Join us for a full day of in-person conversations, interactive simulations, and networking to help emerging screen-based storytellers.

The film, television, and streaming industry needs fresh stories from new voices. You have stories to tell but are challenged by the very size and nature of this complex industry. How do you get in the game? You need a plan to get your stories made and seen. This summit can help you with that.

The Screen Media Makers Industry Summit: Making it in film, television and streaming is a full day of in-person conversations, interactive simulations, and networking to help emerging screen-based storytellers navigate the system to fund, produce, and distribute their projects.

Taking place at the Rogers Theatre in the Living Arts Centre (4141 Living Arts Dr, Mississauga) on Saturday, March 18th, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (doors open at 9:30 AM). Tickets are $17 a person and cover the cost of attending the summit, provided coffee/tea in the morning and a lunch of a choice of artisanal wraps including roasted vegetable, smoked turkey breast, and roast chicken (Halal) with assorted chips, fruit, cookies and soft drinks.

Who should attend: The Media Makers Industry Summit is for emerging screen-based storytellers of all ages, backgrounds, races, genders, sexualities, and abilities.

An Emerging Screen-Based Storyteller can be 18 to 80+ with approximately 1 to 5 years of industry experience who has made 1 to 3 works (written a script, made a film or short film, web videos or series, music video, digital media). There is no one path to the screen industry. Perhaps you’re pursuing a second career, or your screen career was interrupted. Students enrolled in a post-secondary film or media arts program who have made at least 1 work can also attend.

Agenda is subject to change. All sessions include opportunities to ask questions directly to industry experts. Speakers and panellists will be added in as they are confirmed.

Event was produced by Cathleen MacDonald, award-winning filmmaker in partnership with Mississauga Arts Council.

About Cathleen MacDonald

Cathleen MacDonald is an award-winning filmmaker who successfully pitches broadcasters, funders, and sponsors, and receives pitches from other creators. She sold and produced the 26-part series WORKING ANIMALS to Discovery Channel Canada, Animal Planet, Canal D and obtained worldwide distribution. She sold THE ANIMAL IQ TEST to Animal Planet as their first Canadian original commission. Of her nine episodes of CBC’s MOVING ON, her episode THE COURAGE OF SHARON won a Columbus Film Festival Award and was included in CBC’s entry for a Gemini nomination. Before founding Motion Picture Enterprises, she was the National Sales Manager for VEC/Criterion Pictures, where she led a sales team and represented major producers Disney/Buena Vista, Columbia, Tri-Star, Universal, 20th Century Fox, MGM, Paramount, Encyclopaedia Britannica, PBS, and Films Inc. Cathleen is a former board member of the Oakville Film Festival and is the founder of the filmmaker collective FILMHIVE.