the business challenge

Toronto’s cultural scene was hungry for something new — a summer experience that felt accessible, authentic, and alive.


Audiences wanted more than one-off events; they craved a ritual — a reason to gather weekly and celebrate local creativity. Meanwhile, smaller Canadian films and bands lacked affordable platforms to grow their audiences.

When a massive, unused downtown parking lot was identified, the opportunity emerged: transform an overlooked space into Toronto’s first outdoor film-and-music festival — something the city had never seen before.

the solution

The concept: Film. Music. Beer. Food. Simple, social, and unforgettable.

The team created a one-of-a-kind summer series featuring hidden cinematic and musical gems, programmed with a focus on discovery and community.

Audiences were invited to experience Canadian creativity in its purest form — under the stars, on asphalt — while enjoying local food, craft beer, and good company.

By keeping ticket prices accessible and donating profits to Canadian arts organizations, the festival embodied both purpose and play — culture as a community act.

the resultS

ORF shattered expectations and changed Toronto’s cultural landscape:

• First-of-its-kind festival in Toronto, inspiring a decade of outdoor film and music series that followed


• Broke box office records for an independently produced cultural experience in its inaugural year


• Welcomed thousands of attendees each weekend, selling out multiple nights and driving significant local tourism spend


• Became a media darling featured across national outlets and city culture lists as “Toronto’s must-do summer experience”


• Launched a platform for emerging Canadian filmmakers and musicians, several of whom went on to achieve national and international recognition


• Went on to celebrate its 10th anniversary as a staple of Toronto’s summer programming calendar

our role

Founding Producer (Years 1–2)
Led location procurement, programming, marketing/PR, ambassador program, and sponsorship partnerships. 

Oversaw operations, talent curation, and on-site experience design — transforming an empty parking lot into a record-breaking cultural phenomenon and a new model for how Toronto experiences art, music, and community.