The Largest Free Careers Event for the Film and Television Industry in Toronto
The inaugural Pinewood Toronto Studios’ Futures Festival 2025 took place in Downtown Toronto on Thursday 1 May. Following the major success of the Futures Festival at Pinewood Studios in the UK, this event has come to Toronto and represents the city’s largest free careers event for those looking to start a career in the Film and TV industry. Over a thousand young people and career changers from Toronto attended our Studios to find out more about the breadth of roles available. They were greeted by a large range of employers, trade bodies and educational institutions who support the industry. Attendees included the City Councillor for Toronto-Danforth and Chair of the Film, Television and Digital Media Advisory Board, Paula Fletcher and groups from schools, colleges, universities and educational facilities studying film, media and creative arts.
“Arts and film are the soul of our culture. They give us a new perspective about the world – and ourselves. Toronto is proud to host a vibrant film industry as home to TIFF, the set of many favourite films, and an industry contributing $2.5 billion annually to the city’s economy. I want to congratulate Pinewood Studios and the hundreds of youth who participated in the Futures Festival to explore careers as filmmakers. We need your talents now more than ever!”
Olivia Chow
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Mayor of Toronto
The experience took place in multiple dedicated areas across the studio lot including sound stages 2, 10 and 14. Attractions included Stormtroopers, droids, Klingons, and cars used for film and TV work. Whilst Adaptive Physics Stunt Design presented a live demonstration featuring wire work and-hand to-hand combat, which brought the lot to life and further enriched the event.
"Pinewood Futures Festival is such an important event here in Toronto because students have to know about the film industry, that there are great jobs and there is a lot of mobility. 35,000 people have a great career in film in this City and we’re always looking to replenish that workforce.”
Councillor Paula Fletcher
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Representatives from the industry came from far and wide to share their knowledge, experience and insights, including experts in costume design, makeup, props, and visual effects. A series of panels took place on themes including, Emerging Careers, Post Production, Visual Effects and two were hosted by the Toronto Film Office; Film 101 – an introduction to film and a panel with Women in Film and Television.
“The big impact of an event like Pinewood Futures Festival is that many students grow up watching film and television and they never think of it as a job for them, they do not think that they have a role in this industry. The Futures Festival shows them that there are any number of jobs that they could do, creative, crew, or corporate, students attending today have come here and been inspired.”
Marguerite Pigott
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Toronto Film Commissioner
Sarah Farrell
“We are proud to host our inaugural Pinewood Futures Festival here in our studio in Toronto and bring together companies and talent from our thriving film and tv production community with those eager to learn. Pinewood Group is passionate about supporting skills development initiatives and inspiring those who are intrigued about entering our industry. Thanks go out to all those who contributed or attended.”
General Manager, Pinewood Toronto Studios
Sirak Melkamu
“I went on a field trip with my class to Pinewood Toronto Futures Festival. Honestly, I've been wanting to work in the film industry since I was little, and then it kind of died down a little bit. But coming here and just seeing all the behind the scenes, in person. It just really set a spark in me.”
Monsignor Fraser College
The full list of companies that attended Pinewood Toronto Futures Festival
ACTRA Toronto, Adaptive Physics Stunt Design, Black Screen Office, Centennial College – Broadcasting: Film, Television, Digital Media and Radio, Computer Animation Studios of Ontario, City of Toronto, CMU College of Makeup Art and Design, Krypton Rental Group, Culture Works Canada , DGC Ontario, EntertainMED Medical Services, Entertainment Partners, First Unit Fire, Front Row Insurance Brokers Inc., George Brown College, Herc Rentals, IATSE 873, IATSE Local 411, IATSE Local 667, imagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival, JR’s Cars, Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto, MBSE, NABET 700-M UNIFOR, Ontario Creates, Ontario Green Screen, Rocket Science VFX, The Screen Industries Research and Training Centre (SIRT), SK Films, Spin VFX, Sunbelt Rentals Film & TV, The Canadian Film Centre, Toronto Film School, Toronto Metropolitan University – The Creative School, Visual Effects Society Toronto, Women in Film & TV Toronto
Photos by Sarah Melvin