ABOUT
The Business of Budgeting workshop is a two-day workshop designed to provide beginner-to-intermediate level knowledge of the process of creating a production budget for content in the Canadian market. Through a combination of instruction and exercises, key topics of focus include (but are not limited to): understanding the breakdown, understanding account codes, a line-by-line dissection of the necessary elements, and accommodating for contingencies. Participants will also review budget templates from a variety of funders (i.e. Ontario Creates, CMF, Bell Fund, IPF, etc.)
This program is made available with the support of the City of Toronto, Ontario Creates and the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA).
ELIGIBILITY
This workshop is targeted to:
1) Content creators who want to develop a stronger understanding of the budgeting process and may be responsible for building production budgets.
2) Production accounting professionals in entry-level or junior positions who are looking to expand their skills and advance their careers.
Prerequisites:
Working knowledge of and basic experience in production accounting and a familiarity with budgeting is recommended. Knowledge of Excel will be required and those participating from home (virtually) will must have access to Excel to partake.
If you have previously enrolled in WIFT+ Toronto's Media Business Essentials program (as a whole) or completed the Production Accounting or Production Management module of that program, this workshop will be a good addition for you.
DATES
Registration Open (Members): Monday, August 24, 2026
Scholarship Open: Monday, August 24, 2026
Registration Open (Public): Monday, August 31, 2026
Scholarship Close: Monday, October 5, 2026
Registration Close: Deadline Extended! Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Program Runs:
Saturday, October 17, 2026 (9:30am - 4:30pm)
Saturday, October 24, 2026 (9:30am - 4:30pm)
2026 Registration Fees
WIFT+ Toronto Members: $250 + hst
Non Members: $325 + hst
Two (2) scholarships will be available to cover program fees for an individual for this program and are made available through the Foundation for WIFT+ Toronto.
SESSIONS & INSTRUCTORS
DAY 1
Session One: Introduction/Building Your Basic Documentation
Instructor: Sasha Boersma
Sasha Boersma is Co-Founder/Producer at Sticky Brain Studios where she leads business affairs, including human resources, accounting, and funding proposals. Since 2013, Sticky Brain Studios has created original games and apps, and developed over 70 others with partners like TVOntario and the Responsible Gambling Council.
Sasha applies her lived and professional experience with diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility advocacy to every aspect of her work, including user experience design, marketing, teaching, and business strategy. She uses strategic foresight to identify patterns and develop a humanistic, inclusive approach to her business practices. She understands the nuance of individual experiences for players, users, students, and employees alike, examines systems and processes, and analyzes human behaviour to build happy and effective teams.
Sasha is an ambassador for Women in Games and a member of the Board of Directors of the Disability Screen Office, a national, not-for-profit organization that works with the Canadian screen industry to eliminate accessibility barriers and foster authentic and meaningful disability representation throughout the sector. She also served on various industry advisory committees for Ontario Creates, Canada Media Fund, Women in Film and Television – Toronto, Interactive Ontario, and the City of Toronto. Sasha also works as contract faculty at Centennial College's Story Arts Centre, where she has developed and taught post-graduate-level business courses for creative professionals for over ten years.
DAY 2
Session Two: Creative Considerations When Budgeting
Instructor: Jennifer Mesich