As many of you who follow along with me on social have been seeing, the TIFF season is (and has always been) one of the busiest times of year for me. Over the course of the last twelve years, I have had the honour and privilege to attend some pretty spectacular events amid it all, and I look back on each of them fondly. One of the most coveted invites to get, which I proudly got for the first time this year, is from Canadian Film Centre. Now that I’ve attended, I thought I would share with you all why I will cherish this first of hopefully many more to come, and how incredible the day truly was.
For those of you unaware and for context, the event was famously known as and “The BBQ” because, in fact, it began as a BBQ tradition hosted by Norman Jewison, the CFC’s founder, to bring together alumni, artists, and supporters. What started as an intimate backyard-style gathering has evolved into Homecoming, a marquee annual event that if I had to guest had over a thousand people attend this past weekend.
The vibrancy, sense of community, and the comradery was palpable and left me feeling incredibly energetized and grateful to be a part of something so incredible. Attending brand events is definitely part of the excitement of TIFF amid screenings and red carpets for me as a content creator and member of the media. But something about this event in particular felt different. An inside look into the communities, artists, and powerhouses that drive the Canadian landscape of film and television.
To be honest, I was pretty star struck a few times, and felt in awe to be in the presence of so many talented individuals. The event, all these years later, reflects Norman’s original vision of the CFC: community, creativity, and connection.
The event, as it turns out, is a a chance to showcase and celebrate the incredible achievements of CFC alumni – with over 29 films at TIFF this year. It helps to reinforce CFC’s role as a launchpad for Canadian talent whose influence extends globally. It also helps to spotlight homegrown creativity while connecting it back to the CFC’s training and community.
But it’s also so much more than an epic party. Homecoming is a fundraising event that directly supports CFC programs and future generations of creators. It helps to remind attendees that their participation helps sustain world-class training, mentorship, and opportunities for emerging Canadian storytellers.
I would be remiss if I didn’t use this opportunity to tell you a bit more about The CFC. A charitable cultural organization that drives the future of Canadian storytelling. Its intensive, hands-on programs in film, television, and entertainment technologies empower, shape and advance opportunities for Canadian creators and entrepreneurs working in screen-based industries
CORE PROGRAMS
- Norman Jewison Film Program
- CBC Actors Conservatory
- CFC Satellites
- Cinematography Intensive
- The Comedy Series Lab
You can of course learn about all the programs offered by heading to https://cfccreates.com/programs/
A heartfelt thank you to CFC and the team at Touchwood PR for inviting me and one of my closest friends Justin to join in on something this impressive and inspiring. As mentioned, I will cherish those memories for the rest of my life and hope to attend for many more years to come.
Photos: George Pimentel Photography
Make sure to follow along with me all #TIFF50 long for exclusive BTS moments from VIP events like this one and of course keep your eyes open for more excitement all TIFF long.
I hope you enjoyed reading this post. If you’re not already, follow me on all social media platforms at @dothedaniel as I share in real time these adventures and so much more!
Don’t forget to be a little more kind when you can
*Please note that this may be a sponsored post and promotional consideration may have been offered by participating brands – my disclosure can be found at all times by clicking here.