Talent Lab

Talent Lab is an intensive four-day artistic development programme that provides emerging talent with an unparalleled opportunity to learn from the world's best film artists.

Using the Festival’s outstanding relationships with acclaimed filmmakers, Talent Lab leads participants in group discussions on a range of topics focused on the artistic side of filmmaking, sharpening the skills and confidence of a new generation of filmmakers.

Now in its seventh year, Talent Lab is presented by Canadian Initiatives during the Toronto International Film Festival.

Talent Lab is led by four esteemed governors who mentor the participants guiding them through the sessions with guest speakers. Three of this year’s confirmed governors include director Deepa Mehta (Water, Heaven on Earth), director-producer Lee Daniels (Shadowboxer, Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire) and producer Stephen Woolley (Perrier’s Bounty, Made in Dagenham).

Talent Lab is run by Strada Films producers Sandra Cunningham and Brad Fox with the help of Alex Lalonde.

Congratulations to the 2010 Talent Lab Participants

Jeff Barnaby, Sach Baylin-Stern, Richard Bell, Kara Blake, Kris Booth, Rhonda Buckley, Jeff Chiba Stearns, Daniel Cockburn, Rosie Crerar, Giorgia Farina, Matthew Hannam, Amanda Jane, Julia Kwan, Leah Mallen, Tony Massil, Jennifer Mesich, Peter Mishara, Kaveh Nabatian, Aubrey Nealon, Ruth Paxton, Karen Porter, Jared Raab, Jeffrey Royiwsky, Gabriel Taraboulsy, Pascal Trottier, Sean Wainsteim.

Thirteen Talent Lab Alumni and three Talent Lab 2010 participants have directed or produced films in the Festival’s Official 2010 Selection:

Alumni                                                                        
Amazon Falls -directed by Katrin Bowen (Canada First!)              
Daydream Nation - directed by Mike Goldbach (Canada First!)
Green Crayons - directed by Kazik Radwanski, produced by Dan Montgomery (Short Cuts Canada)
High Cost of Living - directed by Deborah Chow (Canada First!)                 
The High Level Bridge - directed and produced by Trevor Anderson (Short Cuts Canada)
Modra - directed and produced by Ingrid Veninger (Contemporary World Cinema)
Negativipeg - directed and produced by Matthew Rankin (Short Cuts Canada)
The Old Ways - directed by Michael Vass (Short Cuts Canada)
On the Way to the Sea - produced by Aonan Yang (Short Cuts Canada)
Le Projet Sapporo - directed and produced by Marie-Josee Saint-Pierre (Short Cuts Canada)
The Repeaters - produced by Jason James (Special Presentation)
Small Town Murder Songs - directed by Ed Gass-Donnelly (Contemporary World Cinema)

2010 Participants
File under Miscellaneous - directed by Jeff Barnaby (Short Cuts Canada)
Vapor - directed by Kaveh Nabatian (Short Cuts Canada)
You Are Here - directed by Daniel Cockburn (Canada First!)

Thanks to NOW Magazine for their support.

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