| Updates | Grants | Events | Workshops | Jobs |

ConneKt Film is a film community that helps filmmakers at all levels to connect, grow and succeed by centralizing all film opportunities in Toronto, including networking events, festivals, grants and job openings, right in your mailbox!

We want to cut down the time spent in looking for film opportunities and deliver this crucial information to you, so you can focus on what matters the most - your career!

Hey there, wonderful filmmaker!

Welcome to the industry updates! Read till the end to soak in all the industry news, grant deadlines, job opportunities, upcoming events and more!

Updates

ConneKt Film

I hope you are as excited about ConneKt Film’s upcoming initiatives! . We are so happy to see our Not Just A Filmmaker event series coming to life with our first event Film Flow. We want film professionals to share their “non-film” passions and meet film friends and make new ones in safe and fun environment! We are so excited to welcome you for Film Flow this Saturday and hope to see you for the upcoming events!

Also, book June 25th and 26th from 2.30pm until 4.30pm since ConneKt Film is doing an incredible programming at VRTO Conference this year. We will talk about Indigenous creators in the immersive space, what does the future of XR and Virtual Production looks like, how to break into the industry and how to build a sustainable career.

More good news! We have a special gift for our ConneKt Film community! You can use the code connektvrto2025 for 25% discount for the VRTO conference pass and exhibit hall. You can redeem it here.

Festivals and Releases

This past week was a very busy week in the film industry! We have the conclusion of two major film events and major releases ahead. Here’s a little review:

🎥The conclusion of the 78th Cannes Film Festival (May 13 - 24) :

• Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi won the Palme d’Or for film It Was Just an Accident

• Robert De Niro and Denzel Washington were awarded Honorary Palme d’Or 

• Films like documentary Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk by Speideh Farsi, discussing the ongoing war and conflict in Gaza, Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value and Jennifer Lawrence’s performance in Die My Love are also receiving early awards season attention

🎥The conclusion of the 13th Canadian Screen Awards (June 1):

• Best Motion Picture: The Apprentice, a biographical drama chronicling Donald Trump's early career, won the top honor. Producer Daniel Bekerman used his acceptance speech to highlight the importance of independent filmmaking and storytelling in challenging power structures.

• Most Awarded Film: Universal Language led the film categories with six awards, including Best Direction for Matthew Rankin and Best Editing for Xi Feng.

• Best Feature Length Documentary: Yintah, co-directed by Michael Toledano, Jennifer Wickham, and Brenda Michell, won this category. The film focuses on the Wet’suwet’en Nation's fight to protect their land.

• Best Performance in a Leading Role, Drama: Sebastian Stan received this award for his portrayal in The Apprentice.

• Best Performance in a Leading Role, Comedy: Cate Blanchett was honored for her role in Rumours.

🎬🍿Big name films openings including:

• Ballerina (June 6) - A John Wick spin-off starring Ana de Armas

• How to Train Your Dragon (June 13) - A live-action adaptation of the animation of the same title

• F1 (June 27) - A Formula One film featuring Brad Pitt

Opportunities

Festivals you and your works can enter!

• Toronto Int’l Music Video Fest: Aug 1 (late), Aug 25 (final) (apply)

• T.O. Webfest: Jun 6 (apply)

• Gender Equity in Media Fest: Jun 15, Jul 15, Aug 15 (apply)

• Forest City Film Fest: Jun 15 (regular), Jul 15 (late) (apply)

• Hamilton Film Fest: Jun 20 (apply)

• Whistler Film Fest: Jun 30, Jul 31, Aug 15 (apply)

• Latin American Film Fest (LATAFF): Jun 30, Jul 31, Aug 20 (apply)

• Cinéfest Sudbury: Jul 1 (regular), Jul 15 (late) (apply)

• Windsor Int’l Film Fest: Jul 21, Aug 22 (apply)

• MISAFF: Aug 1 (apply)

• Breakthroughs Film Fest: Aug 13 (apply)

• Barrie Film Fest: Aug 15, Sep 5 (apply)

• Toronto Black Film Fest: Aug 22 (regular), Oct 20 (late) (apply)

• Blood in the Snow: Monthly, last: Oct 1 (apply)

• Pendance Film Fest: Monthly, final: Jan 10, 2026 (apply)

and finally…

Workshops

Sign up as soon as you can while there are still tickets.

Jobs

There are companies that are hiring multiple positions: Soho VFX, Company 3, Corus Entertainment, Blue Ant Media, Rogers Communications, CBC/Radio Canada, MLSE, Moonlight Studio, Fujifilm, Spin Master, Method Studios, Side FX, Guru Studio, Landmark Cinemas, IMAX, Cineplex and you can find more job opportunities below.