TJ Cheslea is a Toronto-based filmmaker with a background in acting and a passion for performance-driven storytelling. His work focuses on intimate, character-driven narratives, bringing raw emotion and authenticity to the screen.
His film The Family Secret was conceived, shot, and edited in just 48 hours for the 2023 48hr Film Project, marking his ability to thrive under pressure and execute compelling stories on tight deadlines. He was later awarded Best Director and Best Film at the 2024 Toronto 48hr Sci-Fi Film Challenge for Transfusion Parallax, further establishing his reputation as a director with a sharp instinct for storytelling and execution.
In 2019, TJ wrote and directed Assist, a short film tackling Bill C-14 and the ethics of assisted dying in Canada—an emerging and controversial topic at the time. In addition to directing, he also served as cinematographer and editor, further expanding his technical and creative skill set.
Beyond film, TJ has a strong foundation in theatre. He co-founded Triple By-Pass Productions, an independent theatre collective that successfully mounted four productions between 2014 and 2016. Most recently, he directed It’s Always Hazy in Hamilton, an original play that premiered at the Hamilton Fringe Festival in 2024, earning him a Best Director nomination at the Broadway World Toronto Theatre Awards.
TJ currently works as a Production Coordinator on Bollywed, a docu-soap on CBC that follows a South-Asian family running a bridal shop in Toronto’s Little India, where he collaborates with diverse teams and hones his skills in production logistics, scheduling, and execution—experience that strengthens his ability to balance creativity with the realities of filmmaking.
With aspirations to direct feature films and high-end television, TJ is committed to refining his craft, expanding his creative reach, and telling stories that resonate on a deeply human level.