TIFF Rising Stars immerses four chosen actors in a series of public events and private industry meetings during the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

They undertake intensive professional development with international casting directors, filmmakers, producers and development executives. Moreover, the stars will be front row and centre at some of the biggest red-carpet events at TIFF.

Rising Stars 2016

Jared Abrahamson

Jared Abrahamson was born and raised in Flin Flon, Manitoba and currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia. After a stint working in the mines and competing as a pro-mixed martial arts fighter, he attended Vancouver Film School. Abrahamson had a lead role in the Hallmark Hall of Fame film Finding a Family (11) and parts in the ABC pilot The Manzanis, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (12) and Awkward. Recently, Abrahamson filmed roles in Keep Watching (16); Hello Destroyer (TIFF 16); Gun (16); Veracruz (16); Never Steady, Never Still (16); Hollow in the Land (16); and a recurring character on AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead.

Grace Glowicki

Grace Glowicki is an actor, director and writer based in Toronto. She has appeared in films at many major US film festivals this year. At the Sundance Film Festival her performance in Ben Petrie’s Her Friend Adam (16) won her a Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Performance. The film has since played SXSW Film Festival, NYC’s Rooftop Films and the Sundance Short Film Tour. She also starred in Jason Jeffrey’s A Teachable Moment (16) which played the Tribeca Film Festival. Upcoming acting projects include the narrative feature Cardinal (17) directed by Grayson Moore and Aidan Shipley; Jordan Canning’s Suck it Up (17), which she co-executive produced; and Tito, her feature-length directorial debut.

Mylène MacKay

Mylène Mackay is an actor and comedian born in Saint-Didace. Currently based in Montreal, she graduated from L’École nationale de théâtre du Canada in 2011. Mackay appeared on television and stage before her first major film role in André Turpin’s Endorphine(15). Upcoming roles include André Forcier’s Embrasse moi comme tu m’aimes (16) and the title role in Anne Émond’s Nelly (16) based on the life and work of author Nelly Arcan. Mackay is also involved in several voice dubbing projects.

Sophie Nélisse

Sophie Nélisse was born in Windsor and raised in Montreal. She starred in Brian Percival’s The Book Thief (13) and Philippe Falardeau’s Monsieur Lazhar (11) which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film and earned her a Genie Award for her performance. Nélisse’s latest film credits include Stephen Herek’s The Great Gilly Hopkins (15); Nathan Morlando’s Mean Dreams (16) which premiered at Cannes; Radu Mihaileanu’s The History of Love (16); Dominic James’s Wait Till Helen Comes (16), set to be released this October; and Academy Award nominee Yan England’s directorial debut, 1:54 (16).

Presenting Partner: The Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation, Supported by: Telefilm Canada, Supported by: CSA, Sponsored by: L’Oréal Paris, Industry Sponsors: Birks, Hudson’s Bay