Celebrating Female Creatives | A TFS Spotlight in Honour of International Women’s Day

This International Women’s Day 2026, we celebrate the extraordinary female creatives who make up the heart of the Toronto Film School community.

At TFS, empowering women to reach their creative ambitions isn’t just a goal – it’s what we do. This year has brought another wave of outstanding achievements from our female students and alumni, who continue to push boundaries and light the way for others through their artistry, innovation, and resilience. From starring in powerful Oscar-nominated films, to premiering their debut features at TIFF, to winning accolades for their art and design work, our community has proven time and again that passion and hard work lead to success.

The stories that follow showcase just a sample of these remarkable women and what they’ve accomplished. Their paths forward demonstrate what’s possible when talent meets determination – and when we champion one another every step of the way.

Saja Kilani’s Powerful Performance Earns Global Recognition

Less than four years after graduating from Toronto Film School’s Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre program, Saja Kilani is now starring in one of the most “devastating” and “vital” critically acclaimed films of the year.

The Voice of Hind Rajab – which has swept the major international film award categories with nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and BAFTA Film Awards – tells the harrowing true story of a five-year-old girl trapped in a car under fire in Gaza, desperately pleading for rescue over an emergency call.

Kilani, a Jordanian-Palestinian-Canadian actress and poet, portrays Rana Faqih – the real-life Palestine Red Crescent Society volunteer who stayed on the line with Hind during her final hours – in the Kaouther Ben Hania-directed film.

“Portraying Rana was about getting to know her on a personal level,” Kilani told TFS. “She shared her story from her own perspective and, without trying to, showed me her courage. My role was to listen deeply and let that truth guide the performance.”

Read more about the film and Kilani’s journey HERE.

Zain Duraie Marks World Premiere of Sink at TIFF 2025

Class of 2010 Film Production grad Zain Duraie celebrated the world premiere her debut feature film Sink at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this past fall.

The 88-minute drama, which Duraie wrote and directed, was screened as part of TIFF’s prestigious Discovery programme, which highlights first and second features from visionary filmmakers from around the world.

Described by Duraie as a deeply personal project in which she left “every piece of my heart on the screen,” Sink explores the relationship between a mother (played by Palestinian actress Clara Khoury) and her teenage son (Jordanian actor Mohammad Nizar) as he struggles with an undiagnosed mental illness.

“It’s a film with pure honesty and truth, nothing else,” Duraie said of Sink in a July 26 Instagram post announcingSink’s TIFF selection.

Learn more about Duraie and her film HERE.

Saelym DeGrandpré Shines as Semi-Finalist in 2025 Pow Wow Pitch

Graphic Design & Interactive Media grad Saelym DeGrandpré has been selected as a 2025 Semi-Finalist for the Pow Wow Pitch competition back in August. grad

Now in its 10^th year, the annual competition aims to shine a spotlight on Indigenous vendors, artists, business builders, innovators and entrepreneurs from all across Turtle Island, no matter their backgrounds or industries.

DeGrandpré, an Ottawa-based urban Inuk artist, was shortlisted in the Pow Wow Pitch’s Creative category for her creative works, which blend traditional Inuit art with contemporary design through diverse digital and tactile mediums spanning carving, printmaking, illustration and design, and jewelry making.

“It’s such an honour to be recognized alongside so many inspiring people,” she said. “This opportunity means so much to me. I’ll be working with mentors, growing my vision, and connecting with so many inspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs.”

Read more about the competition and DeGrandpré work HERE.

TFS Hosts Roundtable on Women in Film & TV Featuring The Handmaid’s Tale’s Amanda Brugel

Toronto Film School hosted a Women in Film and TV roundtable last March, marking a significant milestone in the school’s ongoing commitment to supporting Canadian talent and empowering women in the screen industries.

The exclusive roundtable featured Canadian Screen Award-winning actor, producer and writer, Amanda Brugel, who is best known for her roles in The Handmaid’s Tale, Dark Matter, and Kim’s Convenience, among others, alongside notable Toronto Film School alumni including: Robyn Alomar (Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre ’17), Christina Borgs (Film Production ’18), Maxine Clement (Writing for Film & Television ’18) and Garima Sood (Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre ’18).

Moderated by TFS’s Writing for Film & Television Program Director Michelle Daly, the discussion delved into topics including women’s representation in the entertainment industry, navigating careers in film and television, and the unique experiences of women in the business.

Learn more about the Roundtable and watch the full discussion HERE.

Johana Abed’s The Man with the Iron Heart Wins Best Picture at TFS FEST 2025

Johana Abed took home the top prize at TFS FEST 2025, winning the Best Picture award for her short film, The Man with the Iron Heart.

The 12-minute short, which the Class of 2024 Film Production grad wrote and directed, follows a mother as she struggles to explain to her young daughter why her grandfather isn’t in their lives. Unable to find the right words for such a painful truth, she weaves their real story into a fantasy bedtime tale – casting her father’s unhealed trauma as a darkness that drove them apart.

“This movie was made with so much love. Everyone who was involved, both cast and crew, gave their absolute best, so thank you. I love all of you guys,” she said during her acceptance speech, before sending long-distance thanks to her mom and aunt back in Mexico.

Read more about TFS FEST 2025’s other big winners HERE.

Alia Ettienne Named Recipient of BMO BIPOC Creative Achievement Award

Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre student Alia Ettienne was named a recipient of TFS’s BMO BIPOC Creative Achievement Award in October.

Created to help foster greater diversity and representation in Canada’s creative industries, the quarterly $1,250 bursary celebrates the creativity and promise of full-time students who identify as Black, Indigenous or a Person of Colour.

Ettienne called her selection as this term’s recipient of the bursary a “massive deal.”

“This support will directly fuel my growth as a performer, mother, and community artist,” she said.

“It will help me continue to build on the foundation I’ve established at Toronto Film School and ensure that I can keep telling stories that reflect the world I live in and the experiences of those who may be considered ‘other.’”

Learn more about Ettienne’s story HERE.

Momo Spaine Makes Directorial Debut with ‘After 30’ on Prime Video

Class of 2019 Film Production grad Momo Spaine marked the global release of her directorial debut, After 30, on Prime Video in May.

Produced by Nemsia Studios, the film tells the story of four dynamic women living in Lagos and navigating the realities of life in their thirties, career changes, relationships, healing, and redefining success.

“I couldn’t be more excited,” Spaine said of the film’s release on the streaming platform. “After 30 holds a special place in my heart. It is not merely a film, but a reflection of my personal and professional journey as both a filmmaker and a woman.”

The film marks the long-awaited sequel to the beloved series Before 30, which Spaine produced in 2015.

Read more about Spaine’s story HERE.

Kristin Govers Brings Awkward Ballerina Solo Show to Fringe Windsor

Online Writing for Film & Television student Kristin Govers brought her one-woman show, The Awkward Ballerina  to Fringe Windsor – parlaying her tales of early-life adversity into a standing ovation-worthy performance.

“The Awkward Ballerina is a 100 per cent true story based on my childhood as an aspiring ballet dancer with cerebral palsy, and what it was like to have to face some of the difficulties that I faced,” she said.

The show sees Govers embodying her younger self to tell her story about growing up with a disability, then coming back to the present to talk about how she overcame those obstacles and what life is like for her now.

“The Awkward Ballerina is about believing in yourself and following your dreams. It’s about not giving up on those dreams just because it’s hard. It’s about friendship, love and understanding. But most importantly, it’s about being kind.”

Learn more about the show and Govers’ next project HERE.

BMO BIPOC Creative Achievement Award Names Tracy Pepper Its December Recipient

Tracy Pepper was named the recipient of the BMO BIPOC Creative Achievement Award in December.

The quarterly $1,250 bursary aims to support TFS students who are Black, Indigenous or People of Colour in overcoming financial barriers so they can successfully complete their programs and pursue their artistic dreams.

For Pepper, a Métis woman of Algonquin, Iroquois, and Mohawk ancestry, the award arrives at a crucial time as she navigates a “profound life transition” marked by personal resilience and cultural rediscovery, while also undergoing treatment for kidney cancer.

“Through learning about my female Métis lineage, I have begun to understand my creative identity in ways I never imagined possible,” Pepper said. “This cultural awakening has become inseparable from my artistic vision.”

Read more about Pepper’s story HERE.

Heather Hedley Debuts at TIFF as Head of Wardrobe on ‘Honey Bunch’

When Honey Bunch marked its North American premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this year, audiences marvelled at its evocative 1970s world – one painstakingly brought to life in large part thanks to Toronto Film School alumnus Heather Hedley.

A Class of 2020 Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre grad, Hedley served as Head of Wardrobe on the film, which was co-written and co-directed by her former TFS instructor, Madeleine Sims-Fewer alongside Dusty Mancinelli.

For Hedley, the chance to have worked on such a high-profile project screening at TIFF’s 50th edition is more than just a career milestone – it’s a full-circle moment.

“I owe it all to Madeleine…The moment I took her class, I was just so inspired by everything that she does and the way that she approaches acting and writing and character work,” Hedley said. “…She really took me on as a mentor, so I owe it all to her.”

Learn more about Hedley’s story HERE.

Adélaïde Schoofs Garners Rave Reviews in Fanny

Class of 2022 Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre grad Adélaïde Schoofs’s latest project filled up theatres in Quebec last spring, garnering rave reviews .

Directed by Yan England, Fanny was adapted from the popular French YA novel series Fanny Cloutier and follows a teenaged girl (played by Milya Corbeil Gauvreau) in her desperate search for answers after discovering a family secret upon her mother’s death.

Schoofs plays the titular character’s best friend, Léonie, in the film – a role she landed following much preparation and an intensive audition process.

“This opportunity didn’t show up the day I graduated from TFS. A career is something you build up, with intention and persistence. If you’re serious about it, you have to treat it like it matters,” she said.

“TFS taught me that opportunities won’t come to you; you have to work hard with the right tools and the right people to chase them,” she added.

Read more about Schoofs’ experience on the set of Fanny HERE.

Sophia Cano Selected Student Graduation Speaker at 2025 Convocation

Sophia Cano delivered an emotional and deeply personal address at Toronto Film School’s 2025 Convocation.

The Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre graduate spoke openly about periods of loneliness, heaviness, and self-doubt she experienced along her creative journey, describing how her craft became a place to pour everything she couldn’t express aloud. Through that process, she not only found solace, but connection when she was brave enough to share her work with the world.

“People began to tell me they felt the same way – that they thought they were the only ones struggling,” Cano said.

“Hearing that changed me. I realized something bigger than myself –the art we create – has the power to reach people; to make them feel seen, understood, less alone, more human. That’s when I truly understood the responsibility and the beauty of what we do.”

Learn more about Cano’s story HERE and her graduation speech HERE.