The original article was posted to Metroland
It is an exciting experience when your passion for the arts is recognized on an international stage.
What is even more exciting is when your passion for filmmaking gets you not one – but two nods at the Toronto International Short Film Festival (TISFF) and three nods at the Hamilton Film Festival, all in the same week.
Stephanie Baird is living the dream of all young up and coming filmmakers. This fall, two of the short films that she produced, “Hotel Room” and “Politics” were Official Selections at the TISFF, while “Reservation” “Schrodinger’s Cat” and “Hotel Room” were Official Selections at the Hamilton Film Festival. Both festivals welcome approximately 50 films from countries around the world.
Raised in Erin, Baird attended Erin District High School, were she got her first taste of filmmaking. Her passion inspired her first short film called “The Truth About Honesty” which was screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
After high school, Baird went onto York University’s Theatre program, but that was not enough. Missing song and dance, which were a big part of her life in Erin, she moved to downtown Toronto and attended the Randolph Academy where she spent the next two years acting, singing and dancing in the Conservatory College Program.
Baird’s journey is proof to aspiring young artists that anything is possible if you have a passion to succeed.
“It will be hard, but your passion will carry you,” Baird advised. “Doors will open if you show up, are reliable and are open to learn new things.”
Aside from producing, Baird loves acting, and has an appearance in one of her shorts “My Roommate is an Escort”. Aside from short films, she also produces and appears in a web series called “In Real Life” a series about the intersection of social media culture with contemporary life.
The world of filmmaking has opened many experiences and possibilities for Baird – it is the connections and places that she loves.
“You meet cool people when you are producing, some who are making great work,” She commented. “It also opens the doors to travelling around the world; our team has sold four films to France.”
To find out more about Baird and her career visit her website at www.stephaniebaird.com.