3 Conferences Over 7 Days: TIFF, Access Canada, Screen Composers Summit

Last week I attended the Toronto International Film Festival — and it didn’t disappoint. This year marked TIFF’s 50th edition, and having been part of so many of those years, it was a milestone to celebrate. In my role as Director of Sales for APM Music Canada (the largest production-music catalogue in the world), it was especially exciting that 16 films premiering this year featured our music:

• Charlie Harper

• Dead Man’s Wire

• Driver’s Ed

• Dust Bunny

• Eternity

• Good Fortune

• Left Handed Girl

• Lilith Fair: Building A Mystery

• Lucky Lu

• Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie

• Poetic License

• Rental Family

• The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue

• The Smashing Machine

• Tuner

• You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution…

The streets and restaurants were buzzing. I spent time in the Industry Conference (Sept 5-9), including two busy days of meetings at the Hyatt’s Industry Centre, plus a steady run of mixers and parties — still some of the best ways to connect in this business. TIFF always brings together the world, and this year was no exception.

Access Canada Summit — Sept 8-10

At the same time, I also attended the inaugural Access Canada Summit at the Omni King Edward Hotel. This brand-new event quickly established itself as a must-attend for the screen industries — from emerging producers to media leaders.

We were proud to sponsor the event and our giveaways and movie-trivia challenge drew lots of people— with several lucky winners taking home bottles of Niagara ice wine. Most importantly, it gave us the chance to connect with so many great people and have some wonderful conversations.”

The programming was strong: panels on the state and future of the industry, conversations around how AI will impact us, and the undeniable highlight for many — a packed keynote with William H. Macy. The atmosphere was buzzing, and the conversations felt both practical and optimistic. New slates are being announced and overall, the energy was positive

Screen Composers Guild of Canada Summit — Sept 10

And somehow, in the middle of it all, I managed to step away to take part in the Screen Composers Summit at the El Mocambo. It was a fantastic one-day event geared toward both emerging and established composers, packed with insights on everything from production music to navigating industry shifts.

I was honored to speak on a panel about production music — how it works, how to get into it, and why it matters. The day also included the CASMA Awards(Canadian Screen Music Awards), celebrating some of the best screen composers in the country, and of course wrapped with the annual TIFF-i-licious music mixer.

Takeaway

It was exhausting and energizing all at once. I reconnected with people I hadn’t seen in a year, shared plenty of hugs, and met new contacts I’m sure I’ll be working with in the future. Most importantly, I was reminded how vital in-person connection has become. Stepping out from behind screens and social feeds to spend real time with our community is what fuels the work ahead.