COMMENT đź’¬

You're probably reflecting on the past year and the one ahead. About half of Canadians will make resolutions, mainly related to health and finances. A similar number will feel guilty because they won't spend enough time with close friends and family, even though they want to. And yet another group, especially young people, will be stressed and anxious, comparing themselves to others and trying to look good. It's hard being a young adult today.

This issue is a story about how we often compare ourselves into our thirties and beyond as we learn how to become adults with obligations and commitments. Sasha Leigh Henry and Tania Thompson are two Canadian filmmakers whose feature film, Dinner with Friends, debuted at TIFF this year. It's about a group of adult friends shifting from their carefree late nights and group chats to more serious conversations about the weight and responsibilities of becoming an adult with real consequences in a Toronto that, at times, feels heavier and harder than before. I think the film has been well received by Canadian audiences because anyone can relate to close friends drifting away and moving closer, depending on life's circumstances. It's a positive story about the busyness of life that reminds us how to be better friends, whether that means being vulnerable and real today, and hopeful and aspirational tomorrow.

We've also started a new section of the newsletter to share upcoming funding, grants, and programs available to Black, Indigenous, and people of color creators across a range of occupations. We have a new website coming soon, as well as more multimedia — audio and video — coming soon.

Thanks for being a part of the Spinning Forward audience. Feel free to get in touch by replying to this email or emailing me at info at spinningforward.com to avoid spammers.

In this Issue:

🍽️ Dinner with Friends: Sasha Leigh Henry’s TIFF feature film debut explores real friendship shifts in Toronto.

🚫 Australia’s Social Ban: Under-16s blocked from social media—will Canada follow?

📺 Neurodivergent Voices: The new CBC show, The Assembly, breaks new ground in representation.

🇺🇸 TikTok Changes: U.S. rules may affect how Canadians get seen.

💸 Funds for Creators: Grants available—apply for up to $100,000 for group projects and newcomer creators.

​​Reading Time: 10 minutes

Flavian DeLima

Publisher & Editor, Spinning Forward

SPOTLIGHT 💡🔦


Set in post-pandemic Toronto, the indie film follows eight longtime friends — all people of colour — over seven dinners and three years. It's a story about a group of adult friends shifting from their carefree late nights and group chats to more serious conversations about the weight and responsibilities of becoming an adult with real consequences in a Toronto that, at times, feels heavier and harder than before.

I think the film has been well received by Canadian audiences because anyone can relate to close friends drifting away and moving closer, depending on life's circumstances. It's a positive story about the busyness of life that reminds us how to be better friends, whether that means being vulnerable and real today, and hopeful and aspirational tomorrow.

Without directly addressing Toronto's issues like affordability, the housing and rental crisis, traffic delays, mental health, parenting and childcare, and career frustration, the film does address them in subtle and everyday lived experiences and struggles through interwoven dialogue between characters. The chemistry among the cast is evident despite having a micro-budget of $100,000 to make the film in only nine days. For Henry, who is an actor’s director, the biggest reward was,

"Watching that connection come alive, watching them find their rhythm and bring the history of these friendships to life."

After her award-winning TV show, Bria Mack Gets a Life, was cancelled, Henry choose to make her feature DIY film independently rather than wait for permission. Telefilm noticed and later invested in the the film as part of it's low-budget film stream. Being in control allows Henry and Thompson to control distribution and go direct to fans on their Patreon.


Canada's Screen Sector Failing on Racial Equity

While the film does not address race, the cast and Henry are racialized creatives in the screen sector. A report, the first of its kind, published in November by the Racial Equity Media Collective, that studies funding for Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC), shows that Canada's film and TV sector isn't delivering on racial equity. The reason is that too many organizations in the screen sector don't collect or share race-based data. The report recommends mandatory data tracking, public BIPOC targets, CRTC reporting rules, and more programs to support Indigenous and francophone BIPOC creators.


Almost Half of Canadians Neglect Close Friends and Relationships

If you feel like it's been too long since you've seen your friends, you're not alone. A Statistics Canada study found that nearly a quarter of Canadians (24.2%) felt very pressed for time in 2022—the highest level recorded since the early 1990s, when 15% reported feeling this way. In 1986, almost half of Canadians (47.9%) saw friends on an average day. By 2022, that figure dropped dramatically to 19.3%. Nearly half of Canadians (46.3%) now worry they're not spending enough time with their close friends and family—a concern that reflects the growing gap between how we want to live and how we actually live. Working age Canadians (25 to 64 years) are the least likely to be satisfied with their friendships.

Canadians leaving the GTA: Additionally, an Environics Analytics study in a 2025 found that 35,000 households left the Toronto region or moved further away in the last year because of stress, cost of living and traffic congestion. They're opting to stay in Ontario but choosing smaller communities to spend more quality time to spend with families and neighbours. This week, the 14th TomTom Traffic Index ranked Toronto the most congested city in North America and the third worst in the world for 500 cities in 62 countries.


TIFF: The Dinner with Friends Cast & Characters

Spoiler alert — spoilers for Dinner with Friends in this piece

If you’re meeting friends for dinner, one would hope they would offer comfort and reconnection amid stresses like housing costs, affordability, and Toronto’s horrible traffic. Instead, the dinners begin with the friends comparing themselves, exaggerating success, and hiding their struggles. It's hard to blame them for wanting to look good and be happier and more successful than they actually are. After all, when you haven’t seen your friends in a while, you just want to feel good and better than the daily grind.

At the start of the film, the friends, gather for dinner parties, each privately struggling with insecurities and challenges they don't admit out loud. Joy (Tattiawna Jones) and Malachi (Alex Spencer) appear to have a perfect life, but their marriage is strained. Joy feels underappreciated and Malachi is stressed by work and the pressure to maintain harmony.

Kat (Tymika Tafari), a nurse caring for her ailing mother, hides her exhaustion and sense of being stuck and unable to plan for the future from her brother Tristan (Andrew Bushell) and close friend Paul (Izaak Smith). Paul faces housing difficulties while trying to connect with his teenage son, eventually grows closer to Kat. Tristan, has returned after disappearing for two years. He often jokes to mask his anxiety, especially after he rekindles his relationship with Evie (Rakhee Morzaria), and later learns she is pregnant. Evie, who is Joy’s best friend, feels hurt and uncertain if she can count on Tristan as they are about to become parents for the first time.

Meanwhile, Ty (Michael Ayres) and Josh (Leighton Alexander Williams), are couple who are known for their travel vacations and parties. They start to feel adrift as their lifestyle looks different from their friends, who are having kids, and starting families. They're also frustrated with Toronto's demanding pace and never ending traffic delays.

Despite outward appearances, every character grapples with feelings of inadequacy and worries about the future


Dinner with Friends: From Comparing to Accepting Each Other

As Dinner with Friends unfolds, tensions spill over into honest, sometimes painful conversations. Confrontations allow each character to be vulnerable and heard, strengthening their bonds. Gradually, the group learns that healing and understanding begin when they admit to one another that it’s OK not to be OK.

At one dinner, Kat suddenly confesses her long-held resentment toward her mother, calling her a “terrible mother.” She became a nurse not to care for people, but because hospitals are places where people are fixed, instead of being on hold, like she is. After her mother passes away, she is finally able to plan for her future, announcing she’s pregnant with Paul’s child and imagining a new life together.

Tristan’s return after two years becomes another turning point. Reunited with Evie, he shares the news of their coming child. As they move in together, he admits he is wracked with fear about providing for his new family, and promises Joy, Evie’s closest friend, that he won’t vanish like he did before.

The group’s original hosts, Joy and Malachi, announce their separation and wonder if they rushed into marriage, careers, and parenthood too soon, because that's what society expects. When Joy hosts dinners without Malachi, the group feels awkward but moves closer when they question how to navigate their divided loyalties.

Josh hits a breaking point at one dinner after he and Ty arrive late following a terrible traffic jam. He’s upset that the group’s conversations have shifted from carefree fun to topics like debt, mortgages, and family responsibilities. Ty encourages Josh to reflect on what he truly wants from their friends, instead of blaming them for growing and evolving with new responsibilities.

Writers, Henry and Thompson, through thoughtful dialogue, allow every character the space to grow and adapt. Over three years, the friends experience moments of joy, pain, vulnerability, awkward silence, and reconnection as their lives change and transform.

At the final dinner, hosted at Josh and Ty’s new country home during Christmas, the group is more relaxed and connected. Conversations flow authentically and no longer focus on who is getting ahead. Joy and Malachi have reconciled, and the group is no longer dependent on them to keep the dinner tradition alive. Kat and Tristan are more open about their challenges and the support they need, while Ty and Josh, now living outside the city, have grown closer to each other and to the group.

In the end, they realize that adulthood isn't about having it all figured out and looking good. It’s about embracing change and uncertainty, remaining open, and supporting each other. Through honest, vulnerable, and often awkward dinners, the group forges deeper connections, has more authentic conversations and become the friends they always hoped to be.


Comparison Culture Fuels Social Media Stress Among Canadian Youth

A 2024 poll by Mental Health Research Canada (MHRC) found 36% of Canadian youth often feel stressed and compare themselves to others on social media, which higher than the general population. Young women report more comparison (35% vs. 19%) and stress (52% vs. 23%) than young men. More than half (51%) of youth feel pressure to maintain an online image, compared to 31% overall.

Frequent social media comparison causes more anxiety, stress, and lower self-esteem in young people in the UK. According to the Cybersmile “Comparison Culture 2023” report, 93% feel pressured to compare themselves, most feel unsatisfied, and half say it lowers their self-esteem.

Spinning Forward spoke with Michael Braithewaite, President and CEO of Toronto-based Jack.org, a non-profit that works with youth, ages 12–25, across Canada to promote mental health. Braithewaite says Canadians forgot how to be social after the pandemic, leading to more comparison. He says,

"Youth along and adults have had relearn social skills. Going out, being vulnerable is kind of new and fresh...I recall going to a restaurant. There's a group of younger Gen Zs all looking at their phones, dead quiet. They did not look happy. And they took a picture, like they're having the best time in the world. And then went back to looking at the phones and not being happy. So their friends looking at that picture are missing out. They're having the time of their lives. ..And it wasn't [true]. Like it's a false presentation. I think the key is having individuals that you might look up to and see in yourself and show that vulnerability. And having real conversations.

Braithewaite says Jack.org encourages young people to be transparent by "sharing success and vulnerability":

"Our social media is about young people being vulnerable with one another, which resonates with others, by saying I'm not alone... The reality is that then you feel I'm not the only one going through this and it isn't abnormal, there's no shame to it."


Raj Barot is an Architectural Technology graduate from Centennial College with an interest in community journalism. He is currently volunteering in CivicAction's 'Youth CivicCorps' program while completing independent studies toward becoming a licensed building practitioner in Ontario. Flavian DeLima is the publisher and editor of Spinning Forward.

QUICK HITS

🚫 Australia’s Social Media Ban: A Model for Canada?
Australia’s national ban on social media for those under 16 took effect December 10, 2025, aiming to address concerns over youth mental health, online harassment, and child exploitation, all issues also impacting Canadian youth. With experts highlighting rising depression and anxiety linked to social media use among teens, Canada is now debating whether similar restrictions could help protect vulnerable adolescents. Source: CTV News


🎤 The Assembly: Authentic Conversations Led by Neurodivergent Interviewers
The Assembly is a Canadian TV series where 30 autistic and neurodivergent interviewers ask celebrities candid and meaningful questions. In one episode, interviewer Damon Kirsebom—a non-speaking, autistic university student who communicates through an iPad—asks actress Maitreyi Ramakrishnan what inspired her passion and advocacy to educational equity.

Source: CBC | GEM: The Assembly


🇺🇸
What You Should Know About the US TikTok Deal
TikTok users in the U.S. could see big changes as companies like Oracle and Silver Lake are trying to buy TikTok’s American branch to address government concerns about data privacy and security. While the app isn’t shutting down, who owns it and how your data is handled might change soon. The changes will not affect Canadian users of TikTok but may affect how Americans discover Canadian content.

Source: TechCrunch

FUNDS FOR CREATORS

Funds For Creators

For the first time, we’re dedicating a section of the newsletter to funding for creators—packed with opportunities for funding and program in January from the 1st to 15th (plus a few rolling deadlines) to get your ideas off the ground, level up your craft, and actually get paid for your work.

From artist calls and public art projects to grants for exhibitions, social ventures, storytelling, and Black entrepreneurship, these opportunities are especially relevant if you’re a creator of colour building your voice in the GTA and beyond. Whether you’re making films, running a small business, organizing community arts programs, or experimenting with digital media, there’s something in here to help you move from “I’ve got an idea” to “I’ve got backing.”


January Deadlines (Jan 1st - Jan 15th)

Durham Arts Council – Emerging Artists Grant Program

Working on a project that could be a game-changer for your creative career? The Durham Arts Council’s Emerging Artists Program offers up to $1,500 to support pivotal projects for individual artists at any stage, across any discipline, as long as you’re based in Durham, Chatham, Orange, Granville or Person Counties in North Carolina and meet the eligibility criteria. This is a chance to cover key costs for things like creating new work, presenting, promotion, travel, training and more, so you can focus on leveling up your practice.

Applications are due January 4, 2026, at 11 PM ET

Apply here


Brampton Arts Organization – PIXEL: Proud Digital Art Exhibition

Brampton 2SLGBTQIA+ artists and collectives, this one puts your work on the big screen—literally. PIXEL: Proud is a digital art exhibition featuring work in Garden Square in downtown Brampton, and they’re open to almost any medium, from digital animation and video to photography, performance documentation and sculpture. Selected artists receive $386 CAD per accepted submission, with a focus on celebrating the range of 2SLGBTQIA+ creative practices.

Application deadline is January 4, 2026, at 11:59 PM.

Apply here


Ontario Arts Council – Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators

If you're an emerging or established theatre artist or collective in Ontario with fresh ideas for new works, this grant is here to support you. Whether you’re focusing on writing, dramaturgy, research, or workshop activities, the Recommender Grants fund creative processes that push theatre forward with diverse and bold perspectives. You can get between $1,000 and $3,000 to help bring your vision to life.

Deadline to apply is January 9, 2026, at 1 PM EST.

Apply here


Tarragon Theatre – Young Playwrights Unit Program

If you’re a young writer with a script idea and want professional support to build it out, Tarragon’s Young Playwrights Unit offers paid training, workshops and a community of fellow emerging playwrights. Through this program, you’ll develop a new play over several months with guidance from theatre professionals.

Application deadline is January 11, 2026.

Apply here


Inside Out – 2026 Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival Program

Creating 2SLGBTQIA+ film or screen-based work? Inside Out Festival is a key platform for queer and trans cinema, offering visibility, networking and industry connections for emerging and established filmmakers.

Late submission deadline is January 11, 2026.

Apply here


Brampton Arts Organization – OCAD University & BAO Seed Fund for Creative Entrepreneurs

If you’re an OCAD U student or recent alum based in Brampton with a creative business idea (or an existing venture) you’re ready to grow, this seed fund is for you. The Brampton Arts Organization Prize offers $2,000 to help you launch or scale your creative business—whether that’s a studio practice, design service, media brand, or something hybrid and new.

Application deadline is January 12, 2026, at 9:00 AM.

Apply here


City of Toronto – Cultural Hotspot SPARK

Cultural Hotspot SPARK supports community-based arts projects that spotlight creativity in Toronto’s outer neighborhoods. If you have a community-driven idea—workshops, pop-ups, performances, or public art—this program offers up to $9,000 per project for funding and support to bring it to life locally.

Applications close January 12, 2026, at 5pm.

Apply here


Fogo Island Arts & The Hnatyshyn Foundation – Young Curator Residency

Early-career Canadian curators looking for time, space and context to deepen their practice should check this out. The Young Curator Residency offers six weeks on Fogo Island in September–October 2026 to research, connect with the local context and develop curatorial projects in conversation with Fogo Island Arts.

Apply by January 13, 2026.

Apply here


KIMI – Mentorship Program

If you’re looking for guidance, accountability and support from industry professionals, the KIMI mentorship program connects emerging creatives with mentors to help them sharpen their practice, build networks and navigate next steps.

Deadline to apply is January 14, 2026.

Apply here


Ontario Arts Council – Recommender Grants for Writers

If you’re an emerging or mid-career writer in Ontario working on something fresh—whether it’s fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, graphic novels, or another form—this grant is designed to support your creative process. It helps cover research, writing time, manuscript development, and those moments of creative exploration that bring diverse Canadian stories to life. Grants range from $1,500 to $5,000.

Deadline to apply is January 15, 2026, at 1 PM EST.

Apply here


Ontario Arts Council – Exhibition Assistance

Got a confirmed exhibition coming up? This grant is here to help visual, craft, and media artists across Ontario cover those important costs—think framing, materials, shipping, and promotion—that make your show happen. Whether you’re flying solo or part of a collective, this support is designed to help independent creators bring their work to galleries and public spaces, enriching the province’s cultural scene. Funding ranges from $500 to $2,000, helping cover the essentials so you can focus on your art.

Deadline to apply is January 15, 2026, at 1 PM EST.

Apply here


Canada Council for the Arts – Canada Pavilion at the 2027 Venice Architecture Biennale

If you’re part of a cross-disciplinary team working at the intersection of architecture, design and contemporary culture, this is a major international stage. The Canada Council for the Arts is looking for bold, challenging exhibition proposals to represent Canada at the 20th Venice Architecture Biennale in 2027, with a physical show in the Canada Pavilion and a digital component that a wide audience can access online. The selected team receives $500,000 toward exhibition production and will lead everything from concept to delivery, in close collaboration with the Council.

Deadline to apply is January 15, 2026.

Apply here


gritLIT – 2026 Short Story Writing Contest (TRUTHTELLING)

Writers, if you have a powerful short piece (fiction or creative non-fiction) up to 500 words, gritLIT’s 2026 Short Story Writing Contest is all about the theme of TRUTHTELLING. This is a chance to get your work in front of a literary audience and lean into honest, brave storytelling. The winner of the contest will receive a $500 prize.

Submit by January 15, 2026

Apply here


Partners in Art – Artist-Direct Grants

If you’re a GTA-based visual artist with a confirmed exhibition coming up anywhere in Canada, this grant is made for you. Partners in Art’s Artist-Direct Grants put $5,000 directly in your hands to cover the real costs of showing your work—supplies, studio rent, production, exhibition expenses—and you can even use up to half of it to pay yourself for your time and labor.

Applications close January 15, 2026.

Apply here


Rolling Deadlines (No current deadline)

Brampton Arts Organization – Government of Canada’s Black Entrepreneurship Program

Black founders, this is a national program built with the Black business community to tackle real barriers around funding and support. The Black Entrepreneurship Program connects Black business owners and entrepreneurs with capital, training, advisory services, mentorship, networking and better data on Black entrepreneurship in Canada. Whether you’re just starting or scaling, it’s designed to make it easier to access the tools and resources you need to grow.

No deadline: programs are ongoing.

Apply here


Toronto Arts Council – Black Arts Projects

Calling all Black artists and Black-led collectives in Toronto! If you’re working on new artistic or community-focused projects that reflect Black experiences across any discipline—visual arts, performance, digital media, storytelling, or something fresh and hybrid—this grant is for you. You can get up to $15,000 to help bring your creative vision to life.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so don’t wait to apply.

Apply here


Toronto Arts Council – Indigenous Arts Projects

If you’re an Indigenous artist or part of an Indigenous-led collective in Toronto, this program is made for you. It supports everything from creating new work to project development, exhibitions, and growing the Indigenous arts sector. The focus is on Indigenous-led storytelling, sharing cultural knowledge, and projects rooted in community, helping strengthen Indigenous voices and culture across the city. Funding ranges from $3,000 to $15,000, depending on the category.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis

Apply here


Toronto Arts Council – Visual Artists Program: Creation

Are you a Toronto-based visual artist, photographer, or craft & design creator working on new pieces? Whether you’re emerging or established, this program supports you in exploring innovative techniques, personal storytelling, and culturally rooted perspectives. From experimental projects to traditional forms, if you’re pushing boundaries in the city’s vibrant arts scene, this program offers $10,000 to help bring your vision to life.

Applications are accepted rolling deadline basis.

Apply here


Toronto Arts Council – TAC Accessibility Grant

If you’re an artist with a disability or Deaf artist in Toronto, and you’re working on a project, this supplementary grant can help cover the accessibility costs that make your creative process possible. Whether you need ASL interpretation, attendant care, accessible transportation, adaptive technology, or other accommodations for you or your key collaborators, this grant offers up to $5,000 to support those essential needs. It’s an important way to remove barriers and help ensure everyone can bring their full creative voice to the arts.

The deadline is on a rolling basis, so you can apply any time your project and needs arise.

Apply here


Canada Council for the Arts - Representation and Promotion

Ready to show your work to new audiences or markets? This grant supports creator groups and newcomers with costs for touring, festivals, promotion, or market trips that grow your reach. You can get up to $30,000 per project, with a yearly max of $60,000.

Deadline: Apply any time before you travel

Apply here.


Canada Council for the Arts – Micro-grants

Need quick cash to seize an opportunity or experiment? Micro-grants offer fast funding for collectives and newcomer artists to cover fees, materials, or travel costs for projects that haven’t started yet. You can get up to $10,000 per grant, and up to $30,000 per year.

Deadline: Apply any time before your project starts

Apply here.


Canada Council for the Arts - Sector Support, Innovation and Development – For Creative Ecosystem Projects

Dreaming big to transform the arts ecosystem? This fund is for creator collectives and newcomer-led groups building capacity, trying new ideas, or scaling initiatives that improve the cultural sector. Get up to $100,000 per project to push innovation and strengthen community.

Deadline: Apply anytime before your project starts

Apply here.


Canada Council for the Arts - Small-Scale Activities – Creating, Knowing and Sharing: The Arts and Cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples

Got a small but significant project? This flexible funding supports short-term or early-stage Indigenous arts activities like workshops, mentorship, or community gatherings. You can get up to $5,000 to cover costs before you start your project.

Deadline: Apply anytime before your project starts

Apply here.


Canada Council for the Arts - Travel – Creating, Knowing and Sharing: The Arts and Cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples

Need to travel for your art and culture work? This grant helps Indigenous artists and cultural carriers with travel costs inside Canada or internationally, so you can share your work, build connections, and deepen your practice. Funding goes up to $30,000 per year depending on your trip.

Deadline: Apply anytime before you leave

Apply here.


Canada Council for the Arts - Artistic Creation

Are you part of a creative group or a newcomer artist with bold new ideas? Artistic Creation supports you in developing original work across any art form, especially if you’re collaborating or experimenting with fresh perspectives. You can apply for up to $75,000 per project (and $150,000 total yearly) to cover creation, research, materials, and production costs.

Deadline: Apply anytime before your project starts

Apply here.


City of Toronto – Retail Modernization Project Grant

Running a retail business and trying to upgrade your tech stack? The Retail Modernization Project Grant can help you cover costs for digital tools like point-of-sale systems, e-commerce platforms, and other software or hardware that makes your business more efficient. Eligible businesses can receive up to $5,000 in non-repayable, matched funding to support their digital transformation and stay competitive on main streets across Ontario.

Applications are first-come, first-served, so it’s worth applying early.

Apply here


Mississauga Arts Council – Mississauga Chamber Singers

Experienced singers in the GTA, this is your chance to perform with a dedicated choral group and sharpen your vocal skills. The Mississauga Chamber Singers are auditioning new members who are serious about ensemble work and want regular performance opportunities. If you have choral experience and miss being on stage, this could be a strong artistic home base.

Auditions are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Apply here


Mississauga Arts Council – VirtualRec Connect Instructors

Are you an artist or educator who loves sharing what you know? VirtualRec Connect is looking for arts and education instructors to lead online programs, making it easier for you to reach learners across Mississauga and beyond. This is a great fit if you’re building your teaching practice or adding another income stream to your creative career.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Apply here


Mississauga Arts Council – Mississauga Watercolour Society Membership

If you love painting or want to level up your watercolour skills, consider joining the Mississauga Watercolour Society. You’ll connect with other artists, get feedback on your work, and plug into a supportive local arts community where you can grow at your own pace. This is a solid way to build your portfolio while meeting other creatives in the region.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Apply here