Learn About Film
About
Learn About Film (LAF) is a two-day film industry event that supports emerging and mid-career filmmakers in British Columbia’s Interior by strengthening skills, expanding professional networks, and increasing access to markets. Through hands-on workshops and networking opportunities with industry professionals from across Canada, participants gain the tools, connections, and confidence needed to tell local stories and compete on national and international stages.
Presented by the Thompson-Nicola Film Commission, in partnership with the Kamloops Film Society, with grant support from Creative BC.
Presented by TNFC
With grant support from CreativeBC
LAF Tickets
Day 1 –
Saturday, March 7th, 8:30am – 4:30pm,
includes entry to evening Industry Reception.
Day 2 –
Sunday, March 8th, 8:30am – 5:00pm,
includes entry to Kamloops Independent Short Shorts (KISS) Fest and KISS Reception.
Location:
Paramount Theatre, 503 Victoria St, Kamloops. Delta Hotels by Marriott, 540 Victoria St, Kamloops.
Tickets:
New this year, choose between Single Day and 2-Day Passes.
- Single Day Ticket: $35 + gst
- 2-Day Pass: $50 + gst
*Coffee/tea service provided, catered lunch provided to everyone who registers by Sunday, March 1st.
Event Schedule March 7 & 8
Meet the Speakers
Saturday:
Mathew Parry – Creative BC
Mathew will be opening Learn About Film 2026 with a talk about Creative BC.
Mathew Parry began his career in film locations and at the Wales Screen Commission before moving to Los Angeles to represent the UK Film Council. Now based in Vancouver, he leads the Funding Programs team at Creative BC, overseeing support for motion pictures, digital media, publishing, and international trade.
Karen Lam
Award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter, Karen Lam, will be talking about her career making horror films, including her recent award winning short Mrs. Chang’s Perfect Teeth, and as a writer working on shows like Van Helsing , and Ghost Wars.
Patric Caird
Patric Caird is a multi-award winning film composer with more than 400 film and television scores to his credit. He is passionate about storytelling in sound and will be sharing how sound and music can affect a film project.
Jenn Strom & Kevin Eastwood
Kevin and Jenn will be discussing their new film, The Painted Life of E.J. Hughes.
Jenn Strom
Jenn Strom is a filmmaker, editor and animator based in Vancouver. Her previous credits as director include the hand-painted NFB animated film, Assembly; the short documentary, A Golden Voice (co-directed with Patrick Shannon); and the Nick Bantock artist profile featured in the series 12 Takes (Gemini Award nominee). Her feature editing credits include: Back Home (VIFF 2022), Stuffed (SXSW & VIFF 2019), and the musical NFB documentary, The Road Forward (Leo Award winner for Best Editing).
Kevin Eastwood
Kevin is an award-winning filmmaker and the producer of The Painted Life of E.J.
Hughes screening at KFF 2026. Previous credits include being the series
director/showrunner on three critically-acclaimed documentary series for Knowledge
Network: Wildfire (which screened at KFF 2025), British Columbia: An Untold
History and Emergency Room: Life + Death at VGH. As a producer, Kevin’s credits
include the documentary features Part of the Pack, Haida Modern (KFF 2020), Haida
Gwaii: On The Edge Of The World, and Oil Sands Karaoke (KFF 2014).
Sunday:
Kat Montagu
Kat is a working writer, story editor, producer, and instructor with extensive industry experience. She has prepared countless Vancouver Film School graduates to work on feature films, in television writers’ rooms, and in game studios. Kat is the Senior Story Editor for Crazy 8s and writes noir drama. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia and currently serves as Head of Film Production and Head of the Writing Department at Vancouver Film School. She will lead a hands-on screenwriting workshop designed for those who are just getting started.
Michelle Muldoon
Crowdfunding your film.
Michelle Muldoon is an indie filmmaker based out of Vancouver, BC. Her latest short
film, Unfrayed, is a character study of loss, and historic abuse. Her previous project, the
female driven Western, Last Stand to Nowhere, screened in eight countries and spent
two months exhibiting in the Museum of the South West. Both films were financed
through crowdfunding campaigns. Michelle is a graduate of Women in the Director’s
Chair Story and Leadership Program, and is a former Board Member of Women in Film
and Television Vancouver. Her feature screenplay, Birthday Blues, was accepted into
the Women in Focus Mentorship Program at the 2021 Whistler Film Festival.
Travel & Stay
LAF FAQ’s
We’ve answered the most common questions about Learn About Film right here.
Q: Who is Learn About Film for?
Learn About Film is designed to help adults and young adults explore a wide range of film industry roles and practices. The program is well suited for participants of all experience levels, from those with no prior industry experience to individuals with emerging careers.
Q: What can participants expect?
Participants can expect two days of speakers and workshops that will inspire and inform their film careers. This year we have filmmakers, award-winning teachers, and presenters who are deeply immersed in the BC film industry.
Q: If I want to attend a single session, do I have to pay for the full day?
We offer single day and two-day ticket options. If you purchase a single day ticket, you can choose not to attend all sessions, but you will be charged for the full day.
Q: Do I need to have a completed script to participate in the script consultation?
No, Kat will be looking at up to 15 pages from a script which can be short scripts or a section of a longer script (pilot or feature) or one-page plan for a feature or TV pilot
Q: How does the 1-1 Networking work?
A list of participating industry experts will be emailed to all registrants attending Learn About Film Day 1 (Saturday, March 7). Attendees will be invited to select their top three preferences. While placement with specific experts cannot be guaranteed, we will do our best to ensure you are matched with at least one of your top three choices.
Each session will be five minutes long, with a two-minute transition period between tables. Limited last-minute changes may be accommodated, subject to availability, but cannot be guaranteed.
Q: If I purchased a 1-day ticket and decide later I want to attend both days, can I do that?
Yes, as long as there is still space available. You will need to purchase another single-day ticket at the $35 + gst price. Unfortunately, we cannot offer the discounted 2-Day Pass Price after a single ticket has been purchased.
Q: Do you offer free or discounted tickets?
We offer a limited number of hardship tickets. Please email [email protected] for more information.
Q: Can I register after the March 1st deadline?
Yes, provided there is still space, however, you won’t receive catered lunch and we cannot guarantee you any 1-on-1 meetings as those need to be organized in advance.
For questions not answered above, please email the Learn About Film Industry Coordinator: [email protected].