Events

what are sleepless nights?

Our Sleepless Nights are a series of events
that are the life-blood of our organisation.
At Sleepless Cinema we refuse to gatekeep;
we are here to present and elevate incredible short films
created by exceptional Canadian talent.

We aim to help navigate complex topics through our panel discussions
while also appreciating the Canadian-ish Film Classics you know and love.

Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD

examining xenophobia through horror

FREE MOVIE SCREENING & DISCUSSION PANEL

NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD POSTER
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD POSTER
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD POSTER
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD POSTER

about the feature film

A mysterious crisis causes the dead to rise and attack the living.
A group of strangers seeks shelter in a rural farmhouse, barricading themselves inside.
As the night unfolds, they face mounting threats from both the undead outside and conflicts within.
Fear, mistrust, and desperation drive them to make life-or-death decisions.
Survival becomes uncertain as chaos takes over.

short film presentation

BLACK EMPANADAS

About the short film

Lucia and Fernando move to a small Ontario town with the dream of opening a thriving empanada bakery, only to find the locals less than welcoming.

With the help of a ghostly ancestor, they craft a new, supernatural recipe that could win over the town—or curse them forever.

SID “SANTIAGO” ZANFORLIN

SID
“SANTIAGO”
ZANFORLIN

DIRECTOR – BLACK EMPANADAS

DIRECTOR

BLACK

EMPANADAS 

Sid Santiago Zanforlin is a Chilean/Canadian director and writer originally hailing from Montreal, now in the GTHA.

Drawing heavily from his Chilean and Québécois heritage, he is committed to fostering diversity in the television industry.

A graduate of the Canadian Film Centre, Sid has an extensive background as an IATSE cameraman, theatre director, and writer/director of award winning shorts, music videos, two indie features, and over 90 episodes of both factual and scripted TV.

Sid was recently shortlisted for a TV Directing CSA nomination.

In a previous chapter of his life, he was a punk drummer and garnered a Juno nomination for his musical work.

meet our guests

BOBBY MARKOV

PANELIST

Bobby Markov is a Bulgarian/Canadian Director, Actor, and Writer for the screen and stage who is also a Ryerson(TMU) Acting Program alumni. 
 
His long-term aspiration is to explore and create work that questions assumptions about identity that inevitably encourage realizations of personal authenticity. 
 
He is currently the Founder of the film company EDNØ Inc., a proud Parkour Traceur, Coach, and Martial Artist.
 

TRAVIS WALLACE

PANELIST

Travis Wallace is a passionate Jamaican-Canadian cinematographer and visual storyteller whose journey spans journalism, photography, and filmmaking.

MITCHELL WILSON

PANELIST

Mitchell is a Masters student at the University of Guelph currently researching the influence of ancient theatre on modern horror, primarily regarding themes of fate and cyclical violence.

meet our guests

BOBBY MARKOV

TRAVIS WALLACE

MITCHELL WILSON

PANELIST

PANELIST

PANELIST

Bobby Markov is a Bulgarian/Canadian Director, Actor, and Writer for the screen and stage who is also a Ryerson(TMU) Acting Program alumni. 
 
His long-term aspiration is to explore and create work that questions assumptions about identity that inevitably encourage realizations of personal authenticity. 
 
He is currently the Founder of the film company EDNØ Inc., a proud Parkour Traceur, Coach, and Martial Artist.
 

Travis Wallace is a passionate Jamaican-Canadian cinematographer and visual storyteller whose journey spans journalism, photography, and filmmaking.

Mitchell is a Masters student at the University of Guelph currently researching the influence of ancient theatre on modern horror, primarily regarding themes of fate and cyclical violence.