TIFF 2026 SPECIAL EDITION

The Global Market Accelerator is pleased to announce its two 2026 delegations: the TIFF: The Market Delegation and the Access Canada Delegation. The program supports Black Canadian screen industry professionals in accessing key markets, festivals, and industry opportunities in Canada and internationally.

This year, the BSO will support 16 Black Canadian screen industry professionals attending TIFF: The Market. Delegates will receive market preparation, BSO-led programming, networking opportunities, and curated industry connections to help advance their projects and careers.

The Access Canada Delegation will support three Black Canadian creators and producers in accessing Canadian markets and industry opportunities, helping participants build networks, increase project visibility, and connect with industry decision-makers.

We look forward to supporting this year’s delegates as they make new connections, strengthen their networks, and pursue opportunities across the Canadian and international screen industries.

As TIFF 2026 approaches, we’re excited to celebrate Black Canadian creators participating across TIFF’s talent development labs and TIFF: The Market’s inaugural International Financing & Project Market (IFPM).

From writers and directors to producers bringing new projects to the international marketplace, here are some of the Black Canadian creatives and projects to look out for this year.

Henri Pardo: Recipient of the 2026 Charles Officer Legacy Award

Join the BSO and award-winning filmmaker Henri Pardo at the Canadian Pavilion during TIFF: The Market on September 15 at 1:30-4:30 PM EST. Pardo is the 2026 recipient of the Charles Officer Legacy Award from TIFF and CBC, which honours a Canadian Black director or writer whose body of work carries forward Officer's creative excellence and community-focus. The Montreal-based filmmaker's feature debut, Kanaval, premiered at TIFF in 2023 and took the Amplify Voices Award for Best BIPOC Canadian Feature, while his documentary Dear Jackie earned a Canadian Screen Award nomination. Alongside his own films, he founded Black Wealth Media and the non-profit Encre Noire/Black Ink, which trains emerging Afro-descendant filmmakers. He is also a founding member of Black on Black Films. Pardo has described his work as "making the films, opening the doors" for those coming next. Join us at the Pavilion for a conversation on how he is moving his work forward.

Shamier Anderson: Call Me Tim to debut at TIFF 2026

Shamier Anderson steps behind the camera for the first time with Call Me Tim, an 18-minute mockumentary premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival in September as part of Short Cuts. Anderson wrote and directed the film, a deadpan comedy about a city transplant who buys a rural Canadian hunting shop and finds himself locked in a rivalry with a local animal-rights activist. He also appears on screen alongside Amanda Brugel, Mazin Elsadig, Kit Weyman, Rylan Morey, Ashley Pike, Ashley Massey, Shane Knox, Christopher Evans, and a special appearance by Fefe Dobson. A world premiere at TIFF puts the film in front of programmers, buyers, and audiences from the start, and we look forward to seeing where Anderson takes his directing career from here. Congratulations to the whole team.

Luwam Tekeste — Judas Goat
Toronto-based Eritrean-Canadian filmmaker Luwam Tekeste joins the Directors’ Lab with Judas Goat. Her work includes the short films Judas Goat and Teff Seeds.

 

Tyler Mckenzie Evans — Injured Reserve
Toronto-based writer and director Tyler Mckenzie Evans joins the Writers’ Lab with Injured Reserve. His short films include TIFF premieres Diaspora and Sea Star.

Eva Thomas & Darren Anthony — A Black Panther in the Great White North
Eva Thomas and Toronto-based filmmaker and playwright Darren Anthony will develop their series A Black Panther in the Great White North. Anthony is also known for his debut play Secrets of a Black Boy.

 

Arnold Pinnock & Fitch Jean — No.2
The Porter co-creator and executive producer Arnold Pinnock teams up with Haitian-Canadian filmmaker Fitch Jean on No.2. Ottawa-based Jean released his debut feature, It Comes In Waves, in 2025.

 

TIFF: The Market has also selected 51 projects for the inaugural International Financing & Project Market (IFPM), featuring projects in advanced stages of development, financing or packaging. Among this year’s selected projects are several from Black Canadian filmmakers and producers:

 

Kasino
Producer/Director: Adrian Wallace
Producer: Nicole Hilliard-Forde
Region: Ontario

 

Neutrino
Producer/Director: Alfons Adetuyi
Producer: Cora Tonno
Region: Ontario

 

Roots — Documentary
Director/Producer: Karen Chapman
Region: Ontario

DEI-ME, STACY! / DEI-MOI TOUT, STACY!
Creator/Writer/Producer: Josiane Blanc
Producer: Vanessa Caceres
Region: Quebec

We’re thrilled to see Black Canadian talent represented across TIFF’s development programs and the new international project market. These opportunities provide important spaces for creators to develop their work, build new industry relationships and bring Canadian stories to audiences and partners from around the world.

 

Congratulations to all of the creators and teams participating in TIFF 2026. We look forward to following their projects and celebrating what comes next.

 

For more information: Black Screen Office | info@bso-ben.ca