TFS Announces Recipient and Honourees of the 2025 President’s Award for Teaching Excellence
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Toronto Film School recently announced Andrés Sevilla as the 2025 recipient of its President’s Award for Teaching Excellence – an annual award celebrating faculty who inspire and facilitate learning in ways that have a positive and sustained influence on our students.
Launched in 2024, the award is the highest honour for teaching at Toronto Film School. Its recipients not only exemplify our Core Values, but demonstrate exceptional abilities to encourage and motivate students, to create supportive and inclusive learning environments, to foster student success within and beyond the classroom, and to reflect upon and refine their teaching practice.
In addition to Sevilla, who teaches in the Graphic Design & Interactive Media program, TFS also recognized three honourees for the award: Matt McDonald (Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre); Hisham Ata (Video Game Design & Development); and Blain Watters (Writing for Film & Television).
“Our faculty are the heartbeat of Toronto Film School, and this award shines a light on the incredible passion, creativity, and dedication they bring to our classrooms every day,” said Andrew Barnsley, President of Toronto Film School.
“Andrés, Matt, Hisham and Blain embody what it means to inspire and empower students – not only equipping them with the skills to succeed in their chosen fields, but also instilling in them the confidence and curiosity to thrive as creative professionals.”
The President’s Award for Teaching Excellence recognizes and celebrates faculty who:
- cultivate dynamic and interactive learning environments that motivate and challenge students to explore their curiosities, deepen their skills, and apply their learning in new and impactful ways
- offer learners constructive, timely, and specific feedback that inspires them to reflect on their work, encouraging growth, resilience, and a commitment to continuous improvement
- create inclusive learning environments that anticipate, celebrate, and respond to the diversity of learner needs and experiences
- engage students in authentic learning opportunities that enable them to demonstrate our Signature Learning Outcomes, enhance their employability, expand their professional networks, and connect them to communities
2025 President’s Award for Teaching Excellence Recipient:
Andrés Sevilla | Graphic Design & Interactive Media
Receiving the Toronto Film School President’s Award for Teaching Excellence is deeply meaningful because it recognizes what I am most passionate about: creating learning environments where students discover their creative potential and develop the confidence to become adaptable, thoughtful, and professional designers. This award belongs not just to me, but to every student, colleague, and leader who has taken creative risks, embraced feedback, and pushed beyond their comfort zone. Their collective support and growth are what make this work so rewarding, and this recognition motivates me to continue evolving as an educator.
Bio: Andrés Sevilla is an award-winning designer, educator, and entrepreneur with over 12 years of international experience in Mexico, Sweden, and Canada. He holds degrees in Industrial Design and Product Innovation, and has taught since 2013, currently leading courses in Digital Imaging, Web Design, and Art Direction at Toronto Film School. Since relocating to Canada, he has expanded his expertise in education through a Graduate Certificate at Yorkville University and programs offered by the Centre for Teaching Excellence and Innovation. His inclusive, studio-based approach blends creativity, critique, and emerging technologies. Alongside teaching, Andres directs his consultancy, Vanuva, leading international projects in branding, packaging, and digital design, while bridging professional practice with innovative, student-centred education.
2025 President’s Award for Teaching Excellence Honourees:
Matt McDonald | Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre
My life is fueled by my two passions of acting and teaching. To be an honouree for teaching excellence is the highest form of recognition, as it affirms the incredible work we do together. Knowing I’ve helped students find their voices and grow their skills means more to me than words can express.
Bio: Matt McDonald is an accomplished actor, voice actor, and instructor with over 10 years of experience in the entertainment industry. Known for his dynamic range and versatility, Matty has lent his voice to a variety of video game characters, including a Giant of the Nephilim Order from Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Order of Giants. In addition to his successful career as a performer, Matty has spent the past six years teaching at esteemed institutions such as Toronto Film School, OTM, HamONT Studios, and Monster Factory Online. He is passionate about mentoring aspiring actors, particularly helping them hone their skills for auditions and improving their vocal techniques. Whether guiding actors through the complexities of video game voice work or helping them refine their craft for any role, Matty’s experience and dedication to the craft make him a sought-after instructor and industry professional.
Hisham Ata | Video Game Design & Development
It’s an incredible honor to be recognized with the President’s Award for Teaching Excellence. Teaching has always been about more than delivering content — it’s about inspiring curiosity, fostering resilience, and creating spaces where students feel empowered to explore, fail boldly, and build something meaningful. I’m grateful to my colleagues and students for making this journey so rewarding.
Bio: Hisham Ata is a Professor of Game Design and Development at the Toronto Film School, where he has been teaching since 2018. He is the founder of Cat Splat Studios, an independent game development studio, and is deeply involved in building both educational lessons and innovative games. Hisham specializes in programming, game engine architecture, and interactive media, and is passionate about bridging technical depth with creative expression. His teaching emphasizes hands-on experimentation, iterative design, and empowering students to develop their own voices as creators. Beyond the classroom, he actively contributes to open educational resources, develops custom engines and tools, and encourages his students to embrace lifelong learning. His commitment to student growth and to evolving his craft continuously has made a lasting impact on his students and colleagues alike.
Blain Watters | Writing for Film & Television
This award coming from students means a great deal, as my students mean a great deal to me. Our students are single mothers, high school grads, immigrants and foreign filmmakers all trying to better themselves while living complex, and sometimes draining but always full lives. It’s been an honour to be a small part of their beautiful and continuing stories.
Bio: Blain Watters is a writer, filmmaker and educator in Toronto, ON. He’s written TV for Netflix, Features that have premiered at Cannes, produced Web Series with millions of views, and shorts that have won awards at festivals worldwide, but teaching is his calling.
