A new transformational gift from the Mirkopoulos family will strengthen film education at York University and support the next generation of Canadian filmmakers.
This extraordinary support for York's School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) will enhance student opportunities, invest in cutting-edge facilities and provide crucial support for emerging storytellers.
For over two decades, the Mirkopoulos family has played a vital role in film education at York, supporting young storytellers through scholarships, innovative facilities and initiatives such as the founding of the CineSiege student film festival. This new commitment builds upon this legacy of positive change.
The Mirkopoulos family joined by AMPD Dean Sarah Bay-Cheng, York University President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton, and others.
"This transformational gift from the Mirkopoulos family will create a lasting impact, ensuring that our students have access to the best possible resources as they develop their craft," said President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton during the March 20 announcement at York University. "The Mirkopoulos family's unwavering support for Canadian film education will continue to inspire future generations."
The gift will directly support three key areas:
- expanding student opportunities, ensuring greater access to York's film program;
- investing in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, keeping York's cinema program at the cutting edge; and
- providing ongoing student support, helping young filmmakers thrive in an increasingly competitive industry.
To honour this contribution and the Mirkopoulos family's longstanding dedication to film studies, York University will create the Nick Mirkopoulos Plateia in the lobby of the Centre for Film & Theatre. The plateia - a Greek word meaning "meeting place" - pays tribute to the late Nick Mirkopoulos, an industry pioneer whose groundbreaking work transformed film and cinema across North America.
A co-founder of Cinespace Film Studios with his brothers, Nick was not only a builder of world-class production spaces, but also a mentor, a dreamer and a believer in the power of storytelling. His name now lives on at the heart of AMPD, offering continued inspiration to students.
Several members of the Mirkopoulos family were in attendance at the March 20 event, including Steve Mirkopoulos, who spoke about the family's longstanding relationship with York, and Nick Mirkopoulos' role as a visionary in the film industry.
AMPD Dean Sarah Bay-Cheng says the Nick Mirkopoulos Plateia will serve as both a reminder of his vision for the film industry in Toronto and an invitation to future generations.
"The Mirkopoulos family's generosity has provided exceptional environments for learning, research and community engagement, and student awards while also allowing our emerging creators to dream big; to imagine themselves and their ideas within the dynamic landscape of media industries in Canada and beyond," said Bay-Cheng.
For students like Kush Shah, the long-standing support from the Mirkopoulos family has been instrumental to his success.
"As an undergraduate student, I know first-hand that the support and resources that the Mirkopolous family have provided to students like me has been invaluable to our growth," says Shah. "Through their generosity, we have been exposed to evolving technologies, such as green screen and visual effects techniques that we would ordinarily not have the opportunity to experiment with. I can't express what an advantage this has given us - equipping us with tools and techniques to both find jobs in the rapidly changing film industry, as well as exercise the limits of our creative potential."
This story was originally featured in YFile, York University's community newsletter.
