Read about Hailey Summer’s work producing, programming, and talent development at the

Toronto International Film Festival

49th Toronto International Film Festival

For the 49th Toronto International Film Festival, Hailey assumed the roles project manager, producer, and programmer for the annual TIFF Black Excellence Brunch presented by RBC and Brand USA that took place at Soluna Toronto. The event theme that year was: the rise of the multi-hyphenate. The morning started off with a moderated panel which included Joy Loewen as the moderator (VP Growth and Inclusion, Canada Media Fund) and panelists Zahra Bentham (actor-producer), Carmen Thompson (Programmer, We Are Parable), Steve Harris (Co-founder & Head of Non-Fiction & Digital, Workaholics Entertainment Group), Margaret Lewis (Sr. Relationship Manager, Media and Entertainment, RBC), and R.T. Thorne (director-producer).

After the moderated panel concluded, the most anticipated portion of the event opened for the 200+ black creatives: the rooftop networking lounge. Hailey secured a selection of top film industry executives from the worlds of funding, casting, production and distribution. Her mission in programming the networking lounge was to bring top industry executives, gatekeepers, and decision-makers & emerging artists from an equity-seeking group into the same room in a relaxed and fun setting. Bridging the professional gap to provide an accessible and tangible networking initiative for both parties that have expressed their want to connect to push the growth and development of diversity in the industry. Hailey secured the following executives to create the networking lounge:

  • Karen Tohana, Director of English Content at Canada Media Fund

  • Michael Robson, Content Analyst, Distribution & Marketing at Telefilm Canada

  • Bill Lundy, SVP of Comedy, New Metric Media

  • Ariel Yang, Creative Producer, New Metric Media

  • Gosia Kamela, Head of CBC Films

  • Lea Marin, Director of Development, Drama, CBC

  • Jenny Lewis, CSA & Sara Kay, CSA, Lewis Kay Casting

  • John Buchan, CSA & Jason Knight, CSA, Buchan Knight Casting

  • Emily Johnston, Casting Associate, Lisa Parasyn Casting

  • Hilary Hart, Co-President, Game Theory Films

  • Richelle Charkot, Distribution Manager, Game Theory Films

  • Sarah Timlick, Head of Theatrical Sales, Elevation Pictures

Hailey Summer at the TIFF Black Excellence Brunch presented by RBC and Brand USA, Photo by George Pimentel

Photos of TIFF Black Excellence Brunch presented by RBC and Brand USA, photos by Joanna Roselli

48th Toronto International Film Festival

For the 48th Toronto International Film Festival, Hailey was brought on to help produce and programme TIFF’s Inaugural Black Excellence Brunch. The theme was Room For All and intended to create and extend a platform that brought in established black creatives, industry leaders, and emerging black creatives all into one room. The brunch included a moderated panel that included: Director X (Robyn Hood Showrunner), Kadon Douglas (BIPOC TV & Film Executive Director), Sasha Leigh Henry (Bria Mack Gets A Life Showrunner), Araya Mengesha (Actor and Filmmaker) and was moderated by Justin Riley (SVP of Hillman Grad). Notable Guests included Spike Lee, Government Officials, Industry Leaders, and Emerging Black Creatives.

Hailey continued her work co-producing the TIFF Viola Desmond Campaign Community Supporters Dinner, in partnership with Dr. Pamela Appelt, that raised over $25,000 in support of TIFF’s Viola Desmond Cinema Campaign. And she was then selected as the reader on behalf of TIFF, to vet a selection of feature length screenplays for BIPOC TV and Film’s Inaugural Rising Voices Canada Mentorship Program, a career accelerator for emerging BIPOC Canadian filmmakers, presented by Indeed, and in partnership with Hillman Grad and TIFF.

Hailey Summer and Spike Lee. Photo by Leon Bennett

Panel (L to R): Justin Riley, Sasha Leigh Henry, Araya Mengesha, Kadon Douglas, and Director X

Spike Lee and Hailey Summer. Photo by Leon Bennett.

47th Toronto International Film Festival

In 2022, Hailey served as an Associate Industry Programmer for the world renown Rising Stars programme at the Toronto International Film Festival. In this role, Hailey sat on the Jury and oversaw the prestigious programme; having a hand in selecting the actors and producing the talent development events. Hailey continued to work with the TIFF Industry team on their year-round programming initiatives. In 2023 she assumed a Lead Programming position for Industry events such as Canada’s Top Ten Industry Forum, the Festival Market Bootcamps (European Film Market & Marché du Film), and the International Women’s Day talk “DIALOGUES Writer’s Room: Acclaimed First Features”. She also assisted in vetting screenplays and applications for TIFF Writer’s Studio ‘23 and TIFF-CBC Screenwriter Award ‘23.

TIFF Rising Stars 2022 from (L to R):

  • Isaiah Lehtinen, I Like Movies (Dir. Chandler Levack)

  • Choi Seung-yoon, Riceboy Sleeps (Dir. Anthony Shim)

  • Carmen Madonia, Something You Said Last Night (Dr. Luis De Filippis)

  • Ty Simpkins, The Whale (Dir. Darren Aronofsky)

  • Aaron Pierre, Brother (Dir. Clement Virgo)

  • Joshua Odjick, Bones of Crows (Dir. Marie Clements)

  • Natalia Aranguren, So Much Tenderness (Dir. Lina Rodríguez)

  • Gabriel LaBelle, The Fabelmans (Dir. Steven Spielberg)

  • (Not Pictured) Thuso Mbedu, The Woman King (Dir. Gina Prince-Bythewood)

Shot by Carlyle Routh in the TIFF x BVLGARI Portrait Studio, courtesy of the Toronto International Film Festival (2022).

Hailey with TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey & Rising Star ‘22 Natalia Aranguren

Hailey with Founder & Former CEO of IMDb Col Needham

Hailey at the Cliff Curtis Guest Artist Speaker talk she co-organized for the TIFF Rising Stars.