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Cultural Industries Ontario North (CION) is proud to partner with Cinéfest Sudbury in presenting Cinema Summit 2023: Northern Ontario's premier celebration of the thriving motion picture production industry that exists in our backyards.
Open to filmmakers, media arts students, film industry members, and film lovers alike, Cinema Summit is a 4-day networking and educational event that includes expert-led panel discussions, social activities, and a selection of film screenings from the 2023 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival lineup.
Registrations are currently at capacity and the application form is closed. Please reach out to info@cionorth.ca for Cinema Summit 2023 inquiries.
All panel discussions will be livestreamed for free online viewing.
Watch the Panel Discussion Live!Film and Television Panels
All panels will take place at Hilton Garden Inn Sudbury (475 Barrydowne Rd.)
Creating on the Same Page: Eco-Friendly Filmmaking
Up-skill yourself in the green economy of sustainable filmmaking with the guidance of the Ontario Green Screen (OGS), who provide the tools to empower creators in Ontario to help promote the protection of our natural environments. This panel explains how modern producers are working together to develop an environmental consciousness that benefits all: productions, people, and our planet.
- Panelists:
- Chris Dunn,
Production Consultant
Ontario Creates - Emily Trottier,
Economic Development Officer
City of Greater Sudbury -
Suzanne Shawbonquit,
Co-Owner
Crafty Chix
Learn to Level Up: Navigating the Canadian Film & TV Industry
1pm – 2pm
Northern Ontario's production industry is on the brink of a boom. Join this discussion between experienced producers familiar with the ins-and-outs of the Canadian motion picture industry and learn how you can implement professional practices to rise the ranks in Northern Ontario and ride the next wave of production activity.
- Panelists:
- Moderator: Jack Blum,
Executive Director
REEL CANADA - Kara Haflidson,
Production Supervisor
New Metric Media - James Weyman,
Producer of I USED TO BE FUNNY
Masterclass on Film Production with David Anselmo
3pm - 4pm
Producing over 65 projects and counting since 2010, David Anselmo is a pillar of the history of Northern Ontario’s rise as one of the North America’s fastest growing production jurisdictions. In this masterclass, join David (CEO of Hideaway Pictures and the Northern Ontario Film Studios) for a conversation on production and the events that led to two multi-million film deals.
- Panelists:
- Moderator: Mark Gentili,
Editor
Sudbury.com - David Anselmo,
CEO
Hideaway Pictures & the Northern Ontario Film Studios
Cinematic Circumstances: The Future of Exhibition
11am – noon
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, lead exhibitors, theatrical distributors and industry stakeholders are studying trends and exploring new ways to welcome audiences back to theatres. Join industry experts as they offer insight into the tried, true, and new audience building strategies that bust blocks in the modern era -- and put butts back in seats.
- Panelists:
- Moderator: Karen Bruce,
Executive Director
Woman in Film & Television Toronto - Gurbani Marwah,
Director of Theatrical Releasing
Cineplex - Francesca Accinelli,
Vice President of Promotion, Communications, and International Relations
Telefilm Canada
The Sky’s the Limit: How Music Videos Launch Creative Careers
The motion picture medium – and the skills to navigate it – open doors to forms of artistic expression with global reach and career-propelling potential. From working with Drake, DJ Khaled, Classified, Snoop Dogg, and more, to developing the highly anticipated feature 40 Acres in Sudbury, R.T. Thorne and Taj Critchlow, joined by special guest Kieran Khan, whose clients include Sean Paul and Cardi B, are taking the Canadian Film & TV world by storm.
- Panelists:
- Moderator: Kristina Ejem,
Associate Publisher of Playback™ - Taj Critchlow,
Executive Producer of 40 ACRES - R.T. Thorne,
Writer and Director of 40 ACRES
Capturing the Essence: Essex County’s Journey to the Screen
1pm -2pm
Join the key creative team behind CBC’s hit series Essex County for an insider look at the process that brought Jeff Lemire’s acclaimed graphic novel to life. A true Northern production, Essex County was shot in North Bay and follows the intertwined lives of two rural families who discover redemption and hope through human connection . Catch up on the series with CBC Gem!
- Panelists:
- Eilis Kirwan,
Screenwriter of ESSEX COUNTY - Christina Piovesan,
Executive Producer of ESSEX COUNTY
What’s Your Truth? Diverse Perspectives in Storytelling
3pm – 4:30pm
On-screen equity for marginalized communities allows new voices to tell their own stories and reveals the intersections of truth in the history of all Canadians, but an uninformed misfire can cause jeopardizing cultural setbacks. Join this townhall discussion to learn how BIPOC creators are using the art of filmmaking to break cycles, enrich the Film & TV industry, and empower the next generation of Canadian filmmakers.
- Panelists:
- Jennifer Holness,
Executive Producer of 40 ACRES -
Micheline Blais,
Producer and Casting Agent
CastNorth -
Suzanne Shawbonquit,
Co-Owner
Crafty Chix
Selected Film Screenings
Approved Cinema Summit participants can access a selection of films from Cinefest Sudbury’s 2023 lineup. IMPORTANT TO NOTE: tickets will be available to Cinema Summit guests on a first-come, first-served basis (limited availability). Please present your Cinema Summit pass at the festival Box Office on the day of a Cinema Summit screening to receive a ticket. Film screenings included in this year’s Cinema Summit accreditation include:
Sunday, September 17
Monday, September 18
Tuesday, September 19
Wednesday, September 20
Thursday, September 21
Friday, September 22
Saturday, September 23
Those interested in viewing the selected film packages can apply for accreditation by clicking the button below. Approved applicants will receive an email confirming their approval and with the full schedule to events accessible during Cinema Summit 2023.
All Cinema Summit film screenings will take place at SilverCity Sudbury, 355 Barry Downe Road unless indicated otherwise.
All Cinema Summit panels will take place at Hilton Garden Inn Sudbury, 475 Barry Downe Road, and will be available online. Please visit cionorth.ca on Wednesday, September 20 to access the online panels link.
Apply for Cinema Summit AccreditationCinema Summit 2023 is brought to you by:
