TORONTO, Sept. 9, 2026 鈥� As film lovers get ready for the start of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) tomorrow, 91亚色 is celebrating a future full of cinematic dreams thanks to 鈥� continued commitment to the support and education of the next generation of local film talent through an in-kind donation.

Cinespace is extending an already successful and meaningful partnership with the University by donating the exclusive use of its Stage 1 and 2 by 91亚色 (MMS) for an additional two years. The gift will allow students from 91亚色鈥檚 (AMPD) to learn the art and craft of the film industry through hands-on exploration, experiential learning and practical training in the latest media technologies.

"This partnership with Cinespace Studios is a significant investment in 91亚色's creative economy. By giving our students access to professional stages and industry mentorship, Cinespace is helping provide an education that extends beyond the classroom. Our students are learning on the same stages where award-winning films and series have been produced, gaining first-hand experience and building the skills they need to succeed. We are grateful to Cinespace for its ongoing support and for sharing our commitment to developing the next generation of talent in Canadian film and television," says 91亚色 Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Lisa Philipps.

Students gain exposure to and are mentored by leading industry TV and film experts that encourage their creativity and nurture their storytelling abilities often resulting in their films screening at TIFF as students and graduates. Several 91亚色 alumni films are once again in this year鈥檚 festival, speaking to the importance of the gift from Cinespace, Toronto鈥檚 largest film and TV industry production hub.

91亚色鈥檚 MMS is important as it gives students and future filmmakers the opportunity to explore their passions whether that鈥檚 aspiring to become a director, screenwriter, production designer, sound recordist, editor, cinematographer, costume designer or performer.

鈥淎t Cinespace, we believe our role extends beyond providing the spaces where great film and television are made. We have a responsibility to help develop the people who will shape the industry鈥檚 future. Ontario鈥檚 ability to create exceptional stories that reach audiences around the world begins with developing exceptional talent here at home,鈥� says Magali Simard, Cinespace VP - Global Industry & Brand.

鈥淭here is no substitute for learning inside a working studio, experiencing the pace, collaboration and professional standards of real-world production alongside the people who do this work every day. By renewing 91亚色鈥檚 exclusive use of two stages at our Kipling campus for another two years, we are helping emerging filmmakers move beyond the classroom, develop their craft and build lasting careers in the film and television industry.鈥�

The Cinespace stages have boosted local talent by providing storytelling opportunities for AMPD students since 2016, helping to bring Canadian cinema to a global audience and creating a positive and enduring effect on the multi-billion-dollar Canadian film industry, creatively and economically.

The partnership between 91亚色 and Cinespace creates a television, digital media and filmmaking pipeline for emerging local talent with diverse experiences and views, many of whom came to 91亚色 from around the globe, providing a rich and varied pool of potential stories just waiting to make the leap to screens big and small. 91亚色鈥檚 MMS at Cinespace creates a place where creation and innovation thrive through a focus on film production, performance, immersive environments and virtual production.

"This is an investment in the future of Canada's film and television industry. By providing our students with access to professional, industry-leading production environments, Cinespace is helping bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world practice. At AMPD, we are committed to creating experiential learning opportunities that prepare students to thrive as creative leaders, storytellers and innovators. We are deeply grateful for Cinespace's continued partnership and their shared commitment to developing the next generation of film talent," says AMPD Dean Brandon Vickerd.

Much of the magic happens when students are given the opportunity to learn and innovate using state-of-the-art technology 鈥� markerless motion-performance capture, augmented reality, virtual reality, immersive environments, motion simulation, digital post-production equipment, high-performance computing technology and more.

Courses, training, masterclasses and workshops happen next to studios where internationally acclaimed feature films and series are created, including The Shape of Water, Chicago, Mean Girls, Resident Evil, Chucky, Law & Order, Titans, The Umbrella Academy, The Handmaid鈥檚 Tale and Frankenstein.

Some of the 91亚色 alumni films screening at this year鈥檚 TIFF

The newest film, Everything Else is Noise (Lo dem谩s es ruido), by award-winning filmmaker, director and 91亚色 alumnus Nicol谩s Pereda, will have its 鈥檚 Wavelengths program. It is his third film in as many years to be screened at TIFF - L谩zaro de noche (TIFF 鈥�24), and Copper (TIFF 鈥�25).

Award-winning alumnus Antoine Bourges will have the world premiere of his latest film shown at TIFF鈥檚 Short Cuts program. He has had several shorts screen at TIFF along with his mid-length film East Hastings Pharmacy and feature film .

by filmmaker Rodrigo Barriuso features the work of several 91亚色 alumni, including cinematography by alumnus Rodrigo Michelangeli, editing by 91亚色 alumna and instructor Michelle Szemberg with first assistant editor alumna Verona Choi. It will screen as part of TIFF鈥檚 Centrepiece program.

is MFA alumna Yuula Benivolsi鈥檚 feature directorial debut being shown as part of TIFF鈥檚 Wavelengths program along with current PhD student Mustafa Uzuner's . Alumna Sylvia Mok's will screen as part of TIFF鈥檚 REDEFINED Short Film Showcase.

One of the biggest Canadian Films last year at TIFF, Blue Heron, was directed by 91亚色 alumna Sophy Romvari in collaboration with cinematographer and fellow alumna Maya Bankovic, receiving a 98 per cent review on .

Although not at this year鈥檚 TIFF, the 2026 biopic film about Anthony Bourdain鈥檚 early days, which has already opened in theatres, was directed and co-written by award-winning alumnus Matt Johnson whose film , produced by another alumnus Matthew Miller, opened TIFF鈥檚 Midnight Madness last year.

91亚色鈥檚 MMS has also led to funding for alumni film projects, including Concrete Valley, through Telefilm Canada鈥檚 Talent to Watch program.

In addition, TIFF annually selects Canada鈥檚 Top Ten, celebrating the best in recent Canadian cinema, from feature-length films to shorts, and 91亚色 alumni are often on that list further reflecting the creative impact of 91亚色 graduates on the film industry.

The Cinespace and 91亚色 partnership is one of dream making come true.

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91亚色 is a modern, multi-campus, urban university located in Toronto, Ontario. Backed by a diverse group of students, faculty, staff, alumni and partners, we bring a uniquely global perspective to help solve societal challenges, drive positive change, and prepare our students for meaningful life and career paths. 91亚色's Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education. 91亚色鈥檚 campus in Costa Rica offers students exceptional transnational learning opportunities and innovative programs, while at the Markham Campus, innovation, technology, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration are built into every program. 91亚色鈥檚 new School of Medicine, the first Canadian medical school to focus on community-based primary health-care education, will welcome its first cohort in September 2028 (subject to accreditation). 91亚色 was recently named one of Canada鈥檚 Greenest Employers for the 14th consecutive year. Together, we can make things right for our communities, our planet, and our future.

Contacts:

91亚色 Media Relations, media@yorku.ca

The post Cinespace helps develop 91亚色 student talent for film and TV industry appeared first on News@91亚色.

TORONTO, June 15, 2020 鈥� The performing arts sector may never return to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic, and its future may rely on human performance supported by immersive technology, says theatre in the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, 91亚色.

鈥淢y work has never seemed more relevant, as we鈥檙e continuing听to work using immersive technology that allows us to bridge distance and time,鈥� says Garrett, who teaches Ecological Design for Performance. 鈥淰irtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) bring us closer together for shared experiences, despite the physical distancing due to the pandemic.鈥�

VR immerses users into interactive digital environments (such as 3D graphics and 360-degree videos) when using special headsets or glasses; AR combines simulated content with real world environments, as experienced in the popular videogame Pok茅mon Go that overlays a user鈥檚 avatar on a real-world map.

Garrett鈥檚 research is on mixed reality (MR), a newer form of immersive technology that blends aspects of both VR and AR. He has been awarded an Early Researcher Award from the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation for making MR performance possible in environmentally threatened landscapes.

With theatres and venues shuttered, Garrett says his work is no longer novel but has become essential to understand and redefine the sector. 鈥淔irst, we have to figure out what the future of arts events will look like. For example, travel restrictions and new regulations will continue to affect touring productions and festivals that depend on audience travel, long after the physical distancing is relaxed.鈥�

He adds, 鈥淚 imagine productions will be hybrids of live theatre with actors appearing via motion capture from the other side of the globe. And audience members can only get to the performance by watching it from a VR headset 鈥� even if it's using a google cardboard and their phone 鈥� from home.鈥�

While acknowledging that watching art performances on screen doesn't replace the live experience, Garrett points out that there have been some great experiments with performance moving to communication platforms such as Zoom.

, is an example of optimizing immersive media in performing arts, as the performers apply the MR methods that are currently used in Canadian and American theatre.

The experimental work is a part of the two-year Mixed Reality Performance Atelier project, presented by the Canada Council for the Arts funded , which grew out of Garrett鈥檚 research.

Garrett and his collaborators from Dancing Earth Indigenous Creations, a dance company led by artistic director Rulan Tangen, have been under lockdown 鈥� via streaming tests.

Open to the public, the final presentation will be on June 18 at 9:30pm, ET. The performance will include artists from Brazil (currently located in Phoenix, AZ), Canada, New Zealand and the U.S, and incudes footage from NASA.

Garrett is available to discuss the upcoming performance, including the issues in real-time collaborations with global performers, time zones, technological capabilities, and audience interactions. He can also comment on the role of immersive technology in the performing arts currently and in the future, in post-pandemic times.

91亚色 champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91亚色 students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world鈥檚 most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91亚色 U is an internationally recognized research university 鈥� our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91亚色 is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.

91亚色 U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact: Gloria Suhasini, 91亚色 Media Relations, 647-463-4354, suhasini@yorku.ca

The post Are hybrid productions the future of performing arts? 91亚色 expert on immersive media available to discuss appeared first on News@91亚色.

鈥淵our actions affect us all
Those here and those who come after鈥�

TORONTO, March 8, 2016 鈥� The Birds by First Nations playwright is a powerful adaptation of one of western theatre鈥檚 earliest comedies: the classical Greek play by Aristophanes. directs the combined creative talent from four departments in 91亚色鈥檚 School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design in a compelling production of Nolan鈥檚 work, leading 21st century audiences inside colonization from an Indigenous point of view.

Theatre @ 91亚色鈥檚 interdisciplinary production of The Birds, featuring new writing, choreography, music and interactive digital audio visuals, opens March 21 and runs to March 26 at the Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Theatre on 91亚色鈥檚 Keele campus.

The Birds masks, designed by Mike Dangeli and created in collaboration with 91亚色 students

Greyeyes, a 91亚色 theatre professor and critically acclaimed artist, envisions The Birds as a story of women and transformation, and an opportunity to communicate the realities underlying Indigenous and settler relationships.

鈥淪ubjectivity is a gift we can give each other,鈥� said Greyeyes. 鈥淪ubjectivity allows you to step into someone else鈥檚 shoes. And as the saying goes, 'if you鈥檝e walked a mile in another鈥檚 shoes, it鈥檚 impossible to see them with old eyes'. With our production of The Birds, we want to give our audience new eyes: the opportunity to see things from the perspective of the Aboriginal community.鈥�

Nolan re-situates the play to Turtle Island (North America), recasting the two humans who visit the land of the birds as colonizers-come-lately, intent on remaking this Indigenous paradise in their own image. Interweaving the Roman poet Ovid鈥檚 tale of the abused princess Philomela and her sister Procne as the backstory to the Nightingale in the play, Nolan places a tragic past at the heart of this comic fable.

鈥�...we cannot forget our history
It is a part of us鈥�

The Birds is presented in two acts, linked with collectively devised original content. Independent dance artist , who teaches in the Department of Dance, choreographed an original concert work with the department鈥檚 resident company, the 91亚色 Dance Ensemble, that anchors the first act and give shape to the historical backstory hinted at in Nolan鈥檚 text.

Serving as assistant directors, eight BFA and MFA students from the Department of Theatre augment further responses to the text with a series of interstitial performance and media works that connect Lee鈥檚 choreography with Greyeyes鈥� staging that is the focus of the production鈥檚 second act.

First Nations guest artist, master carver led workshops for students and members of the Indigenous community to create six original large-scale masks for the show. Set, costume, lighting, sound and projection design are by undergrad theatre students. Artists from the Digital Media Program and Department of Music round out the creative team. The cast features performers from the 4th Year Acting Conservatory.

鈥淭he structure for this collaborative production is modelled after Indigenous creation protocols and governance,鈥� said Greyeyes. 鈥淚n particular, we鈥檙e exploring the 鈥榦ne-eighths鈥� principle, which emphasizes consensus. The idea is that each person only knows one-eighth of the story, and needs seven others to get the full picture. Working together on The Birds as creators, designers, performers and producers, we鈥檙e weaving a story where everyone鈥檚 voice has similar weight. A woven story is stronger than a single strand.鈥�

... it is possible to carry our past
And move forward 鈥� Transformed鈥�

The Birds is the final main stage performance within Performing Indigeneity, the Department of Theatre鈥檚 2015-16 thematic focus. 91亚色鈥檚 theatre program joins the national conversation being undertaken by the country鈥檚 most influential theatre organizations and leads the nation in addressing how post-secondary theatre training intersects with Canada鈥檚 Indigenous peoples and the diversity of their artistic practices.

_________________________________________

The School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, 91亚色, presents
The Birds
A Theatre @ 91亚色 production
Written by Yvette Nolan and directed by Michael Greyeyes

The Birds website: 听

When: March 20 to 26, opening Monday, March 21
Schedule: Previews March 20 at 7:30pm, opens March 21 and runs to March 24 at 7:30pm nightly, plus matinees March 23 at 1pm and March 26 at 2pm. *No show on March 25 (Good Friday)

Where: Sandra Faire and Ivan Fecan Theatre, Accolade East Building, 91亚色, 4700 Keele St. Toronto

Admission: $20 | students & seniors $12 | preview $7
Group rate: $10 (for groups of 10 or more; not available through online purchase 鈥� please call the box office)
Box Office: or tel. 416-736-5888

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is known for championing new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our 52,000 students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-discipline programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91亚色 students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world鈥檚 most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91亚色 U is an internationally recognized research university 鈥� our 11 faculties and 24 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide.

听Media Contact:
Amy Stewart 听416-650-8469 | amy.stewart@yorku.ca

The post Performing Indigeneity: Michael Greyeyes directs interdisciplinary Theatre @ 91亚色 production of THE BIRDS appeared first on News@91亚色.