On Nov. 15, 2024, York University’s Motion Media Studio (YUMMS) hosted the inaugural Screenwriters’ Supper, an evening dedicated to fostering connections among Screenwriting BFA students, MFA graduates, alumni, and industry professionals. Designed to feel both celebratory and ceremonial, the event unfolded with a sense of procession and excitement.
The supper was spearheaded by filmmaker and Associate Professor in Cinema and Media Arts, Ingrid Veninger, who was initially inspired by a dinner she attended at Berlinale Talents called “Dine & Shine.”
“Writers, directors, producers, cinematographers, editors, composers, actors — everyone was seated at big ‘family tables’ and the mentors rotated from table-to-table between each course,” Veninger recounts. “I joined as a mentor; the experience was inspiring and invigorating and I thought — it would be great to do this at York.”
It was a dream that came to fruition only six months after she shared the idea with York’s Cinema and Media Arts department during a faculty retreat at YUMMS. Working closely with Department Chair, Professor Sharon Hayashi, and fellow Assistant Professor Fabio Montanari, Veninger’s vision materialized into a vibrant gathering that nurtured creativity, mentorship, and community among screenwriters.
One of the key objectives behind the Screenwriters’ Supper was to create meaningful connections between students and industry professionals. When asked about the main goals of the event, Veninger emphasized the importance of building a supportive network within the program.
“The primary intention of the event was to foster community among screenwriting majors across all the years, undergraduate and graduate,” she explains. “Students in screenwriting wanted to meet each other.”
Beyond strengthening peer connections, the event also aimed to connect students with alumni and industry professionals working in writing, producing, and showrunning.
Planning such a large-scale event had its hurdles, but those involved prioritized the experience of attendees above all else.
“One of the biggest challenges was making sure all students felt at ease participating,” Montanari confides. “Writers can be naturally reserved (I know I am!), so we were mindful of creating a setting that encouraged conversation without feeling intimidating. That’s where Ingrid Veninger, our fantastic area head of screenwriting, played a key role. She shaped the format in a way that was both structured and inviting, making sure the experience was productive yet comfortable.”
And they didn’t do it alone. The YUMMS team, along with faculty and alumni, worked together to make the supper a night to remember. “It truly felt like a collective effort,” adds Montanari, “which made the whole experience even more rewarding.”
The evening began with a sense of anticipation, heightened by the dispersal of students to whimsically decorated tables. Montanari and Veninger welcomed the attendees together before announcing each mentor with a touch of ceremony. YUMMS, located at Cinespace, provided a perfectly cinematic venue, with 6,500 square feet of space. One soundstage served as a dining area, while the other held a social mixer/dance party for post-dinner mingling.
Excalibur spoke to many students who praised the event for its welcoming atmosphere, delicious food, and the sense of community it facilitated among mentors and mentees alike.
“The event made me more confident in my ability to network, which in turn helps to make a future in screenwriting a little less daunting,” shares Liam Spears, a third-year screenwriting student. “It also helped to speak with some of the alumni who attended, who’ve experienced the same fears and doubts that I have, while succeeding in making a career out of writing.”
Zara Ferreira, a fourth-year screenwriting major, highlights the importance of hosting such an event at York — home to Canada’s only BFA in Screenwriting. “At my table, the screenwriting alumni mentors mentioned how great this event would have been when they were in the program. We’re all happy it happened! Most screenwriting students don’t know each other, and events like this create opportunities for connection.”
Part of the night’s charm came from the natural flow of conversation at each table. Everyone was a little nervous, a little excited, but the event’s organic vibe nurtured a sense of camaraderie. “I enjoyed it when each of the mentors took a turn to give advice,” shares Victoria Austin, a second-year screenwriting student. “It made me feel like I was in a safe space with people like me.”
As the mentors rotated between tables, mentees had the chance to refine their questions and gain meaningful insights. Leandro Padron, also a second-year screenwriting major, says: “I found the event very encouraging. I received lots of good, practical advice, and found the mentors to be very down to earth. I especially loved talking to Jennifer Irons; she was so much fun and gave us great and constructive advice on how to sell ourselves and our writing.”
Similar sentiments were shared amongst the “staff” — wrangled faculty who exceeded expectations with their serving skills — and the mentors. Veninger recalls a moment where everyone was prepping the platters:
“Our graduate program director, Manfred Becker, was loading up the appetizer trays with veggies, crackers and dip, while the chair of our department, Sharon Hayashi, arranged the savoury tacos. Screenwriting instructor Bill Robertson worked alongside YUMMS staff Christina Dovolis and Josiah Dyck, prepping big bowls of fresh fruit and dessert trays. It was a beautiful sight to see everyone working top speed and having fun.”
Professor Meredith Vuchnich — who teaches fourth year Writing For Television — was impressed by the variety of guests, adding, “There is a real joy for mentors and students to talk about this thing we all love: screenwriting. When I left the evening, I did not feel drained (like I sometimes do after mentoring events). Instead, I felt excited and jazzed by the energy of the York screenwriting majors.”
Montanari recalls a particular moment that stood out to him after the dinner, when everyone was free to wander the eclectically decorated soundstage: “At one point, I looked around and saw our students casually chatting and laughing with top industry professionals. It was exactly what we had hoped for — a comfortable environment where genuine connections could form. Seeing that happen was exhilarating. Later, when I spoke separately with both students and mentors, they all expressed how much they enjoyed the event. It was clear that the evening had fostered meaningful interactions, which was our ultimate goal.”
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many York students have felt isolated from their peers, and though in-person learning has resumed, some still struggle to socialize outside of their immediate contacts. Events like the Screenwriters’ Supper are instrumental in forging interactions across campus.
“I had the pleasure of meeting a few upper-year screenwriting students and I have stayed in touch with them,” says Daniela Corallo, a second-year screenwriting student. “One student in particular I have actually bumped into a few times this year on film sets, so it was nice to see a familiar face and get to work with them. Talking to the upper-year screenwriting students was just as helpful as speaking with the mentors, because they gave me a lot of advice and insight on what is to come in my very near future at York.”
When asked if they had any advice for future attendees, mentees encouraged newcomers to put themselves out there and embrace the opportunity to connect.
“If someone seems interesting, go talk to them!” Corallo continues. “I think the main thing with networking is just putting yourself out there. I know that initiating a conversation, especially with a mentor, can seem daunting. However, you have to remember that they started somewhere too and are more than happy to lend some advice that they probably wish they received at the early stages of their careers. You will never regret having a chat with someone, but you will regret those conversations that you missed out on.”
“I would also encourage you to do your research on each of the mentors beforehand, so you have an idea of who they are and what questions you want to ask,” adds Spears. “I’ve found that professionals in the industry are always happy to hear when you’re familiar with their work, and since this is a largely social business, it’s important to make a good first impression.”
As for the mentors, Vuchnich seconded the importance of preparing questions, while also addressing the value of listening and having intention.
“I tell all my students to always have an intention –– for every meeting, coffee, zoom meeting, industry event, awards show, interview — have an intention for everything. Whether it’s to talk to three people, approach a much admired producer, or get three email addresses, having a concrete intention can be very grounding in an overwhelming event. Once you achieve your intention, you can relax and just see what else happens. It makes it more fun.”
The Screenwriters’ Supper successfully brought together seasoned and emerging storytellers, celebrating both the craft and, as Montanari puts it, a “legacy of deep, thoughtful storytelling shaped by great minds, like the late Professor Amnon Buchbinder and Professor Emeritus Howard Wiseman.” Montanari also remarked on the “common cinematic language” of those who have passed through the program at York.
“Seeing students of different generations connect so naturally at the event really reinforced that sense of continuity and shared creative identity.”
While there is no definitive date set, Veninger disclosed that many students wondered if the Screenwriters’ Supper would become an annual tradition.
“Originally, we imagined it happening every three years — that way, first-year students would be in their fourth year by the next one, creating a kind of symbolic passing of the torch. But maybe, in between those milestone suppers, we could host different kinds of gatherings each year so our screenwriting majors still have a chance to come together,” she muses.
It’s clear York’s screenwriting community will continue to thrive under such dedicated and visionary leadership. And for students, both past and present, it’s good to know that York’s screenwriting community will always be a place to call home.
