Financing Innovation: Exploring New Models in the Digital Age
Location: Ada Slaight Hall | 585 Dundas St. E., Toronto, ON
In an era of rapidly evolving distribution platforms and digital content creation, this panel will explore innovative financing models for film and TV projects. From short-form content for online platforms to interactive storytelling, experts will discuss emerging opportunities for financing and producing content in the digital age, while also addressing associated financial challenges.
This is an Academy Talks event presented by the City of Toronto.
Speakers and panelists
Charlie Lubiniecki Moderator
“Charlie Lubiniecki is a producer/director with his company Border2Border Entertainment which produces and promotes a unique brand of award-winning, critically acclaimed film, television and digital projects for diverse, underserved audiences made by people with marginalized lived experience – 2SLGBTQ+, women, BIPOC and people with disabilities as key participants in what Border2Border Entertainment creates and distributes.
Charlie serves on the DEI committee with the CMPA, volunteers on the board for Webseries Canada and as a national coach through the Independent Production Fund, is a business mentor through the Futures Forward program with Ontario Creates and the Canada Media Fund as well as with the Storyworks program at Centennial College.”
Winnifred Jong Panelist
Winnifred Jong is an award winning Toronto-based filmmaker. Known for her cinematic style and authentic storytelling, Winnifred is adept at directing comedy, drama and action. She created and directed the comedic short form series, TOKENS, nominated for 8 Canadian Screen Awards (winning Best Direction 2020/2023, and Best Supporting Performance 2023) and was recognized with the 2020 ACTRA Sandi Ross Award and the 2023 Reelworld Trailblazer Award.
Danielle Hébert Panelist
Danielle Hébert has worked with the Industry Development team at Ontario Creates since 2018, specifically delivering the Interactive Digital Media Fund. As a Program Consultant, she leads the Video Content (Linear) stream of the IDM Fund Concept Definition and Production programs, manages the Futures Forward initiatives and works with Film and Interactive organizations through the Industry Development Program.
Rodney Diverlus Panelist
Rodney Diverlus is a Haitian-Canadian producer, artivist, and best-selling author. They produced Aftercare, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and their live performance and installation work has been through Stratford Festival, Canadian Opera Company, Soulpepper Theatre, Art Gallery of Ontario. Diverlus is a co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement in Canada, and the Wildseed Centre for Art & Activism, and a co-author of Canadian bestseller Until We Are Free: Reflections on Black Lives Matter in Canada.