Joanne Jansen (CEO of BIG Picture and co-founder of Ron & Aussie Productions) kicked off proceedings with an uplifting insight into her journey from acting, to writing, to producing films such as Bite of Mango (winner of Reelworld's 2022 Audience Choice Award).
She encouraged filmmakers to "let their audience be their validation" and not to chase awards, to also "use what we already have and create opportunities for Canadian talent" and to "not be afriad to step outside your comfort zone and try other creative roles adjacent to your craft".

K.C. Collins (a well-established actor seen in beloved Canadian shows such as Law & Order Toronto and Lost Girl) shared his experience that actors are in a "hollow chamber" and that Canada does not promote their talent enough.

Tonya Williams (Founder and ED of Reelworld Screen Institute) adds that "Agents are not managers. We need more talent managers that foster an artist's career from start to finish."

Fellow panelists included Lauren Jacob (Founder and CEO, Tylite Digital), and Seema Jethalal (Principal, Extra Cardamom Consulting). All were in favour of an English Canada Star System where we lift each other up and all rise together, where success is celebrated, and talent is brought forward to new projects and given the limelight. South Korea as well as the US film industry ecosystem were given as good examples where filmmakers are elevated and audiences are grown from the use of fan events and strategic social marketing.

Tonya stresses if the fans want to hear about the ins and outs of your every day life, then feed them what they want, make it up if you have to! 

In a discussion on Canadian content and its global impact, Lalita Krishna (Producer, Director, Chair Canadian Independent Screen Fund (CISF)) encouraged all filmmakers to connect with their community such as how the CISF program utilizes "community connectors" who are people within the community of the target audience who will happily promote the film and help fill seats in a movie theatre. In short, community-based screenings are a great way to raise awareness of films and have them watched by the people they were intended for.

In a discussion aptly named "The State of the Industry", Francesca Accinelli (as quoted above) and Jaime Burke (Deputy Director General, Audiovisual Branch Canadian Heritage) both delivered positive remarks. 

Jaime asked filmmakers to think about "why you, why now, why this story?" as then you will find your audience and how you should tell this story and what format to tell it in.

Francesca delved deeper and mentioned that some metrics like the impact films have on audiences is immeasurable with many unique films showing excellent representation of specific communities located in Canada e.g. the Somali community shown in A Tribe Called Love and the Chinese immigrant story shown in The Bryce Lee Story.

In an insightful discussion around the process filmmakers undergo to make their projects and when they might have to "kill their darlings", Ian Bawa (writer and director) discloses that he kills his darlings off from the start as in his eyes "lean is clean" when it comes to the script i.e. there is no room for "maybes".

Meanwhile, Zarrar Khan (President, City Lights Media) reveals that he likes to do two table reads before filming to make any necessary edits to the writing e.g. one with the polished draft that is ready to go and a second read about a month before filming to iron out details. He tries to do the best job as a director to convey what is on paper and thus to do justice to "the writer", even when the writer is himself.

Reelworld Visionary Award recipient - Kerry Swanson (CEO, Indigenous Screen Office) shares that to her leadership is being a part of something that is bigger than herself. She wanted to build something that is indestructible no matter who is in government and what success looks like for her is that she can potentially pass the baton on and still have what she built carry on without her.

Kerry's piece of wisdom in life is to endeavour to say "YES" and try to save "NOs"; if you have to say NO to something then give a reason why. 

Also, try to laugh every day!

Congratulations to Damon D'Oliveira who received the Reelworld Award of Excellence.