GET YOUR FILM PROJECT FUNDED: A GRANTS & ALTERNATIVE FINANCING WORKSHOP
We’re hosting a Get Your Film Project Funded: A Grants & alternative financing workshop for beginner filmmakers. This workshop is open to all female-identifying/non binary creatives in the Hamilton area.
Date: Wednesday April 22, 2026 from 6:30-9:00pm
Location: Hamilton School of Media Arts (Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre, 357 Wilson St E, Ancaster, Room 213). (Courtesy of the Hamilton Film Festival & School of Media Arts)
Fee: $20 per person
This workshop will feature a presentation from filmmaker Brenda “Bobo” Whitehall (Brenda Whitehall – IMDb) sharing her experience writing and receiving grants for projects of various sizes/budget. She will also discuss her successful application to Canada Council, for funding the documentary Beyond The Podium: Celebrating Canadian Women Champions.
We’ll also be covering grants available through the City Enrichment Fund, and Ontario Arts Council, as well as alternative ways to fund your project through community groups and crowdfunding platforms. You’ll leave with tips and tricks for grant writing success, and a better understanding of the types of funding available to filmmakers in Hamilton.
To register, please send an email with your name and contact number to: thehamiltonloft@gmail.com. Spots are limited! Registration closes April 19, 2026.
Past Workshops
Hamilton LOFT is THRILLED to announce our instructors for the 2022 Introductory Film Workshop Series!
Nyssa Glück is an award winning cinematographer based in Toronto. Her work has screened as part of Canada’s Top Ten at TIFF, Hot Docs International Film Festival, the Reykjavik International Film Festival and The International Atlantic Film Festival. She’s a third-culture kid, born to third-culture parents. This meant growing up on the move, same as her parents did growing up, throughout Europe and the U.S., living locally in each place. Nyssa grew up in a multilingual home where German, Spanish, French and Dutch were all part of the communal chatter. She is bilingual in English and French. Nyssa’s semi-nomadic upbringing forced her to constantly question her identity and place within cultures. This sparked an intense curiosity about and empathy for those around her and a strong desire to share their stories. In keeping with her values, Nyssa helped create and runs the CSC Field of View Mentorship Program to give back to her community.
Angela is a Toronto and Hamilton based editor for film and TV. She’s a member of the Director’s Guild and CCE, and has been active in the industry for 13 years. She’s worked on award winning productions such as Workin’ Moms, Vikings, and Suicide Squad, and is currently editing a children’s series called Alma’s Way for PBS. Her work has been screened internationally at festivals including TIFF, NXNE, Nuit Blanche, and Toronto After Dark; and aired on Netflix, CBC, Disney Channel, and History Channel. Angela was drawn to editing by the marriage of technical skill, creativity, and storytelling. To her, evoking emotion in post-production through editing, sound, and music is the most satisfying step in the filmmaking process. When editor Thelma Schoomaker was asked how she can edit Scorsese’s violent films, Thelma replied, “Ah, but they aren’t violent until I’ve edited them.”
Hilary‘s career in film began with an internship in short film distribution at Ouat Media in Toronto. From there she moved onto the Canadian Film Centre (CFC), working first in development and later being taken on as staff in administration. During her time at the CFC she also contributed to an online film magazine, The Seventh Art. At The Seventh Art she managed a Live Directors Series, which brought prominent directors including Paul Schrader and Whit Stillman to Toronto to screen and discuss their work. In 2015 Hilary joined the team at Meridian Artists, where she worked in talent management. In 2018 together with Will Woods she co-founded Game Theory Films, a Toronto based independent film distribution company. To date Game Theory has released twenty-three films theatrically and on VOD in the Canadian market and has recently begun releasing titles in the US and UK. Their catalogue is a mix of narrative and documentary features, and includes both Canadian and international titles. They offer targeted and dynamic release strategies, and work closely with filmmakers through the lifecycle of each film. Hilary is a member of WIFT, the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, and in 2021 was selected for the Berlinale Talents program.
Lisa Rose Snow is an award-winning writer/director interested in smashing stereotypes and celebrating the underdog. Recent directing credits include GLAAD nominated UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE, Lifetime’s first lesbian holiday movie, and OVERLORD AND THE UNDERWOODS for CBC/Nickelodeon UK. Her short films have played over fifty festivals on four continents. She is currently writing on DETENTION ADVENTURE for HBO Max and in development on a limited series book adaptation. She definitely believes in magic.
Suddenly SeeMore… Productions is an Emmy-nominated and award-winning production company founded by Morgan Elliott. Over the years Suddenly SeeMore has produced series with Mark Burnett, Howie Mandel, Phil Keoghan, The Tenors and famed former WWE wrestler Trish Stratus. They have produced shows for Netflix, NBC, CBC, Global TV, Discovery Channel, History Channel and Cineplex. Suddenly SeeMore has created and launched 15 series, 12 documentaries, and has shot in over 45 countries. Their documentary Band Geeks had a successful festival run and was an official selection at 10 film festivals.
Lori Fischburg is a production manager and producer, known for Hello Stranger (2022), Ghostwriter (TV Series – 2020), The Broken Hearts Gallery (2020), Possessor (2020), and Through Black Spruce (2018)
Hamilton LOFT Introductory Workshop Series:
Do you have a story to tell, and want to explore the medium of film?
Apply now for our debut Intro to Filmmaking Workshop Series! This free workshop is open to female-identifying/non binary creatives who have zero-to-a little bit of filmmaking experience.
This 6 part introduction to filmmaking series will run over 3 consecutive days (Friday June 3rd, Saturday June 4th, Sunday June 5th 2022 from 10am – 7pm).
Each day’s workshop will focus on two components lasting 4 hours each and be lead by female industry professionals. This inaugural series will be an introduction to the phases of the filmmaking process: Pre-Production (Intro to Budgeting/Finance & Intro to Producing), Production (Intro to Directing & Intro to Cinematography), and Post-Production (Intro to Editing & Intro to Marketing). Workshops will break down the basics and include “in-class” work as well as “hands-on” and/or interactive elements.
Applications (available for download below) are open to participants based in the Hamilton (and surrounding) area, aged 18 or older (it’s never too late to learn!). A curated group of 10 participants will be chosen to reflect diverse backgrounds and complimentary skill sets. Participants will be paid a small honorarium for their commitment to the full series.
The goal of the workshops is to give aspiring filmmakers a look into the filmmaking process and provide them with the tools and skills to be able to confidently begin creating their own projects.
After the workshops series, there will be a local networking event to bring public awareness to our collective, spotlight our artists, and encourage connections among female film professionals.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE: MAY 1st, 2022 @ 11:00pm
Thank you to our partners who made this project possible:
LOFT 