Cinema Summit

Are you new to the film and television industry, or an established professional looking to take the next step? Join representatives of key industry unions as they share their experiences working on sets, and detail how to start a career or move further up in a growing industry.

Panelists:
• Micheline Blais,
  Producer/Casting Director
  Cast North
• Scott Thom
  Assistant Business Agent Film
  IATSE Local 634
• Jennifer Kiefaber
  Production Field Representative
  Directors Guild of Canada - Ontario
• Peter Mihaichuk
  Art Director/Production Designer

Within well-established genres including horror, holiday, sci-fi, and more, filmmakers throughout Canada – including Northern Ontario – leverage our nation’s diverse industrial landscapes, historical buildings, and natural vistas to craft stories that connect with audiences around the world. Learn why productions are sourcing scripts fit for national backdrops in this discussion that examines genre filmmaking.

Panelists:
• Andrew Thomas Hunt
  Producer/Writer/Director
  The Breach
• Peter Mihaichuk
  Art Director/Production Designer
• Micheline Blais
  Producer/Casting Director
  Cast North
• Mark Kowalsky
  Production Designer/Art Department
  Zombie Town

Moderator:
• Thom Ernst
  Film Critic/Writer/Broadcaster

By sharing success stories from Northern Ontario’s film and television production industry, breaking down some of the essentials you need to know to secure funding for upcoming projects, and offering practices to manage cash flow through production and beyond, this panel addresses why productions continue to look North.

Panelists:
• Carolyn Allain
  Senior Account Manager
  National Bank
• Melissa Gainer
  Program Coordinator
  Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation
• Anna Newallo
  Program Consultant – Film and Television
  Ontario Creates

Join this panel to learn how filmmakers are monitoring and reducing the carbon footprint of their projects through sustainable on-set management. Panelists will discuss the Ontario Green Screen, a collaborative initiative that offers innovative tools and training resources to promote sustainable film and television production practices in our province.

Panelists:
• Chris Dunn
  Production Consultant - Film Initiatives
  Ontario Creates
• Steve Belford
  Producer/Director/Actor
  Becoming Tom Thomson
• David Hardy
  Vice President, Sustainability & Stakeholder Affairs
  William F. White International Inc.
• Leaticia Kaggwa
  Environmental Sustainability Lead
  CBC

What does it take to see a film project from conception to completion? Join director, writer, producer, and lead actress Katie Boland, along with producers Jim Sternberg, Paula Brancati and composer Michael Boland, as they dissect the events that lead to the feature drama, We’re All in This Together – a narrative with roots in Amy Jones’ 2016 novel of the same name.

Panelists
• Katie Boland
  Director/Actress/Writer
  We’re All in This Together
• Jim Sternberg
  Producer
  We’re All in This Together
• Paula Brancati
  Producer
  We’re All in This Together
• Michael Boland
  Composer
  We’re All in This Together

Moderator:
• Thom Ernst
  Film Critic/Writer/Broadcaster

Learn how industry leaders are furthering genuine, honest, and respectful representation in filmmaking as they share best practices toward authentic storytelling. Distancing film and television productions from harmful stereotypes, this panel examines current methods that promote nuanced and creatively strong on-screen narratives through the lens of representation in filmmaking.

Panelists
• Lenin M. Sivam
  Director/Writer
  The Protector
• Kyle Schmalenberg
  Producer/Director/Writer
  Braided Together
• Laura Friedmann
  Producer/Director/Writer
  Braided Together

Moderator
• Glen Gould
  Actor/Producer/Director
  Yellow Lantern Productions

Known for their pathos and poignancy, short format productions allow filmmakers to articulate personal visions and examine the human experience through budget-friendly development. Join this panel to learn from filmmakers the benefits of short films and their ability to launch your career.

Panelists
• Steve Belford
  Producer/Director/Actor
  Becoming Tom Thomson
• Katie Boland
  Director/Actress/Writer
  We’re All in This Together
• Paula Brancati
  Producer
  We're All in This Together
• Kyle Schmalenberg
  Producer, Director, Writer
  Braided Together

Moderator:
• Thom Ernst
  Film Critic/Writer/Broadcaster