Lauren Saarimaki is a Toronto-based film producer, educator, and mental health advocate working at the intersection of storytelling and social impact. They are an alumna of TMU’s Creative Industries program and have completed The Osgoode Certificate in Intellectual Property (IP) Licensing through Osgoode Professional Development.

Lauren has worked extensively in the non-profit sector. They are currently the Program & Operations Lead at POV Film, where they design and oversee workforce development programs that support emerging and underrepresented creatives through hands-on training and mentorship. Their past work also includes roles with Future of Film Showcase, Luminato, Fall for Dance North and Stella’s Place. As a producer, they’ve co-produced the digital series, Streams Flow From A River which had its international premiere at 2023 Cannesseries. They have also produced the short film Express which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2023. Other projects they have been attached to as a producer have received acclaim, screening at film festivals such as Fogfest, Nightmares Film Festival,Image+Nation, Inside Out Ottawa, the Canadian Film Festival, and the Kingston Film Festival.

She is passionate about building safer, more inclusive working conditions in the film industry. Her vision is to fuse filmmaking, community building, and advocacy to create stories that move audiences and spark change.