The Trans Filmmakers Mentorship has announced the return of its annual Trans Filmmakers Summit set to take place at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on September 8th, 2024. Returning for its third year at TIFF, the Trans Filmmakers Summit continues to foster industry exchanges, connections, and dialogue, and supports the reimagining of trans storytelling and nurtures emerging trans talent in the film and TV industry. Open to all trans and non-binary creators, industry partners, and allies, TFS is a celebration of trans barrier-breakers and a platform for inspiring future generations.

The Trans Film Mentorship was founded in 2021 by Filmmakers Luis De Filippis and Gabrielle Zilkha, and provides career development programming for trans and nonbinary individuals. Their goal is to increase the participation of trans filmmakers, key creatives, and crew in the film and television industry through hands-on learning opportunities and work-integrated training. TFM combines mindfulness-based soft skills development with hard skills training, production orientation, and wellness coaching. Their programs culminate in career planning workshops that guide participants in their next steps within the industry.

The Trans Filmmakers Summit returns for its third year, and continues to foster industry exchanges, connections, and dialogue. TFS supports the reimagining of trans storytelling and nurtures emerging trans talent in the film and TV industry. Open to all trans and non-binary creators, industry partners, and allies, TFS is a celebration of trans barrier-breakers and a platform for inspiring future generations. With a proven track record of impactful programming, the Trans Filmmakers Summit has consistently sold-out events and garnered significant online engagement. As they look towards 2024, TFS aims to deepen its impact by providing not only a space for dialogue but also concrete tools and resources that empower emerging talent. Their vision extends beyond hosting an event; they aim to create opportunities where filmmakers can hone their pitching skills, showcase their work, and secure the resources to realize their creative visions.

This year’s Summit will also introduce an exciting new initiative, the Short Film Fund, in partnership with Spindle Films Foundation. This Fund is designed to support transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse filmmakers in advancing their careers. The Fund is a pivotal addition to this year’s programming and is aimed at supporting transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse filmmakers in taking the next steps in their career. The primary goal of the Short Film Fund is to provide resources to a selected emerging filmmaker, enabling them to create a completed short film that elevates their work and opens new doors in the film industry. This initiative not only highlights the creative talents of gender-diverse artists but also serves as a catalyst for their professional growth, opening new doors and creating lasting industry connections.

The Fund introduces an exciting pitch competition, offering three gender-diverse emerging filmmakers the opportunity to present their short film concepts to a panel of esteemed industry professionals in person. Before the competition, applications will be collected from trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse filmmakers. Applicants must submit a completed short film screenplay and a director’s vision/pitch deck. The goal is to expedite the production process by working with filmmakers who already have a finished script. To ensure fairness, a rubric will be used to assess the strength of applications, with a focus on diversity and accessibility.

The pitch competition is more than just a contest; it’s an extraordinary opportunity for participants to showcase their work to a jury of esteemed professionals and a large audience. Building professional connections is crucial for success in the film industry, and this event offers filmmakers a unique chance to engage with industry leaders, gain insights, and receive invaluable feedback.

The inaugural Short Film Fund will feature three distinguished jury judges including writer, director, and producer Sasha Leigh Henry known for her Canadian Screen Awards winning series BRIA MACK GETS A LIFE (CRAVE); non-binary filmmaker and writer Jane Schoenbrun whose work includes I SAW THE TV GLOW, WE’RE ALL GOING TO THE WORLD’S FAIR, A SELF-INDUCED HALLUCINATION, and THE EYESLICER; and producer and head creative at Kindred Spirit, Sam Intili whose recent credits include CLOSE TO YOU (TIFF 2023) starring Elliot Page and I SAW THE TV GLOW (SUNDANCE 2024).

The Short Film Fund is set to significantly impact both individual filmmakers and the industry at large by providing the successful applicant with a polished short film, an invaluable asset for their portfolio and resume. They will also receive educational resources and mentorship, ensuring an enriching learning opportunity. The fund enforces a diversity mandate for the cast and crew, creating opportunities for a wide range of diverse creatives. Additionally, the initiative will foster a supportive community of trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse artists, enhancing resilience and solidarity within the Canadian film industry. The Trans Film Mentorship and Spindle Films Foundation are excited to offer this opportunity, aiming to create a real impact on both a personal and industry-wide level.

Back once again is the CMF Barrier Breaker Award, that honours a trans leader who is actively challenging the limitations of the media industry and disrupting the system, paving the way for more and better trans representation and storytelling. This year’s award will be given to Emmy nominated, mixed-race trans Latina actor, filmmaker, and cultural worker Nava Mau, whose breakthrough role was on the Netflix limited series BABY REINDEER (2024). The series became a global phenomenon, and Nava’s performance has been lauded as a first-of-its-kind representation of a trans woman of colour. After wrapping production on the series, Nava spent the following year working as writer, director, producer, and star of her sophomore short film, ALL THE WORDS BUT THE ONE (2024), which is currently screening in multiple festivals including the Academy Awards-qualifying independent short film festival, HollyShorts.

The Trans Film Summit is generously sponsored by the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and CBC Films with the Barrier Breaker Award sponsored by the Canadian Media Fund (CMF). The Short Film Fund is sponsored by Panavision and Streamland.

The Spindle Films Foundation is a dedicated non-profit organization committed to supporting transgender, non-binary, two-spirit, and gender-diverse Canadian filmmakers. Their mission is to create a more equitable and diverse film and television industry by amplifying underrepresented voices.

Grab your tickets here for the Trans Filmmakers Summit.

 

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.