Visa Sharing the Screen

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Visa Sharing the Screen

Providing community audiences with exclusive access to TIFF programming year-round and during the Festival

TIFF and Visa are thrilled to continue their partnership through the Visa Sharing the Screen programme. Launched in 2022, this collaboration expands access to TIFF programming year-round and during the Festival for equity-deserving communities. Programming includes film screenings, creator talks, special events, and more. In addition, Visa provides 500 complimentary tickets to screenings during the Festival each year.

A group of young adults gathered together and posing for the camera


Past Events

List

Sanaa Lathan sitting in a director's chair in front of the blue Visa backdrop talking to the audience

2022 Festival Event

Bros Reception and Creator Talk with Sanaa Lathan on On the Come Up

To kick off Visa Sharing the Screen at TIFF 2022, TIFF and Visa invited 100 individuals from 2SLGBTQ+ communities to celebrate queer joy, love, and friendship at the highly anticipated World Premiere of Bros. Before the screening, Visa invited attendees to mix and mingle with one another at an exclusive reception.

Also in 2022, TIFF hosted actor and director Sanaa Lathan for an intimate creator talk following the World Premiere of Lathan’s feature debut, On the Come Up. This event welcomed 44 emerging BIPOC creatives to connect with Lathan during a moderated conversation about her journey in the film industry and the filmmaking process.

A large group of people holding up the Catherine Hernandez's book, The Story of Us

2023 Year-Round Event

Page to Screen — Catherine Hernandez and Clement Virgo on Adapting Scarborough and The Story of Us

In its second year, Visa provided 100 complimentary tickets to an onstage conversation with author and award-winning screenwriter Catherine Hernandez (Scarborough) and award-winning writer-director Clement Virgo (The Book of Negroes, Brother) about the art of literary adaptation, and the rewarding process of depicting Scarborough and its vibrant communities on page and on screen.

Following the in-cinema event, Hernandez signed copies of The Story of Us and connected with 30 emerging BIPOC and 2SLGBTQ+–identifying creatives during an informal creator talk. Visa generously provided complimentary copies of Hernandez’s book to all Visa Sharing the Screen attendees.

Left to Right: Portrait of Catherine Hernandez and Clement Virgo

2023 Festival Event

Creator Talk with Fawzia Mirza on The Queen of My Dreams

At TIFF 2023, we hosted a creator talk with actor-comedian-writer-producer Fawzia Mirza on her directorial feature debut, The Queen of My Dreams, with 46 attendees from 2SLGBTQ+ and South Asian communities.

This engaging discussion and Q&A touched on Mirza’s career trajectory, activism, and commitment to championing underrepresented voices and identities, and on what drives her to keep creating.

Amanda Parris talking to the audience on stage

2024 Year-Round Event

Creator Talk with Amanda Parris on For the Culture with Amanda Parris

To celebrate the launch of For the Culture with Amanda Parris, a new point-of-view documentary series on CBC Gem that centres Blackness and Black folks around the world, creator, producer, and host Amanda Parris joined us for a free screening of the first episode and an onstage conversation about the series.

Through Visa Sharing the Screen, 75 emerging BIPOC creators also participated in an exclusive moderated conversation with Amanda Parris.

A group of young adults gathered together and waving for the camera

Community Partners

Visa Sharing the Screen has engaged over 30 community partners. TIFF’s network of community partners includes non-profit organizations, registered charities, and peer-led groups serving communities that identify as experiencing multiple barriers to equal access, opportunities, and resources in the arts. This includes, but is not limited to, BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+, immigrant and newcomer, and disabled communities. For example:

  • BIPOC TV & Film
  • Black Gay Men's Network of Ontario
  • Black Women Film! Canada
  • Black Wimmin Artist
  • Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture (CCVT)
  • ENAGB Indigenous Youth Agency
  • Fashion Art Toronto
  • FOCUS Media Arts Centre
  • Gyallivant
  • Jessie's - The June Callwood Centre for Young Women
  • LGBTQ+ Youthline
  • Kickback
  • Native Child and Family Services of Toronto
  • Nia Centre for the Arts
  • OYA Black Arts Coalition
  • Parkdale Project Read
  • POV Film
  • Regent Park Film Festival
  • RISE Edutainment
  • Say Somaali
  • Sheena’s Place
  • SKETCH Working Arts
  • Skills for Change
  • Stella’s Place
  • Success Beyond Limits
  • Supporting Our Youth
  • The 519
  • The Power To Be International (Akeelah's Room)
  • Trust 15
  • Toronto People With AIDS Foundation (PWA)
  • Woodgreen Community Services
  • Woodgreen Seniors Active Living Centre
  • Youth Assisting Youth