Cheers & Chats

Every great unscripted project begins with a leap of faith — you might not know where the story will go, but you know it’s worth following. Turning that uncertainty into a sellable pitch is both an art and a strategy.In PITCHING THE UNKNOWN, our guests break down how to build trust, shape story arcs in real time, and pitch a project when the ending hasn’t been written yet.Cheers 🥂 to Billie Mintz, Mike Lobel, Yasmine Abbasakoor, Steve Gamester, and moderator Paul Gratton for sharing their sharp insights and behind-the-scenes expertise.🎙️ Episode 20: Pitching the Unknown on CFF’s Cheers & Chats Podcast just dropped!Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Adapting a novel for the screen is a delicate dance of reverence and reinvention – honouring the words while discovering their visual heartbeat. Today, we’re stepping inside that creative alchemy with a team who’s done exactly that.Join us for THE ART OF ADAPTATION: Making Darkest Miriam – a conversation about translation, transformation, and the storytelling choices that shape a page-to-screen journey.Cheers 🥂 to celebrated writer Karen Walton in conversation with director Naomi Jaye (Darkest Miriam) and author Martha Baillie (Incident Report) for sharing their craft, challenges, and insights.🎙️ Episode 19 on CFF’s Cheers & Chats Podcast just dropped!Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.Big thanks to our community partners at inkCanada for co-creating and presenting this panel at CFF.

Today, filmmakers are rethinking how to stand out, stay seen, and truly reach their audience, and this episode pulls back the velvet rope to go BEYOND THE CARPET, diving into shifting publicity strategies, evolving platforms, and what it really takes to cut through the noise.Cheers 🥂 to Barry Hertz, Alma Parvizian, Danish Vahidy, and moderator Rakhee Sapra for breaking down the new realities of film promotion in 2025 and beyond.🎙️ Episode 18 on CFF’s Cheers & Chats Podcast just dropped!Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.Big thanks to our community partners at the Canadian Film Centre for co-creating and presenting this panel at CFF.

Every great story starts with a look, and costume design is where imagination meets identity… and every stitch has something to say. Suit up for some serious behind-the-seams storytelling in Dressed to Tell: The Role of Costume Design in Storytelling.Cheers 🥂 to Kristin Somborac, Darynel Beckford, Charlene Akuamoah, and moderator Joanna Syrokomla for breaking down how costumes shape character, mood, and the worlds we see on screen.🎙️ Episode 17 of CFF's Cheers & Chats Podcast just dropped!Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.Big thanks to our sponsor xoTO and community partners CAFTCAD & NABET 700 for co-presenting this panel at CFF.

Lights, camera… teamwork! Behind every stunning shot is a crew whose artistry brings the story to life. And this episode takes our camera pros out from BEHIND THE LIGHTS to talk about the art and craft of cinematography, and putting them somewhere they never expected to be: in front of it.Cheers 🥂 to Rico Moran, Gayle Ye, Samy Inayeh, Brendan Steacy, Dave Muscat, and moderator Warren Sonoda for breaking down the visual language, collaboration, and craft that shape every frame.🎙️ Episode 16 of CFF’s Cheers & Chats Podcast just dropped!Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.Big thanks to our sponsor xoTO and Company 3 for co-presenting this panel at CFF.

In a landscape that changes overnight, Canadian filmmakers are mastering the art of showing up, standing out, and staying in the game.Cheers 🥂 to Amira de Vera, Aisha Evelyna, Christina Ienna, Shant Joshi, Yuvi Randhawa, and moderator Eric Bizzarri for joining us to Brand, Hustle & Thrive – sharing what it really takes behind the scenes to build a brand, stay bankable, and carve out a lasting future in Canadian film.🎙️ Episode 15 on CFF’s Cheers & Chats Podcast just dropped!Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.Big thanks to our community partner Future of Film Showcase for co-presenting this panel at CFF.

Behind every great director is a story about how they got there – and it’s rarely a straight path. From crew calls to creative calls, this panel dives into what it really looks like to step into the director’s chair with Breaking In: The Transition to Directing.Cheers 🥂 to Nick Butler, Joanna Tsanis, Meelad Moaphi, Dan Abramovici, Rebecca Applebaum, and moderator Shawn Gerrard breaking down the journey, the challenges, and the leap it takes to move into directing.🎙️ Episode 14 on CFF’s Cheers & Chats Podcast just dropped!Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.Big thanks to our sponsor DGC Ontario for making conversations like these possible — and accessible to creators through CFF.

Funding and broadcast aren’t just about where your project lands – they’re how you unlock the opportunities your story deserves.Cheers 🥂 to Donna Cagnoli & Paul Gardner (Bell Fibe TV1), Mich Geddes (Neshama Entertainment), Suzanne Marshall (Hollywood Suite), Mark Shapland (IPF), and moderator Katie Uhlmann (WebSeries Canada) for joining us to get creators FUNDED AND SEEN – breaking down partnerships, relationship-building, and how to position your project for success.🎙️ Episode 13 on CFF’s Cheers & Chats Podcast just dropped!Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.Big thanks to our community partner Webseries Canada for co-presenting this panel at CFF.

Location scouting isn’t just where you film — it’s how you unlock the cinematic canvas your story deserves.Cheers 🥂 Dason Johnson, Richard Hughes, Bobby Donches, and moderator Magali Simard for joining us to SCOUT T.O. and break down the craft, creativity, and strategy behind choosing the perfect location.🎙️ Episode 12 on CFF's Cheers & Chats Podcast just dropped!Listen now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.Big thanks to our sponsors xoTO and DGC Ontario for making this panel possible – and accessible to creators through CFF.

CFF kicked off our 2025 Industry Series with a powerful conversation on GLOBAL VOICES, featuring festival-selected filmmakers whose international stories and lived experiences are helping redefine Canadian cinema.Cheers to Yazmeen Kanji, Amir Kahnamouee, Celestina Aleobua, Tarique Qayumi, and moderator Anya Vegabova — welcome to the fest!Join them for an inspiring discussion on collaboration, creativity, and the power of storytelling without borders.

How do filmmakers discern which stories serve as conduits for impactful storytelling? It is a fine art to delve into emotional realities while infusing fictional elements to craft storylines and these CFF filmmakers give it to us straight - Cheers Aisha Evelyna, Taylor Olson, and Christopher Yip - welcome to the fest! This crafty conversation shares insights on discovering the optimal medium to create resonant, innovative, and sensitive adaptations of these intricate subject matters.

What are you waiting for? It’s time to make a microbudget feature film right now! Get ready to soak up invaluable wisdom from a dynamic group of crafty CFF alumni filmmakers who just did it - Cheers Ingrid Veninger, Andrew Chung, Faran Moradi, and Jaqueline de Niverville - welcome to the fest! Whether you’re navigating Canada’s grant system, or considering raising funds on your own - this episode is a must-listen filled with unconventional tips for anyone who’s ready to dive in and do what it takes to get their film to the finish line.

We get to hear from some truly amazing CFF featured animators who give us valuable insights into the animation process, from initial conception to final fruition - Cheers Courtney Wolfson, Sam Chou, and Kjell Boersma - welcome to the fest! Join them on an imaginative journey to explore the dynamic relationship between content and form in the boundless world of animation.

The process of collaborating with a composer can be such a mystery, but let this panel conversation be your guide - cheers Fraser Collins, Shervin Kermani and moderator Richard Pierre - welcome to the fest! Join these toe-tapping talented composers and filmmakers who explore the art and business of music composition behind making your film truly sing.

Adapting a short form concept into a career-propelling feature film are steps that this episode's guests know all too well - cheers Ian Harnarine, Julia Lederer, Rebeca Love, and Eric Bizzarri - welcome to the fest! This group discusses the various ways to transform a calling card into a stepping stone towards a successful career in feature filmmaking and beyond.

This conversation is a no-holds-back one, where 3 of our festival-featured Canadian Directors - cheers Sean Cisterna, Samantha MacAdam, and Shane Belcourt - welcome to the fest! These forces discuss their career trajectories and indie filmmaking tricks that worked (or didn’t) for them.

Behind all those hair-raising heart stopping moments, there can actually be a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and lessons. The following conversation is a spotlight on some of Canada’s premiere indie talent who came up in thriller & horrors - cheers Cheryl Meyer, Gavin Micheal Booth, and Navin Ramaswaran - welcome to the fest! These thrilling talents cover it all, from script development, funding models, production, post. They share their tales from the trenches and beyond.

Not only have our guests for this show graced screens across the world, today they are going to treat us with their own words of wisdom too - cheers Katie Boland, Aisha Evelyna, and Sugith Varughese - welcome to the fest! These actors from some of CFF’s beloved films speak to their experiences on Canadian indie sets and the artistic and business practices that led them to where they are today.

Listen and learn from some of our favorite professionals from a variety of Comedy Writing formats here in Canada - cheers Jacob Tierney, Winnie Jong, and Ashley Cooper - welcome to the fest! They give us amazing insight around breaking-in and pursuing a career in writing and directing funny, both here at home and abroad. Big thanks to Karen Walton of inkCanada for helping to put this panel together.

Meet three influential Canadian screenwriters who are also producers, directors and actors of some of our favourite films and shows - cheers Elan Mastai, Mina Shum, and Cory Bowles - welcome to the fest! They touch on advice for emerging writers in Canada, taking their careers into the US, how obstacles are often self-imposed, tips on following your creative instincts, and more. Big thanks to Karen Walton of inkCanada for helping to put this panel together.

CHEERS & CHATS, the official podcast of the Canadian Film Fest, delivers festival buzz and insider insights from the heart of Canada’s film industry. Through candid conversations with Canadian filmmakers, we explore the highs, lows, and everything in between as they navigate their creative journeys. Join us for stories that inspire, inform, and celebrate the art of filmmaking—your front-row seat to the stories behind the screen.