Toronto Film School Blog

From its origins in Canadian technical education to its current role in powering the country’s booming film, television, and game industries, Toronto Film School (TFS) isn’t just a creative institution – it’s a vital part of Canada’s cultural and economic fabric. With its expertise in hands-on training, TFS helps train Canada’s next generation of creatives …

Every February, Canadians unite to celebrate Black History Month, a time to honor the rich legacies, remarkable successes, enduring sacrifices, and powerful triumphs of Black communities across the country. At Toronto Film School, we proudly celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of our Black students, alumni and faculty – stories that shine as individual features on our …

Toronto was recently named one of the Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker in 2025 by MovieMaker Magazine – and Toronto Film School was cited one of the reasons for the city’s #2 ranking. The annual list – which also includes Calgary (#5), Vancouver (#9) and Ottawa (#25) – takes into account …

Toronto, ON, Sept. 3, 2024 – Toronto Film School’s presence will be felt at the Toronto International Film Festival more than ever before in 2024, thanks to its newly expanded status as an official partner of the prestigious fest. This year’s star-studded 49th edition of TIFF will screen 278 films from around the world, rolling out the …

Choosing between a diploma and a degree program can be a big decision, especially if you’re trying to map out a career plan.   There are significant differences between a diploma and a degree. A college typically provides diplomas, whereas a university offers degrees. In some cases, a college will provide a degree program, or a …

Have you checked out our new Toronto Film School brand ad? If so, did the video’s characters remind you of someone familiar? Perhaps…yourself? Were you that kid who dreamed of one day becoming a filmmaker, a writer, a graphic designer, a video game creator, or maybe even an actor? It’s never too late to pursue …

by Garry Murdock It’s a big decision, deciding which film school to go to. Here we’ll give you an overview of five of the country’s top film schools. To simplify your search, we’ll also hook you up with a handy cheat sheet of key things to look out for in the schools that have captured …

As a film school, the Toronto International Film Festival® (TIFF) is our version of Christmas. We stay up the night before, filled with anticipation, but instead of rushing to unwrap presents under the tree, we hit the town to catch our most anticipated screenings and soak in the red carpet buzz. Set to kick off …

Ever felt like we’re living in a science fiction film? If that question has been racing through your mind lately, don’t worry, you’re not alone. With the recent US Congress hearing on UFOs and whistleblower David Grusch’s claims of government cover-ups and non-human ‘biologics’, life is starting to resemble the opening act of a Spielbergian …

Debating the relevance of film school? Discover how a creative education can transform your storytelling and the importance of mentorship, practical experience, and networking in launching a career in film and television.

Creative industries are exciting, challenging, dynamic and competitive. For many graduates, the leap from education to your first or next step in the creative sector can feel dizzying and, oftentimes, family and friends don’t quite understand. Who does? Toronto Film School alumni.  TFS graduates who have gone before you understand your path. They know the …

Each time you apply for a job, you have the chance to be a standout or a star and position yourself as a unique candidate with a string of talents, skills and experiences that fit the role at hand. But most job seekers do not see themselves that way, or don’t know how to position …

  I honestly never imagined I’d be scriptwriting for videogames. But since graduating from TFS I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to write on four of the biggest AAA videogame franchises in the industry.   My dream was to be a scriptwriter on an animated television series. In fact, thanks to TFS, I was able …

  “This…is The Sparrow Academy.” – Sir Reginald Hargreeves   “This … is The Sparrow Academy,” declared Sir Reginald Hargreeves, to his shocked and confused children.   So begins the third season of The Umbrella Academy, which tells the story of the Hargreeves, a family of adopted super-powered former child heroes who have drifted apart …

March 31, known as International Transgender Day of Visibility, is a day that means a great deal to me and millions of people across the globe. International Transgender Day of Visibility is an annual event occurring on March 31 dedicated to celebrating transgender people’s contributions to society and raising awareness of the discrimination faced by …

Ask Paula Shneer about the driving force behind her nearly 20-year leadership tenure with Toronto Film School and its predecessor, and she answers without hesitation – it is, and always has been, all about the students.   “For me, helping to support our students’ goals and solve their problems has always been, from the start, energizing and …

What better time than now?   Around the world, the coronavirus pandemic has forced many female creatives to take a step back from their daily grinds, take stock of what’s really important to them, and take action to achieve their dreams.     For many – like Zoey Poulsen, Jill King and Carol Snow – …

There are many time and task management systems, all geared at helping you be more productive and, ultimately, more successful.   None of these systems are perfect and many will require an investment of time and effort to get them to work to full effectiveness, which can feel counterintuitive. Your first step is to do …

Ever since she was a teen, Alex Duz has been a huge proponent of mindfulness, meditation and “the art and practice of being in the here and now of this present moment.”   So, when the Mississauga born-and-raised Yorkville University student was offered the chance to launch her very first podcast centred around that very …

We know that being in self-isolation can be a stressful time, so we here at Toronto Film School have compiled a list of free tools to help you stay creative, active, and informed during these difficulties.   FREE SOFTWARE – Adobe Creative Cloud – Adobe is currently offering students and teachers 60 per cent off …

At Toronto Film School, we never cease to be amazed by the accomplishments of our awesome alumni, students and faculty, who are out pursuing their dreams in the creative industries – be it launching their own studios, being selected to participate in prestigious screenwriting bootcamps, or having their scripts optioned and shot starring Hollywood stars. …

Toronto Film School has named Carolina Cortez Paz the latest recipient of the BIPOC Creative Achievement Award – a platform the Latina artist plans to use to elevate and inspire her fellow creatives from marginalized communities. Presented in partnership with BMO, the quarterly bursary – which recognizes full-time BIPOC students with $1,250 awards towards their tuition …

Larissa Stanley just returned home to the Liard First Nation in Yukon following a whirlwind, monthlong trip to Europe that included a prestigious two-week artist residency in France. The Online Graphic Design & Interactive Media student, who belongs to the Kaska Dena people and Crow Clan, was selected as one of just eight artists to …

Graphic Design & Interactive Media student Saelym Degrandpre recently celebrated her first-ever exhibition at ᕿᓐᓂᕋᔮᑦᑐᖅ Qinnirajaattuq / Ripples: Making Waves in Inuit Art Symposium. The Ottawa-based Urban Inuk artist had a total of six pieces on display at the event, which took place at Montreal’s La Guilde gallery and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts from …

Online Graphic Design & Interactive Media student and Olympic medallist Abigail Strate claimed a career-high three World Cup ski jumping medals – a silver and two bronze – this past winter. The 23-year-old Calgary native celebrated the first of her three consecutive FIS Ski Jumping World Cup podium finishes with a bronze medal in the …

A student short film shot entirely in Mandarin defied language barriers to emerge as the big winner at Toronto Film School’s 2024 Film Festival. Congratulations, It’s a Girl! took home many of the top awards at the May 16 event, bringing home five of the six trophies it was nominated for – including Best Picture, …

Whether you’re searching for the perfect holiday gift, a special birthday surprise, or the cherry on top of a loved one’s graduation, nabbing the perfect item for the designer in your life can be tough.  At Toronto Film School, we’re often asked by parents and friends of students on what would make an ideal gift …

“When in doubt, keep it simple.” That was just one of the pieces of advice imparted on Toronto Film School’s graduating Class of 2023 during their recent convocation ceremony – and it came from none other than Priscilla producer (and fellow TFS alum) Chris Hatcher, who acted as the ceremony’s distinguished speaker. Distinguished Speaker Chris …

If you’re looking for a career that is both creative and strategic, then graphic design may be ideal for you. As a graphic designer, your job will be to conceive and design visual solutions that meet your client’s needs. This is accomplished by making a visual connection to their brand, something that resonates with the …

Toronto Film School went BIG for its 20th anniversary celebrations over the weekend – rolling out the red carpet to students past, present and future for an inspiring event that shone a spotlight on just how possible it is to start a career doing what you love. The TFS Showcase: A Journey in Motion event, which …

Ahh, the production artist – a vital yet often overlooked role in the world of graphic design. These detail-oriented designers step in during the final stages of a project and they thrive on balancing, refining, ordering, and color-correcting visual designs that have already received a first draft.  If you’re unfamiliar with the role, it’s because …

Creative professionals require powerful computers to do their best work. Unfortunately, this means their set-up costs can run notoriously high.  But fear not! If you’re creative you can still get yourself a new computer that delivers exceptional performance at an affordable price. The solution? An i7 Windows laptop! Ranking among the finest laptop CPUs on …

  For Parmpreet Kaur Gill, the decision to enroll in Toronto Film School Online’s Designing for Fashion program was one that gave her the skills to creatively express her passion for her Punjabi heritage.   “I come from a traditional Punjabi household. Since my culture-rich upbringing has been such as large part of my identity …

  “Stay curious, stay open, push yourself, and be kind.”   That, in a nutshell, is Julia Colley’s message to her fellow graduates as Toronto Film School Online’s 2022 Graphic Design & Interactive Media valedictorian.   True to her own advice to stay open, Colley was working in a university setting when she decided to …

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” It was those aspirational words from Walt Disney that Naveen Kazmi credits with motivating her to enroll at Toronto Film School in pursuit of her dream of becoming a graphic designer. “My dreams began when I attended the first lecture at …

It took Carolina Balderas nearly a decade of craving a more creative career to finally chase her passions, but her leap of faith paid off – and quickly.   Before even finishing her Online Graphic Design & Interactive Media studies at Toronto Film School, the Monterrey, Mexico native landed herself a new job in her …

From her childhood passion for drawing, painting and writing, to her university studies in Visual Arts, English and Sociology – Jessica Angelevski’s creative calling has been a lifelong one.   It wasn’t until discovering Toronto Film School, however, that this year’s Class of 2021 Davisville Campus valedictorian found a career path upon which she could …

Just two months after graduating from Toronto Film School’s Graphic Design & Interactive Media program, basketball superfan Zach Hirshberg recently landed his dream job with an NBA team.   The 25-year-old Toronto native was hired on by the Orlando Magic in September as a Graphic Production GA – a design job he credits his TFS …

“Always evolve.”   That was the advice Jason Durham handed down to Graphic Design & Interactive Media (GDIM) students during this term’s virtual installation of Meet the Designers.   Hosted by GDIM Program Director Pheinixx, the once-a-term event presents a unique opportunity for Graphic Design students to gain insight into the real world of creative …

Since graduating from Toronto Film School’s Online Graphic Design & Interactive Media in 2019, Amber Reesor has thrived at being her own boss.   As founder and owner of Amber Reesor Design, she gets to set her own hours, pick her own freelance gigs, and let her own creative vision be the driving force behind …