Toronto Media Arts Centre

A place to create and experience video, film, games and digital culture in Toronto’s West Queen West neighbourhood.

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Exhibitions & Festivals

Arab Community Centre of Toronto

I can better explain this way

October 26–November 3

10am-5pm weekdays

Free

Robin Pacific

Missing You

October 25–November 16

10am–5pm weekdays

Free

Curated by Noor Bhangu

Gathering Across Moana

October 3–27

10am-6pm weekdays, plus 12-5pm on October 26-27

Free

Making Mad

October 11–20

daily, 12 - 6 PM (closed Oct 14)

Free

View all exhibitions

Events & Workshops

Canadian Filmmakers' Distribution Centre + EMILIA-AMALIA

Involution

2019-10-30T19:00:00.000-04:00 2019-10-30T21:00:00.000-04:00 EMILIA-AMALIA continues HOLES AND HOW TO FILL THEM—a year-long collaboration with the Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre (CFMDC)—with a collectively curated film screening by Claire Greenshaw, Annie MacDonell, Gabrielle Moser and Erica Stocking. Inviting artists and curators to respond to E-A's programming, and to the CFMDC film collection, these ongoing curated screenings activate holes, gaps and omissions as strategies for intergenerational knowledge transmission, political resistance and feminist praxis. _Involution_ 1. The uterus shrinking or returning to normal size after birth. 2. A function, transformation, or operator that is equal to its inverse, i.e. which gives the identity when applied to itself. At the time of year when the veil between the living and dead is the thinnest, this program presents an experience of motherhood as a shifting of boundaries between the Self and an Other. Time and space fracture and become contaminated. Bodies multiply and decay, mothers are remembered; they are squeezed and rung out. Worlds are destroyed and remade for speculative future inhabitants, whether zombies, queens, vampires, monsters or babies. Featuring works by Helen Benigson, Hanna Black, Leigh Bowery, Thirza Cuthand, Catherine Elwes, Edward Owens, Corin Sworn, and Leslie Thornton. Run time: 64 minutes EMILIA-AMALIA is a feminist working group based in Toronto. Initiated in 2016, E-A activates modes of informal knowledge sharing and experimental writing to explore relationships of mentorship, collaboration and indebtedness between generations of feminist artists, writers, and curators. HOLES AND HOW TO FILL THEM takes up E-A’s ongoing interest in practices of failure, refusal, withdrawal, deliberate omission, and generative stoppages as sites for feminist organizing and conduits for lost intergenerational knowledge. The hole is the gap left in feminist histories. It is the void left by withdrawn or failed or abandoned projects. he hole is the grave and the womb. It is the blindness of the unseeing eye, and mouth open wide to take it all in. https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1561400976-6478878620744372260193421490547522240774144n.jpg CONFIRMED
October 30, 7:00 PM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Charles Street Video + Arab Community Centre of Toronto

I can better explain this way Opening Reception

2019-10-26T17:00:00.000-04:00 2019-10-26T19:00:00.000-04:00 Celebrate the photography and animation projects youth in MANY have been working on since July. It will be a night of art, food, and fun activities! https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1570729810-csv.jpg CONFIRMED
October 26, 5:00 PM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Dames Making Games + Interactive Ontario and the Cultural Human Resources Council

Arts Futures 2019: Immersive Technology as an Artistic Medium

2019-11-25T10:00:00.000-05:00 2019-11-29T18:00:00.000-05:00 _A weeklong intensive program on virtual reality production_ Virtual reality offers tremendous potential for the creation of artistic works and narratives. This program will help artists and digital producers across all disciplines take advantage of the opportunities for storytelling and audience engagement offered by immersive technology. 15 participants from across Canada will spend five days in Toronto undertaking an intensive program of hands-on workshops on virtual reality production and distribution as the Arts Futures 2019 cohort. https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1555532790-caminadoporsalaviroo.png CONFIRMED
November 25–29
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Dames Making Games

Writing Text-Based Horror Games

2019-10-24T18:30:00.000-04:00 2019-10-24T21:30:00.000-04:00 Horror games are capable of delivering heart-pounding and adrenaline-dumping immersive experiences. Many games have an arsenal of tools to help them achieve these ends, from gory particle effects and hair-raising sound design, to terrifying imagery and jump-scares. But what about games that have none of these elements at their disposal? Despite the lack of an eerie score of lovingly rendered digital viscera, text-based horror games are capable of delivering incredibly intense, disturbing and distressing experiences for the player. Just in time for spooky season, Kaitlin Tremblay and Natalie Zina Walschots will take workshop participants through the riches of text-based horror and the genre's great potential to scare the crap out of players. Participants will learn from some of the best examples of the genre, and will be introduced to the structure of text-based horror and led through the process of creating text-based horror games. ### Who this workshop is for * aspiring games writers * writers interested in the horror genre * writers looking to learn more about a new genre * game makers seeking new skills * anyone who is interested! Image: From _Lights Out, Please_ The one about the carnival, told by Kitty Horrorshow. [Get the game here](https://kait_zilla.itch.io/lights-out-please) https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1570559823-screenshot2019-10-08-untitled-story.png CONFIRMED
October 24, 6:30 PM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Dames Making Games

Intro to Typography for Indie Games

2019-11-07T19:00:00.000-05:00 2019-11-07T20:30:00.000-05:00 Selecting typefaces thoughtfully can have a profound effect on the strength of your art direction and improve the usability and accessibility of your interface. In this info-packed lecture, designer Nate Davis will demystify typography and typesetting for games, survey the features of fonts, and how they can make your life harder or easier; review practical concerns, such as licensing; talk accessibility; and answer all your burning questions about fonts and type in games! Who this is for * Indie developers who have to wear lots of hats * Art directors * UI and UX professionals * Visual artists * People who might translate their game into German someday and might need to know how long their text boxes should be https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1570556769-hspoov9looplvnwggpoj.png CONFIRMED
November 7, 7:00 PM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Non-Binary Colour Collective

2SQTBIPoC Arts & Zine Fair!

2019-11-09T12:00:00.000-05:00 2019-11-09T18:00:00.000-05:00 This event is FREE to attend. However, PWYC donations are greatly appreciated and will help us fund future Non-Binary CC initiatives. This event is being held in Tkarón:to, which is governed by the Dish with One Spoon wampum. The Dish with One Spoon wampum is a treaty between the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee and Wendat Nation which binds them to share and protect this land. All subsequent Indigenous people and newcomers are invited into this treaty. We encourage each other to reflect on our relationship to the land and to be in solidarity with Indigenous peoples and their struggles for justice globally. We have reserved vendor space and grant funds for 2SQTBIPOC Indigenous artists, Black artists, transwomen and trans-feminine artists. This event is supported by ZIPE 2019, a free zine program for 2SLGBTQIAP+ BIPOC, Deaf, Mad and disabled youth, hosted by Paperhouse Outreach Collective in partnership with SKETCH, Toronto Art Book Fair, and the Non-Binary Colour Collective, with support by The ArQuives, Art Metropole, and OCADU Zine Library, funded by Toronto Arts Council and Ontario Arts Council - Conseil des arts de l'Ontario. https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1569076945-annie-spratt-jhw1crdwkei-unsplash.jpg CONFIRMED
November 9, 12:00 PM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Dames Making Games

Wearable Game Controllers: Halloween Edition

2019-10-30T18:30:00.000-04:00 2019-10-30T21:30:00.000-04:00 Want to make wearable game controllers that can be played with your friends? How about vampire capes, witches' hats, and zombie bandages as game interfaces? In this workshop, you will learn to design and make multiplayer wearable game controllers. Since it’s the day before Halloween, we’ll use that as our theme. We’ll have Halloween-ish wearables available that you can mod, but you’re also invited to bring your own! We will use conductive fabric and Arduino to create bespoke games interfaces that you can wear. No previous experience with Arduino or electronics is required. ### About This workshop is part of the Textile Game Controller workshop series - a partnership between OCAD University’s Social Body Lab and game:play Lab and Dames Making Games, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Partnership Engage Grant. Be sure to check out our future events as well! https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1570071915-textile-game-controllers-workshop-nov15-2018-sbl-dmg-large-6.jpg CONFIRMED
October 30, 6:30 PM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Paprika Festival & Workman Arts

Bringing Your Authentic Self to Your Writing

2019-10-19T13:00:00.000-04:00 2019-10-19T16:00:00.000-04:00 Bilal Baig guides participants through activities to inspire writing and creation from a personal lens. Bilal focuses on creating new text that is based in authentic and honest experience. Participants will work through activities to generate new text. ### What to Bring Bring a writing device. Pen and paper will be available. ### About This workshop is free and is offered by Paprika Festival and Workman Arts. Participants are invited to If You Ask Me, a screening series of short film featured within Rendezvous With Madness. Tickets are Pay-What-You-Can at the door, or available for advance online purchase here. ### About Paprika Festival Paprika Festival is a theatre company that offers year-round mentorship and training for new and emerging artists, showcasing their work in a week-long festival each May. We tailor our programs to meet the individual needs of artists and build their capacity and skill-sets as artists and arts workers. ### About Workman Arts Workman Arts is a multidisciplinary arts organization that promotes a greater understanding of mental health and addiction issues through creation and presentation. We support artists with lived experience through peer-to-peer arts education, public presentations and partnerships with the broader arts community. https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1540408014-prism.png CONFIRMED
October 19, 1:00 PM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Dames Making Games

Haunted Homecoming

2019-10-16T18:30:00.000-04:00 2019-10-16T22:00:00.000-04:00 ### Save the date on behalf of your spooky teen monster! On October 16, join us for an evening of multiple Monster Hearts games converging for a final homecoming social. All the high school drama and heartbreak at your command – but with safety tools and quiet space to decompress. A super-awkward immersive atmosphere will set the stage. We encourage you to dress for the occasion. $5 donation at the door is suggested. Light refreshments will be provided. https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1569882452-girls-making-out.jpg CONFIRMED
October 16, 6:30 PM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Charles Street Video

Directing Actors Pt. 1

2019-10-16T18:00:00.000-04:00 2019-10-16T21:00:00.000-04:00 This workshop will provide fundamentals on working with non-professional to experienced actors in both scripted and improvised scenes. It focuses on various methods to encourage the actor to be unselfconscious through focus on the material and immersion in the scene. This workshop will cover: director’s preparation for different stages of your project (casting, rehearsal, shooting); how to communicate your intention effectively to the actors; what actors expect from directors; different approaches to acting and how you use them. In order to understand what an actor requires from a director, participants will fulfil the roles of both actor and director during the workshop, reversing roles with their fellow participants. https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1569805601-kal-visuals-bdtcghqcwiy-unsplash.jpg CONFIRMED
October 16, 6:00 PM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Charles Street Video

Writing Satire

2019-11-06T18:00:00.000-05:00 2019-11-06T21:00:00.000-05:00 Want to write satirical news in the style of The Onion, The Beaverton or Walking Eagle News? In this workshop, recovering journalist Tim Fontaine will teach you how to write hilarious (or cringe-inducing) short articles and headlines that grab people's attention. https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1569807099-2019-09-2921-24-07.png CONFIRMED
November 6, 6:00 PM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Charles Street Video

VR Installation

2019-10-28T18:00:00.000-04:00 2019-10-28T21:00:00.000-04:00 Working together, we will create a basic VR environment for users to explore. Participants will learn the Unity3D interface; objects, sprites and texture mapping; physics; basic scripting; and exporting for distribution and exhibition. At the end of the workshop we will have a VR environment to share and explore and enough knowledge to begin working with Unity independently. Please bring a USB key or hard drive, as well as any images you'll like to work with. https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1569806366-7.jpg CONFIRMED
October 28, 6:00 PM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Charles Street Video

How to Write a Pitch

2019-10-17T18:00:00.000-04:00 2019-10-17T21:00:00.000-04:00 You've been working on great film - now you have to convince others to fund it. This workshop will unpack the art of a good pitch including its essential elements and how to connect with your audience. Bring a your film ideas and get ready to turn them into a pitch! Sherien Barsoum is a filmmaker and story consultant who is inspired by people and issues making the world a better place. Her first feature, COLOUR ME was a bold exploration of black identity narratives. Most recently, Sherien directed and produced RIDE FOR PROMISE and PLAYER ZERO, winning the HotDocs Short Film Pitch and Best Canadian Documentary at NorthWest Fest. She produced BABE, I HATE TO GO, which played top festivals internationally while nominated for a Canadian Screen Award. Sherien was the story consultant on the Oscar-shortlisted FRAME 394 and co-produced HOUSE OF Z, the first feature film bought and distributed by Condé Nast, now on Netflix. Sherien is the former Director of Programming for the Reelworld Film Festival and serves as a board member of the Documentary Organization of Canada’s Ontario Chapter. https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1569805937-bonnie-kittle-giizsko7guk-unsplash.jpg CONFIRMED
October 17, 6:00 PM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Charles Street Video

Directing Actors Pt. 2

2019-10-23T18:00:00.000-04:00 2019-10-23T21:00:00.000-04:00 This workshop will provide fundamentals on working with non-professional to experienced actors in both scripted and improvised scenes. It focuses on various methods to encourage the actor to be unselfconscious through focus on the material and immersion in the scene. This workshop will cover: director’s preparation for different stages of your project (casting, rehearsal, shooting); how to communicate your intention effectively to the actors; what actors expect from directors; different approaches to acting and how you use them. In order to understand what an actor requires from a director, participants will fulfil the roles of both actor and director during the workshop, reversing roles with their fellow participants. https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1569805601-kal-visuals-bdtcghqcwiy-unsplash.jpg CONFIRMED
October 23, 6:00 PM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Charles Street Video

Assistant Editing Pt. 2

2019-10-15T18:00:00.000-04:00 2019-10-15T21:00:00.000-04:00 Working alongside the editor, the assistant editor plays an essential role in the post-production phase while simultaneously gaining valuable theoretical, technical and profession insight into picture editing. Through presentations, discussions and demonstrations (using Adobe Premiere Pro CC), "Assistant Editing" offers participants the essentials of preparing a project professionally for offline and online edits. Topics to be covered include: the role of an assistant editor; the post-production workflow; ingesting and organizing media; online vs offline edits; syncing audio to image; exporting deliverables for colour grade and sound mix; and more. Learn about the crucial role of assistant editing and how it is a stepping stone towards eventually becoming a professional editor. https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1569804652-chrisfrithfeature3.jpg CONFIRMED
October 15, 6:00 PM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Gamma Space Collaborative Studio

Friends Play Games

2019-10-21T18:30:00.000-04:00 2019-10-21T21:30:00.000-04:00 Friends Play Games is a bi-weekly community gathering for all those that love playing, talking about, and sharing their love of games Video games, board games, social games will all be available for play. Bring one with you or play something new that someone else brings along. We have extra screens and controllers on hand if you need some extra help getting things running. If you have a game in progress, this a perfect chance to get people to try out your game and give you feedback. Don’t be shy about showing your work! Every night, we will have one event wide game that can be played by everyone. This game will change every night. Running for over five years, it’s a great way to meet some of Toronto’s game development community and those who support them. Please leave no trace. Harassment-free space. ALSO we will end at 930 sharp to respect any working volunteers time. If you have any questions, we’ll be happy to get you sorted. https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1560616544-tmac-promotion.png CONFIRMED
October 21, 6:30 PM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Dames Making Games

November Speaker Social

2019-11-09T17:00:00.000-05:00 2019-11-09T19:00:00.000-05:00 ## Speaker social season is upon us! On the 2nd Saturday of the month, folks working in games, on game-related projects, or in interactive arts give a brief presentation on their work. Expect fascinating insights into a broad range of disciplines, introductions to rad projects and tools, interesting creators and new friends! After the talks, we chat, mingle, and share some snacks. All are welcome, and it’s always cost- and alcohol-free. Transit fare is available. Winter season speakers TBA! Would you like to give a talk? → [Learn more](https://manual.dmg.to/manual/how-to-present-at-a-social/) → [Submit a proposal](https://dmg.to/applications/speaker-social) ### Schedule 5:00 Doors open 5:20 Announcements 5:30 Talks start 6:30 Snack & chat social hour! ### About DMG's Speaker Socials Our monthly member meeting and social—open to everyone—aims to showcase the work of queer and gender-marginalized folks involved with games in a wide variety of roles. Designers, developers, artists, critics, fans, writers, people new to games and seasoned pros are all welcome and have shared the mic at DMG. It's also a platform for participants to find encouragement, resources and a venue for speaking about their work in a supportive and productive environment. Always alcohol-free. Light refreshments are provided. https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1569794986-7137276026552598178658616463273731430023168o.jpg CONFIRMED
November 9, 5:00 PM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Dames Making Games

Tabletop Game Night 04: Dungeon World

2019-10-30T18:30:00.000-04:00 2019-10-30T22:30:00.000-04:00 Old and new players are invited to join our new game masters for a one-shot session of Dungeon World! Roll dice, make characters, face challenges and tell an awesome story in an evening of roleplaying! RSVP required to attend, and 15min+ late arrivals will not be able to participate. https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1569694554-dungeon-world-ecran.png CONFIRMED
October 30, 6:30 PM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Dames Making Games

GMing Club 04: Dungeon World

2019-10-15T18:00:00.000-04:00 2019-10-15T22:00:00.000-04:00 For folks who have always wanted to run a tabletop RPG but needed a great group, a safe space, an easy way to learn the game, or just a little encouragement, Shel Kahn is running the GMing Club, a program to help folks who want to try being a Game Master to learn a new game. Play one session of a tabletop RPG with Shel, asking questions, learning the system and getting a feel for the game; then go home with a book and a PDF of the game rules and prep your own one shot, (with Shel and prior GMs only a click away via Slack,) which you’ll run at a follow up session with members of the community on hand to play your game, and Shel on hand for any questions. This session, we’ll be learning and running Dungeon World, a fast-paced and flexible fantasy adventure game with modular, creative-commons rules that we can learn, hack, adjust and iterate on freely. [Learn more about Dungeon World here](https://dungeon-world.com) Our first session has limited slots, and we would ask that folks signing up to learn Dungeon World can also commit to running a one-shot game for the DMG community in the follow-up session on October 15. Please check the dates to make sure you’re available for the full time allotted for each event! https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1568918795-vscocamshare-ig.jpg CONFIRMED
October 15, 6:00 PM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Canadian Filmmakers' Distribution Centre + GLAM Collective

Gathering Across Moana Reception

2019-10-24T19:00:00.000-04:00 2019-10-24T21:00:00.000-04:00 Indigenous peoples have drawn connections across vast distances, continents, and bodies of water for thousands of years, revealing the space between us as a potential site for sharing knowledge, experience, and technology. Working from the Pacific view of water (moana and vai) as a mode of connection between islands, and by extension, Turtle Island (North America), these exhibitions will explore the transference of ideas through various media across geographic distances, timespans, and cultures. Together these artists delve into the sharing of knowledge and postulate locations of connection in the future, including imagined concepts of place. Featuring works by Glenn Gear with solo exhibitions by Cheryl L’Hirondelle, Hana Rakena and Rachael Rakena. https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1569213379-6951896927094509291199893803905723495088128o.jpg CONFIRMED
October 24, 7:00 PM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Dames Making Games

Damage Camp 2019

2019-11-30T10:00:00.000-05:00 2019-11-30T18:00:00.000-05:00 A one-day gathering of Toronto’s uniquely diverse and collaborative independent games community. A half day of talks and discussion is followed by hands-on workshops to empower participants with tools and support to create interactive and playful work for ourselves and for people like us. An arcade will showcase new experimental games by our members. https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1548088586-2018-09-07001.jpg CONFIRMED
November 30, 10:00 AM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
Shameless Magazine

Talking Back Feminist Media Conference

2019-11-16T10:00:00.000-05:00 2019-11-17T17:00:00.000-05:00 In celebration of our 15th year of independent feminist publishing for teens, Shameless will host the first ever Talking Back Feminist Media Conference. More details TBA! https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1567718313-conferencemain920500.png CONFIRMED
November 16–17
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON
BoardAgain Games

Queers & More Queers Game Night

2019-11-05T18:00:00.000-05:00 2019-11-05T21:00:00.000-05:00 A bi-monthly game night that welcomes trans, non-binary, femmes, women and any queer-identified folk. https://www.datocms-assets.com/5128/1552340487-5319236422273006641767504856804350380474368o.jpg CONFIRMED
November 5, 6:00 PM
Toronto Media Arts Centre
32 Lisgar Street
Toronto
ON

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