ALL NEW PROGRAM!
The WIFT+ Toronto VFX & Post-Production Mentorship Program, supported by Amazon MGM Studios' Ascend Program, will provide a safe and accessible space for 6 emerging to mid-career individuals’ professional development to learn and experience more within the roles and opportunities available in the VFX and post-production landscapes.
ATTEND PANELS AND WORKSHOPS!
You'll mix with and learn from industry professionals including (but not limited to) a panel(s) with studio executives working in VFX and Post-Production. Panels and workshops will provide insight to the complete integrated workflow from initial concepts all the way through to what’s delivered on screen along with the types of careers possible within these fields.
ACCESS EXPERIENCE AND RESOURCES!
Get what you need for professional growth by diving into the production cycle of VFX and post-production, interacting with key team members representing the creative, technical and managerial roles from companies in Toronto including: VFX Supervisors, VFX Artists, Editors, Colourist, Compositors , Assistant & Supervising Editors, Picture Editor, Sound Effects Editor, Re-Recording Mixer, ADR Supervisor/Editor, Music Editor, and Composer.
RECEIVE A WORK AND OBSERVATIONAL PLACEMENT!
The mentorship program experience wraps up with a work and observation placement of up to 3 months (including an honorarium) within the VFX and/or post-production arena. These placements will be either within one company, or between multiple companies, depending on the focus of the individual participant.
DATES
Applications Open: NOW!
Applications Deadline: Friday, June 19, 2026
In-class dates: July 15-21, 2026 (inclusive)
Placements will be made after the completion of the in-class dates.
NOTE: Applicants must make themselves available for the full duration of the mentorship program period.
*classroom dates my change based on instructor availability
FEES
A submission fee of $25 is required to ensure thoughtful and serious applications.
NOTE: Submission fees will be refunded to those not chosen for the program.
This program is provided free of charge with thanks to the support of the Amazon MGM Studios' Ascend Program.
ELIGIBILITY
In an effort to ensure that all participants are in the best career position to make the most of this experience, we have implemented specific criteria.
Participants must:
- Applicants must identify as women (including cis and trans women), non-binary, two-spirit, or gender-diverse media professionals
- Live in the Greater Toronto Area
- Have a minimum of two screen credits in a post production capacity (eligible credits include, but are not limited to: short and feature films, music videos, and digital series)
- Be Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada
- Be 19 years of age or older
- Be a WIFT+ Toronto member (can join at time of approval)
- Agree to make themselves fully available for the education modules as well as the placement opportunity. Note that participants will be consulted regarding this placement.
- Agree to provide a written evaluation once the program and placement has been completed. Details regarding this report will be provided to selected participants upon acceptance
We strongly encourage applications from individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC); members of racialized communities; 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals; people with disabilities; and members of other equity-seeking communities.
If you require clarity around any of these requirements, please consult Laurie Januska, Director of Programming at ljanuska@wift.com.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants are required to submit the following documents separately, in PDF format, to be considered for this mentorship program:
- CV/Resume
- 150-word Professional Bio
- 300-word Letter of Intent, to include the following:
- Areas of interest in VFX and/or post-production
- Short term career goals (3 - 5 years)
- What you hope to gain from this program
- Why this program is important to you at this stage of your career
- Contact info for 2 professional references and their relationship to the applicant*
- Links to 2 prior artistic works in a post-production capacity (can be select scenes from project)**
- Include information as to why these clips were chosen to represent your work (clips cannot be longer than 2 mins)
*References may be called.
**AI created content WILL NOT be considered. Application will be automatically disqualified if AI created content is included. Application fee will not be refunded under this circumstance.
IN-CLASS SESSIONS
Day 1 - The Big Picture: Script to Screen & Pre-Production
- Morning: icebreakers, participant backgrounds and goals, program overview
- Starting with the script: early meetings with the Director and Supervisors
- How VFX and Post liaise with each other and production HODs to set the needs for a show (production-led vs vendor-led, depending on scope)
- VFX and post breakdowns, vendor selection, budgeting (show VFX from script to screen)
- Executive/studio perspective: how they build teams and deliver creative-driven VFX
Day 2 - Production: On-Set & Principal Photography
- On-set VFX supervision, client-side vs vendor-side perspectives
- How VFX needs are managed during principal photography
- How post begins during production: dailies, editorial assembly
- How VFX interacts with editorial during production
- Guest speakers: on-set VFX supervisors, post supervisors managing shows in production
Day 3 - Vendor-Side: VFX & Post Studio Operations
- How a project flows through a VFX studio: bid to delivery
- VFX departments at a production level: comp, FX, lighting, animation, assets
- Producer’s perspective: resource scheduling, bids, budgets, common bottlenecks
- How the VFX Supervisor collaborates with 2D/3D Supervisors and works with producers to stay on budget
- Post-production facility operations running in parallel: editorial, VFX editorial, online
- Potential working session: simplified mock VFX breakdown
- Sustainability in the VFX pipeline
Day 4 - Post-Production: Picture Lock Through Delivery
- Full post-production workflow: picture lock → VFX final delivery → color → sound → final delivery
- Key post-production roles: Post Producer, Post Supervisor, Coordinator, Editor, Assistant Editor, VFX Editor, Online Editor, Colourist, Sound Supervisor
- How post collaborates with directors, showrunners, studio executives, and creative stakeholders
- Deeper dives: sound (ADR, sound effects, re-recording mix), music, color, final mix — how they work together
- Guest speakers from post houses
Day 5 - Delivery, Careers & Looking Ahead
- Final delivery requirements: masters for theatrical, streaming, broadcast, archival
- Panel: working producers/PMs from both VFX and post discussing day-to-day
- Career pathways and what to expect from placements
- Introduce showcase project expectations
- AI: how AI is being used in VFX and in Post
- Q&A and closing