After nearly eight years of development, an independent film rooted in London’s creative community is hitting the big screen.
Performance of the Year, produced by London-based Orange Hat Film Production premiered, Nov. 7 at London’s Hyland Cinema. About 100 people turned out for the screening, which was followed by a Q & A with cast and crew.
Fanshawe advanced film graduate Darryl Ayles directed and co-wrote the film alongside Tad Brock and Jamara Forbes. Performance of the Year follows the story of Olivia Billings, an aspiring actress navigating the pressures of an industry where one opportunity could change her career.
People filing in before the screening of Performance Of The Year at the Hyland Cinema on November 7. Sloane Geofroy/Instagram
Ayles said he would return to film in London because the city is rich with rising talent and interesting architecture that offers a variety of settings.
“I’ve always made the joke that I consider London to be ‘Hollywood South’ as opposed to Toronto’s ‘Hollywood North,'” Ayles said.
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For Sloane Geofroy, who portrays Olivia, the character’s experiences were personally relatable.
“I can resonate with this so much. I am her,” Geofroy said.
Geofroy, an actor from Hamilton, said Olivia’s experiences reflect the challenges many performers face while pursuing careers in a competitive industry.
“So many of us artists and actors and everyone out there can resonate with Olivia and can resonate with how much rejection she feels on a daily basis,” she said.
Darryl Ayles and Sloane Geofroy in Performance of the Year (2026)
Photo by Devon King – © Orange Hat Film Productions
Preparing for the role involved extensive collaboration with Ayles. Geofroy said the two spent hours discussing the script, reviewing Olivia’s motivations and making adjustments to develop the character.
“For the most part, it was very creative and collaborative, which I really enjoy,” Geofroy said.
Although Geofroy travelled from Hamilton to London for filming, she said the experience allowed her to build meaningful relationships with the cast and crew.
Sloane Geofroy photographed with the Performance Of The Year poster at the Hyland Cinema on November, 7. Sloane Geofroy/Instagram
“I like to consider myself like an unofficial official member of the London film community,” she said.
Filmmaker and graphic designer Michael Doyle also contributed to the production, designing its movie poster and assisting with several aspects of filmmaking.
“This was the first time, I guess you could say, I designed a professional movie poster,” Doyle said.
The idea for the poster came while Doyle was watching an early version of the film with members of Orange Hat.
Doyle said seeing his design displayed in the Hyland Cinema lobby was surreal. The artwork was also featured on T-shirts and smaller promotional materials.
His involvement extended beyond graphic design. Doyle contributed to auditions, storyboarding, costumes, on-set work and advertising.
“That’s the case with independent films, man. Everybody has to wear multiple hats, you know?” Doyle said.
Doyle said the production had one of the largest crews he and his fellow filmmakers had worked with, demonstrating the collaboration required to bring an independent project to completion.
Michael Doyle posing in front of the Performance Of The Year poster at the Hyland Cinema on November, 7. Michael Doyle/Instagram
For Geofroy, the experience strengthened her connection to London’s filmmaking community. For Doyle, it provided an opportunity to develop his creative skills and see his work presented to an audience.
With more than 100 tickets sold for its Hyland Cinema premiere, Performance of the Year marked a milestone for the cast and crew.
For Ayles, the production also reinforced London’s potential as a filming destination.
His willingness to return to the city, combined with the contributions of actors and filmmakers from across southwestern Ontario, highlights the opportunities available to independent productions outside larger filmmaking centres.
