Sheridan and TIFF team up to support diversity in Canadian storytelling

On November 2 and 3, TIFF and Sheridan College are partnering to present NextGen: Catalyst for Change in Canadian Storytelling.  The conference will bring together media educators, scholars, young creators and industry influencers to consider how to support and encourage diverse Canadian storytelling.

According to Maija Saari, Associate Dean of Film, TV and Journalism at Sheridan and one of the event organizers, the conference theme was sparked by an op ed written by Cameron Bailey, Artistic Director and Co-Head of TIFF, in which he challenged Canadian filmmakers to “ to face the complex, diverse social reality all around us in contemporary Canada”, and reflect it in their storytelling.

The first day of the conference on November 2 takes place at the TIFF Bell Lightbox and will engage students and young creators in exploring a range of topics, from what makes a story Canadian, to a discussion on staying true to your voice and vision.  The audience will also get advice from industry professionals on how to launch their careers from a panel that includes Sheridan alumni Tracy German and Jill Purdy.

On November 3, the conference shifts to Sheridan’s Oakville campus, and features a diverse array of sessions and discussions looking at how academia can foster diversity and inclusivity through its teaching practices.   The day will also feature a screening of award-winning Sheridan student films, as well as a spotlight session on Tracy German, Sheridan alumna and faculty member, who is the showrunner for the APTN series Wild Archeology.

Sheridan’s participation in the conference falls under the aegis of its Creative Campus Series, which is supported by TD Bank Group.