TORONTO -- The Toronto International Film Festival doesn't just feature stars on the big screen and red carpet -- it also nurtures them behind the scenes.
"Orphan Black" star Tatiana Maslany and Sarah Gadon of "Maps to the Stars" and "Cosmopolis" fame are among the actors who've been featured in the TIFF Rising Stars program, which is into its fifth year.
The program puts up-and-coming Canadian actors through a series of public events, industry meetings, training and seminars during the festival.
Here's a bit about this year's Rising Stars, who were chosen by a jury:
Deragh Campbell, 26:
The Toronto native made a splash as a Northern Irish runaway in "I Used to Be Darker." Her upcoming films include Joey Klein's "The Other Half," in which she appears opposite Maslany.
On the Rising Stars program, Campbell says: "You have the support of a really important institution. They really put themselves behind you and introduce you to a lot of people, accomplished people in the industry. So I feel very lucky."
Stephan James, 21:
The Toronto native played civil rights leader John Lewis in Oscar winner "Selma." His other credits include a part in the CBC miniseries "The Book of Negroes" and a starring role as Olympic gold medallist Jesse Owens in the forthcoming biopic "Race."
He says he feels honoured to be a Rising Star: "We're really put in a position here where we get to interact with so many people, whether it be producers or directors or other actors who are in our industry doing what we're doing."
Aliocha Schneider, 21:
Born in Paris, Schneider grew up in Montreal but is back in the City of Lights again. He sings and acts, both onstage and onscreen. His TV credits include a starring role as Carl Bresson in the Tele-Quebec dramatic series "Tactik." His film credits include roles in "Bon Cop, Bad Cop" and two 2015 TIFF titles -- "Closet Monster" and "Ville-Marie."
On what he hopes to get out of the Rising Stars program: "I hope to expand my career in English Canada and in the States, maybe."
Karelle Tremblay, 19:
The Montreal native was 12 when she was cast as a series regular in Radio-Canada's "Le Club des Doigts Croises." After roles on several TV series and films in Quebec, she got her big break as a radical young activist in the FLQ drama "Corbo."
At this year's fest she'll be seen in "Les etres chers," which she describes as "a family drama. It's beautiful."
