Access Threshold at Canadian Film Festival

Access Threshold was proud to attend one of the most valuable Canadian Film Festival industry networking experiences on the Canadian screen industry calendar, a curated series of 20-minute small-group conversations designed to move projects forward.

About the Sessions

These intimate sessions offered direct access to leading industry professionals, creating space for strategic questions, meaningful dialogue, and high-level insights, all in a focused, conversational setting. For emerging and mid-level creatives, this kind of direct access to decision-makers is rare and genuinely transformative.

Who Was in the Room

The Canadian Film Festival industry networking sessions brought together an exceptional lineup of industry professionals spanning production, distribution, casting, funding, and beyond:

• Avi Federgreen, Filmmaker, Producer and Distributor, Federgreen Entertainment and IndieCan Entertainment
• Sohrab Merchant, Literary and Production Agent and Manager, The Characters Talent Agency
• Ryan Goldhar, Vice-President Agent and Manager, The Characters Talent Agency
• Kim Ball, Executive Vice President Content and Communications, Super Channel
• Suzanne Marshall, Senior Manager Programming, Hollywood Suite
• Colleen Rush, Casting Director, Larissa Mair Casting
• Melissa Amer, Regional Feature Film Executive, Ontario, Telefilm
• Peter Kingstone, Program Manager, Visual and Media Arts, Toronto Arts Council
• Paul Gratton, Film Consultant and Former Director of Programming, Whistler Film Festival
• Jessica Jennings, Media Producer and Production Consultant, Environmental Services, Ontario Film Commission and Ontario Creates
• Carolyn Mauricette and Keda Edwards Pierre, Access Threshold
• Caron Nightingale, Director of Sales, APM Music Canada and President/CEO, Nightingale Music Productions
• Bruno Marino, Producer, High Star Entertainment
• Michael Paszt, Managing Partner, Raven Banner Entertainment Inc.
• Christopher Giroux and Ann Pirvu, Producers, Precious Metal Productions and Hamilton Film Board
• Paul Gardner, Senior Producer, Bell Fibe TV1

Why It Mattered to Access Threshold

At Access Threshold, we believe that access is everything. The Canadian Film Festival embodied that belief, putting emerging creatives in direct conversation with the people shaping the future of the Canadian screen industry. Being in that room, alongside funders, distributors, agents, casting directors, and producers, reinforced why showing up in these spaces is a non-negotiable part of increasing access for PoGMI creatives.

These conversations don’t just open doors. They build the relationships that move projects, careers, and the industry forward.