Fourth-year Film students screen 14 thesis films at the historic Winter Garden Theatre
Image Arts Film (opens in new window) students showcased 14 thesis films at the annual Image Arts Film Festival (IMAFF) that took place on April 28 and 29, 2023. The student-run festival showcases the work of the Film undergraduate students, supports Canada’s future creatives and aims to strengthen Toronto’s identity as a leading film-production hub.
Katie Murday, IMAFF Executive Director and Giran Findlay, Creative Director, at night two of the festival. Image courtesy of Frieda Wang
Winter Garden Theatre packed with attendees for IMAFF final night and award ceremony. Image courtesy of Frieda Wang
“IMAFF is a truly unique event, entirely run by students. It's a celebration of the end of their academic and filmmaking journey within the program and an opportunity for them to showcase the culmination of their learning through their fourth-year capstone projects,” says John Tarver, Film Program Director. “But the festival is more than just a year-end screening; it's the first step in their journey towards a future career in Canada's thriving film industry.”
Fourth-year Image Arts Film Students at the Winter Garden Theater. Image courtesy of Audrey Persaud
The 2023 Image Arts Film Festival (previously known as the Ryerson University Film Festival) took place at the Winter Garden Theatre, a double-decker theatre that has a rich history dating back a century. This year, IMAFF welcomed a record-breaking 1,259 people to the festival over two days, says Katie Murday, Executive Director of IMAFF 2023.
The two nighttime screenings of the thesis films were accompanied by day-time activities such as screenings, networking events, and discussion panels led by prominent voices within the Canadian film industry. These new additions to the festival enabled greater outreach within the film community and helped garner more attention from the general public.
“After two-and-a-half years of pandemic isolation, the fourth-year films featured in the Film Festival exemplified the sophistication and complexity of the best character studies, while doing more with less,” added Katy McCormick, Interim Chair of Image Arts. “Honing in on authentic experiences of joy, loss, hope, courage, and persistence, the stories explored brought viewers into intensely full worlds contained in powerfully rich vignettes, exemplifying the best of what the IMA program offers its students."
Still from Tantrum, written and directed by Soomin Choi
Still from Buzz Kill, written and directed by Tafyra Poyser
The themes of IMAFF 2023
This year the focus of IMAFF was on encouraging inclusivity, celebrating diversity, and taking advantage of being back in person.
“I think many of the films this year were ultimately about reconciliation. Reconciling different kinds of relationships, be it romantic, platonic or familial like in the films Ninth Step, Adagio, Score for Scene 7, reconciling difficult experiences growing up in Tantrum, Chiles Rellenos, Manly Enough, or even reconciling grief as seen in Eleanor in the Evening, Frida in the Sky, Buzzkill, Vela,” added Ollie Coombs, fourth-year Film student and IMAFF 2023 Programming Director. “This year, we saw some really inventive and polished work.”
Still from Eleanor in the Evening, written and directed by Giran Findlay
Still from Frida in the Sky, written and directed by Dani Sadun
The beginning of a creative journey
“The experience of the film program at IMA is one of personal creative growth as an artist, learning valuable skills, but more than anything becoming part of a close-knit community of The Creative School alumni,” said Tarver.
Throughout their four-year academic journeys, Film students learn all aspects of filmmaking, including writing, producing, cinematography and directing through hands-on creative projects. Being located in the heart of Toronto, the epicentre of filmmaking in Canada, students are mentored by diverse faculty and peers.
“The film program gave us all the chance to grow into ourselves and into our art and allowed us to collaborate so closely. We all champion each other's successes, and I can’t wait to see what we all accomplish in the years to come,” added Coombs. “Speaking personally, I am looking forward to taking the experiences I’ve had, producing several films and organizing IMAFF to start my career.”
Still from Score for Scene 7, written and directed by Lizzie Han
Image Arts Film Festival 2023 Award Winners
Achievement in Direction - Soomin Choi
Achievement in Production - Renee Foy
Achievement in Cinematography - Hayden Salter
Achievement in Screenwriting - Lizzie Han
Achievement in Production Design - Stephanie Sakaki
Achievement in Editing - Kielan Ellis
Achievement in Sound Design - Bronwen Spolsky
Achievement in Wardrobe Design - Nelie Diverlus
Achievement in Hair/Makeup - Lauren Charest
People’s Choice Night 1 - Esteban Powell’s “Vela”
People’s Choice Night 2 - Dani Sadun’s “Frida In The Sky”
Women in Film Award - Lizzie Han
BIPOC Artist Award - Sebastian Marin
To learn more about the Image Arts Film Festival 2023, the team, and the 2023 thesis films, visit their website (external link, opens in new window) .
The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University
The Creative School is a dynamic faculty that is making a difference in new, unexplored ways. Made up of Canada’s top professional schools and transdisciplinary hubs in media, communication, design and cultural industries, The Creative School offers students an unparalleled global experience in the heart of downtown Toronto.