Feb. 20, 2023

Kelly Fyffe-Marshall knows that the road to career success isn’t always short or linear.

The Seneca graduate spent nearly a decade working her way up in the world of film and television, trying out different roles and responsibilities before finding what she considers to be her true calling.

“I always say that my life and career goals were a series of very unfortunate events, a lot of ‘no’s’ that led me to the right path,” she said. “I know that everything had to happen in the order that it did for me to be where I am now.”

Ms. Fyffe-Marshall graduated in 2010 from a broadcasting technology program similar to the ones offered today through the School of Media. At the time, she thought she wanted to direct newscasts or other live TV programs.

Faced with a sputtering economy and an unfriendly job market, she took the time to reflect on the skills she’d learned and where else she could put them to use.

The answer was the film industry.

“I love being on set and collaborating with people who love what they do,” she said.

After several years working her way through various film projects in increasingly senior positions, Ms. Fyffe-Marshall made her directorial debut in 2020 with Black Bodies

The short film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) to great acclaim. Ms. Fyffe-Marshall won a Canadian Screen Award for Best Live Action Short Drama, TIFF’s Changemaker Award and the Jay Scott Prize, which is presented annually to an emerging talent in Canadian film.

These days, Ms. Fyffe-Marshall is keeping a busy schedule as a director. Her first feature-length release, When Morning Comes, premiered last year at TIFF. She’s also been working on music videos for Our Lady Peace and soon-to-air TV projects including the Crave comedy series Bria Mack Gets a Life and the Global drama Robyn Hood.

Ms. Fyffe-Marshall has also advocated publicly for greater representation of Black creators in the Canadian film industry, and tries to do her part to generate opportunities that were harder to come by when she was starting out. With Black Bodies, for example, all department heads for the production were Black.

“Whenever we’re making a film, we make sure to bring along as many Black crew as possible so they can get experience,” she said.

A similar line of thinking led Ms. Fyffe-Marshall to launch Make Ripples, an educational non-profit that encourages everyone to take small actions within their families, friend groups and community circles to address inequality.

Whether it’s in her personal life or professional, Ms. Fyffe-Marshall has learned the importance of seeking out community. That’s a message she’d like to pass on to current students.

“Being able to turn to someone else who you can trust will get you through those really hard days,” she said. “Keep going and persevere. Find your voice and find your tribe.”