Burlington movie producer John Galway wants to see more of Halton on screen

John Galway moved from Burlington to Montreal to study history at McGill, but quickly found himself working behind the camera in Canada’s film industry. 

Galway, now a producer – among many other roles – got his start working at the Toronto International Film Festival driving film cans around to different theatres. 

“It wasn’t the most glamorous job, but that’s how a lot of people get into their fields,” Galway said. 

When Galway got his start in the business 30 years ago, there was less of an opportunity for people to work in film and television in Canada. Since then, production and broadcasting has skyrocketed around the country thanks to programs at Mohawk, Fanshaw, and Toronto Metropolitan University. 

In his day, anyone outside of Toronto or Vancouver was at a significant disadvantage, but productions have spread out to cover much more of Canada since.

Galway himself has helped get many Canadian productions off the ground, as president of the Harold Greenberg Fund. 

“That was first set up by Astral Media when they had a station called TMN, which is now Crave,” Galway said. “It was part of their commitment to back the Canadian industry, to help develop talent there.”

The fund supported the earliest stages of pre-production, primarily helping with budgeting, financing, and finding the crew for the film. 

Movies such as Away From Her – which racked up two Oscar nominations and one Golden Globe win – and Goon – which was nominated for four awards at the inaugural Canadian Screen Awards – got their start thanks to the fund. 

More recently, the film I Like Movies – partially filmed at Aldershot High School and around Burlington – got its start thanks to the Harold Greenberg Fund, and has own awards at the Calgary International Film Festival, Vancouver Film Critics Circle Awards, and Canadian Screen Awards. 

It’s the festival experience that Galway keeps chasing through his career. 

“It’s different than going to the movies, it’s the extra glamour of the filmmakers, and meeting people interested in the same types of films you are,” he said. “That group dynamic, and group discussion is much more meaningful than watching a film at home by yourself.”

Galway is such a fan of festivals, he founded his own with the Toronto Irish Film Festival, or TIRFF. 

The festival primarily focuses on films coming from both Irish Republic and Northern Ireland. 

“Ireland is usually kind of a character in the film,” Galways said. “It’s front and centre. We also show stuff from Irish Canadians that’s more about their experience moving here or living here.”

Now, Galway is focused on the Leg Up Labs, a similar project focused on getting short film creators to make something longer. 

Galway encourages any potential filmmakers in Burlington and the Greater Toronto Area who have put together some shorts – but have the idea for a feature length project in mind – to reach out. 

Films of any genre can be aided by Leg Up Labs, provided they are 90 minutes long at least.