Lesley Loksi Chan (BFA ‘08, MFA ‘18), a Canadian artist, filmmaker and alumna from AMPD, received international acclaim at the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival (Bernaline) for her short film, Lloyd Wong, Unfinished.
Industry Talks 2.0 wrapped its final event this March. Hosted at YUMMS at Cinespace, the series combined real-world insight with meaningful creative exchange, giving AMPD students a front-row seat to career paths in Canada’s evolving film, television and media industries.
Many productions that begin in the classrooms and theatres of AMPD don’t end there—they go on to captivate audiences across Canada and beyond. The Department of Theatre, Dance & Performance has a history of nurturing student-led productions that go on to thrive at national and international stages.
AMPD is once again making its mark on Canada’s biggest night in music. The 2025 Juno Award nominations have been announced, and several outstanding AMPD faculty and alumni have been recognized across multiple genres.
As the Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre, Weyni has shaped Canadian theatre through her visionary leadership, directing critically acclaimed productions such as 'da kink in my hair', 'Kim’s Convenience', and 'A Streetcar Named Desire'. In addition to her roles as a stage and screen director, she is also an educator, mentor and producer of youth arts initiatives.
Collaborating with Glee, Nelly Furtado, Disney and the United Nations is like hitting the jackpot in the entertainment world. Yet, Darnell Thomas (BFA ’11, MA ’12), a versatile singer-songwriter, educator, producer and musical theatre director.
AMPD Professor Marissa Largo and alumna Melissa Bennett receive prestigious accolades at the 47th Annual GOG Awards, celebrating their outstanding contributions to Canadian visual arts.
As we look back on 2024, we want to take a moment to celebrate some of the incredible achievements of AMPD alumni this year.
Three members of York University’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) community—two alumni from the Graduate Program in Art History and Visual Culture (AHVC) and a faculty member—have been honoured as nominees for the distinguished 2024 Galeries Ontario / Ontario Galleries (GOG) Awards.
When Amanda Cordner (BA ’11) wasn’t in class at York earning a degree in theatre, the actor-playwright-director-singer-dancer had a rousing side hustle. Cordner energized stadiums as a varsity event host, building skills that would later fuel a bold and dynamic career.