TINFF

09/03/2026

09/02/2026

GLOBAL SCREEN INDUSTRY LEADERS PANEL
The Future of Film: Storytelling, Industry & Global Collaboration

Join TINFF MARKET | Canada Black & Diversity Film Market Summit 2026 for a global conversation bringing together screen industry leaders from Canada, the United States, Africa and beyond to discuss the future of storytelling, industry development and international collaboration.

Monday, September 7, 2026
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM ET
Virtual Session

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Rani Naamani
Head of Animation, Netflix | Voting Member, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | USA

Chazz Okparanta
President & CEO, Chazz Capital Assets & Chazz Financial Inc. | Canada

Juliet Ibrahim
Award-Winning Actress, Director, Filmmaker & Creative Entrepreneur | Founder, Jalent Africa | Ghana

Destiny D. Owens, MFA
Founder & CEO, DDO Productions | VFX Coordinator, Warner Bros. | USA

Jennifer Whitney
Public Relations Director & Film Festival Strategist, Motivate Pictures | USA

Maurice “Mō” Moore
Founder & CEO, Motivate Pictures | Screenwriter • Director • Actor | USA

Zulumoke Oyibo
Co-Founder, KAVA | Film Producer & Media Executive | Nigeria

Tahirah J. Brooks
Director of Marketing & Co-Founder, BP Legacy Productions LLC | Texas, USA

MODERATORS

Owen Gee
Award-Winning Filmmaker & Comedian | Nigeria

Amaka Samuel-Okon
Award-Winning Film Producer & Creative Entrepreneur, DEBSAM Productions | Canada

FREE REGISTRATION

Register for TINFF Market | CBDF Market Summit 2026: https://www.canadafilmmarket.com/

TINFF MARKET | CANADA BLACK & DIVERSITY FILM MARKET SUMMIT
September 7–11, 2026 | Toronto + Virtual

GlobalCinema Storytelling FilmBusiness CanadaFilmMarket AfricanCinema

08/30/2026

A MAJOR MILESTONE FOR TINFF — THE JOURNEY CONTINUES.🎬

The Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF) is proud to share an important milestone in our journey toward Academy Award®-qualifying festival status.

Following the Academy’s preliminary review, TINFF was approved to proceed with the full Academy Qualifying Festival application. We have now completed and submitted the full application and are awaiting the Academy’s review and final decision.

As we celebrate tinff@10, this milestone represents another significant step in our commitment to advancing Canadian, African, Black, diaspora, and international filmmakers on the global stage.

TINFF is not currently an Oscar® Qualifying Festival. Final qualifying status is subject to review and approval by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The journey continues.

tinff@10 | Cinema. Culture. Connection.

08/30/2026

TINFF MARKET | WOMEN IN FILM

BUILDING AUDIENCES

Festival Strategy • Publicity • Community Engagement

Making a great film is only part of the journey. How do independent filmmakers build visibility, connect with audiences and strategically position their work in an increasingly competitive industry?

Join us at the TINFF Market | Canada Black & Diversity Film Market Summit for a Women in Film conversation exploring the important relationship between filmmaking, festival strategy, publicity and audience development.

FEATURING

JENNIFER WHITNEY
Public Relations Director & Film Festival Strategist
Motivate Pictures

🎥 THE CONVERSATION

• Building an audience for your film
• Developing an effective festival strategy
• Publicity and positioning for independent filmmakers
• Creating visibility before, during and after festivals
• Building relationships with audiences and communities
• Using festivals as part of a film's larger journey
• Creating momentum beyond the screening

📅 Friday, September 11, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
📍 TINFF Market Pavilion | York Woods Library Theatre, Toronto
🎟️ FREE REGISTRATION

REGISTER FREE:
TINFF Market – Free Registration

TINFF MARKET | CANADA BLACK & DIVERSITY FILM MARKET SUMMIT
September 7–11, 2026

FilmFestivals FestivalStrategy FilmPublicity AudienceDevelopment IndependentFilm Filmmakers FilmIndustry TorontoFilm

08/30/2026

TINFF MARKET | THE CREATIVE JOURNEY

FROM STORY TO SCREEN TO DISTRIBUTION

Fireside Chat with Maurice “Mō” Moore

What does it take to move a story from an idea to production—and ultimately into the hands of an audience?

Join Maurice “Mō” Moore at the TINFF Market | Canada Black & Diversity Film Market Summit for an engaging fireside conversation about the creative and professional journey of bringing independent stories to the screen.

FEATURING

MAURICE “MŌ” MOORE
Founder & CEO, Motivate Pictures
Screenwriter • Director • Actor

🎥 THE CONVERSATION

• Developing an idea into a compelling story
• The writer-director creative journey
• Moving from development into production
• Navigating independent filmmaking
• Building the right creative team
• Connecting films with audiences
• Distribution and the life of a film beyond production
• Lessons from the creative journey

📅 Friday, September 11, 2026
⏰ 2:50 PM – 3:35 PM
📍 TINFF Market Pavilion | York Woods Library Theatre, Toronto
🎟️ FREE REGISTRATION

REGISTER FREE:
TINFF Market – Free Registration

TINFF MARKET | CANADA BLACK & DIVERSITY FILM MARKET SUMMIT
September 7–11, 2026

IndependentFilm Filmmaking Screenwriting FilmDirector FilmDistribution FilmIndustry TorontoFilm CanadianFilm

08/30/2026

TINFF MARKET | CANADIAN SCREEN INDUSTRY DAY

BEHIND THE SCREEN

Building a Career in Film & Television Production

Interested in working behind the scenes in Canada’s film and television industry?

Join Samantha from NABET 700-M UNIFOR at the TINFF Market | Canada Black & Diversity Film Market Summit for an industry conversation exploring professional production careers, pathways into the industry, and opportunities for emerging and established screen professionals.

FEATURING

SAMANTHA
NABET 700-M UNIFOR

🎥 THE CONVERSATION

• Careers behind the camera
• Film & television production pathways
• Understanding professional production environments
• Skills and experience needed to enter the industry
• Training and career development
• Building professional industry relationships
• Opportunities for emerging film and television workers

📅 Thursday, September 10, 2026
📍 York Woods Library Theatre | Toronto
🎟️ FREE REGISTRATION

REGISTER FREE:
TINFF Market – Free Registration

TINFF MARKET | CANADA BLACK & DIVERSITY FILM MARKET SUMMIT
September 7–11, 2026

CONNECT • LEARN • BUILD YOUR CAREER • NETWORK

CanadianScreenIndustry FilmCareers FilmProduction TelevisionProduction FilmIndustry CanadianFilm TorontoFilm ScreenIndustry

08/30/2026

TINFF MARKET | AI FOR INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS

FROM STORY TO SCREEN

Practical Workshop & Live Demonstration

How can independent filmmakers use AI as a practical creative tool while developing and producing their stories?

Join us at the TINFF Market | Canada Black & Diversity Film Market Summit for an interactive session exploring the changing relationship between artificial intelligence and independent filmmaking.

FEATURING

R.L. LYONE (ROSE)
Founder, Lyone Media Group

Through practical discussion and live demonstration, Rose will explore how emerging AI tools can support different stages of the filmmaking journey and how independent creators can begin incorporating these technologies into their creative workflows.

🎥 EXPLORE:

• AI and the evolving filmmaking landscape
• Story and creative development
• Practical AI tools for independent filmmakers
• From concept development to the screen
• Live AI demonstrations
• Opportunities and challenges for creators
• The future of independent filmmaking

📅 Friday, September 11, 2026
⏰ 11:30 AM – 12:50 PM
📍 TINFF Market Pavilion | York Woods Library Theatre, Toronto
🎟️ FREE REGISTRATION

REGISTER NOW:
TINFF Market – Free Registration

TINFF MARKET | CANADA BLACK & DIVERSITY FILM MARKET SUMMIT
September 7–11, 2026

ArtificialIntelligence FilmTechnology FutureOfFilm Filmmaking FilmIndustry CanadianFilm TorontoFilm ScreenIndustry

08/30/2026

TINFF MARKET | CANADIAN SCREEN INDUSTRY DAY

FEATURING IATSE LOCAL 873

CAREERS BEHIND THE SCREEN
Pathways, Training & Opportunities in Film Production

Interested in building a professional career behind the scenes in film and television?

Join IATSE Local 873 at the TINFF Market | Canada Black & Diversity Film Market Summit for an informative industry session exploring the wide range of skilled departments, training opportunities and career pathways available to film technicians.

FEATURING

KAREN GRANADOS MITCHELL
Training Manager, IATSE Local 873

Joined by

JIÉ USIFOH
CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals

The conversation will also introduce the Entertainment Trades Program as a pathway toward working as an IATSE Local 873 film technician.

🎥 LEARN ABOUT:

• Careers across IATSE Local 873's specialized departments
• Skills and experience required to work in film production
• Professional training and development opportunities
• Pathways for emerging film technicians
• The Entertainment Trades Program
• Building a sustainable behind-the-scenes career in Canada's screen industry

📅 Thursday, September 10, 2026
📍 York Woods Library Theatre | Toronto
🎟️ FREE REGISTRATION

REGISTER:
Canada Film Market – Free Registration

TINFF MARKET | CANADA BLACK & DIVERSITY FILM MARKET SUMMIT
September 7–11, 2026

FilmCareers FilmTraining FilmIndustry BehindTheScenes CanadianFilm TorontoFilm ScreenIndustry FilmProduction

08/28/2026

TINFF MARKET | CBDF MARKET SUMMIT 2026 🎬🌍

FREE REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Join filmmakers, producers, writers, performers, industry professionals, and decision-makers from Canada and around the world for the TINFF Market | Canada Black & Diversity Film Market Summit, happening September 7–11, 2026 in Toronto.
Five days of industry access, learning, pitching, career development, business connections, and networking.

KEY MARKET ACTIVITIES
• 🎬 Canadian Screen Industry Day
• 🌍 Global Screen Industry Leaders
• 🎥 Producers Summit & Producer Lab
• ✍️ Writers Lab & Writers Pitch Forum
• 🤖 AI & the Future of Independent Filmmaking
• 🎞️ Hollywood Connect
• 👩🏽 Women in Film Panel
• 🌍 KAVA Story Development Pitch Session
• 💰 CAD $3,000 KAVA Development Grant Opportunity
• 📺 Distribution Connect
• 🤝 International Co-Production & Collaboration
• 💼 Project Consultations & Industry Meetings
• 🎯 Career Development & Mentorship
• 🌐 Virtual + In-Person Programs
• 🤝 CBDF Market Summit Lounge — Industry Networking
📅 SEPTEMBER 7–11, 2026
📍 Toronto, Canada
🎟️ FREE REGISTRATION
REGISTER NOW:
TINFF Market | Free Registration : https://www.canadafilmmarket.com/

CONNECT • LEARN • PITCH • NETWORK • GO GLOBAL

Nollywood Filmmakers FilmIndustry ScreenIndustry FilmDistribution CoProduction FilmNetworking TorontoFilm AfricanCinema