When Kelly Fyffe-Marshall steps onto a red carpet this TIFF, it won’t be the first time, and definitely not the last. Her latest directorial project, Demons, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival as a short film spun from the final scene of writer-actor Preeti Torul’s pilot script. The story is centered around a complicated mother-daughter relationship, peeling back layers often glossed over in mainstream portrayals of immigrant families.
“I’m always intrigued by the nuances of strained family dynamics,” Kelly explains. “In media, it’s often painted as perfect, like your mom is your best friend. But real life is more complicated. I wanted to tell a story that reflects that truth.”
For Kelly, filmmaking is more than expression, it’s responsibility. With having that commitment in mind, that sense of intention extends to how she collaborates. She makes a point to understand the writer’s vision deeply, reading scripts multiple times before asking questions about character, tone, and meaning. It’s a discipline that keeps her grounded when production chaos kicks in.
If there’s a recurring theme in her work and her life, it’s community. Kelly surrounds herself with collaborators she loves. People like Tamar Bird, and Sasha Leigh Henry, her creative family.
For Kelly Fyffe-Marshall, storytelling isn’t just about what happens on screen. It’s about who gets to stand behind the camera, who gets to be seen, and who finally feels seen.
