 
 
THE INDUSTRY CONFERENCE
Engaging the professional community of Canadian filmmakers, producers and broadcasters. Our goal is to provide stimulating, up-to-date information and access to the world of environmental films and funding. Professional modules include the Master Class, networking opportunities, the Green Pitch competition and DocBOX Toolkit sessions filled with an outstanding line up of VIP guests.
Live at the Centre for Social Innovation, 192 Spadina Ave, Toronto
COFFEE @ 9:30am
Doors open at 10am, join us for coffee and a light snack ahead of the first panel event!
THE FUNDING PANEL @ 10:00am
This session focuses on some of the key relationships necessary to get your film funded, produced & sold. Funding agency reps discuss the latest trends in financing, co-productions, distribution and the future of branded content.
2024 panelists include:
| Julian Carrington | Moderator |
| Anna Newallo | Ontario Creates |
| James Lucscombe | Telefilm Canada |
| Peter Kingstone | Toronto Arts Council |
THE FUTURE OF CLIMATE STORIES PANEL @ 11:30am
This panel delves into developing creative and effective climate storytelling for filmmakers and creatives. Broadcasters and producers discuss what type of climate content programmers and broadcasters are looking for.
Moderator: Lesley Johnson
| Jeanie Calleja | The Big Oil Alliance – web series comedy | Actor, Producer |
| Aidan Denison | TVO | TVO Docs Programmer |
| Sue Dando | CBC – The Nature of Things | Executive in charge of production, Nature of Things |
THE MASTER CLASS @ 1pm
Each year, Planet in Focus hosts a Master Class workshop with an established filmmaker and PiF alumnus. The 2024 workshop will be hosted by Canadian filmmaker Su Rynard. Watch Su’s newest film The Everlasting Pea on Friday, October 18th at the Paradise Theatre.
Su Rynard is a Canadian filmmaker and media artist. Her films – short, long, fiction and documentary – have garnered multiple awards and have screened in film festivals around the globe. Recent work includes: Duet for Solo Piano (2020) a feature documentary film with companion interactive SoloForDuet.ca (
Often inspired by science, art, ecology, and the human relationship to the natural world, recent projects include; Don’t Blink (2018) a five part digital series that stretches the boundaries of sight and sound to reveal the wonder of the everyday world, an installation Goldilocks (2020) that explores climatic consequences of water in the goldilocks zone and As Soon as Weather Will Permit (2015) a dual screen projection work that reflects upon one person’s story within the inimitable confluence of events that led to the dropping of the first atomic bomb in 1945.
THE DISTRIBUTION PANEL @ 2:30pm
The changing landscape of distribution can pose a challenge for filmmakers post-pandemic. Join us as we ask Canadian distributors the tough questions including navigating hybrid festivals, new international strategies and more.
Moderator: Julian Carrington
2024 panelists include:
| Chloe Sosa-Sims | CBC Gem |
| Kirk Cooper | Raven Banner |
THE GREEN PITCH @ 4pm
A highlight of Industry Day is the Green Pitch. Five selected filmmakers pitch their film idea to a panel of industry judges and in front of the conference audience. The winner receives a prize valued at over $19,000 in services & cash to put toward the production of their project provided by Ontario film production suppliers. See the 2023 Green Pitch winner here. Applications for the 2024 Green Pitch are due by October 10, 2024
2023 Green Pitch Prize Sponsors: SIM International, William F. White, Dynamix Solutions, Pie in the Sky Studios, The Source Shop, Trinity Square Video and FilmFestivals.com. The Green Pitch 2023 Jury:
| Victoria Harding | DGC Executive Director |
| Sue Dando | CBC |
| Tiffany Hsiung | Hot Docs Board of Directors |
INDUSTRY AND GREEN PITCH SPONSORS
