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. Telefilm Canada, Ontario Creates and the Indigenous Screen Office, invite the Canadian delegation to 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.

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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.
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Beyond Borders: Eurimages Financing for Canadians

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.

Register to this event

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 Broadfoot (Moderator)Julie 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.
TIFF site

Speakers

Lisa Broadfoot (Moderator)

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 (Moderator)

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

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 bilingual.
1:30 to 2:30pm : Round table discussions with industry leaders
2:30 to 3:30pm : French Canadian Production Company spotlight
3:30 to 4:30pm : Coffee and Connections – an informal networking break

Friday, September 11

7 Deadly Sins of Film Sales & Pitching

Canada Pavillion - Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Jing Haase (Moderator)Jason RyleJasmin McSweeneyAnusha Duray
  • Jing Haase (Moderator), Kurzfilmtage Winterthur - Head of Industry
  • Jason Ryle, TIFF - International Programmer
  • Jasmin McSweeney, Umbrella - Senior Manager - Acquisitions
  • Anusha Duray, NITV/SBS - Acquisition Manager

Bringing Indigenous-led stories to world markets takes strategy. Join top industry pros as they dissect 7 major pitfalls in sales and pitching—and how to build authentic, high-impact buyer relationships. Organized by the Indigenous Cinema Alliance.

Speakers

Jing Haase (Moderator)

Jing Haase (Moderator) - Head of Industry

Jason Ryle

Jason Ryle - International Programmer

Jasmin McSweeney

Jasmin McSweeney - Senior Manager - Acquisitions

Anusha Duray

Anusha Duray - Acquisition Manager

Jing Haase (Moderator)

Head of Industry

Kurzfilmtage Winterthur

Jing Haase (Moderator)

Jason Ryle

International Programmer

TIFF

Jason Ryle

Jasmin McSweeney

Senior Manager - Acquisitions

Umbrella

Jasmin McSweeney

Anusha Duray

Acquisition Manager

NITV/SBS

Anusha Duray

From Script to Audiences: Building your Community

TIFF Stage - Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Liz Duff (Moderator)Jonathan Wong Chee HynnLiv Nasner
  • Liz Duff (Moderator), Late Night Scrolling with Liz - Pop Culture commentator and Host
  • Jonathan Wong Chee Hynn, Rags 2 Richmond - Co-Creator / Lead Actor
  • Liv Nasner, Elevation Pictures - Director, Specialty Marketing & Brand
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?
TIFF site

Speakers

Liz Duff (Moderator)

Liz Duff (Moderator) - Pop Culture commentator and Host

Jonathan Wong Chee Hynn

Jonathan Wong Chee Hynn - Co-Creator / Lead Actor

Liv Nasner

Liv Nasner - Director, Specialty Marketing & Brand

Liz Duff (Moderator)

Pop Culture commentator and Host

Late Night Scrolling with Liz

Liz Duff (Moderator)

Jonathan Wong Chee Hynn

Co-Creator / Lead Actor

Rags 2 Richmond

Jonathan Wong Chee Hynn

Liv Nasner

Director, Specialty Marketing & Brand

Elevation Pictures

Liv Nasner

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.

TIFF site

Financing in the Age of AI

TIFF Stage - Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Sébastien 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.

TIFF site

Speakers

Sébastien 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

Sébastien 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.

Beyond Representation: Building Muslim Cinema for Global Audiences

Canada Pavillion - Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Yazmeen Kanji (Moderator)Aisha JamalSami SabawiShehrezade Mian
  • Yazmeen Kanji (Moderator)
  • Aisha Jamal
  • Sami Sabawi
  • Shehrezade Mian
Muslim cinema is not a genre, and Muslim audiences are not a single market. This conversation moves beyond the call for better representation to examine the practical work of bringing culturally specific stories from idea to international audience.
Moderated by filmmaker and impact strategist Yazmeen Kanji, the panel brings together creative producer Shehrezade Mian, filmmaker and Open Screenplay co-founder Sami Sabawi, and documentary filmmaker and Hot Docs programmer Aisha Jamal. Drawing on their experience across auteur cinema, documentary, screenwriting platforms, cross-border production, festival programming and audience development, they will explore how filmmakers can protect the specificity of their work while navigating financing, production, technology, festivals and distribution – and how Canada can become a stronger global launch point for Muslim stories.
Presented by Muslim House: MPAC Hollywood Bureau, Muslims in Media, M Film Lab, Inspirit Foundation, Canada Race Relations Foundation

Speakers

Yazmeen Kanji (Moderator)

Yazmeen Kanji (Moderator) -

Aisha Jamal

Aisha Jamal -

Sami Sabawi

Sami Sabawi -

Shehrezade Mian

Shehrezade Mian -

Yazmeen Kanji (Moderator)

Yazmeen Kanji (Moderator)

Aisha Jamal

Aisha Jamal

Sami Sabawi

Sami Sabawi

Shehrezade Mian

Shehrezade Mian

Who Gets to Shape the Story?

Canada Pavillion - Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Abubakar Khan (Moderator)Mark StrongGinella MassaShireen Ahmed
  • Abubakar Khan (Moderator)
  • Mark Strong
  • Ginella Massa
  • Shireen Ahmed
Public narratives are shaped long before, and far beyond, what appears onscreen. They are shaped by who produces and distributes stories, who sits behind the anchor desk, who reports on sport, who holds the microphone in an arena, and who builds trust with audiences and communities.
Moderated by Canadian feature film producer Abubakar Khan, this panel brings together broadcaster Ginella Massa, sports journalist Shireen Ahmed, and Toronto Raptors in-arena host Mark Strong. Drawing on their experiences across journalism, sport, broadcasting, live entertainment and community engagement, they will examine what it means to move from visibility to influence: setting the agenda, defining the frame, reaching audiences and creating pathways for those who follow. How can media professionals bring their identities into their work without being reduced to them – and how can breakthrough moments become lasting institutional change?
Presented by Muslim House: MPAC Hollywood Bureau, Muslims in Media, M Film Lab, Inspirit Foundation, Canada Race Relations Foundation

Speakers

Abubakar Khan (Moderator)

Abubakar Khan (Moderator) -

Mark Strong

Mark Strong -

Ginella Massa

Ginella Massa -

Shireen Ahmed

Shireen Ahmed -

Abubakar Khan (Moderator)

Abubakar Khan (Moderator)

Mark Strong

Mark Strong

Ginella Massa

Ginella Massa

Shireen Ahmed

Shireen Ahmed

Fireside Chat with Fawzia Mirza and Amber Fares

Canada Pavillion - Metro Toronto Convention Centre

Rolla Tahir (Moderator)Fawzia MirzaAmber Fares
  • Rolla Tahir (Moderator)
  • Fawzia Mirza
  • Amber Fares
Moderated by filmmaker and Toronto Arab Film co-founder Rolla Tahir, this fireside chat brings together award-winning filmmakers Amber Fares and Fawzia Mirza, whose work is grounded in specific characters, families and communities while engaging larger questions of identity, migration, gender, power and belonging.
Moving between documentary and narrative filmmaking, independent features and television, and personal histories and international events, they will discuss how filmmakers transform lived experience into cinematic storytelling. The conversation will explore building trust with subjects and collaborators, portraying communities without reducing individuals to symbols, navigating the expectations attached to culturally specific work, and protecting a distinctive creative voice while reaching international audiences. It will also examine the practical pathways through which ambitious stories move from development to production, festivals, distribution and long-term audience engagement.
Presented by Muslim House: MPAC Hollywood Bureau, Muslims in Media, M Film Lab, Inspirit Foundation, Canada Race Relations Foundation

Speakers

Rolla Tahir (Moderator)

Rolla Tahir (Moderator) -

Fawzia Mirza

Fawzia Mirza -

Amber Fares

Amber Fares -

Rolla Tahir (Moderator)

Rolla Tahir (Moderator)

Fawzia Mirza

Fawzia Mirza

Amber Fares

Amber Fares