Image Arts students display final thesis films at annual film festival
TorontoMet Film Fest, the year-end showcase for Image Arts Film Studies students, made its triumphant return to the historic Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres. This year, 14 thesis films took center stage, captivating audiences with their diverse narratives and profound storytelling. Over the course of two nights, the festival attracted 1500 attendees, a vibrant mix of film enthusiasts, industry professionals, and the TMU community at large.
Night two: Awards Ceremony. Image courtesy of @torontomet.filmfest
Aidan McGuire and Ema Inês, Co-Chairs of TorontoMet Film Fest. Image courtesy of @audreypersaudphoto
“The TorontoMet Film Fest has been crucial to the culture at Image Arts,” said Aidan McGuire, Co-Chair of the TorontoMet Film Fest. “For upwards of thirty years it has delivered a platform to the graduating students of the Film Studies program and given them the chance to spotlight their work to industry professionals and colleagues.”
Shay Elbaum, Programming Director and Kennedy Headon, Daytime Programmer
Reaching a wider audience
This year, the TorontoMet Film Fest brand was revitalized, capturing the cohort’s youthful, eager, and passionate drive for filmmaking through bold graphics, while also leveraging the university's existing reputation.
"The rebranding process for TorontoMet FilmFest was born out of a desire to reach a broader audience of film lovers rather than the niche community of the Image Arts program,” said Design Director Lucas Würstlin. This initiative marked a pivotal shift, broadening the festival’s appeal and reinforcing its role as a cultural highlight.
Celebrating women in film
The festival has seen other significant changes over the years, particularly in the representation and achievements of women within the industry. This year marked a significant milestone, as all fourteen thesis films had women cinematographers, a historic first for the festival. The Image Arts class of 96’, who founded and laid the groundwork for this vibrant festival, have expressed profound admiration for the advancement of women in the industry and the nurturing of their talent within the Image Arts Film program.
“Andrea Stewart, one of the festival founders, was so proud to see so many women in the crowd when she spoke at the festival's daytime events and judged the awards,” mentioned Chloe Di Salle, winner of the Women in Film Award. “The women in this film cohort are unbelievably talented people, and the things I have watched them accomplish over the past year are incredible. As we leave school to enter the professional industry and experience its challenges, it is so important for us to continue looking out for each other and creating the spaces that we want to work in.”
Chloe Di Salle, winner of the Women in Film Award. Image courtesy of @audreypersaudphoto
Learn more about the TorontoMet Film Fest through their website (external link) .
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