Caitlin Garvey

Coordinator, Film Office - Toronto International Film Festival

*Aspiring Writer

I look at the commercial and critical success of films like Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman or Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird and feel hopeful for the future. It’s always been obvious to me that women at the helm can do just as well, or even better, than their male counterparts. And now that’s becoming apparent to everyone.    

I’m so glad that these conversations are really happening now, while I’m still building my career in this industry. But here’s the thing - women already know that they are just as capable, just as talented as those currently dominating the film industry. If we want to see real change for our generation and the ones to follow, we need allies. We need those holding the reins to wake up and realize that some of the greatest stories we can tell come from marginalized groups. We need to change the ‘this is how we’ve always done things’ mentality and take a risk on ‘think about all the incredible things we can create together’.

I’m proud to work for an organization that prioritizes diverse perspectives in the film industry. From screening a wide range of films produced by people from all around the globe, to our Share Her Journey* awareness campaign, to our inclusivity policies within the workplace, TIFF is a leader in this conversation. I get to go to work each day knowing that I am contributing to a progressive, positive organization that is focused on gender parity and female empowerment. Every day I am surrounded by strong, supportive female leaders in all levels of management and I work with men who accept and respect this gender balance. It’s my hope that this will one day become a common attitude in every workplace.    

Being in this environment, surrounded by people that are so passionate about the stories we can share through film, gives me an even stronger drive to achieve my creative ambitions. As a writer, telling thoughtful, female-driven stories is not only something I enjoy doing but something I feel like I need to do. Now more than ever we need to be championing films focused on female agency and showing the world that there is beauty in our flaws, our darkness, our differences. I see so much strength in the women that I meet every day and I want to share that in the stories I craft.

I’m lucky to have so many awesome female role models to inspire me to grow as a professional in this industry. Lilly Singh - a Toronto native and an badass bawse - is a well of wisdom that I return to when I need help focusing on my goals.

This inspirational woman built an empire from the ground up and she did it all without compromising her true self. She’s not only a wildly successful content creator but is also an entrepreneur and published author, and shows no signs of slowing down. Lilly is a woman from my hometown who set her mind on a goal and demolished every obstacle in her way - and that she did this all while empowering other young women is what makes her one of my favourite female role models in the industry.

*TIFF has made a five-year commitment to increasing participation, skills, and opportunities for women behind and in front of the camera, prioritizing gender parity with a focus on mentorship, skills development, media literacy, and activity for young people.(tiff.net, 2018)