Message from the Founder

“Critique Week has always been a dream of mine.

In high school I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a camcorder, a powerful Macintosh computer, and Final Cut Pro. I didn’t know it at the time, but film-making would soon became a great passion of mine as I experimented with visuals and sound, telling stories to capture the attention of an audience.

I was fortunate enough to be able to turn my passion into a profession, however the road to a media arts career is never an easy nor straightforward one. I would have benefited greatly from an event such as Critique Week; where youth can raise awareness on social issues, explore the media arts, and connect with industry leaders in order to receive help and guidance along the way.

I now find myself with the ability to take what I have learned and create the very event that I would have loved to attend in my youth. So as a gift to my younger self, and to all the future generations of filmmakers out there, I hope to help change things for the better through this initiative called Critique Week.”

-Mike Soragnese, Critique Week Founder

His entire life, Mike Soragnese has been driven to perform and engage audiences. He is a Producer/Director with extensive hands on experience in video production. With nearly a decade of industry experience under his belt, Mike knows there is no single approach when it comes to engaging an audience, and that every project is unique.

As the Creative Director and Producer for Render Media – Mike has been able to put his full creative skill set on display while working on brands such as Microsoft, Walmart, Tim Hortons, Conair, Cuisinart, George Foreman, Dr. Ho, Dewalt, Skinny Girl Martini, Canadian Club, Banff Ice Vodka, Sauza Tequila, Beaujolais Wines, Raymond James, The Vaughan Chamber of Commerce, The City of Toronto, and the City of Vaughan.

Render has also been involved in the production of a number of TV pilots, including “Playbook” and “Outside the Pocket” with CFL Hall of Fame quarterback Damon Allen. Through the years Mike has also worked in front of the camera as the Host of “The Business Section” on Rogers TV as well as a Correspondent for various live broadcasts such as The Elections, League 1 Ontario, and even the Santa Claus Parade.

Mike has also given back to the community by assisting various charitable organizations. He is currently a Director on the Marketing and Communications Committee for the MLSE Foundations Game Changers. He has recently been awarded with the “2017 Next Generation Award” from the ICCO Business Excellence Awards, and Render Media has been awarded with the “2017 Best Non-Sales Video” from the BILD Awards.

Mike Soragnese
Critique Week Founder