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AXT Foundation Initiative (AXTFI)

@axtfoundation

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A creative agency providing support, access & resources to PoGMI (People of the Global Majority & Intersectionality) creators in Film, TV & New Media.

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Access Threshold (AXT) was born from a powerful connection. Keda and Carolyn First met in 2022 at the annual Black Women Film! Canada Picnic in Toronto. Though they spoke for only a few minutes, the spark was undeniable. They share vision, values, and a deep well of lived experience as mature Black women in the arts.

As they continued collaborating, it became clear that certain equity programs can face limitations when not thoughtfully designed. So they combined their industry knowledge, teaching and program development training, and insights from lived experiences to build something better.

Access Threshold is that “something better.”

Swipe to learn more about AXT, and the what, why, and how behind our mission.

If our work resonates with you, we’d love to connect.

Book a call to explore how AXT’s programs and services can support your initiatives and help us collectively build a more equitable, sustainable industry.

#AccessThreshold #AXTAunties
#PeopleOfGlobalMajority #PoGMI #SupportingPoGMI
#CreativeEquity #RepresentationMatters #InclusiveStorytelling
#SafeSustainableSupportive #Wellness #AuthenticNarrativeImagery
#BlackWomenEntrepreneurs #BlackWomenInFilm #BuildingTogether #CreateWithUs

This work was made possible by ArtsWorksTO (Newcomer Program), in partnership with Toronto Arts Foundation. ArtsWorksTO is a workforce development initiative that provides participants with credentialed education, industry mentorship, and paid work placements to develop practical skills and build professional networks in the media arts industry.
@artworks.to
@torontoartsfoundation by @axtfoundation

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One more pic from @towebfest! We're still talking about the incredibly talented creators we met during our one-on-one meetings. Thanks again to @thejessblackwell for the invitation. We loved all the engaging content, and all the support for digital creators! They are an important part of our industry and make some of the best content out there! Congratulations to all the winners!

#digitalcreators #webseries ##axtaunties #AXTFoundationInitiative taken in Novotel Toronto Centre by @axtfoundation

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by @axtfoundation

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by @axtfoundation

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Open call for two Toronto events in October!!

🎨October 18:
The Showing is a "curated creator showcase and cultural moment built to spotlight creators, brands and YOU."
AXTFI will be featuring a selection of women-led and women created short films at this one-of-a-kind event.
🎟Tickets can be purchased @hercollected

🎃October 23:
AXT: Behind the Screen is celebrating Halloween with a short film showcase plus other surprises!

Looking for POGMI-created short horror, horror-comedy, sci-fi or fantasy films to screen for our fun and frightful movie night!

📣And if you want to sponor our Halloween screening, DM us on Instagram!

🚨No world premieres, please, and you must have already screened in Toronto. 🚨

🚨DEADLINE: OCTOBER 9, 2026 for both events!

Submission form links in bio! by @axtfoundation

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Another awesome @tiff_net in the books!! 🎥🍿
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A huge thank you to @axtfoundation & @tiff_net for the market pass! I’m incredibly honoured and grateful! & another huge thank you to my @mongrelmedia fam! hashtagfabricland 🙏🏼🫶🏼
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#tiff2026 #womeninfilm #canadianfilm #screenwriter #filmmakerlife by @axtfoundation

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Out in the wilds of @tiff_net! Saw @merminate on the job, and @gold_of_ophir, @lavadostubbs, and @emm.ily27 showing their best #TIFF2026 face! by @axtfoundation

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The Access Threshold Foundation Initiative is thrilled to introduce 10 incredible filmmakers and storytellers as our first delegation to TIFF: The Market.

Drawn from our two Roots to Reels cohorts, our first R2R Market Forward selection include talented creators who bring distinctive voices, compelling stories and fresh perspectives to TIFF’s inaugural Market, where they’ll connect, build relationships and engage with industry in meaningful ways.

Thank you to TIFF: The Market for helping us bring these remarkable PoGMI creators into the room.

Meet the 2026 AXTFI @ TIFF: The Market Delegation:

Nana Boateng @nana.vinyl
Kadjha Bonet @kadhjabonet
Edmond Clark @edmond_clark_official
Lexie Galante @lexiegalante
Emilia Michalowska @emilia.mich
Yasmin Ali @yazzaproductions
Krishna Kolanupaka @kriswithanh
Ophir Neymour @gold_of_ophir
Trey Anderson @unodostrey123
Lola Oguntuase @therealoglola

#accessthresholdfoundationinitiative #POGMIcreatives #TIFFtheMarket #TIFF2026 #R2RMarketForward taken in Toronto, Ontario by @axtfoundation

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Every story leaves an imprint, and every great gathering is shaped by the people who help bring it to life.

During the AXT Exchange, we were honoured to host this one of a kind art exhibit debut by multi-disciplinary artist DAÏ.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped make Every Story Leaves an Imprint, the featured art exhibit at The AXT Exchange 2026, such a memorable celebration of art, culture, conversation, and community.

From @being.dai's powerful body of work and Jessica Rowe's (@jrowemedia) thoughtful curation to the exceptional hospitality of @masalaspirits and @andrewbankvodka, every partner played a meaningful role in creating an experience that invited guests to pause, connect, reflect, and celebrate the stories that shape us.
Thank you for believing in the power of storytelling, artistry, culture, and community. Here's to many more collaborations that bring people together through meaningful creative experiences.

✨️On exhibit now at Wildseed Centre for Arts and Activism until September 20✨️

Event Producer:
@brokenwholemedia
Featured Artist
DAÏ
Presented by @browngirlsdesigns
Art Direction & Curation
JRowe Media
Hospitality & Cultural Experience Partners
Masala Spirits
Bank Vodka
When the Pig Came Home Delicatessen
@when_the_pig_came_home
Film Market Access @filmmarketaccess

Event Partners
Access Threshold
@axtfoundation
Wildseed Centre for Art & Activism

#TheAXTExchange #EveryStoryLeavesAnImprint #AXTFoundationInitiative #BrownGirlsDesigns #ArtExhibit by @axtfoundation

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In June, our cohort gave it their all, pitching their incredible projects, and we’re so proud of them!

For their dedication to the Roots to Reels Program, they have all received a year’s subscription to @scriptation, the Emmy Award-winning industry standard for production, and we’re honoured to have Scriptation as a sponsor.

Their commitment to developing paperless solutions for the cast and crew of film, television, and video productions worldwide.

Scriptation exemplifies our ANI (Authentic Narrative Imagery) and S3 (Safe, Supportive & Sustainable Creation, Development & Production) pillars by helping creative teams protect the integrity of the story while improving the way stories are brought to life. As a fully digital platform and trusted industry standard, Scriptation streamlines communication, revisions, and collaboration across development and production, reducing friction and supporting healthier, more sustainable workflows. In doing so, it empowers creators and teams to focus less on logistics and more on authentic storytelling.

Thank you to Scriptation, and a special thanks to Alexandra, whose support we treasure every year!

#AXTFI #S3ANI #supportingpogmi #authenticnarrativeimagery ##RootstoReels by @axtfoundation

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☀️May/June: With pitches, a new cohort challenge and industry meetings, heading to Montreal and back; meeting new friends and celebrating our community, the summer of 2026 has been a whirlwind of events. AXTFI hard-launched the AXT Exchange, the Roots to Reels Challenge, and worked with a new cohort of filmmakers who made what we do at the Access Threshold Foundation Initiative so rewarding.

☀️July: Fantasia’s 30th edition was the busiest on record for Carolyn and her program, featuring films like the Indigenous horror Ancestral Beasts, which tackled mental health within the genre landscape, and Black Zombie, a documentary exploring the origins of the zombie and Haiti's history. A Safe Distance featured queer themes wrapped in a crime thriller, and Permanent Damage followed a marginalized group battling a bad landlord. AXTFI at Frontières was so much fun and really inspiring, meeting international filmmakers and industry folk in a welcoming environment Fantasia is so well-know for.

☀️August: We appreciate all of our contributors, collaborators, industry guests and volunteers, and we were happy to celebrate them with food, drink, and great conversation. Thank you all for your support!

Finally, @being.dai, a multi-disciplinary artist, launched her public exhibition with fellow artist @jacaranda.to. Their beautiful art was showcased at @wildseedcentre, and we were thrilled to be at this intimate showing. Stay tuned for DAI’s next big art installment coming soon!

🍂September: Our next event is TIFF, where we’ll make a big announcement and bring you lots of on-the-ground action this year! See you there! 😎

#AXTFI #PoGMIcreatives #RootstoReels #summer2026 #S3ANIPOGMI by @axtfoundation

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The AXT Foundation Initiative (AXTFI) is built on three pillars:

PoGMI - People of the Global Majority and Intersectionality
S3 - Safe, Sustainable and Supportive Spaces
ANI - Authentic Narrative Imagery

These three pillars were represented in each project presented at AXT Exchange, and three projects exemplified them in unique ways.

Congratulations to:

Yasmin Ali - THE JONCROW DUPPY (PoGMI) Feature

Lexie Galante - INVISIBLE (S3) Series

Emilia Michalowska - SOUP FOR SUPPER (ANI) Series

They’ll receive a prize pack (value of $900+) catered to their projects including consultations from:

Broken Whole Media @brokenwholemedia

Reel 360 Consultants @reel360filmconsultants

CarMau Media Services

Playfight VFX @playfightvfx

True2Soul @true2soulnetwork

Canfro Productions @aqfarrell

KeMor Centre of Innovative Development @kemorcentre

Thanks again to our generous sponsors!

#RootstoReelsChallenge2026
#AXTFI
#theaxtexchange
#theaxtfoundationinitiative
#pogmiS3ani by @axtfoundation

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