January Spotlight | Amazing TFS Alumni, Student and Faculty Accomplishments

.

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.

Here are some of the recent standout highlights from Toronto Film School’s talented community of creatives:

Orville Cummings
.

From Star Trek to Morningside | Orville Cummings Takes on Dark New Role in Ron Dias’s Latest Ensemble Drama

Toronto Film School alumnus Orville Cummings recently celebrated the world premiere of “Toronto’s next big movie”, Morningside, at the Reelworld Film Festival.

The project, which reunited the Class of 2015 Acting for Film, TV & the Theatre grad with his Bite of a Mango director Ron Dias, explores the lives of seven diverse characters who collide at Scarborough’s Morningside Community Centre as they navigate the challenges of relationships, societal struggles, and the looming threat of gentrification.

Read more about the film and Cummings’ role in it HERE!

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Larissa Stanley
.

Graphic Design Student Larissa Stanley Brings Indigenous Art to Life at Prestigious Atelier Artist Residency in France

Larissa Stanley recently returned home to the Liard First Nation in Yukon following a whirlwind, monthlong trip to Europe that included a prestigious two-week artist residency at the Chateau Bouthonvilliers in Dangeau, 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 participate in the Atelier Artist in Residence program in November.

Learn more about the 2-week residency and Stanley’s artwork, which blends traditional First Nation styles with her own contemporary style, HERE!

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Adam G. Levine
.

TFS Screenwriting Student Adam G. Levine’s “The Neglected” Gets the Hollywood Treatment, Stars Josh Duhamel

Adam G. Levine’s “wildest dreams” came true last month, when he travelled to Mississippi to witness his second-ever feature film script brought to life for the big screen – and with an all-star cast including Josh Duhamel and Dylan Sprouse, no less.

The sixth-term Writing for Film & Television student wrote his first draft of The Neglected back in 2021, and spent the next three years honing it under the guidance of director, producer and co-writer David Lipper.

The film follows a small-town detective (Duhamel) in a race against time to solve three murders and save his son, who’s been buried alive by a serial killer (Sprouse). It was shot over just 12 days this past December with Lipper at the helm.

To read more about Levine’s on-set experience and what’s next for the up-and-coming screenwriter, click HERE!

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Franklin Briceno
.

Toronto Film School Grad Franklin Briceño Making Waves with Viral Music Videos

Just a year after graduating from Toronto Film School, Franklin Briceño is already being touted as “Toronto’s Next BIG Director” – a title the Class of 2023 Film Production grad is determined to earn.

The Panamanian-born-and raised music video director earned high praise for his recent string of hit videos from the media platform Creatives Canada back in a September post on Instagram.

Briceño’s biggest hit to date came with the release of OTRA VEZ, a video he directed for Latin singer-rapper Esco. The viral video, which features popular Raggaeton artist Bebeboy, racked up more than 100,000 views in just five days upon its release back in August.

Learn more about Briceño’s string of successful projects and what’s next for the emerging director HERE!

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Kat Anielak
.

TFS Grad Kat Anielak Lands Jury Chair Role at Toronto Polish Film Festival

Class of 2024 Film Production grad Kat Anielak is hot off the heels her first-ever stint as the Jury Chair for the Ekran Polish Film Association’s 15th Toronto Polish Film Festival.

“I think it’s invaluable for film students and anyone interested in working in film to see European projects – including Polish productions and co-productions – and compare the storytelling, production value, editing styles, and all the small details that distinguish North American and European films,” she said of the festival, which took place November 14-24 at the Revue Cinema.

Read more about the festival and Anielak’s growing role at the annual event HERE!

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

William Gauthier
.

TFS Grad William Gauthier Marks Major Milestones with Launch of Studio Vallion and its Debut Short ‘Resilient Hope’

Class of 2023 Toronto Film School grad William Gauthier ended 2024 on not one, but two high notes – launching his new production company, Studio Vallion, and wrapping the studio’s first short, Resilient Hope.

Founded alongside his fellow Film Production alums Alyssa Duncan and Josh Boutros, Gauthier said he created Studio Vallion as both a vehicle for the stories he wants to tell and as a home for the “invaluable collaborators” that make it possible for him to do so.

To read more about Gauthier’s journey to launching Studio Vallion, including all the TFS grads who worked behind the scene’s of the studio’s debut short, click HERE!

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Steven Hoffner
.

TFS’s Steven Hoffner Celebrates Broadcast Premiere of ‘The Cannons’ Documentary on TSN and NHL Network

Toronto Film School’s Steven Hoffner recently celebrated the acquisition and broadcast premiere of his debut documentary feature, The Cannons (Brothers on Ice).

The film, which the director of TFS’s Film Production program co-directed, produced, shot and edited, was recently acquired by TSN and the NHL Network, where it marked its Canadian and US broadcast premieres in December.

Read more about the immersive, 75-minute project, which follows legendary Coach Neal Henderson and the young, predominately all African-American players on his Fort Dupont Cannons, HERE!

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Saelym Degrandpre
.

Emerging Urban Inuk Artist Saelym Degrandpre Makes Waves at Montreal’s Ripples Symposium

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 in November.

Learn more about Degrandpre, whose work blends traditional Inuit art with contemporary design through digital and tactile mediums, and her “fantastic and unforgettable” experience at the Ripples symposium HERE!

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Obama Oriuwa
.

TFS Grad Obata Oriuwa Joins Anthony Q. Farrell’s Diversity Showrunner Bootcamp

Toronto Film School alumnus Obata “Obie” Oriuwa was recently selected to participate in Anthony Q. Farrell’s prestigious Diversity Showrunner Bootcamp.

The Class of 2023 Writing for Film & Television grad is now nearing the end of the three-month program, which is run by industry leaders and aims to bridge the knowledge gaps that exist in the creative industries through a series of eight, three-hour virtual training sessions for select BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour), persons with disabilities and 2SLGBTQIA+ participants.

To read more about Oriuwa’s journey to becoming a screenwriter, click HERE!

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Alexander Carson
.

TFS Grads Shine in Alexander Carson’s ‘Alberta Number One’ at International Film Festivals

Toronto Film School’s Alexander Carson recently celebrated the launch his latest film, Alberta Number One at two festival premieres – the 53rd Festival du Nouveau Cinéma in Montréal, and the 60th Chicago International Film Festival.

The 83-minute feature – a road movie that boasts a handful of Toronto Film School grads in its closing credits – was both directed and produced by Carson, a TFS instructor who now serves as the Associate Chair of the Bachelor of Creative Arts program at Yorkville University.

Helping Carson behind the scenes of Alberta Number One were TFS Film Production grads Charles Han (2018), Lavpreet “Lovey” Brar (2020), Noel Pendawa (2022) and Mano Murali (2022).

Learn more about the project HERE!

Cynthia Reason

Cynthia Reason (she/her) is a former newspaper journalist turned communications professional who currently works as Toronto Film School’s Manager of Communications. Prior to joining TFS, she spent 13 years working as a reporter for Torstar/Metroland Media Toronto, writing for publications including Toronto.com, the Etobicoke Guardian, and the Toronto Star, among others. Her byline has also appeared in the National Post. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Guelph and Post-Graduate Diploma in Journalism from Humber College.

Blogs

A Game of Life and Breath | TFS Video Game Students Unveil 'DystO2pia'

Toronto Film School’s graduating class of Video Game students recently unveiled their breathtaking new game DystO2pia during a virtual capstone showcase event. Described as a “thrilling” first-person horror survival game, DystO2pia is set on a ravaged planet Earth in 2045, where AI has taken over and humans are struggling to survive. Players need to navigate a …Read more