Your short film just premiered (at CIFF... or elsewhere)—what happens next? In this panel, we’ll demystify the distribution landscape for short-form work, moving past the myth that a festival selection is the finish line. We’ll break down the real paths to an audience: what festivals actually do (and don’t do) for your film, how to approach distributors and sales agents as a short filmmaker, and where streaming platforms and VOD fit into a landscape that increasingly overlooks shorts.

You’ll learn how to build your own distribution runway, from targeted online releases to leveraging festival laurels for visibility, and how to protect your rights in the process. Whether you’re preparing your first submission or have a film already making the festival rounds, you’ll walk away with a concrete, actionable roadmap for getting your short seen by the people it was made for.

[PANELIST] Margaret Rose is a Toronto-based filmmaker and casting director. She co-wrote and co-directed the short film EVERY OTHER WEEKEND with Mick Robertson, which premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival before screening at the Calgary International Film Festival, Atlantic International Film Festival, New/Next Wave Film Festival, Whistler Film Festival, and Toronto Based Shorts. The film was later named a Vimeo Staff Pick. As a casting director, Margaret served as associate casting director on the feature film SEAHORSE which premiered at the 2026 South by Southwest Film Festival. She recently made her feature casting debut as the Canadian casting director on APPARATUS, starring Hudson Williams and Dylan O’Brien. She is currently casting an upcoming feature produced by Film Forge. BID16 is Margaret and Mick’s second short film together, and it had its world premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.

[PANELIST] Mick Robertson is a Toronto-based filmmaker originally from rural Ireland. She works as a director, writer, editor, and producer. She frequently collaborates with filmmaker Margaret Rose. Their co-directed short EVERY OTHER WEEKEND, which Mick edited, premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and is a Vimeo Staff Pick. Their most recent short, BID16, made its world premiere at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival.

[PANELIST] Louise Morel holds a master's degree in cinema and a bachelor's degree in communications. She has worked extensively across Quebec’s vibrant festival ecosystem, including the FNC, RIDM, and RVQC, taking on roles in programming, coordination, and cultural mediation. Driven by a passion for discovering and supporting emerging filmmakers, she has also served as a juror for several student film competitions. In 2024, Louise joined Travelling Distribution, where she contributes to the discovery and circulation of new talent by working on film acquisitions, festival submissions, and sales strategies.

[PANELIST] Michael Bruce is a Scottish filmmaker, composer and lyricist who works in TV, film and theatre. He has composed scores and original songs for Warner Bros, Netflix, PBS, Sky Arts, the National Theatre, the Old Vic and theatres in the West End and on Broadway. He was composer-in-residence at the Donmar Warehouse from 2012-2019, and has also worked as a music supervisor, arranger and orchestrator for Disney Live Entertainment. His debut short film as writer/director is the musical, Kiloran Bay, starring Alan Cumming and Jack Wolfe. It had its world premiere at the BFI Flare Festival in London on March 25th, 2026. His stage musical, based on the film The Illusionist, opened in Tokyo in 2021 and his debut musical theatre album Unwritten Songs topped the iTunes vocal chart.

[MODERATOR] Vicki Van Chau (周倩瑜) is a filmmaker and cultural worker based in Calgary, Alberta on Treaty 7 territory. She has produced and directed several award-winning short films that have screened across Canada and internationally. She is currently the Executive Director of the Alberta Media Arts Alliance Society (AMAAS) where she serves media artists and media art organizations across the province through advocacy work, development opportunities and bridging connections. She has received the Spirit of Helen Award (2014, AMAAS), the Horizon Alumni Award (2018, AUArts) and the Echo Award (2021, EMMEDIA) for her contributions to the media arts community. In 2022, she received the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Award and was inducted into Avenue Magazine's Top 40 Under 40. In 2023, she received the Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal for her contribution to the arts & culture in Alberta.