A Universities conference dedicated to educating and guiding aspiring youth artists about what it means to pursue their creative dreams in an academic environment.
In noticing the lack of resources for people who wish to study the arts that are accessible and target mentorship, especially in the education system. The event consists of a series of presentations, panels, as well as opportunities for one-on-one advice for aspiring arts students around the world.
2021 Off To The Arts Conference
OUR SPEAKERS
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Giovanni Maldonado Chinea
Admissions Coordinator at The American Film Institute
Mr. Chinea has been responsible for reviewing applications and conducting interviews with applicants for the AFI since late 2018. He is also an AFI Conservatory alum who earned a Master’s of Fine Arts in Screenwriting. His work as an award-winning writer in many capacities has garnered him much success in the industry.
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Kathleen Tesar
Associate Dean for Enrollment Management at the Juilliard School
Dr. Tesar has overseen the office of admissions and financial aid at Juilliard since 2016 and has been an accomplished educator and musician in the industry for many years. She holds a master's in violin and a doctorate in organizational change and leadership. Previously, she was the director of admissions at the Eastman School of Music for four years and associate dean at The Colburn School Conservatory of Music for 12 years.
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Antonio Peters
Senior Admissions Director at Rhode Island School of Design
Mr.Peters graduated from RISD with a BFA in illustration, and joined the university’s staff in 2004, giving him over 17 years of experience as an integral part of the team guiding and selecting applicants into the school. Mr. Peters has held many events both a part of and outside of RISD to help prospective students feel more confident in their applications, especially using his illustration expertise to do so.
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Danielle Coleman
Admissions and Recruitment Officer at Ontario College of Art & Design University
Ms. Coleman is both a BFA alum and recruitment officer at OCAD, working directly with the admissions department to oversee incoming applicants to the school. She studied at OCAD specialized in drawing and painting, and references her work as playing with the constructed idealized romance rituals in the language of craft. She has used her experience in the field to help find the university’s newest and freshest talent in her over two years in their recruitment department.
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Tom Fedecheko
Head of Foundation Visual Art & Design at the Vancouver Film School
Mr. Fedecheko’s work as an educator and facilitator in the development of hundreds of digital entertainment professionals has given him the expertise necessary to work with VFS in running one of their most important programs. He has been a part of the VFS staff for nine years and has helped guide many of their award-winning alumni to succeed in the professional world.
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Jani Lauzon
Associate Director of English Section at the National Theatre School
Ms. Lauzon is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist of Métis ancestry, who has been with the NTS faculty since 2020. She has been nine-time Dora nominee for work as an actor, director and writer, and a three time Juno-nominated singer/songwriter. Ms. Lauzon has also been a recipient of the John Hirsch Director’s Award and the ACTRA Toronto Award of excellence for her work.
2021 SCHEDULE
SPONSORS
NFFTY Film
The National Film Festival for Talented Youth is a flagship program of The Talented Youth. NFFTY hosts the world’s largest film festival for emerging directors, supporting and showcasing films by filmmakers ages 24 and under. They have held 13 editions of their festival thus far and also support youth filmmakers through professional workshops, resources, and more to supplement their careers in the industry. NFFTY’s mission aims to disrupt systems of inequity in the film/media arts industry and strives to both celebrate and elevate the work of women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and other marginalized communities in film. They are building a more equitable and welcoming film industry for our new generation of creatives, and we are beyond happy to be sponsored by them on this event!
Creative Genius Academy
Creative Genius Academy is a Markham-based art school that offers various visual art programs to artists of all ages to unlock their full creative potential! They focus on inspiring and empowering their students with strong foundational skills and innovative techniques to keep their artists passionate and well-rounded. Their faculty of instructors include award-winning artists and certified teachers who oversee the school’s unique art curriculum and class models. They have been voted the best art school in Markham two years in a row, and with their continuous efforts to make the arts an affordable and empowering process, we are thrilled to have them as a sponsor!
FilmFreeway
FilmFreeway offers a one-of-a-kind platform for filmmakers to submit their works to hundreds of film festivals around the world. More than 800,000 filmmakers, writers, and artists use FilmFreeway to submit to over 7,000 of the world’s best film festivals and contests. They are partnered with organizations such as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and festivals like Doc NYC, Raindance, Slamdance, Sundance, TIFF, and hundreds more! They have also ranked the #1 submissions site on top metrics like global web traffic, a number of Oscar/BAFTA accredited festivals, daily active users, etc. Their innovative and completely free platform to supplement emerging filmmakers and screenwriters has been a massive resource for the creative community, and we are incredibly honoured to have them as a sponsor for our event!
SUPPORTERS
Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television
The Canadian Academy is the largest non-profit professional media arts organization in Canada, with a membership of more than 4,000 emerging and established industry professionals. They strive to foster industry growth, inclusion, and mentorship through various professional development programs and other networking opportunities. They also produce the annual Canadian Screen Awards, celebrating the country’s top talent in film, television, and digital sectors also dubbed the “Canadian Oscars”. Their organization represents a beautiful collaboration of organizations and individuals striving to create a more welcoming entertainment industry, and we are honoured to have their support on this event!
Vibe Arts Toronto
VIBE Arts is an award-winning charitable arts organization, since its founding in 1995, has become one of Toronto’s most celebrated community arts organizations. They are committed to providing children and youth in under-resourced communities with high-quality arts education and work to foster vibrant communities where youth can use their creativity to engage in their community. They offer a variety of programs ranging from disciplines in visual arts, video and photography, poetry, dance, drama, and music. They have cultivated a newfound love and appreciation for the arts both within and outside of Toronto through all of their work, and we cannot think of a better organization to be supporting this initiative alongside us!
Generations In Film
Generations in Film is a community and platform based in Toronto that offers resources, learning opportunities, and a network of like-minded creatives to promote growth and collaboration. Their goal is to encourage the development of Canadian talent, provide filmmakers with the possibility of being immersed in creative environments, showcase their own work, connect developing talent with established professionals, and ultimately, share their love for film with the community. They host monthly interactive workshops and professional panels featuring award-winning creatives across all fields of entertainment. Their mission to provide accessible programming for aspiring creatives is truly necessary for the industry, and they are exactly the kind of organization that we are thrilled to have supporting us!