Resources for filmmakers in Toronto
Advocacy
BIPOC TV & Film
Grounded in a commitment to social justice, decolonization and reconciliation, BIPOC TV & FILM is a community-centric non-profit organization advocating for racial equity and decent work practices in Canada’s screen media industry.
bipoctvandfilm.com
Independent Media Arts Alliance
The Independent Media Arts Alliance (IMAA) is a member-driven non-profit national organization working to advance and strengthen the media arts community in Canada. Representing over 90 independent film, video, audio and new media production, distribution and exhibition organizations in all parts of Canada, the IMAA serves over 16,000 independent media artists and cultural workers.
imaa.ca
Media Art Network of Ontario
The Media Arts Network of Ontario/Réseau des arts médiatiques de l’Ontario (MANO/RAMO) is Ontario’s only arts service organization dedicated to furthering the work of media arts organizations, collectives, and the independent artists they represent. MANO/RAMO is focused on developing responsive, innovative, and proactive initiatives that create meaningful opportunities for media artists and organizations.
mano-ramo.ca
Racial Equity Media Collective (REMC)
The Racial Equity Media Collective (REMC) is a national not-for-profit organization committed to equity for Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) creators in Canada’s film, television, and digital media industries. Fueled by research and rooted in community engagement, the REMC’s mission is to remove barriers to access and increase the production, export and sustainability of BIPOC content and BIPOC-led production companies.
re-mc.org
Cast/Crew
ACTRA National
ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is the national union of professional performers working in recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of over 30,000 members across the country – the foundation of Canada’s highly acclaimed professional performing community.
actra.ca
ACTRA Toronto
ACTRA Toronto is the largest branch of ACTRA (the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists), the union representing performers in the film, radio, television and new media industries. It is the largest organization of cultural workers in Canada. ACTRA Toronto’s jurisdiction includes all of Ontario outside the National Capital Region, and represents over 15,000 of ACTRA’s 22,000 members. ACTRA has a history which goes back 70 years, growing, as it did, out of the Radio Artists of Toronto Society formed in 1941. Since then, ACTRA has played an important and vital role in the welfare of performers and in the development of our industry.
actratoronto.com
ACTRA Diversity Performers
ACTRA’s online searchable database of Diverse Professional Talent. This service is offered at NO COST to ACTRA members and partner agents, Casting Directors and Producers, thanks to the generous support of sponsors.
diversity.actraonline.ca
Access ReelWorld
Launched in July 2020, Access Reelworld is a fully transparent and searchable recruiting platform for Canadian creatives in the screen industry who are Black, Indigenous, Asian, and People of Colour.
accessreelworld.ca
Arab Filmmakers Database
Google Doc
Backstage Casting Database
Founded in New York City in 1960 as a weekly trade newspaper, Backstage quickly became an indispensable resource for up-and-coming actors to navigate the entertainment industry. We’ve launched the careers of countless A-list performers, including Al Pacino, Denzel Washington, Sandra Bullock, Scarlett Johansson, and Viola Davis. In 2011, Backstage relaunched as a digital career platform and two-sided marketplace, while retaining its focus on award-winning editorial news, educational content, and interviews from industry experts.
backstage.com/talent
HERe
HERe is a Canadian female film crew directory. This initiative strives to connect productions with skilled women in underrepresented technical positions.
wearehere.ca
Film in Colour
Film in Colour is an online tool intended for users to discover, hire, and collaborate with Film/TV industry professionals of colour, including Directors, Writers, Producers, Editors, Crew, Executives, Curators, Comedians, and a wide array of other Film/TV industry roles for all levels of experience.
filmincolour.ca
Hire BIPOC
HireBIPOC is a talent database and staffing resource launched in 2020 to connect Canadian Black, Indigenous and Racialized production crew and creatives working in screen-based industries with employers.
hirebipoc.ca
Hire Higher
Hire Higher aims to connect BIPOC-focused film initiatives, foundations, and talent with the commercial production industry through outreach, education, advocacy and mentorship.
hirehigher.ca
IATSE 873
IATSE 873 is a part of IATSE International, the largest union in the entertainment industry. IATSE 873 represents the thousands of skilled motion picture technicians in Toronto.
iatse873.com
NABET 700-M UNIFOR
NABET 700-M UNIFOR represents over 3000 Film, Television and New Media Technicians in the province of Ontario.
nabet700.com
Documentary
Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC)
The Documentary Organization of Canada is the collective voice of independent Canadian documentary creators and the nation’s premier organization for documentary advocacy.
docorg.ca
DOC Ontario
The Ontario Chapter of the Documentary Organization of Canada is the organization’s oldest and largest chapter. Formerly known as the Canadian Independent Film & Video Caucus, DOC Ontario began as an advocacy group in 1983. In its 30-year history, DOC Ontario conceived of the Hot Docs International Film Festival and Point of View Magazine, as well as successfully lobbied for the creation of Telefilm Canada’s documentary broadcast envelope. Today, DOC Ontario has over 350 active members—including award-winning directors, writers, editors, producers, cinematographers and researchers—forming the unified regional voice of the Documentary Organization of Canada.
docorg.ca/chapter/doc-ontario
Financing
Toronto Arts Council
Toronto Arts Council (TAC) is the City of Toronto’s funding body for artists and arts organizations. Since 1974, TAC has offered innovative and responsive programs, enabling artists and arts organizations to explore, create and thrive. With funding of over $25 million annually, TAC grants lead to exhibitions, performances, readings and workshops seen each year by over 5 million people across the city. TAC is proud to play a leadership role in fostering Toronto’s dynamic and diverse arts scene.
torontoartscouncil.org
Ontario Arts Council
OAC is an agency that operates at arm’s length from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. The OAC’s grants and services to professional, Ontario-based artists and arts organizations support arts education, Indigenous arts, community arts, crafts, dance, Francophone arts, literature, media arts, multidisciplinary arts, music, theatre, touring, and visual arts.
arts.on.ca
Canada Council for the Arts
The Canada Council for the Arts is Canada’s public arts funder, with a mandate to “foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts.”
canadacouncil.ca
Ontario Creates
Ontario Creates is an agency of the provincial government whose mandate is to be a catalyst for economic development, investment and collaboration in Ontario’s creative industries including the music, book, magazine, film, television and interactive digital media sectors, both domestically and internationally.
ontariocreates.ca
Production
Liaison of Independent Filmmaker of Toronto (LIFT)
The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT) is an artist-run charitable organization dedicated to facilitating excellence in the moving image through media arts education and production resources. LIFT exists to provide support and encouragement for independent filmmakers and artists through affordable access to production, post-production and exhibition equipment; professional and creative development; workshops and courses; commissioning and exhibitions; artist residencies; and a variety of other services.
lift.ca
Trinity Square Video
Founded in 1971, Trinity Square Video is one of Canada’s first artist-run centres and its oldest media arts centre. For 50 years, Trinity Square has been a champion of media arts practices. Activities are guided by a goal to increase members’ and audiences’ understanding and imagination of what media arts practices can be. Trinity Square strives to create supportive environments, encouraging artistic and curatorial experimentation that challenge medium specificity through education, production and presentation supports.
trinitysquarevideo.com
Habibi Film Rentals
Habibi is based in Toronto, with a primary focus on the rental of professional-level motion picture cameras, lenses, lighting & support. Habibi are a relationship-driven initiative, and should a project require equipment support that they do not currently provide, they make it their business to locate the resources necessary to suit the client’s needs.
habibifilmrentals.com
Professional Development
Canadian Film Centre
The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) is a charitable organization that empowers Canadian talent and advances opportunities for them to thrive in the screen industry. We deliver intensive programs in film, television, screen acting, music, and digital/immersive media.
cfccreates.com
Cinephilia Productions
Founded in 2010, Cinephilia Productions has produced numerous award-winning films that can be seen on Sundance Channel, BBC, The New Yorker, AMC Networks, and at international film festivals. Cinephilia has provided support to its 800+ fellows in all stages of their process from inception to distribution. Cinephilia occupies the space between ideation and production and is designed to embody storytelling as a genuine art form. Cinephilia’s approach to storytelling bridges literature and cinema by focusing on genre driven films.
cinephiliaproductions.com
Women in Film & Television Toronto
Founded in 1984, WIFT+ Toronto is a member-based, not-for-profit organization. We are passionate individuals who are dedicated to the education, engagement, and empowerment of our members at all stages of their careers in the screen-based media industry.
wift.com
Writing
Open Screenplay
Our goal at Open Screenplay is to make the exclusive world of screenwriting and storytelling inclusive and to create opportunities for writers to get paid and produced. For so many aspiring and talented screenwriters, there are no next steps once their screenplay is written simply because they don’t know the right people. Open Screenplay was founded on the belief that quality should matter more than connections, and the world we see depicted in television and film should be as diverse and amazing as the world we live in.
openscreenplay.com
Toronto Screenwriting Conference
The TSC hosts over 450 professional screenwriters, showrunners, producers, and creative executives working in television, film, and digital media. Over the past decade, the TSC has become an established conference for working creative talent to come, hone their craft, network with fellow writers and producers, and get noticed through our awards, mentorships, and bursaries which serve to nurture emerging to mid-career talent. Our masterclasses are driven by some of the top showrunners, creators, and writers in the business.
torontoscreenwritingconference.com
Ink Canada
Canadian Screenwriters & Their Sketchy Friends’ Facebook Group is a public online community originally founded in 2007 on Kanien’keha:ka territory, by screen and television writer-producer Karen Walton. Originally billed as a “social experiment”, it was intended and remains a user-driven experience; a conscientious, caring, ad hoc online community of professional and aspiring scribes, our industry friends & fans, all in constant dialogue about all kinds of stuff related to our craft, careers, creative cultures, and screen industries. While the majority of the membership identifies as Canadian, you do not have to be a Canadian to be a welcome member of inkcanada.
fb.com/groups/inkcanada