Program
AfroToronto brings together filmmakers, artists, producers and cultural voices from Africa and the diaspora during TIFF, with inclusion and diversity at the heart of the programme.
On September 15, 2026, conversations, screenings, masterclasses and industry encounters will explore film, storytelling, music and the wider creative industries.
Out of Many, We Are One reflects the many cultures, identities, histories and perspectives that shape African and diasporic creativity today.
The program creates a space for exchange, representation and meaningful connections across communities and the international creative industries.
A Toronto gathering centred on shared stories, different perspectives and the people helping to build a more inclusive cultural landscape.
Detailed Program | Morning
9.00 AM - 9.10 AM
Welcome Note
The program opens with a welcome from the organizers, setting the context for AfroToronto and this year’s theme, Out of Many, We Are One. AfroToronto MC will then guide the audience through the day, introducing the conversations, speakers and transitions across the program. Together, they set the tone for an open, inclusive and engaging space for exchange and connection.
Host & MC: Natasha Preville, Founder, Brixton Film Festival, UK
Speakers:
-
Marsha John-Greenwood, Vice-President, People & Culture, TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival), Canada
-
Prudence Kolong, Founder, Yanibes Foundation, France
-
Orla Garriques, Development & Marketing Director, Inner City Films, Canada
9.15 AM - 10.00 AM
PANEL 1
MANY NATIONS. ONE STORY
THEME: INTERNATIONAL CO-PRODUCTION
TOPIC: CANADA AND THE NEW CREATIVE ECOSYSTEMS OF CINEMA - TRANSFORMATIVE PARTNERSHIPS & COLLABORATION
As one of the world's leading co-production hubs, Canada offers filmmakers a unique gateway to international collaboration through its extensive treaty network, world-class production infrastructure, public funding programs, and competitive tax incentives. This session explores how producers from Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and North America can leverage Canada's co-production ecosystem to unlock financing, access new markets, and strengthen global distribution opportunities. Through real-world case studies, industry leaders will discuss building equitable creative partnerships, navigating crossborder production models, and positioning culturally authentic stories for international success in an increasingly interconnected film landscape.
Key Talking Points:
-
From Funding to Global Reach: How Canadian co-production treaties, tax incentives, and financing structures can help filmmakers transform ambitious international projects into sustainable productions.
-
Building Bridges Across Continents: Exploring successful Canada–Africa, Canada–Caribbean, and Canada–Europe collaborations and the creative opportunities created by diverse production partnerships.
-
Beyond Production: Connecting Stories to Audiences: Strategies for leveraging Canada's festival ecosystem, distribution networks, and international market access to bring global stories to audiences worldwide.
Moderator: Natasha Preville, Founder, Brixton Film Festival, UK
Speakers:
-
Faridah Gbadamosi, Senior Programmer, Tribeca Film Festival, USA
-
Alfons Adetuyi, TV & Film Producer, Founder, Inner City Films, Canada + Nigeria
-
Neerja Naranayan, Producer, Film Executive, Sony, International Co-production Advisor, USA
-
Renée Robinson, former Film Commissioner, Jamaica, Chief Strategist, Tidal Rise, Jamaica
-
Marsha John-Greenwood, Vice-President, People & Culture, TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival), Canada
10.10 AM - 11.10 AM
PANEL 2
MANY VOICES. ONE SHARED SPOTLIGHT
THEME: BREAKOUT ROLES: EXCELLENCE IN FRONT AND BEHIND THE SCREEN
TOPIC: SEEN, HEARD, REMEMBERED: BEYOND VISBILITY AND IN THE BUSINESS BELONGING
The world is producing more diverse stories and creative voices than ever before—yet many still face barriers when moving from talent discovery to financing, acquisition, distribution, and global visibility. This conversation examines the changing pathways to success in a fragmented entertainment landscape where traditional gatekeepers coexist with new opportunities created by social platforms, digital communities, and emerging technologies. From creators in established markets to filmmakers from emerging film countries, the discussion will explore how talent can access audiences, build sustainable careers, and transform cultural relevance into economic value.
Key Talking Points:
-
From Access to Acquisition: Why talented creators and powerful stories still struggle to secure financing, distribution, and market entry—and how the industry can rethink its discovery and investment models.
-
Beyond Traditional Gatekeepers: How social media, creator platforms, digital communities, and new technologies are creating alternative pathways for storytelling, audience building, and global recognition.
-
From Local Stories to Global Markets: How filmmakers from emerging film ecosystems can overcome visibility challenges, connect with international partners, and turn cultural authenticity into global opportunities.
Moderator: Ernest White II, Producer, CEO, Presidio Pictures, USA + Canada
Speakers:
-
Elle Bernardo, Casting Director, Founder, Act Out, Canada
-
Mélanie Bokata, Actress, Director, France + DRC Congo
-
Juliet Ibrahim, Actress, Producer, President, WIFT Ghana, Ghana
-
James Amuta, Award Winning Producer, Director, Nigeria
10.00 AM - 10.10 AM
BREAK
11.20 AM - 12.00 PM
PANEL 3
MANY MACHINES. ONE HUMANITY.
THEME: TECHNOLOGY: INNOVATION, ETHICS, AND THE FUTURE OF CREATIVE PRODUCTION
TOPIC: HUMAN AFTER ALL
AI is already reshaping the creative economy—but its impact is not unfolding equally across industries, countries, or communities. While some productions are embracing AI for efficiency, cost reduction, and new creative possibilities, the industry is also confronting a deeper question: what is the role of human talent in an increasingly automated ecosystem? This conversation explores the contradictions of AI adoption—from efficiency gains and new creative possibilities to workforce disruption, ownership challenges, and unequal access across markets. From major production industries to emerging film ecosystems in Africa and the Caribbean, speakers will examine how creators can navigate this shift while protecting human creativity, cultural identity, and the right to shape the stories of tomorrow.
11.10 AM - 11.20 AM
BREAK
Key Talking Points:
-
Human After All: The evolving role of writers, actors, filmmakers, and creative professionals in an industry where AI is increasingly integrated into production workflows.
-
AI: Opportunity or New Divide? How emerging filmmakers and less-capitalized markets can use AI as a tool for access and innovation without reinforcing dependency on external technologies and platforms.
-
Who Owns the Future of Storytelling? The debate around authorship, copyright, creative rights, cultural data, and the protection of stories in the age of AI.
Moderator: Yusuf Abdul Qadir, Technologist, Producer, USA + Canada
Speakers:
-
Darwin Garcia, Film Packaging Specialist, Founder, Winner Circle Group, USA + Honduras
-
Letitia McIntosh, Director, Producer, Dfour4 Productions, Canada
Detailed Program | Afternoon
12.10 PM - 12.20 PM
Screening TBC
Screening of a short film (max 10 min)
12.20 PM - 1.15 PM
PANEL 4
MANY STORIES. INFINITE IMAGINATIONS
THEME: EMERGING TRENDS IN STORYTELLING
TOPIC: FROM ALGORITHMS TO ANCESTORS: WHO SHAPES THE STORIES OF TOMORROW AND CULTURAL MEMORIES?
Storytelling is being reinvented across every layer of the industry: creators are expanding from short-form platforms into long-form entertainment, vertical dramas are reshaping audience habits, studios are seeking original voices while continuing to rely on proven IP, and AI-generated films and animations are opening new creative possibilities. In this era of endless content and accelerating technology, this conversation explores what gives a story lasting value—and how Human Intelligence, cultural memory, and Ancestor Intelligence can continue to shape narratives with meaning, identity, and
emotional power.
Key Talking Points:
-
Beyond the Algorithm: Can short-form ecosystems, creator-led models, and emerging formats build lasting storytelling franchises—or are they designed for constant consumption?
-
Originality in the Age of IP and AI: How can creators develop bold new worlds while navigating an industry increasingly driven by proven concepts and automated creation?
-
Human & Ancestor Intelligence: What forms of knowledge, emotion, culture, and lived experience remain impossible to replicate—and essential to stories that endure?
Moderator: Natasha Preville, Founder, Brixton Film Festival, UK
Speakers:
-
Damilola Orimogunje, Award Winning Screenwriter, Director, Nigeria
-
Tontxi Vasquez, Creative Producer, Golden Fleece Films/Stooppix (IMP Entertainment), UK
-
Sabine Daniel, Producer, Founder, CEO, Play Productions, Canada
-
Francine Umulisa, Writer, Producer, Global Harvest Film Production Corporation Canada + Rwanda
1.30 PM - 2.15 PM
PANEL 5
MANY SCREENS. ONE AUDIENCE.
THEME: DISTRIBUTION
TOPIC: A WORLD WITHOUT GATEKEEPERS; A PROMISE OR AN ILLUSION? WHO CONTROLS THE JOURNEY OF STORIES?
Black/African and Afro-Descendent stories have always found audiences, the challenge is how they are discovered, amplified, positioned, and scaled in an increasingly fragmented global marketplace. While major filmmakers and established IP benefit from powerful distribution networks, many impactful stories still face barriers in visibility, sales strategy, market access, and international positioning. As cinemas, broadcasters, streamers, YouTube, creator platforms, brand-backed productions, and evolving film markets reshape the content ecosystem, this conversation explores who connects stories with audiences, who creates demand, and how the industry can better unlock the global potential of diverse narratives. Through case studies including Sinners, The Odyssey, My Father’s Shadow, Obsession, Wil Aime’s Who, and Will Packer’s productions, speakers will examine the changing roles of creators, sales agents, distributors, festivals, and markets in helping stories travel.
Key Talking Points:
-
From Audience to Amplification: Black audiences are global—how do stories move from cultural connection to wider visibility, market value, and international reach?
-
The New Content Ecosystem: How cinemas, streamers, YouTube, TUBI, creators, brands, festivals, and film markets are reshaping discovery, acquisition, and distribution pathways.
-
Building Bridges to Global Buyers: How can filmmakers, sales agents, distributors, and markets better identify, position, and connect diverse stories with international audiences and industry decision-makers?
Moderator: Natasha Preville, Founder, Brixton Film Festival, UK
Speakers:
Magali Boutin, Director, Communications, Public and Cultural Relations | National Film Board of Canada
Juliet Ibrahim, Actress, Producer, President, WIFT Ghana, Ghana
Speaker 3 to be announced
1.15 PM - 1.20 PM
BREAK
2.20 PM - 3.05 PM
PANEL 6
MANY CULTURES. INFINITE PERSPECTIVE
THEME: THEME: CULTURAL AUTHENTICITY
TOPIC: BEYOND THE LENS: CULTURAL TRUTH, GLOBAL AUDIENCES AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF STORYTELLING
International co-productions and cross-cultural collaborations have become central to today’s creative landscape, bringing together filmmakers, talent, and audiences from different backgrounds. Yet authenticity cannot be added at the final stage—it must be considered from development, writing, financing, casting, and production decisions. This masterclass explores how creators and collaborators can move beyond assumptions and inherited stereotypes to build stories rooted in cultural
understanding, social complexity, and lived realities. From fictional narratives to documentaries, it examines how cultural intelligence can strengthen creative choices, avoid harmful simplifications, and unlock deeper connections with global audiences.
Key Talking Points:
-
Authenticity From the First Page: Why cultural research, consultation, and collaboration must begin at development, not after production.
-
Beyond Stereotypes, Toward Complexity: How simplified narratives can limit audiences’ understanding and affect the reception of projects globally.
-
Collaboration as Creative Strength: How diverse teams, local expertise, and cross-border partnerships create richer stories and stronger international appeal.
Moderator: Ernest White II, Producer, CEO, Presidio Pictures, USA + Canada
Speakers:
Faridah Gbadamosi, Senior Programmer, Tribeca Film Festival, USA
Luke Willms, Director, Producer, Founder Mbutu Media | Canada + Germany
Magali Boutin, Director, Communications, Public and Cultural Relations, National Film Board of Canada
James Amuta, Award Winning Screenwriter, Director, Nigeria
2.15 PM - 2.20 PM
BREAK
3.10 PM - 3.55 PM
PANEL 7
MANY VISIONS. NEW CAPITAL
THEME: FILM FINANCING
TOPIC: WHO GETS FUNDED? REIMAGINING ACCESS TO THE FUTURE OF CINEMA
Across Canada, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean, film financing remains shaped by different realities: structured public funding systems, government-backed creative strategies, international cultural funds, private investment, and emerging financing initiatives. Canada’s provincial and national models provide a strong example of public support for screen industries, while institutions such as the Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée, British Film Institute, Doha Film Institute, Red Sea Film Foundation, and Berlinale World Cinema Fund remain key supporters of international, African, and Caribbean stories.
At the same time, initiatives such as Africa-focused creative programs, Africa Next, and Afreximbank’s $1 billion film financing initiative demonstrate growing recognition of cinema as an economic sector. Yet access remains uneven: many emerging filmmakers struggle to secure first-time financing, as funding systems often favour established names, proven track records, and internationally validated projects. This conversation explores how traditional funding models can evolve alongside alternative approaches—including private investment, co-production networks, brand partnerships, audience-backed financing, impact investment, and new models of ownership—to build a more sustainable future for global cinema.
Key Talking Points:
-
Beyond Traditional Funds: How can public funding, private capital, incentives, and international partnerships better support emerging voices?
-
New Paths to Financing: Can alternative models—brands as investors, audience-backed financing, impact funds, equity models, and strategic partnerships—create new opportunities?
-
From Projects to Creative Economies: How can financing help filmmakers build companies, retain ownership, and participate in long-term value creation?
Moderator: Yusuf Abdul Qadir, Producer, Technologist, USA
Speakers:
-
Neerja Naranayan, Producer, Film Executive, Sony, International Co-production Advisor, USA
-
Renée Robinson, former Film Commissioner, Jamaica, Chief Strategist, Tidal Rise, Jamaica
-
vagabond Beaumont, Filmmaker, Director, Writer, USA
3.05 PM - 3.10 PM
BREAK
4.00 PM - 4.45 PM
PANEL 8
MANY BORDERS. GLOBAL FILMS OPPORTUNITIES
THEME: SALES, MARKET POSITIONING & PACKAGING
TOPIC: SELLING THE DIFFERENCE: PACKAGING GENRE, CULTURE AND AUDIENCE POTENTIAL
film’s cultural specificity is often its greatest strength—but connecting it with international audiences requires strategy, knowledge, and the right market pathways. This masterclass explores how producers and sales agents can position genre and culture-specific films for financiers, distributors, platforms, and audiences without diluting their identity or reshaping stories to fit external expectations. From packaging and market positioning to identifying unexpected territories, building international partnerships, and understanding cultural considerations that influence distribution decisions, the session examines how unique stories can travel further while remaining authentic to their origins.
Key Talking Points:
-
Protecting Identity, Expanding Reach: How to position culturally specific stories for global markets without compromising creative authenticity.
-
Finding Unexpected Audiences: How sales agents can identify new territories, audiences, and distribution opportunities beyond traditional markets.
-
Preparing Stories for Global Circulation: How production choices, market intelligence, cultural context, and early strategy can improve international access.
Moderator: Natasha Preville, Founder, Brixton Film Festival, UK
Speakers:
-
Orla Garriques, Development & Marketing Director, Inner City Films, Canada
-
Darwin Garcia, Packaging Specialist, Founder, Winner's Circle Group, USA + Honduras
-
Kalungi Ssesebandeke, Actor, Writer, Director, Producer, Founder | Sse So Productions | UK + Uganda
3.55 PM - 4.00 PM
BREAK
5.00 PM - 7.00 PM
SCREENING
LEGALLY DRUGGED
Synopsis
Set in late-20th-century America, Legally Drugged follows Richard “Richie Rich” Schneeberg, a working-class New Yorker determined to build a better life for himself and his family. From cab driving and teaching to real estate and entrepreneurship, Richie achieves the success he has always pursued, but the pressures of his new life begin to take a toll. As his struggles lead him through psychiatric care, medication and institutional treatment, his sense of self and connection to those around him begin to change. Moving between Brooklyn and Long Island, the film is an emotional drama about ambition, family, resilience and the search for balance when life takes an unexpected turn.
-
Director
-
Writers
Release date: 2026
Country: USA
Followed by a networking event
4.45 PM - 5.00 PM
BREAK
