Presented by:
The International Film Festival of Ottawa (IFFO) invites all screen-based industry professionals to attend IFFO’s Screen Summit 2024 - an event dedicated to strengthening and inspiring Ottawa's growing production sector while addressing topics relevant to anyone with an interest in producing content for the cinema, for streamers, for broadcast or for the web. Join thought leaders for an insightful and inspirational series of panels and gain access to key industry representatives and the talent and skills of the local production community.
This is a great opportunity for aspiring writers, directors, and producers who want to take their projects from script to screen, but aren’t sure how to do it. Screen Summit gives you access to industry professionals who make a living writing, producing, directing, and creating. Hear their stories, heed their advice, and make a few connections along the way.
Friday, March 22, 2024
Arts Court Theatre, 2 Daly Ave.
Screen Summit 2024 is sold out!
Screen Summit 2024 Program
Friday, March 22, 2024, Arts Court Theatre, 2 Daly Ave. (Level 3)
Doors open at 9:30 am
Tom Green in Conversation with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, presented in partnership with Porter Airlines
10:00 am - 11:00 am, Arts Court Theatre
IFFO’s Screen Summit presents this year's Hometown Heroes talk featuring Mayor Mark Sutcliffe in conversation with his friend, the original Tom Green.
Starting at Algonquin College, Green's rise to success was extraordinary. His highly original and innovative comedy started with a show on CHUO, moving on to Rogers Cable, finally landing as a massive hit on MTV.
The Tom Green Show was pre-reality TV, pre-social media and was a precursor to an entire generation of independently produced social media content on platforms like YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
Green will share what he's learned over the span of his career, and give some behind-the-scenes stories about how he made his mark in Ottawa and beyond.
Meet the Development Executives
11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Arts Court Theatre
Representatives from leading streamers and production companies will share their insights about their current and future priorities, discussing what motivates their preferences and what works well for their audiences.
Moderated by:
Sandrine Pechels de Saint Sardos, Film Commissioner, Ottawa Film Office
Guest Speakers:
Sam Linton, VP, Production and Development, Blue Ant Media
Keren Jackman, Senior Producer, Gusto TV
Georgia Shearman, Development Executive, Scripted, Original Programming · CraveTV and CTV, Bell Media
Networking lunch by Red Apron
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm, Arts Court Studio
Funding your First Feature, presented by Welch LLP
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm, Arts Court Theatre
Expert panelists from various financing programs for features and series share their experiences and knowledge regarding tax credits and funding programs for creatives and producers in Ontario and Canada.
Moderated by:
Larisa Gutmanis, Program Curator at Ontario Creates International Film Financing Forum @ TIFF
Guest Speakers:
Jennifer Blitz, Director of the Tax Credits, Ontario Creates
Melissa Amer, Telefilm Canada
Tracey Doyle, Manager - Policy, Canadian Audio-Visual Certification Office (CAVCO), Department of Canadian Heritage / Government of Canada
One-on-one Meetings Session 1
Time: 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Location: Courtroom/Atelier
Directions: Attendees who wish to use the elevator should use elevator A. Attendees arriving from Arts Court Theatre on level 3 can use the staircase near elevator B to enter level 2, look for the orange walls.
View the list of participating industry executives.
Participants can pre-register for a one-on-one meeting through the Summit Portal.
Step by Step booking instructions can be found below.
Meet the Departments with IATSE Local 634
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm, Arts Court Studio
This interactive activity is aimed at students, emerging professionals, and anyone curious about working on a film crew. The event will feature 5-7 tables, each hosted by different professionals from the Ottawa film production industry. Each table will cover a different area of set work, and visitors will have the opportunity to chat with working crew members, watch equipment demonstrations, and ask questions about working in the film industry. Meet the Departments will cover a variety of film crew departments, such as Grip, Electric, Transport, Hair, Makeup, Costume, Construction, Props, Set Dec, SPFX, Script, Scenic Artists, or Sound.
DARC - Digital Arts Resource Centre Tours
2:00 pm & 2:30 pm, DARC - level 1
Tours of resources and workspaces available through friends of the Festival, DARC
Limited space available, first come first served
My Career with Lauren MacKinlay
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Arts Court Theatre
This career retrospective puts a spotlight on Lauren MacKinlay; an award-winning producer who began her career as a performer, and then became a creative producer, writer, and one of the co-founders of the non-profit organization Women On Screen. In conversation with the Executive Director of the Digital Arts Resource Centre (DARC) and Chair of the Board for the Digi60 Filmmakers’ Festival, Emily Ramsay, she will reflect on her varied work experience including producing short films, features, web series and television. She is currently a creative producer with Neshama Entertainment, having recently served as an Executive Producer on their new one-hour drama The Way Home (Hallmark). Other credits include Transplant (CTV/NBC), Bad Blood (Netflix), 19–2 (CTV), and This Life (CBC). Lauren has gained knowledge and experience in every department throughout her career; she will share advice on how to become a producer along with a few tips and personal stories she’s learnt along the way.
One-on-one Meetings Session 2
Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: Courtroom/Atelier Level 2
Directions: Attendees who wish to use the elevator should use elevator A. Attendees arriving from Arts Court Theatre on level 3 can use the staircase near elevator B to enter level 2, look for the orange walls.
View the list of participating industry executives.
Participants can pre-register for a one-on-one meeting through the Summit Portal.
Step by Step booking instructions can be found below.
Networking Cocktail Reception, presented by Welch LLP
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm, Arts Court Studio
Mix and mingle with Screen Summit attendees before a dinner break, followed by a friday night screening.
Have a Good Day - a new film by Ottawa's Lisa Soper, presented by DGC Ontario
6:30 pm - 7:30 pm, Alma Duncan Salon
Lisa Soper is one of Ottawa's major success stories. She started out at the Animation Program at Algonquin College but shifted into production design working on the visually stunning The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Her talents led her to directing and she took the reins on the pilot of Pretty Little Liars Original Sin as well as many other series and features.
IFFO is proud to premiere her new short Have a Good Day (2024) produced by Ottawa's 1Dept and starring Lucy Davis and Eric Johnson. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Lisa focussing on the making of her film and her impressive career to date.
Interview by:
JJ Gillanders, Professor in Film and Media Studies, Algonquin College
Special Guest:
Lisa Soper, Director, Have a Good Day (2024)
Have a Good Day Reception, presented by 1Department
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm, Arts Court Studio
Join Screen Summit attendees and IFFO Festival goers for a post-screening party to celebrate Ottawa’s Lisa Soper.
Networking
One-on-One Meetings
Screen Summit attendees can benefit from one-on-one networking opportunities with development executives and funders who will be speaking on panels. Delegates can pre-register for private 12-minute meetings with industry professionals who will be in attendance.
The booking system will open to Professional Screen Summit Pass holders on Thursday, March 7 at noon.
The booking system will open to Student Pass holders on Thursday, March 14, 2024 at noon.
Bookings will close at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, March 20.
Attendees will be able to request their top three meeting choices. Meetings will be confirmed by the IFFO team on a first-come-first-served basis. We ask that you limit your requests to 3 people and we will do our best to accommodate your requests.
Booking Instructions:
Before requesting your meetings, review the participating industry executives. We recommend that you review this information carefully BEFORE requesting meetings to ensure that you only book meetings with relevant executives.
1. Log in to the Summit Portal, hosted by Eventival. The Log in button is on the top right of the page.
2. Select Meeting Planner from the menu on the left.
3. Once registration opens, you will see the list of participating executives on the Meeting Planner page. Toggle between the tabs for Networking Meetings: Session 1 (1:30-2:30 pm) and Networking Meetings: Session 2 (3:00-4:00 pm) to see the executives participating in each session.
4. Click Details for the executive you would like to meet and click the Request meeting button. We ask that you limit your requests to 3 people and we will do our best to accommodate your requests.
5. Review confirmed schedule: Once we have confirmed your scheduled meeting, it will be displayed at the bottom of your Meeting Planner page with an exact time. Time slots will be assigned according to the meeting session selected.
Please arrive at least five minutes before your scheduled meeting. Remember to bring your own (fully charged) portable electronic device if you intend to share any materials during your meeting. Look for directional signs at the event or ask a volunteer for assistance to find the meeting spaces.
Who is Here Directory
Set up less structured meetings before, during and after the Screen Summit with the Who is Here directory. Access to this directory of Screen Summit attendees is included with your pass.
Screenings and Talks
Wednesday, March 20
Canadian Masters Series - Deepa Mehta
Interview: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm, Alma Duncan Salon in the Ottawa Art Gallery (10 Daly Ave.)
Funny Boy Screening: 7:45 pm - 10:00 pm, Alma Duncan Salon
Friday, March 22
Have a Good Day (2024) - a new film by Ottawa's Lisa Soper, presented by DGC Ontario
Screening and Q&A: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm, Alma Duncan Salon
Q&A Interview by JJ Gillanders, Professor in Film and Media Studies, Algonquin College
Have a Good Day Reception, presented by 1Department: 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm, Arts Court Studio
Screen Summit 2024 Pass:
Includes:
Access to 4 panel presentations and guest speakers with Q&A opportunities
One-on-one meeting opportunities with industry contacts and access to film production resources
Networking Lunch with catering by The Red Apron
Networking Cocktail Reception, presented by Welch LLP
Access to IFFO screenings:
Wednesday night, Canadian Masters Series - Deepa Mehta
Friday night, World Premiere screening of Have a Good Day (2024) with Ottawa’s Lisa Soper, presented by DGC Ontario. Followed by a post-screening reception presented by 1Department.
IFFO Tote Bag
10% off full IFFO pass
Industry Professionals: $75 ($180 value)
Subsidized Industry Professional Pass: 10 complimentary spots reserved for underemployed professionals working in screen-based industries: apply here.
Students: $50 with valid student ID