Empowered Women in the Creative Industries | A TFS Spotlight in Honour of International Women’s Day

In celebration of International Women’s Day 2025, we’re proud to honor the incredible female creatives within the Toronto Film School community.

At TFS, we believe in empowering women to unleash their full potential, and this year our female faculty, staff, students, and alumni have achieved remarkable milestones, breaking barriers and inspiring others with their talent, creativity, and determination. From starring in feature films and web series, to earning accolades for their filmmaking projects, to making waves in art and design, our community has proven time and again that passion and hard work lead to success.

In the following stories, we highlight just a few of these exceptional women and their achievements. Their journeys remind us of the power of creativity and perseverance – and the importance of supporting each other along the way.

Larissa Stanley Brings Indigenous Art to Life at Prestigious Atelier Artist Residency in France

Online Graphic Design & Interactive Media student Larissa Stanley returned home to Yukon’s Liard First Nation in December following a whirlwind, monthlong trip to Europe that included a prestigious two-week artist residency in France.

The Kaska Dena artist, who belongs to the Crow Clan, was selected as one of just eight artists to participate in the Atelier Artist in Residence program in November.

“I am beyond grateful that I was able to work alongside the other artists and learn from them, as well as build relationships that will continue on for years to come,” Stanley said of the residency, which saw her live and work with seven other select artists from the United States, Australia and Canada at the Chateau Bouthonvilliers in Dangeau, France.

Read more about Stanley’s experience at the prestigious residency, and her post-graduation goals, HERE!

Catherine McNally’s Latest Film ‘The Apprentice’ Premieres at Cannes

Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre professor Catherine McNally’s latest project – a Donald Trump biopic – premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

The Apprentice – which tells the story of how a young Trump started his New York real estate business in the ’70s and ’80s with the helping hand of infamous lawyer Roy Cohn – screened at the prestigious French festival on May 20.

“It was very rewarding to have this film marks its world premiere at Cannes – an international festival that embraces the love of cinema and the power of storytelling,” said McNally, an award-winning actor, director, producer, coach, educator, entrepreneur, and co-founder of McNally Kennedy Acting.

Learn more about McNally’s on-set experience filming The Apprentice, as well as the other projects she’s been working on, HERE!

TFS’s Mercedes Cardella Wraps Production on ‘Jude & The Jinn’ Feature Film

Mercedes Cardella’s Telefilm Canada’s Talent to Watch-winning project wrapped production both here in Toronto and in Cairo, Egypt in May.

Written and directed by Rolla Tahir and starring Alexander Siddig (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) and newcomer Azza Abbaro, Jude & The Jinn was one of 16 feature projects from emerging filmmakers selected for the 2022-2023 Talent to Watch program. The film received $250,000 in Telefilm funding, as well as additional support from the multi-national New Dawn fund.

“The shoot was so amazing! Having shot in Cairo and in Toronto is an experience that I will cherish forever. The set was truly magnetic,” said Cardella, a TFS Student Outreach Manager, who both acted in and produced the film under her Magic Carpet Productions banner.

Learn more about Jude & the Jinn – a “magical realism feature film” – HERE!

Abigail Strate Sails to Three World Cup Ski Jump Podium Finishes

Online Graphic Design & Interactive Media student and Olympic medallist Abigail Strate claimed a career-high three World Cup ski jumping medals – a silver and two bronze – last winter.

The 23-year-old Calgary native celebrated the first of her three consecutive FIS Ski Jumping World Cup podium finishes with a bronze medal in the large jump event in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany on December 30, 2023. She followed that up on January 1, 2024 with a silver medal in the women’s big jump event in Oberstdorf, Germany, and again the next day with a bronze medal in the women’s normal hill event in Villach, Austria.

“The podium streak I had in December and January were some of the most euphoric days of my life. I felt I could see the hard work, sacrifices and hardships of the past 18 years in sport pay off in a matter of days,” said Strate.

Learn more about Strate’s journey to the podium, as well as her decision to enroll at TFS, HERE!

Inuk Artist Saelym Degrandpre Makes Waves at Montreal’s Ripples Symposium

Graphic Design & Interactive Media student Saelym Degrandpre celebrated her first-ever exhibition at ᕿᓐᓂᕋᔮᑦᑐᖅ Qinnirajaattuq / Ripples: Making Waves in Inuit Art Symposium this past November.

The Ottawa-based Urban Inuk artist had a total of six pieces on display at the event, which took place at Montreal’s La Guilde gallery and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Her work blends traditional Inuit art with contemporary design through digital and tactile mediums.

She described attending the Ripples symposium a “fantastic and unforgettable” experience: “From captivating cultural performances like throat-singing and Inuit drum dancing to spoken word, to the unveiling of remarkable Inuit art and culture at two prominent galleries…it was truly mind-blowing!” said the aspiring graphic designer, who hopes to bring Inuit and Indigenous culture to the forefront of modern art and design.

Learn more about Degrandpre’s work and participation in the symposium HERE!

Acting Grad Rebekah Johnson Wins Big at Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival

Class of 2019 Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre alumnus Rebekah Johnson took home the TINFF award for Best Short Film – Canada for her female-led project, Death of a Spy.

Set during the Second World War, the film tells the story of a suspected French Resistance spy who is captured by German soldiers in a small, occupied French town and the ruthless Russian interrogator called in to question her.

“It is encouraging to have festivals recognize the work and skill and importance of telling our stories as women,” said Johnson, who both wrote and directed Death of a Spy, which has screened at 14 different festivals around the world, winning awards at the International Women’s Film Festival (Best Historical Film), Accolade Global Film Competition (Lead Actress, Short Film, Women Filmmakers, Historical / Biographical) Bridge Fest, and Athens International Film Festival.

Read more about the female-led film HERE!

Screenwriting Grad Olivia-Autumn Rennie Wraps Short Doc ‘Lights, Camera, and a Call to Action’

Class of 2024 Writing for Film & Television alumnus Olivia-Autumn Rennie wrapped a documentary project that fuses her twin passions for filmmaking and disability advocacy in the summer of 2024.

Lights, Camera, and a Call to Action is a documentary short that the 3^rd year MD-PhD student made in hopes of challenging stereotypes surrounding disability by exploring the work of three artists – a theatre artist, a painter and a musician – who are using their work for disability advocacy.

“Each artist has lived experience with disability themselves, and a great deal of wisdom to impart about their process, how they are challenging stereotypes, and where we have to go from here in terms of making society more accessible,” said the researcher and Emergency physician-in-training, who, in addition to her medical studies at the University of Toronto, is also enrolled in Toronto Film School Online’s Video Production and Yorkville University’s Bachelor of Creative Arts programs.

Read more about the documentary – and how Rennie juggles her documentary pursuits along with her various studies – HERE!

Acting Grad Monika Monika Lands Role on Bell Fibe Web Series ‘Realm 2’

Class of 2021 Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre alumnus Monika Monika’s dreams came true in April 2024 when she landed a role on Bell Fibe’s Realm 2 – a “dream come true”.

The web series follows the lives of various hopefuls, whose goals in life are similar, despite the fact that their paths have never crossed.

“Working on Realm 2 has been an incredible journey for me… It’s incredibly fulfilling to see our hard work and dedication being recognized on such a platform,” said Monika, who plays the character of Pooja – a fashionable Hindu Indian woman and landlord in her 30s, whose tenants include a fortune teller.

Learn more about Monika’s role, and how she credits the training she received at TFS for helping her land it, HERE!

Female Students Reigned Over TFS’s 2024 BIPOC Creative Achievement Awards

All four awardees of Toronto Film School’s new BMO BIPOC Creative Achievement Award were women in 2024, underscoring the impact and talent of female creatives in Canada’s diverse workforce.

Presented in partnership with BMO, this new award aims to support full-time BIPOC students by offering a $1,250 tuition award each quarter. The bursary is aimed at contributing to the diversity of the workforce in Canada’s creative industry by helping students who identify as Black, Indigenous or a Person of Colour complete their programs.

The inaugural winners were Film Production students Roopali Ramesh Kumar, Grace Gahore and Karyna Dianka, and Graphic Design & Interactive Media student Carolina Cortez Paz, each of whom is making waves in their respective fields.

Read more about their inspiring stories at the links below:

• Roopali Ramesh Kumar
• Grace Gahore
• Karyna Dianka
• Carolina Cortez Paz