Inner Circle Club

Talk about insider intel.

Club

On top of your program’s curriculum, you’ll become part of the Inner Circle Club. A flagship initiative where an industry ace becomes the school’s expert-in-residence every term.

Insights, tips, strategies, techniques and more are shared exclusively with the TFS community. These student centric and curated events culminate with In Conversation⁠—where Andrew Barnsley sits down with the guest for a 90-min heart to heart. This event is held live and streamed from a downtown theatre.

Speakers

In Conversation with: Andrew Gunn

Film & TV Producer, Freaky Friday

Andrew Gunn is a film and television producer with a proven track record of producing both studio and independent films, garnering a total box office of over $2 billion. Gunn also has over 20 years of production and development executive experience. Gunn’s 25+ year career in the entertainment industry, includes work on such films as Cruella, Unhinged, Bad Santa 2, Freaky Friday, The Haunted Mansion, Sky High, College Road Trip, The Country Bears, Bedtime Stories, and Race to Witch Mountain, among others.

In Conversation with: Katie Ford

Apple+TV Showrunner, Writer, Producer, Miss Congeniality

Katie is currently EP and Showrunner for Apple+ TV’s comedy High Desert starring Patricia Arquette, Brad Garrett and Matt Dillon, produced alongside Ben Stiller and directed by Jay Roach. High Desert will be out in early 2023. Katie has written for both TV and Film and is best known for writing and producing the hit film Miss Congeniality. Originally a stand-up, Katie started as a writer on the sitcom Family Ties when she was 21. More recently, Katie co-created and show-ran the NBC Sitcom Working The Engels starring Andrea Martin and Kacey Rohl. Katie also wrote the Emmy and Golden Globe-Nominated movie Prayers For Bobby starring Sigourney Weaver and has written on Desperate Housewives, Transporter, and Disney’s Little House on the Prairie mini-series. Passionate about encouraging the next generation, recently Katie created The New Storyteller series for Loyola Marymount University in LA and currently, alongside her work on High Desert, she is studying narrative medicine and writing a book about the healing power of humor in the world of healing and recovery.

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Toronto Film School Blog

Read news, tips and stories about people just like you, who through Toronto Film School are making their creative passions into careers.

TFS Names Carolina Cortez Paz as Latest Recipient of BIPOC Creative Achievement Award

Toronto Film School has named Carolina Cortez Paz the latest recipient of the BIPOC Creative Achievement Award – a platform the Latina artist plans to use to elevate and inspire her fellow creatives from marginalized communities. Presented in partnership with BMO, the quarterly bursary – which recognizes full-time BIPOC students with $1,250 awards towards their tuition …Read more

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

Larissa Stanley just returned home to the Liard First Nation in Yukon following a whirlwind, monthlong trip to Europe that included a prestigious two-week artist residency in France. The Online Graphic Design & Interactive Media student, who belongs to the Kaska Dena people and Crow Clan, was selected as one of just eight artists to …

TFS Creative Success Award Winner Patrick Parenteau Carves New Path in Video Game Design at 50

From the alpine slopes to the animation studio – this term’s recipient of the Creative Success Award, Patrick Parenteau, is carving out a whole new path for himself – and at the age of 50, no less. “After spending over 25 years working in sports performance and Alpine skiing, I decided it was time to …

Alumni Guest Blog | Yeimy Daza on Toronto-Based Shorts Film Festival

Toronto Based Shorts (TBS) was started by Paul Villenave and Dylan Posgate, a co-director duo who couldn’t find screenings in the city that were Toronto-focused, affordable, and showcased high-quality films. So, they created one – a festival for emerging filmmakers like us. I met Paul back in 2022 during the first edition of TBS, and …

TFS’s Steven Hoffner Celebrates Broadcast Premiere of 'The Cannons' Documentary on TSN and NHL Network

Toronto Film School’s Steven Hoffner is celebrating the acquisition – and upcoming broadcast premiere – of his debut documentary feature, The Cannons (Brothers on Ice). The film, which the director of TFS’s Film Production program co-directed, produced, shot and edited, was recently acquired by TSN and the NHL Network, where it is slated to mark …

Toronto Film School Grad Franklin Briceño Making Waves with Viral Music Videos

Less than a year after graduating from Toronto Film School, Franklin Briceño is already being touted as “Toronto’s Next BIG Director” – a title the Class of 2023 Film Production grad is determined to earn. “Being recognized by Creatives Canada was an incredible honour and a huge surprise. It’s amazing to see the work I’ve …

TFS Grad Kat Anielak Lands Jury Chair Role at Toronto Polish Film Festival

Kat Anielak has always been more interested in immersing herself in the behind-the-scenes action than getting caught up in the spotlight – which is why, when all her peers were busy applying to film festivals, she was dreaming of how great it would be to sit on a festival jury. Luckily for her, it didn’t …

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