julie Blondin - National Director, Business Affairs and Coproduction

Erin Burke

Erin Burke - Interim National Director, English Market at Telefilm Canada

Lisa Broadfoot (Moderator)

Vice President, Industry and Business Affairs

Canadian Media Producers Association

Lisa Broadfoot

Julie Blondin

National Director, Business Affairs and Coproduction

Telefilm Canada

Julie Blondin

Erin Burke

Interim National Director, English Market at Telefilm Canada

Telefilm Canada

Erin Burke

French Connections: Producing Across Canada and Beyond – Connexions Francophones: Produire au Canada et à l’international

Canada Pavillion - Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Bringing together key players from across Canada’s francophone screen sector, this new three-part industry event brings together producers, funders and organizations from across Canada to spotlight the opportunities, partnerships, and perspectives shaping French-language production today.
Explore the organizations and resources supporting the industry, hear from producers working across provincial and international markets, and connect with colleagues and potential collaborators. Whether you’re looking to expand your network, explore co-production opportunities, or gain insight into the francophone production landscape, you can join a single session or participate in the full program.
*The event will be conducted in French, with simultaneous interpretation available in English throughout the program.

Friday, September 11

From Script to Audiences: Building your Community

TIFF Stage - Metro Toronto Convention Centre

liz DuffJonathan Wong

Liz Duff (Moderator), Late Night Scrolling with Liz - Pop Culture commentator and Host - Jonathan Wong Chee Hynn, Rags 2 Richmond - Co-Creator / Lead Actor

Most stories do not begin with a guaranteed audience. Some begin with people who see themselves in the story first. Whether rooted in a genre, a platform, a neighbourhood, or a culture, they help carry it farther than traditional discovery alone.
As converting attention into actual viewership becomes harder to achieve, communities are playing a growing role in what breaks through. Bringing together voices from Canadian distribution, social-first storytelling, online film culture, and emerging audience trends, this conversation explores how communities are identified, engaged, and mobilized across formats and platforms.
Panelists will discuss how to identify who your story is for, when audience thinking should begin, and what separates reaching an audience from building a community. In a crowded marketplace, what happens when your most invested viewers become your strongest advocates?

Speakers

liz Duff

Liz Duff (Moderator) - Pop Culture commentator and Host

Jonathan Wong

Jonathan Wong Chee Hynn - Co-Creator / Lead Actor

Liz Duff (Moderator)

Pop Culture commentator and Host

Late Night Scrolling with Liz

liz Duff

Jonathan Wong Chee Hynn

Co-Creator / Lead Actor

Rags 2 Richmond

Jonathan Wong

PERSPECTIVES Everything Old is IP Again

TIFF Stage - Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Canadian stories are as vast and diverse as our country’s terrain. Our rich histories provide a landscape for creative, authentic, and above all, entertaining storytelling that has inevitably built an incredible library of IP. Canadian creators are finding new ways to renovate, reinvigorate, and expand on beloved characters – real and imagined. Join this impressive group of Canadian creators as we delve into the business, the creativity, and the maintenance and ownership of IP.

Financing in the Age of AI

TIFF Stage - Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Sebastien Pigeon

Sébastien Pigeon, Telefilm Canada - Vice President, Legal Services, Information Technology and Corporate Secretary

As artificial intelligence increasingly transforms project development and production, this panel brings together major screen funders to discuss how the use of AI affects your funding applications. Hear from our guests about evolving evaluation criteria and policies that aim to balance technological innovation and human-driven, authentic storytelling.

Speakers

Sebastien Pigeon

Sébastien Pigeon - Vice President, Legal Services, Information Technology and Corporate Secretary

Sébastien Pigeon

Vice President, Legal Services, Information Technology and Corporate Secretary

Telefilm Canada

Sebastien Pigeon

Tuesday, September 15

CANADA-AUSTRALIA Networking Breakfast

Canada Pavillion - Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Canadian and Australian producers informal gathering, with quick welcome remarks from Telefilm Canada and Screen Australia.

Invite only event.