Ava Torres is the founder and producer of the production company Canted Pictures. Her keen interest in the relationship between the audience and film led her to complete her master’s degree at the University of Toronto in 2014. Since then, she has become a member of the CMPA and was an award winner for the Ontario Startup Business Pitch Competition in 2017. Her most recent film, Through Rose-Coloured Glasses, won best short film at the Grand River Film Festival and was an official selection at the National Screen Institute Film Festival and the Orlando Film Festival. Ava is currently in the post-production phase of her short film, All Things Beautiful, which has been awarded a grant by the Waterloo Arts Fund.

“I am grateful to have such an amazing opportunity given to me by WIFT-T and the Meridian Artists Agency. This mentorship will undoubtedly have a meaningful impact on my career, as I will be able to learn and develop with one of the leading talent agencies in Canada. Thank you WIFT-T and the Meridian Artists Agency!”

~Ava Torres

Launched this year, the Meridian Artists Agency Mentorship is a unique experience for a female emerging professional working in the Canadian screen-media industry that offers a three-week experience in the day-to-day operations of a talent agency.

“We’re thrilled to have Meridian Artists join our roster of mentorship opportunities for emerging talent. This partnership represents WIFT-T’s commitment to providing emerging professionals with career development opportunities that highlight the numerous entry points and roles in the industry. At WIFT-T, our goal is to highlight the diverse possibilities existing in the industry and provide the tools needed for women to emerge and thrive as vocal, innovative, and visionary leaders in Canadian media.”

~Heather Webb, Executive Director, WIFT-T

At Meridian Artists, Ava will learn, through job-shadowing, how a select roster of the most talented writers, directors, actors and authors are represented and managed.

“We are very pleased to have Ava as our inaugural mentee. The initiative and proactiveness she has demonstrated in her career so far is very impressive to us. She is eager to learn more about the role of an agency as it relates to her producing career. We are excited to welcome her to our office in the fall.”

~Kerry Ball, Literary Agent and Head of Development, Meridian Artists