On Sunday, September 7, 2025, more than 225 filmmakers, artists, and industry professionals gathered at Malaparte on the rooftop of the TIFF Lightbox for the annual Inside Out x TIFF Queer Brunch. The event, launched in 2018, has become a fixture of the festival’s opening weekend, offering a space for 2SLGBTQ+ creatives to eat, meet and connect.
Read the full article at GLAAD.org
This year’s brunch featured remarks from Elie Chivi, Executive Director of Inside Out who also announced his departure; Keith Bennie, VP of Programming of TIFF; and Alex Schmider, Sr. Director of Entertainment of GLAAD.
Chivi, in his final address in the role, spoke about the significance of queer storytelling and the importance of sustaining community networks.
“Though this event is only two hours, it’s always incredibly inspiring to be in a space surrounded by so many talented filmmakers, donors, members, and partners. This year, we are also joined by Inside Out’s three RE:Focus Residents, a new mentorship and development program that we have launched to support first-time feature filmmakers, particularly those facing intersectional barriers in the film industry.”
The Inside Out Queer Brunch was presented with support from Lead Sponsor RBC; Supporting Sponsors GLAAD and IMDbPro; In-Kind Supporters Paradise Grapevine and Perrier; with Special Thanks to Tlisa Lee Florals and DECIEM.
The Brunch and Summit continue to serve as annual must-attends for visibility and connection within the film industry during the Toronto International Film Festival.
