An inspirational experience:
Filmmaker Lab 2018 participants share their experiences
In less than two months, 20 of the world’s brightest emerging filmmakers will come together at TIFF Filmmaker Lab.
This immersive four-day development programme is filled with workshops, networking opportunities, and access to the Industry Conference — all designed to give participants the skills they need to launch their careers.
Thanks to the generosity of supporters, this programme is offered free of charge to ensure cost is not a barrier to accessing this world-class career development opportunity.
2018 Filmmaker Lab participants.
Ahead of the Class of 2019’s arrival, we’re taking a look back at what this experience meant for the Class of 2018:
“TIFF Filmmaker Lab was the experience of a lifetime. As an independent filmmaker who is preparing my first dramatic feature, Montreal Girls, it was extremely valuable to be able to learn from other directors who have been through this process before.... I’m immensely honoured to have been part of it and grateful for the things that I’ve learned and realized while participating in it.” —Patricia Chica, Temerty Family Fellow
“It’s an amazing experience to share our journey with the other filmmakers and learn their struggles. I am profoundly inspired by everyone at the Lab just by learning their experiences.” —Yuqi Kang, Sara and Graeme Thomson Family Fellow
“I was really inspired by the diversity of the group, in terms of gender, race, and region. I felt that representation was a priority for the Industry team, and I celebrate your efforts for inclusion.” —Rodrigo Barriuso
“To be immersed in an environment completely supportive of artists where I could learn more about the craft, the business, and other filmmakers… I didn't realize it, but I was coming from an environment that was the complete opposite of that, so it was great to get back in touch with why we do this in the first place.” —Cynthia Kao
“I am so inspired, and now I feel like I have the support in place to make it happen. Sometimes you just need to hear someone say ‘Keep going’ and ‘I believe in you.’” —Jules Koostachin, Sara and Graeme Thomson Family Fellow
2018 Filmmaker Lab participants participate in a session with Cassian Elwes.
“Now that I’m heading into development, there were elements I was feeling anxious about. I was able to talk to the governors about these questions and I received some great advice.... And watching films and hearing from those directors — what worked, what didn’t, what they learned, how they approached things — gave me a lot of great ideas for my film.” —Tracey Deer, Temerty Family Fellow
“These Labs are a wonderful privilege to be selected for and can be a huge catalyst in many ways to our emerging careers.... The overall value of attending TIFF Filmmaker Lab, for me, was the opportunity to be inspired by like-minded storytellers who are all facing the same types of challenges in their filmmaking careers. Ultimately, the shared spirit of wanting to tell stories and the determination to do so was very uplifting and encouraging for me.” —David Strasser