The 2024 Festival schedule

Coffee Talk / 8:30 - 9:15 am

Presented by Yorkton Film Festival

Convention Room A, Gallagher Centre

First time at Yorkton? Drop in and grab an informal coffee with members of our program committee for any questions you might have about making the most of the festival.

Jon Montes, Leslea Mair, Charlotte Engel, Dan Cross, Rob Hardy.

Programmed Screenings / 9:00 - 5:00 pm

Presented by The Clean Energy Show

Ravine Room and Sports Lounge, Gallagher Centre

Free to the public.

Schedule available at the registration desk.

YFF on Demand / 9:00 - 5:00 pm

Youth Room, Gallagher Centre

Free to the public.

Schedule available at the registration desk.

Sounds Like a Panel / 9:30 - 10:30 am

Presented by SMPIA

Convention Room A, Gallagher Centre

Join our panel of audio experts -- Jim Krysko, Steve Allen and Cary  Ciesielskiin a discussion around all things audio, from prep to post. Learn about best practices for making sound the best - and the most accessible - for your film for all audiences.

Moderator: Daniel Cross

Pitch-O-Rama / 10:45 - 11:45 am

Presented by Yorkton Film Festival

Gallagher Centre

Test your pitching skills and be judged by an esteemed panel of broadcasters, directors, and distributors. This is not your regular pitch session so leave your pitches at home. Be brave and spin the “Wheel of Spin” and see what idea you and your team will be forced to pitch.

Moderator: Charlotte Engel

Networking Luncheon / 12:00 - 1:30 pm

Presented by City of Yorkton

Unlocking the Cinematic Future: AI in Filmmaking / 1:45 - 2:45 pm

Presented by Telefilm Canaa

Gallagher Centre

Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a powerful force offering filmmakers unparalleled tools to enhance creativity, streamline production processes, and captivate audiences in entirely new ways. 

But what are the first steps in creating an AI mindset and adopting this new and far-reaching technology? How are policymakers responding? 

In this lively presentation and discussion, we'll hear about the pros, cons, fears and feats of the intersection of AI and creativity, and see how it's changing the spectrum of filmmaking, from pre-production to distribution and beyond.

Panelists: Kris Krug, Leif Kaldor, Janine Steele

Moderator: Erin Mussolum 

Industry 1-on-1s / 3:00 - 4:30 pm

Presented by Creative Saskatchewan

Gallagher Centre

Registration form for this workshop

Looking for the right partner or buyer for your project? Sit down with broadcasters, development executives, distributors, and executive producers to find out what they are looking for, ask questions and talk about your projects.

Broadcasters:

• Jim Krysko, Content Development Specialist - Accessible Media Inc.
• Cara Nye, Director Content Development and Production - Accessible Media Inc.
• Shelley MacDougall, Acquisitions Manager - APTN
• Michelle McCree, Executive In Charge of Production at CBC Docs
• Will Dixon, Program Manager, Original Production (Citytv, OMNI, Citytv Sask).
• Marni Goldman, Production Executive, Original Content - Corus Entertainment Inc
• Shirley Vercruysse, Executive Producer - NFB Western Canada
• Alison Korogyi, Development Executive, Original Programming - Bell Media

Other agencies:

• Erin Dean, Chief Executive Officer - Creative Saskatchewan
• Kaya Wheeler, Program Manager - Indigenous Screen Office
• Jessica Gibson, Programs and Development Manager - National Screen Institute
• Mark Miller, President, Cineflix Studios, Vancouver
• Steven Foster, Business Agent for the DGC Manitoba & DGC Saskatchewan
• Jon Taylor, CEO, Independent Production Fund

RBC Royal Bank of Canada:

• Johnny Zhang, Sr. Relationship Manager, Commercial Financial Services

Lobsterfest / 5:30 pm

Yorkton Wildlife Federation Clubhouse, 

York Lake

Join us at the Yorkton Wildlife Federation for our signature event! Enjoy a delicious East Coast meal with a side order of trap shooting.

Tickets are required for meal and trap shooting.

Spring evenings in Saskatchewan can be chilly. Please dress for the weather.

Shuttles to and from Lobsterfest will begin departing at 5:30 pm from the front entrance of the Gallagher Centre and Holiday Inn Express.

Looking Ahead: The CMF in a Changing Ecosystem / 9:00 - 9:30 am

Presented by Canada Media Fund

Gallagher Centre

From gaming to docs, web series to broadcast television, the Canada Media Fund touches all aspects of media production in Canada. Join Val Creighton, CEO of the CMF, for an overview of how the CMF is adapting to recent changes in the screen-based sector. Moderated by industry veteran Dan Cross, this session will dig into the stories behind the decisions, looking ahead to where industry and audiences are going.

Moderator: Daniel Cross

The Big Picture: Industry Landscape / 9:40 - 10:50 am

Gallagher Centre

From news of the Indigenous Screen Office’s historic permanent funding to major changes in broadcasting and funding alike, three visionary leaders will offer insights into how their organizations are evolving to meet changing Canadian realities. Join Valerie Creighton, President & CEO of the Canada Media Fund, Kerry Swanson, CEO of the ISO, and Michelle Van Beusekom, President & CEO of Knowledge Network, for this candid discussion, moderated by Joy Loewen, VP of Growth and Inclusion for the CMF. 

Panelists: Val Creighton, Michelle van Beusekom, Kerry Swanson. 

Moderator: Joy Loewen

Sound Speed: Intro to Field Recording / 9:40 - 10:50 am  

Curling Rink, Gallagher Centre 

Registration form for this workshop

Interested in knowing what it takes to record location sound? Facilitated by working audio professionals, this hands-on workshop will cover the fundamentals of recording, from choosing the right gear to tips and tricks for working effectively with microphones, booms, and recording devices while navigating the challenges of field recording. 

Due to the hands-on nature of this workshop, space is limited and by advance registration only.

Panelists: Steve Allen, Cary Ciesielski, T-Bone

Moderator: Daniel Cross

Reality Bites: The Documentary Landscape

/ 11:00 - 11:50 am

Gallagher Centre

With participation from two of the country's major doc players, this panel will discuss the current reality for feature documentary making and distribution. Join Richard Cormier, Director General of Creation and Innovation for the NFB, and Sarah Spring, Executive Director of the Documentary Organization of Canada, as they review the role of broadcasters and streamers to both commission and distribute these films and the role the NFB plays with these funders. A golden opportunity to learn from each about how their organizations are responding to new realities within the Canadian landscape, in the tradition of Yorkton, this panel promises to be an enlightening, reflective and future gazing dialogue between the country’s public producer and its principal documentary filmmaker organization. 

Panelists: Richard Cormier, Sarah Spring

Moderator: Daniel Cross

Power Lunch

Making Sense of Policy / 12:00 - 1:10pm

Speaker: Joanne Levy, CRTC 

Moderator - Leslea Mair  

After lunch the festival will be moving to the Tower Theatre. Shuttles to the theatre will be departing from the front entrance of the Gallagher Centre at 1:10 pm. Enjoy a ride to the theatre in style! Rides provided by the Yorkton Antique Auto Club.

Dive into Storytelling: A Master Class with Jennifer Podemski / 1:30 - 2:30 pm

Presented by Warner Bros. Discovery Access Canada

The Tower Theatre, Downtown Yorkton

Join acclaimed actor, producer, and showrunner Jennifer Podemski for an intimate master class. From her breakout series Moccasin Flats to the masterful Little Bird, in the running for 19 nominations at the 2024 Canadian Screen Awards, explore her inspiring career journey and gain insights into the creative process. 

This conversation will discuss Jennifer's transition from captivating audiences on screen to leading the charge behind the camera, sharing valuable lessons about storytelling and navigating the ever-evolving entertainment industry at the highest levels.

Moderator: Kaya Wheeler

An Afternoon at the Movies!  / 2:45 - 4:50 pm

Presented by The Clean Energy Show

The Tower Theatre, Downtown Yorkton

Back by popular demand, grab some popcorn and kick back at Yorkton’s iconic Tower Theatre for screenings and Q&As with some of this year’s nominated filmmakers!

Moderator: David McLeod

Free to the public!

Golden Sheaf Awards Gala / 5:45 - 10:00 pm

Join us for a Ukrainian feast and the prestigious awards gala as we honour the winners of this year’s Golden Sheaf Awards.

Admission by advance ticket only.

Cocktails 5:45 pm - 6:30 pm

Supper 6:30 pm - 7:50 pm

Awards 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

A special thank you to the Paper Bag Players for their help with the red carpet.